Earlier model Maytag dryer

[mom11]

Hi, I just joined this group about a week ago for help in choosing and fixing my new Kitchenaid KDS 16 dishwasher. Unbelievable group of people here who were not only beyond helpful but truly kind. Soooo....

For over a week looking at and lusting over all the other vintage machines has got me really wanting to get a matched set of Maytag center dial W & D. Countless hours on ebay, craigslist , Kiiji, etc. And I think I have found a really neat machine. Looks to be an earlier model of Maytag electric dryer. I don't know enough about them to narrow it down. But following is the link. I would like to know as much info as possible about this machine before I move forward. Can y'all take a look at it and give me some tracks to run on? I've already contacted the seller and he says his mom kept it shut but sticking a piece of cardboard in the door? He says the door handle/latch should be "easy to find" Curious and awaiting the hard knocks experience here. Thanks so much.

She looks so soft and pretty to me. I just wish she had her washing friend along side of her.

http://annarbor.craigslist.org/app/4318027566.html

 

[d-jones]

Nice looking dryer and a good price. There's a handle for sale on eBay right now for about twenty dollars. See the link below. If you do decide to get this one the hard part will be finding the matching washer. This dryer looks like a 642C, but I may be wrong about that. If it is, a good companion washer would be a 142, but you'll need a 142 with the early glass panels that have the horizontal lines if you want to match this dryer. Unfortunately, they've been known to turn up with the later style glass panels found in the 700 series machines that have a pattern of gold dots and a gold Maytag script.

 

It's odd that the seller couldn't be bothered to move the stuff off the dryer before taking the picture.

 

[rp2813]

Nice old dryer.  What's not to like about the look and substance of a center dial Maytag?

 

My $.02:  You might want to wait for a later model center dial to come along.  You'll have an easier time of matching up a washer and dryer that way, or could even find a set with both.  As David said above, finding a matching washer for a 642 dryer will likely require a lot of searching.

 

David, what's that round thing above the Maytag logo on the glass panel? 

 

[danemodsandy]

Lisa:

This is a very nice dryer, and you could definitely have it back in prime condition.

However, I'm going to second Ralph (rp2813) here and say that this is not going to be an easy machine to match with a washer. And if you do find the match, parts could be a problem, particularly those pretty glass panels and some other cosmetic items.

If you want a really great vintage pair that will keep up with today's laundry and be relatively easy to find, I would suggest a "New Generation" pair of 806s, which were Maytag's top-of-the-line machines for a long time. They are rugged, good-looking, still have decent parts availability and they're not too hard to find. I have two 806 pairs - a late pair in Almond I'm using, and an early White pair I'm still working on as time permits, which it does not right now due to snow-shoveling.

From the AW.org Archives, here's a shot of an A806 washer belonging to Mark, whose handle here is kenmore71:

 

[danemodsandy]

Matching 806 Dryer:

This is also Mark's machine. This one is gas, but electric ones are out there, and probably easier to find. The model number on this is DG806 (Dryer, Gas, Model 806). Note that the run of "New Generation" machines began in 1966, so the first year or so of production had colors available you don't often find on "modern" machines - Coppertone, Yellow and Turquoise. They're quite rare, but at least theoretically, they're out there. Later, Maytag offered Harvest and Avocado:

 

[d-jones]

Ralph

Based on the fuzzy photo it's hard to say what that thing on the panel is, but it's most likely a sticker of some sort.

Lisa - I somehow managed to screw up the link I wanted to post above and it didn't even show up. So here it is now.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[DigAPony]

The ad says "sold" hopefully it goes to good home.

Here is a later '70s MT center dial washer. Hard to tell what model but looks clean and appears to be large capacity with bleach dispenser:

http://jxn.craigslist.org/fuo/4350394030.html

Another option is 1980's 10 and 12 series Maytags. Personally, I like them, the styling is modern yet classic and they are mostly identical to center dial MT''s aside from the control panel. Finding matched sets in very good condition is much easier than with center dials MT's.

However, that won't be the case as time goes on.

 

[revvinkevin]

The ad says "sold"

 

 

Yes Doug, it says "The WASHER is sold..."

 

Kevin

 

[DigAPony]

it says "The WASHER is sold..."

So it does, I stand corrected. Now how about that MT washer in my link?

I say it is either a A408 or A608, the latter being one step down from TOL.

 

[mom11]

Oooooohhhh don't know

what to do. It is so pretty and I love it but if the washer is going to be hard to find I should probably pass. What year would you say it is from? The seller said it was only 20 years old. I doubt that just from the design. It matches my 1953 range perfectly.

I saw a washing machine Maytag A-107 at the Habitat for Humanity store that had more the sharper lines like the ones posted above. I loved that but it had a 'sold' sign on it. It made me sad, too, because the same guy's name was on about 8 appliances, all the cheapest ones so I'm pretty sure they're going to someone who rents units out. We live in a college town so I doubt they will be appreciated or treated well. But he hadn't picked it up over a week after the pick-up date. I'll go again tomorrow. So if I did find a companion to a A-107 what # would that be?

Thanks so much for the Jackson link. I'm actually going there tomorrow. But I need an electric model. I think I just have to go out and see the dryer. I just don't feel confident...Do you think I should show up with wet clothers?

 

[danemodsandy]

Lisa:

The "match" to an A 107 would be any Maytag dryer of the same era, except the 806, which had a lighted control panel. Maytag styled its control panels so that most washers and dryers appeared to match, so the customer who only wanted, say, a basic washer, but who wanted an automatic control dryer, could have an attractively matched pair.

That having been said, the A 107 is a verrrry basic machine, with no bells or whistles. If you'll keep looking, you'll find something with more features without too much effort.

I would suggest going over to AW.org's "sister" site, Automatic Ephemera, where you can buy original sales and service literature in PDF format. You'll find Maytag brochures from several years; the 1966 one is the first year of the "New Generation" machines. Having the sales brochure will familiarize you with available models and their features - or lack thereof.

I am amused that the seller of that 642 dryer claimed it was 20 years old. Closer to 50. Not that we hold that against nice appliances around here!

http://www.automatice.org

 

[classiccaprice]

Where there is a will, there is a way.  While not easy, there are more of these rounded 1958-1965 Maytags around than others of there era.  If you want it, keep your eyes open.   The washer will show up, with time and effort.

 

[DigAPony]

A 107 is a verrrry basic machine

Yes, and small capacity as well. I'd hold out for something closer to TOL, at this point they're all in the same price range.

I picked up two nice A712 washers free last year, one was a matched set.

 

[DigAPony]

I need an electric model.

The Jackson CL link was for the washer which was sort of buried in the ad. The dryer is a Hotpoint and not a very good one at that.

Again, it will be much easier to find a match for later models. Moreover, the 08 series "Stream of Heat" dryers and beyond have an improved design over small door "Halo of Heat" early models which could be fire hazards and would certainly need a through going over before being put into regular use.

As for being uncertain, If the machines are hooked up run it through a quick cycle and don't be bashful about making low ball offers. Most people want to get rid of their old machines ASAP so they can move or make room for the new POS they just purchased.

Typically, I don't like to spend more than $75 for a vintage machine, preferable much less. Too much of a gamble to get it home and find it needs a ton of work.

 

[mom11]

Thank you all

For the great advice,again. I will contact the seller and tell him to let it go. Anyone who has the will or the way, feel free to jump in on this. The link is above. It's in Ann Arbor,MI about an hour west of Detroit. Hour east of Jackson. Home of the university of Michigan wolverines. If anyone does I'd love to hear how it turns out. Is there an "alert" board to give folks a head's up if appliances become available?

Also would like to know if there is a place here where you can look for parts. For example, I need a cheese or whatever is supposed to be next to the butter door for my '57 GE combo fridge. Can I find people here who have machines they are either parting out? Or even just have around besides Craig's list?

 

[danemodsandy]

Lisa:

Your '57 Combination should have a door marked "Cheese" on the compartment next to the butter compartment. Inside each compartment was originally a glass dish, rectangular with handles on each of the short sides; the glass was textured on the outside and bottom, and smooth on the inside for easy cleaning. The cheese compartment door is exactly like the one for the butter compartment, except wider.

The Shopper's Square forum here on AW.org is where goodies are posted for sale, both appliances and parts. You are also welcome to post requests in that forum for things you'd like to buy. When posting those, beginning your thread title with "WTB" (Wanted to Buy) is helpful, like so:

WTB: Cheese Compartment Door for 1957 GE Combination

 

[mom11]

finding parts

Thanks so much on the specific info on my fridge. I thought it was supposed to be a cheese door but I couldn't be sure because I've never seen a GE fridge just like mine. I'll have to be on the look out for the glass dishes, too. I've seen a lot of the revolving shelf models but mine is a "swing out shelves" model. Which i absolutely love. It also has the foot pedal to open. She a little pink beauty I call "Flossie." But she is a very basic model. Only 12 cubic feet and nothing special about the shelves and drawers. But that makes her humble and unpretentious. She's a real workhorse, though.

 

[rp2813]

Lisa, I would love to see pix of your fridge!  I'm hoping a bottom freezer model with swing-out shelves will come my way one of these days.

 

My understanding is that the swing-out shelves showed up on GE Combinations in 1959 or later, but perhaps the larger capacity ones got the swing-outs even earlier.  I've just always associated swing-out shelving with Frost Guard models.

 

Here's a picture of my '57 Combination, a 12 cf top freezer model with revolving shelves (the angle is deceptive but there are crispers under the lowest shelf):

 

[danemodsandy]

Ralph:

The '58 Combination bottom mounts had the turnaround shelves - both models. There was the 13-footer you have, and a 16-footer with a brushed "beauty panel" on the freezer drawer's front.

No swing-out shelves in '58 for bottom-mounts.