stricklybojack
Well-known member
.
Does anyone here have a set?
Did they even exist?
Does anyone here have a set?
Did they even exist?
Frigidaire High Fashion Washer & Dryer
- Thread starter stricklybojack
- Start date
Help Support :
Now that's interesting, never heard of anything like it. I do remember the Maytag dryer cabinets that you could hand up laundry to dry. They came on strong then dissapeared fairly quickly, but never for washers.
I saw this exact set, in the same color, at the Texas State Fair GM Pavilion in 1968 or 1969 in Dallas. I was fascinated because the wash & spin speeds were variable.
A dryer was on eBay near San Antonio in March 2014. There was no follow-up that anyone in the group had gotten it.
vacerator
Well-known member
I think they also
made a range with a glass electric warming shelf, as did Tappan, and Magic Chef also. I remember one also in Sears about 1972-73. Likely made by Roper.
made a range with a glass electric warming shelf, as did Tappan, and Magic Chef also. I remember one also in Sears about 1972-73. Likely made by Roper.
passatdoc
Well-known member
The presence of clocks on both units makes me wonder if the machines had delay wash and/or delay dry features. Sort of reminds me of todays FL pedestals, except they are above the washer. Controls up front and raised, as in today's FLs.
The presence of clocks on both units
Jim, those are the timer dial displays, not clocks. I personally found this style/design difficult to read.
Jim, those are the timer dial displays, not clocks. I personally found this style/design difficult to read.
brucelucenta
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2013
- Messages
- 1,924
These were two steps up from the set that I had. Mine was a WCIL AND DCIL. There was a washing machine a step up from the WCIL, which I think was a WXN or WXL. I have forgotten which model number it was, but it had an actual variable speed control that would adjust from super slow to fast. I never actually saw one of these other than in the parts book at the parts supplier. Then these models pictured were the very top models and also have the variable speed control also. The others were just your basic washer body design.
realvanman
Well-known member
Variable speed
How did they accomplish that?
Keith
How did they accomplish that?
Keith
twintubdexter
Well-known member
Yep, I remember these...
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">...and the standard console washer & dryer. I thought the variable speed control was totally cool. The red vertical speed indicator that moved up and down the window was so much more "high-tech" than a plain old knob. The store I worked at while in school was San Jose's Frigidaire headquarters so I'm sure they sold a number of the variable-speed laundry appliances. I saw what came in for servicing, which were most of these. The electronic module on the motor that allowed the machine to operate at the correct torque at very low speeds was a complex thing that often failed. If you're a light-up nut like me both of the variable speed models were spectacular to see.</span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">...and the standard console washer & dryer. I thought the variable speed control was totally cool. The red vertical speed indicator that moved up and down the window was so much more "high-tech" than a plain old knob. The store I worked at while in school was San Jose's Frigidaire headquarters so I'm sure they sold a number of the variable-speed laundry appliances. I saw what came in for servicing, which were most of these. The electronic module on the motor that allowed the machine to operate at the correct torque at very low speeds was a complex thing that often failed. If you're a light-up nut like me both of the variable speed models were spectacular to see.</span>
Don't it always seem to go...
Here was an ad that showed some of what y'all are talking about.
I believe the Rollermatics were scrapped in the next model year for the new 1-18's. But Consumer's Reports were skewering them by harping on their shortcomings without any consideration for what Frigidaire's were good at. Pity. I like the 1-18's but they were lightweights (literally) compared to their predecessors.
I think that CU might have been responsible for the demise of many great lines of appliances by pretending to be using truly objective scientific methods instead of an annually changing list of "do's and don't s" ("Backsplash trim judged somewhat hard to clean", e.g.). They remind me of Christopher Kimball's pretentious "Cook's Illustrated" magazine.
Here was an ad that showed some of what y'all are talking about.
I believe the Rollermatics were scrapped in the next model year for the new 1-18's. But Consumer's Reports were skewering them by harping on their shortcomings without any consideration for what Frigidaire's were good at. Pity. I like the 1-18's but they were lightweights (literally) compared to their predecessors.
I think that CU might have been responsible for the demise of many great lines of appliances by pretending to be using truly objective scientific methods instead of an annually changing list of "do's and don't s" ("Backsplash trim judged somewhat hard to clean", e.g.). They remind me of Christopher Kimball's pretentious "Cook's Illustrated" magazine.
toploader55
Well-known member
Reply 10, Photo 2...
Can you imagine trying to eat and have a conversation with a 1-18 over your head ??? LOL
Especially if they were not "Custom Sound Insulated".
Can you imagine trying to eat and have a conversation with a 1-18 over your head ??? LOL
Especially if they were not "Custom Sound Insulated".
Huh?
Very Cool Appliances
Hi Eddy I wondered the same thing about eating breakfast with a roller-matic pounding away right above you, LOL.
I would love to find a variable speed Hi-Fashion washer and dryer, problem was as mentioned the variable speed clutch and electronic control was very problematic.
I did find a NIB updated complete clutch and speed control kit so if one of these machines finds its way here there is a chance the world will see one work again.
The matching dryer was very neat as well, not only did it use a completely electronic control [ made by Texas Instruments, same control that was used on Kenmore dryers from 1965-68 ], but in addition these CI FD dryers had a two speed motor and dual heating element that ran at a slower speed and slightly lower wattage when you pushed the small load button.
By far the most durable [ IMEO ] FD automatic Washers were the 1961-63 and then the FD 1-18s after about the first two years of production. The solid tub roller- matic machines were not robust enough and had too many roller, spin clutch and agitate arm failures.
John L.
Hi Eddy I wondered the same thing about eating breakfast with a roller-matic pounding away right above you, LOL.
I would love to find a variable speed Hi-Fashion washer and dryer, problem was as mentioned the variable speed clutch and electronic control was very problematic.
I did find a NIB updated complete clutch and speed control kit so if one of these machines finds its way here there is a chance the world will see one work again.
The matching dryer was very neat as well, not only did it use a completely electronic control [ made by Texas Instruments, same control that was used on Kenmore dryers from 1965-68 ], but in addition these CI FD dryers had a two speed motor and dual heating element that ran at a slower speed and slightly lower wattage when you pushed the small load button.
By far the most durable [ IMEO ] FD automatic Washers were the 1961-63 and then the FD 1-18s after about the first two years of production. The solid tub roller- matic machines were not robust enough and had too many roller, spin clutch and agitate arm failures.
John L.
brucelucenta
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2013
- Messages
- 1,924
combo52
I had actually forgotten about the 2 speed dryer. Back in the day, I used that feature many times on the weekend for just a couple of items to get ready and go out to the bars. It worked wonderfully well too! That was the best damn dryer I EVER used or had. Wish it had been larger capacity.
I had actually forgotten about the 2 speed dryer. Back in the day, I used that feature many times on the weekend for just a couple of items to get ready and go out to the bars. It worked wonderfully well too! That was the best damn dryer I EVER used or had. Wish it had been larger capacity.
norgeway
Well-known member
re 61 to 63 Frigidaires..
Right on that imo, My Aunt had a 63 Custom Imperial that was abused mightily and still ran 17 years...of course we had a 69 solid tub roller matic that ran almost 18 and was still working, just not spinning as well as it once had, but it was never overloaded or treated rough, that old 63 Aunt Mabel had was in the basement and if it got out of balance she paid it no attention, it beat holes in the concrete floor over the years! and if the bellows had not gone bad, she would have used it right on..it still ran fine!Wish I had sense enough to keep it.
Right on that imo, My Aunt had a 63 Custom Imperial that was abused mightily and still ran 17 years...of course we had a 69 solid tub roller matic that ran almost 18 and was still working, just not spinning as well as it once had, but it was never overloaded or treated rough, that old 63 Aunt Mabel had was in the basement and if it got out of balance she paid it no attention, it beat holes in the concrete floor over the years! and if the bellows had not gone bad, she would have used it right on..it still ran fine!Wish I had sense enough to keep it.
laundromat
Well-known member
I had the dryer in white but not the washer. I did have the XP model .An infinite speed Jet Action with a window lid,a bright,silver emblem on top of the agitator cap and liquid detergent/fabric softener dispensers built in to the back panel. It had agitation and spin speeds you could "tune in"to set the agitation speeds from soak to 330 bpm or spin speeds from 75rpm to 1010. The clutch was plastic and wore out causing expensive repairs. The High Fashion model retailed at $899 for the washer and $799 for the dryer which had two tumble speeds and a water dispenser to sprinkle clothes prior to ironing them. They also made the High Fashion range that had a shelf with keep warm red lights to keep food warm and Electraclean oven. I think all the HF appliances were from 1965 till 1968. I hope somebody here finds a set because these are the rare and would be great to have in the club collection.
I am doing well but have a few bumps and scrapes from a bike accident I'm getting home care from a great nurse from Kaiser who visits every other day to clean and wrap the wound from foot surgery a few weeks ago in Oahu. She is a vegan and grows her own weed.
I am doing well but have a few bumps and scrapes from a bike accident I'm getting home care from a great nurse from Kaiser who visits every other day to clean and wrap the wound from foot surgery a few weeks ago in Oahu. She is a vegan and grows her own weed.
<blockquote>
Reply 10, Photo 2...
Can you imagine trying to eat and have a conversation with a 1-18 over your head ??? LOL
Especially if they were not "Custom Sound Insulated".
</blockquote>
I'm more concerned, how they got those two machines up that thing that appears to be slightly larger than a ladder. Someone else's back.
Reply 10, Photo 2...
Can you imagine trying to eat and have a conversation with a 1-18 over your head ??? LOL
Especially if they were not "Custom Sound Insulated".
</blockquote>
I'm more concerned, how they got those two machines up that thing that appears to be slightly larger than a ladder. Someone else's back.
mixguy
Well-known member
Washer's Achilles Heel
Besides being so expensive, the variable speed feature led to the discontinuing this model. Make you wonder if any extensive testing was done to check durability. This washer model was discussed before. These feature ladden models have more accessories that are prone to be more troublesome than anything else. Reminds me of the first microprocessor controlled blenders and food processors introduced by Hamilton Beach and a touch panel Versatronic Toaster oven offered by GE.
Besides being so expensive, the variable speed feature led to the discontinuing this model. Make you wonder if any extensive testing was done to check durability. This washer model was discussed before. These feature ladden models have more accessories that are prone to be more troublesome than anything else. Reminds me of the first microprocessor controlled blenders and food processors introduced by Hamilton Beach and a touch panel Versatronic Toaster oven offered by GE.
