For Jed, Toggles & all the other Maytag lovers....Video of my Aussie Wilkins Servis 506

[mayfan69]

Hello you fellow Maytag lovers,

Here are 2 videos of my 1977 Wilkins Servis 506 in action. It's pretty much a helical drive Maytag with a Stainless Steel Bowl. The 1st shows the suds return facility pumping back nice clean rinse water into the bowl. The 2nd is the main wash cycle.

I have to admit, i'm very fond of the machine. She needed new belts and a new pump and a VERY good clean of the agitator...i think the previous owner ever used cold water, the gunk that was inside the agitator was disgusting!

Enjoy.
Cheers
Leon

 

[mayfan69]

Interior of machine

Interior showing the nice shiny stainless steel bowl.

 

[mayfan69]

1st Video

1st video showing the suds return cycle.

 

[mayfan69]

2nd Video

2nd video...main wash cycle

 

[foraloysius]

Awesome videos! Thank you very much for sharing!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Wilkins Servis

Hi Leon, another marvel of a machine, looks mint, it certainly pumps back in quick, does it have a seperate pump or does it use the washer pump in reverse??? and do all sudz returns pump back in at the same rate as discharging??? cheers, Mike

 

[mayfan69]

No seperate pump

Hey Mike

There is only one pump. The pump is actually always running in these designs, so when you hit the suds return cycle, the agitation draws all the suds back into the machine at the same rate that it would be pumped out during the spin/drain cycle.

This version is a "manual" suds save where you have to move the one hose from the tub to drain after it has pumped out. The "Suds Drain / Suds Save" button on the dash basically stops the machine from going into the final spin so you can move the drain hose and not flood the laundry!

The TOL versions have 2 drain hoses and a suds divertor with solenoids to direct the suds accordingly, so you can save the suds automatically.

Cheers
Leon

 

[revvinkevin]

Question on the 2nd video

Hi Leon, great machine and great editing on the video too!

I have a question, is it my imagination or did the spin RPM slow dramatically during the spray rinse portion of the spin?

 

[tuthill]

That is such a beautiful washer!! Thanks for the videos

 

[qsd-dan]

The tub Maytag should have used!!

 

[pulsator]

That washer is GORGEOUS!!! I wonder if that tub could be put into a Maytag?

 

[swestoyz]

BEAUTIFUL washer Leon. You did a wonderful job with the clean up; great job with the videos!

I'm really impressed that they kept the original Power-Fin design this late in the game; instead of flowing in Maytag's footsteps and changing to what we have today starting in 1969. (for those who don't know, the extra ribs and the lack of the outlets at the bottom of the filter housing are two differences between the early and late Power-Fin's).

How scarce are these machines to find with the SS tub? Someday I would love to have a SS tub shipped here to the States to put in the Super 'Tag. I'm certain there wouldn't be too many modifications needed.

 

[mayfan69]

SS Bowl in a Maytag

Hey Ben,

Wilkins Servis persisted with the 8 vane power fin right up till the time the company went bankrupt in about 1978.

As for the stainless steel bowl, these versions are not THAT rare, they do come up for sale from time to time. I actually do have a spare SS bowl that i was going to put in the Avocado Wilkins down the track. The outer bowl is actually plastic, but i honestly think it would fit in a Maytag as the shape of the SS bowl and the mounting stem used are ideintical to the Maytags. I will ask my contact with the graveyard if any of the other Wilkins Servis machines he has have any SS bowls in them....or to at least keep an eye out for me.

Cheers
Leon

 

[gansky1]

Beautiful machine !!!!!

Oh, that's just too cool for color TV! Put me down for a SS bowl and white agitator too, that would be just too beautiful on a lighted panel 806!

 

[jetcone]

I have to agree

I really like the SS bowl and the white agitator, very Up Market!

I also like the "London Mod" dash board! Very Cool! Very Mod!

 

[scott55405]

What a wonderful machine! So interesting to see that design with a stainless tub. I love the control panel! Never having been a fan of rear opening lids on washers, I highly endorse and would have loved to have seen this style of lid on our Maytags!

 

[autowasherfreak]

I love that SS tub and the control panel as well. What a wonderful machine you have there.

 

[toggleswitch2]

WOW how beautiful!