found: Maytag A806

[pkazee]

Several weeks ago, I tried to purchase a new washer to replace an inherited Maytag A214, and - much to my disappointment - I discovered that all of the new machines appeared to be a tiny wider than my old one, and the old one only JUST fit through the exit, so I was forced to consider either buying a new machine and then taking it apart in order to try to get it down into my basement... or "settling" for an older, used machine.

With this in mind I stopped in at an appliance store that was going out of business, and - hidden in the back of the store - I noticed a rather retro looking washer that appealed to me as a collector of old toys and such. At the time, however, I had no idea that this website existed or that people actually collected this sort of thing.

In any case, for $175 the guy said he'd deliver it, set it up, and haul off my old machine. That sounded like a fair deal to me, so I plopped my money down and made the purchase. I then checked the make and model number and went online to see if I could find out anything about the machine.

This led me to this site and contributor KJ Ayvazian, would posted a query here on my behalf, ID'ing the machine (based on the following serial number: 736029UW) as being from October 1974 (can one really pinpoint this sort of thing down to the MONTH?).

Anyway, at KHA's suggesting, I've attached a photo of the machine here. You will note my purchase of the washer has prompted me to also purchase a few of old boxes of soap to display alongside it!

Best!
Paul

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hey Paul, congrats on your new Maytag, you are going to be very happy for many years to come with this washer! You can also take pride in knowing that your washer was 100% American designed and built. What was the machine that was replaced?

 

[swestoyz]

Hey Paul,

Would you look at that - the cream of the crop! You have a beauty there - many consider the A806 to not only be one of the best Maytag's - but one of the best washers - ever! ;-D You can pinpoint the month via the last two letters of the serial number. The first digit is the year, the second digit is the month.

I love Robert's post, and I usually forget that point - these machines are indeed 100 percent Grade-A US made washers!

Ben

 

[maytagbear]

Hello, Paul

You did "real good," and you didn't know it (then!)

Congratulations. This machine should serve you well for <U>decades</b> to come.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[bajaespuma]

I'm just turquoise with envy.

If you ever find another one, please send it my way. That there is one of my top 5 Dream Machines. It's one of the last models Maytag produced with the intelligent Bleach Dispenser. Please send interior shots if you ever get around to it.

 

[mayfan69]

Lovely Maytag

Hey Paul,

Congrats on the Maytag!

If ever i had the money, I would love to bring one like that back from the U.S.

Oh well....maybe one day...never say never...

Cheers
Leon

 

[goatfarmer]

Nice washer,you won't be disappointed!

kennyGF

 

[rickr]

Congratulations Paul!! And best of all that classic machine lights up!!

 

[gansky1]

That is a nice washer and crucial parts should be available for a long time too!

 

[steved]

Schenectady?

hey paul, congrats on the 806.... who is the appliance store you went to? I'm just down the road!! SteveD

 

[appnut]

That is one BEAUTIFUL 'Tag

 

[pkazee]

Wow! I really had no idea that this news was quite so exciting, but I'm thrilled to hear that it is!

Unimatic1140 - the model I had carted away was a Maytag A214. Should I have kept it for parts or something? Please tell me I didn't make a huge mistake getting rid of it.

bajaespuma - It's too dark in my basement to get a decent shot of the washer without a work light, and I just returned the one I borrowed from a coworker to take the shot I submitted (and the one I'm attaching today), but I'll see if I can't borrow it back again soon, so that I can get an interior shot of the machine for you. May I ask what one looks for when looking under the hood of an A806?

rickr - I don't think my light works. What is one supposed to do to activate the light? I suspect it's something I could fix if I knew what to look for.

steved - Don't know the name of the place, but it's on the south side of State Street (Rt 5), and I believe it's near Fehr St. In any case, it's on the west end of a building that also houses a furniture/appliance rental joint, and there's a large MAYTAG sign up on the roof over the rental joint, which suggests to me that the entire building may have once been a Maytag appliance store. I believe Corelli's Restaurant and New Tai Wah Chinese Restaurant are directly across State St from this place.

Last time I checked, the guy was still there, and had a few refurbished appliances in his window, but nothing looked to my uneducated eyes to be worth getting excited about. He does have an old Pepsi machine in there, but I believe he said he was asking something like $5000 for it, and it's neither very stylish, nor in particularly good condition.

Finally - Anyone here familiar with the pros and cons of buying a vintage refrigerator? I'm very tempted by one, but I've been cautioned against buying one if I'm not prepared for the possibility of serious maintenance issues.

Thanks!
Paul

 

[swestoyz]

Hey Paul,

Take the two screws off the top panel to expose the timer, wires, the bulb, etc. You will notice the left hand side support bracket houses the bulb starter. It is either shot, or needs to have the contacts cleaned. It is the same diameter of a quarter, and about an inch long. You could stop by any hardware store as this item is commonly stocked, just make sure it has an identical rating. FS2 comes to mind. You may also want to pick up a new bulb as well. Let me know if you need a picture to help illustrate. Thanks!

Ben

 

[pkazee]

Thanks Ben. I took off the cover and did not see anything the size of a quarter on either the left or right bracket, but I did see the following:

1) two connecters (one on each bracket) that appear to be for the ends of a missing florescent tube. Any idea what tube this machine takes?

2) below the bulb connector on the "right" hand side of the bracket(when saying "right hand side", I am presuming one is viewing the machine from the rear), there's a rectangular box about 3/4's the size of a business card (but much thicker, of course... about 1/2 inch thick). There are two wires coming out of this box.. one going to each of the bulb connectors.

3) A wire also runs from the bulb connector on the left side to a small device toward the bottom-left of the uncovered compartment. A wire coming out of the other side of this device, goes to the Cycle Selector dial. There is also a wire going from the Cycle Selector dial to the other bulb connector (wish I could take a picture, but as noted in an earlier post, I first need to borrow - or buy - another work light).

So... in addition to being missing a bulb, am I also missing a starter, or might the box in #2, or the device in #3 be the starter?

And anyone know where I might get a copy of a repair manual or owners manual?

Thanks!
Paul

 

[goatfarmer]

That box is a ballast,needed for the fluorescent light.The starter fits in a hole in the support that the back panel was screwed to,not sure which side.Starters are usually silver in color,about an inch round,and about 2 inches long.

Measure between the sockets,to get the right size lamp. It might be an uncommon size.

kennyGF

 

[steved]

wow!!

hey Paul, that's "LaMontagne Home Appliance" where I worked in the early 70's.... didnt think Roy was still around... I learned a lot from him back in the day - he opened up in 1949 and can't seem to actually close down..... I gotta give him a call...... e-mail me if you are looking for anything, I have lots of service and owners manuals ... SteveD

 

[swestoyz]

Photo 1: Starter location

Hey Paul,

Wow, I just read what I wrote over lunch - and it appears I wasn't in the appliance frame of mind! I feel pictures will do justice with this assignment!

In this photo, I am standing in front of the machine, leaning over the left side (looking at the timer) to snap this photo. You will notice the starter still has the .79 cent price tag on it.... Approx the diameter of a quarter, and about an inch long with two little feet on the bottom (twist to remove)

 

[swestoyz]

Photo 2: Subject Starter

Here is a close up of the starter with the type number FS2. This can be had at any local hardware store, this gem just happened to be picked up at a local Ace Hardware...

{Please ignore the place of orgin}

 

[swestoyz]

Photo 3: Source of Light

In this photo, we see the type number for the bulb. Please note any brand will work, this just happens to be an el-cheepo from overseas (Okay guys, this is my parents daily driver, not a restored beauty!)

Again, previously mentioned hardware store should stock this bulb as well, and should be a few feet from the starter on the shelf...