"Gray Ghost" Maytag wringer washer - finally!

[bradross]

I finally made it to the Hardware Hank store in Early, Iowa while on a 2-1/2 week road trip throughout the mid-west. Bought a model 30 that seems to be in good physical shape but is not running. Now the job of restoring it to hopefully working order. First off, I need the bakelite control knob... any ideas? Then I'll need to get a new motor. Unfortunately, the proprietor, Dick, doesn't have the inventory he once had. Some of you may remember a thread showing his yard FULL of old wringer washers.

 

[qsd-dan]

Motor

If it's an original GE motor, those are very reliable. Take it apart and see if the brushes are still good.

 

I scored a 1921 Model 80 that sat for over 50 years. Still had the original GE motor. Filled up both oil ports with turbine oil and let it soak in while I installed a new cord. Fired right up and ran very quiet and smooth.

 

Finding the Bakelite knob might be chore, but I see parts for those Model 30's on Ebay quite often.

 

[mickeyd]

HI Brad, HI Dan

You've heard of Phil from Ovid NY, I imagine?

 

They say he has everything and an attitude to match.

 

Sells and ships through ebay, if memory serves. His phone and email are available in one of the threads.

 

 

 

[launderall]

Ford Model A

If I remember right the transmission gear shift is the same knob Ford used on the Model A. I was Maytag know it all, and remember I thought they were the same. Check out on EBAY.

 

[qsd-dan]

<a name="start_42096.619937">If I remember right the transmission gear shift is the same knob Ford used on the Model A.</a>

 

Wow, now that you mention it, I think it was!

 

It sure looks the same as the gear shift knob in my grandfathers old '32 Model A.

 

[stan]

Brad

Think Dans got the right idea about the motor! get it apart and check, Sure would hurt to try!
Your going to show pics, right LOL

 

[eddy1210]

Wow, what a trip Brad!  I'll have to come over and see it, I'll call you this weekend.

 

[wringer]

Hi Brad,

I am envious of your new find !!! I have an outlet for Maytag parts from a Father and Son Amish restorer's. They may just possibly have something you need. They have over 200 white E, J and N's that they will restore and sell. I know they have an older round model and also a "grey ghost" but don't know if they have any parts. If you need something that the famous Phil does not have they may have it. As stated above, Phil is a great guy. I have bought lots of parts from him and he is a wealth of knowledge and very nice. If you need Phil's phone numbers or email let me know and I will forward them to you. Also, let me know if down the road you have a part you can't find and I will see if I can help you out from the Amish. Best of luck in your restoration.

Jim

 

[mickeyd]

Thanks, Jim

I couldn't remember which member knew both Tag men contacts, Phil in Ovid and the Amish guys in Shelby. I'll remember henceforth. Couldn't be any easier.

 

Duh! and Doi! ummmmm WRINGER, lol

 

I need a new foot (wheel &stud) for the Cadillac.

 

[wringer]

???

New foot for the Cadillac???????????????? That went over my head LOL. I need further splanation as Ricky would say LOL

Jim

 

[mickeyd]

Jim

How bout a "low-jical splanation," as that crazy Cuban would say. The machines have names: Commander, etc. Even the Blue Bell has a military name. I don't know them, so I just call my TOL a cadillac: you know, chrome switch, aluminmum crown, pump, hinged lid, the Caddy of the Maytags.

 

The machine is held up on one leg by a nice brick because one of the legs is missing a wheel, and the stump that slides into the leg. High time I broke down and got a new "foot" or tire is probably what I should have called it for my cadillac. If someone reveals the military names, I'll learn them this time.

 

dddddricky dddddricardo.

 

[wringer]

LOL

The E is the Master, the J is the Commander and the N is the Chieftain. Please don't ask me why they were named as such. It is much easier to just say E, J and N and of course the NX or Blue Belle (which I want badly !!!!). LOL
Again, it went right over my head until you splaned it .

Jim

 

[gansky1]

You were this close and didn't stop?? Awww, it would have been fun to meet you and see the Hardware Hank again. Did he say what happened to his inventory? He used to have a huge storage "warehouse" a few blocks from the store, did he show you that? Perhaps that's gone now, they had a pretty bad storm and tornado a couple of years ago and it's been ages since I've been up there.

There are lots of these Gray Ghost washers still around, you shouldn't have too much trouble finding the parts you need.

 

[qsd-dan]

Just in case the motor is a lost cause...

http://saltlakecity.craigslist.org/clt/3173739609.html

 

[bradross]

Great info everybody!

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions and info! I'll keep you all updated with the restoration progress. Also, will post some pics when I get home. Eddy - I see I missed your call. I'll call you Tuesday. Greg - sorry I was pressed for time and couldn't stop on Omaha... I did think about it since I was so close. Hopefully another time.

 

[bradross]

Update on the restoration of the Model 30

Amazingly, as Dan suggested, the motor fired right up after spraying some "Liquid Wrench" around the pulley and drive shaft. This particular motor is marked "Maytag - Mfg for the Maytag Company built by Delco Products Corp., Div. of General Motors Corp, Dayton, Ohio".

The original belt is still serviceable, although a little frayed. Not bad for 79 years! After cleaning the pulleys and lubricating a few points, the agitator works just fine. However...potential big problem with the wringer gear assembly. The drive shaft for the lower wringer is seized. I'm trying to loosen it up with Liquid Wrench. Also, the hexagonal drive shaft on the bottom roller is stripped - not sure how I'm going to deal with that, short of sourcing a new roller. I'm going to check with a local machine shop to see if it can be repaired.

I've ordered a new bakelite knob from a dealer on eBay - the same as on a Ford Model A gear shift!

Photos and video of the restoration will be in a new Flickr album ... link attached.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44623676@N05/sets/72157631408305146/

 

[bradross]

Video of new acquisition - Model 30 "Gray Ghost"

For anybody interested, I've posted a preliminary video of the Model 30 I recently acquired.

I'll post another video soon, showing the agitator in operation.

 

[bradross]

Part 2 - Restoration Video

Hello everybody...just did a second video of the restoration process, showing the old washer in action!

 

[stan]

So far so good!

Nice little project Brad.

Motor sounds great!

I'll be waiting to see more.

 

[bradross]

Video Part 3 now on YouTube

Washing a load! Drove down to Bellingham, Washington today to get two wringer assemblies from Lehmann's Maytag store - incidentally, the oldest Maytag dealer on the west coast and 4th oldest in the U.S.A. Third generation owner, Terry Lehmann, was most helpful and enthusiastic about my restoration project. He happened to have some parts from old machines hanging around, so I bought 2 wringer heads. Switched out the gear box and attached it to my existing wringer head and it works like a charm.

Part 4 will be uploaded to YouTube tomorrow - it shows the wringer in action. That will be all the video for a while - now that it's operational, I'll concentrate on aesthetic aspects of the restoration - shining up the aluminum, sanding off old paint, etc, in preparation for painting. Not sure yet what I'll do for paint - probably use something like Krylon. Can't imagine I'll be able to match that authentic gray/green color.

Enjoy the vids!

 

[e2l-arry]

Hi Brad

I used something called Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish on the crown of my E2L and it really worked great at finishing it out after you've used steel wool, SOS or whatever else the gets the top layer of gunk and corrosion off. You can buy the stuff at any Auto parts store.

The project really looks good!

Larry

 

[bradross]

Amazing paint color find -

Just had to post this, I'm so excited! Didn't think I'd be able to come close to matching the original Maytag green color, short of having the machine custom painted. Amazingly, "Valspar" spray paint makes a color called "Leaf Rising" which is almost identical to the original color.

I've painted the lid (easy part!), now for the rest of the machine (hard part!)

 

[mixfinder]

Gasoline

Grandma bought her first Maytag with a gasoline engine from a door to door salesman in 1933. Years later it was converted to electricity and it was my mom's first washer when we got running water in 1963.

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

WOW Brad that is aewsome!   CONGRATS on your "Ghost" find!

 

YAY!

 

Kevin

 

[stan]

Brad

did you have a lot of sanding/ did you have to prim? I'll be interested in how you think the the paint goes on, and how durable you think it is! (never used Valspar)

 

[bradross]

Stan

I did completely sand off the old paint and corrosion off the lid. The Valspar paint goes on very smoothly and dries quickly. However, I think it will take several days to completely "cure", as it still seems slightly soft - as in, it will scratch with a finger nail right now. Hopefully it will cure completely hard. I'll keep you posted!

 

[stan]

Brad

I'm guessing that this paint is new to you, and I'm also guessing that your going to wait to see how the lid turns out before moving on to the body LOL

A suggestion would be to sand and "prime" (maybe a scratch filling primer) a section, on say the back part of the wringer, or some small part, and then paint. Just to see if it affects drying and curing, and of course final look!

Great color match!
do you have decals for it!

Had a chance to get one of these a few years back for $20.00 and passed it up because of the gravity drain. The next day I thought OMG I could have added a electric pump, with a hidden switch!

Now I want one (model 30) just make that happen LOL

 

[geoffdelp]

Brad ... this is an amazing restoration, also!! WOW ... can't believe how close you got to the color. It was sort of a green/gray. I think, through the years, Maytag altered the color to become more gray than green toward the end of production. There was even a gray E when they first started making them (haven't seen one ... just read about it).

I think the Maytag Collector's Club still has a member who sells the water transfer decals.

Great job and it looks like a solid runner, too!!

CONGRATS and ENJOY!!

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Nice catch, Brad. There is always something neat about the Ghosts! I, too, will be watching with interest how the great paint experiment ends up as there is a good possibility that a gas powered Ghost may be in my future ( fingers crossed here...).

If anything, it's a great find as you managed to get the elusive Mr. Delp to make a rare appearance! We miss ya, Geoff! Please don't be such a stranger ;^)

RCD

 

[wringer]

Yes Brad,

All Maytag decals are still available through a guy who advertises in the Maytag Collectors Club. I have bought a few from him. Just google the club and you will find the it. I am a member of the club so if you can't find it please let me know and I will send you the addy. I am very envious of you !!!!

Jim