Frigidaire Control Tower!

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support :

Price Increase

I looked at the eBay listing when you first posted this. The starting price was $250.00. I just looked again and the seller raised the starting price to $290.00!

I wish him luck as these dryers are fairly common.
 
It seems that the price is back at $250... Earlier this year, I've posted an ad for one like this for sale in Toronto for $25. I paid more than that for mine but still less than $250 and it also included the matching washer at that price... But I guess I was lucky with this set as it was a near local find! A 250$ dryer could become a deal if you live next door and happen to have a matching washer, because having a free one shipped from far away might end costing more!

I just noticed that the back of the dryer door is gray on the one in the ad. On mine, it's white (and so is the back of my washer's lid). Was this a mid-year change or is it a Canadian production difference?

The one on eBay:[this post was last edited: 12/7/2012-21:59]

philr++12-7-2012-21-38-16.jpg
 
Wow - I never noticed the difference! I wonder how long the earlier insignia was used on the 57 line?

The machine pictured on the Flickr account is actually Robert's WI-57. I took that of his machine - I recognize the wall now...

Here is mine, the dryer also has the gold crown. The chrome on the washer was in pretty rough shape so I took it to a local plating shop for re-chroming. After a career of bumpers, handrails and knobs, they were enamored with the GM Frigidaire washer trims. They removed the gold crown and did the chroming work. When re-attaching the crown, they decided it deserved a facelift too so they plated it with 24 karat gold. Having forgot that I told them it was from a washing machine, the front desk guys couldn't wait to find out what this control box and trim actually went to. I sent them a picture of the machine reassembled for their shop photo wall. (no dust)

I need to have the dryer trims done and I now have a nicer washer trim set so will have both sets done. New chrome is so worth the investment!

gansky1++12-7-2012-23-32-56.jpg
 
Rare?

I had always thought that these Control Tower machines were rare, am I incorrect in that statement? I've never really happened upon any of them too often or seen any of them for sale. If I did acquire this dryer what would be the odds a matching washer could be found?

Dave
 
Hi Dave,

I have picked up 4 DI-57 dryers over the last 10 years. And it appears as though quite a few members also have this same dryer. I have only had 1 matching washer in all that time. It's a very sharp dryer, but the $250 seems to be a little steep. I think a matching washer will be quite difficult to find.

Good Luck!

Rich
 
Well...

$250 isn't bad if the glass is in one piece and the porcelain isn't chipped up. It's the additional $250 for shipping and worrying, or gas and lodging, that makes it a pricey acquisition. As I mentioned to Ben, at least it's white. Imagine if it were any other color. Finding a '57 washer is tough enough without having to match it to a rare finish, too. Right Jetcone!? ; )
 
For those who live in colder climates, I think a condenser dryer like this (even alone without the matching washer) is interesting to own if you have room for it in your basement. Since they don't have an exhaust port, they don't loose any hot air outside and their condenser works better in a cool environment too. They are also insulated like an oven so they don't generate too much heat or humidity and even if they operate at higher temps <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(which means, be careful with what you put in as it could shrink like this text!)</span> and take longer to dry a load, I think they still save some energy compared to a regular vented electric dryer by not throwing hot air outside and not pulling cold air from outside at the same time as vented dryers do.

Of course, having an air exchanger isn't a bad thing either and a regular vented dryer acts as one too! But vented dryers also heat the air that's about to go outside (that's the part I don't like about them!).
 
These are a unique design, for sure.

Have there been issues with the timer console coming loose?

It just seems like the metal is all one piece, cast iron or aluminum.  bumping it the wrong way, I would think it would snap off.  Even moving the machine, I would be afrain of bumping that.

Is that part stronger than it appears?

Still, this kind of unique design is what has, and does,  propel forward thought.
 
The control tower housings are made of chrome-plated potmetal. They are two-piece and also separate from the chrome trim at the top of the cabinets. The timer dials are glass.

 

I also thought the tower would be fragile and exposed to damage caused by improper handling or vibration (on the washer) but that doesn't seem to be an issue. I think the plastic consoles on the higher end Frigidaire washers from the mid-sixties seem a lot more fragile (even if they are a favorite of mine!).

 
 
I bought it

I couldn't pass it up. I have always loved the commercial that is on here for that machine and had dreamed of having a set. I know the washer is probably going to be hard to find but if I find it then I will already have the dryer. I will post more pics when I pick it up after Christmas.
 
I made a small video of my washer in the end of the overflow rinse and then spin to show how the control tower reacts to vibration... It seems to hold there fine!

<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="300" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=c9a627912f&photo_id=8299998422"></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786"></param> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=c9a627912f&photo_id=8299998422" height="300" width="400"></embed></object>
 

Similar threads

cadman
Frigidaire Presents Kitchen Ideas for 1957 - 16mm Film
Replies
1
Views
31
Unimatic1140
Unimatic1140
S
Many Frigidaire parts
Replies
2
Views
53
combo52
combo52
T
Ebay listing for Continental Double Oven Range in Des Planes, IL
Replies
0
Views
27
tomturbomatic
T
countryford
1960 Frigidaire Imperial Dryer
Replies
2
Views
195
combo52
combo52
S
1956 Bendix service manual
Replies
2
Views
34
Chetlaham
Chetlaham

Latest posts

Back
Top