Fridgidaire Semi Auto

[brisnat81]

Hi Guys,

Leon found this one for me a couple of months back, and I've just been lazy in regard to posting pics.

The machine looks like its been outside for quite a while, however the rust is only surface, so its not in bad shape.

I've attached some pics, but I'm yet to power it up.

 

[brisnat81]

The Timer knob and heater light

The heater light is just wired in series with the element. When the thermostat is satisfied, the light goes out.

Most of the semi auto's still had a pressure switch if they had a heater, so that you couldnt set fire to a tub of clothes with no water in there. I havent found a pressure switch yet though.

 

[brisnat81]

Function Selector

The 3 way switch that lets you do it all

The motor reset switch is on the right

 

[brisnat81]

Operating instructions

Its amazing how they automated the heater on my old simpson to do this. The enginuity that had to use to incorporate such features on a solid tub machine.

 

[brisnat81]

Washbowl

and pulsator

 

[brisnat81]

Motor, pump

and transmission.

 

[toggleswitch]

FABULOUS machine! What a catch!

I was about to say, methinks it is just a timer away from being an automatic; But how does one fill it with water? Hose thrown into tub?

 

[brisnat81]

There is a hose connected on the back, into a fill flume, that is located inside the control panel.

Its only a single hose however, which probably just means it was purchased for a cold water only hookup.

 

[geoffdelp]

Nathan ... that's really great!! What year do you think this washer is from?

I wonder what the "Hold" position was used for?

 

[Unimatic1140]

OH Wow, its a Pulsamatic frigidaire with a 12lb Tub, that is just incredible Nathan. Nothing like that was ever built here in the states!

By the way, besides the agitator column, does anyone know how I can tell the difference and know that its not a Mutlimatic and its actually a Pulsamatic with 630 pulses per minute agitation?

 

[brisnat81]

The hold position

cancelled out the timer.

So in theory the machine would just run indefinitely.

I think they reccomend to use it on the overflows, so if you forgot to turn the water off and the machine stopped, you didnt overflow the machine. (IE the pump keeps running)

You would use it in the heat portion, so that it stayed running until the thermostat opened.

 

[brisnat81]

Is it the transmission?

This is the machine that washes at 630ppm and spins at 630RPM?

Did the US ones have a smaller tub?

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hi Nathan, yes there is one key difference on the transmission, I won't give it away yet.

Yes this is the machine the washes and spins both at 630ppm/rpm.

Frigidaire discontinued the Pulsamatic after the 1958 line, before 1963 all Frigidaire wash tubs were 8lb tubs. In 1963 they introduced the 12lb tub.

When you come to Minneapolis for a visit next month I can show you guys the difference between the Pulsamatic and Unimatic operating next to each other. There is a big difference.

 

[brisnat81]

Cool

Because this machine has a plastic control panel, I'm assuming that its late 60's if not early 70's.

Although I know we had the 1-18 in the 70's, but i guess it could've been a very budget line for those where price was a consideration.

Usually though, the semi autos were just a cut down version of the auto, rather than a seperate mechanism, so It prob was late 60's.

 

[mixfinder]

Cost effective

It seems like making a semi automatic is almost more trouble for the factory than the cost savings.

Is there a tech who would know what the difference in cost to build would have been?

I see no timer motor and no water inlet selonoids. Since it would have been a timed fill, pressure switch would not have been part of the equation. Anything else come to mind?

Kelly

 

[irishwashguy]

Is this machine Canadian?

I have been doing alot of shopping lately for another item that said the same thing on it and it happened to be Canadian build----had the words limited on it as well. Did they build these in Canada ever? Does this machine have a heating element in it? I am getting more interested by the minute.

 

[brisnat81]

Its not just those two components

Its the time it takes to install them, its the extra cabling that has to be hooked up. It mightnt seem much, but back then it would've all been hand assembled, with no snap in fittings, and probably added an extra $50 or so dollars to the cost of washer. With parts and labour.

In Australia, this was in a time when you could buy a house for $5000, or a new car for $1000-$1500.

$50 was a lot of money. This is the late 60's I'm talking about.

 

[brisnat81]

There is a 2400W element in the outer tub/cabinet.

You fill it with water, put the ball over the drain hose, and set it spin. Thus emptying the water into the outer tub, so it can be heated.

My old simpson gets around this problem, by having 2 sets of inlet valves. For the wash, it fills directly into the outer tub, heats the water, and then pumps it up into the inner tub. For the rinse the second set of valves, fills the inner tub directly.

Then you set it to wash, hang the hose over the side of the washbowl, open the ball, and pump the water back in.

These machines were made by General Motors Holden in Dandenong, Victora AU. Which is to the east of Melbourne. It would appear that we got old tooling, or perhaps access to the old patents out of the US.

For such a small capacity, it has a huge cabinet. Its about as big as a Super Capacity DD Whirlpool.

 

[toggleswitch]

Since it would have been a timed fill

Methinks ya filled it by eye and by working the taps manually.