GYROFOAM GOES FISHIN !!!

[westytoploader]

That GE looks like the first belt-drive design since it has a removeable lid. IIRC the AW6's had fixed, hinged lids.

 

[user 12105]

Excellent finds!! Love the Kelvinator control panel and that 55 Whirlpool. Maytags are beauts too!!

Congrats big time!

Pat

 

[filterflo]

BTW Mark, I love the close up of the Kelvy control panel that shows the two red M M. The Magic Minute! thanks for posting the pics.............

 

[peteski50]

Great Finds!

Love the catches. That is some smokin Kelvinator. To bad it doesnt have a window. I love that 55 Whirlpool.
Best of Luck
Peter

 

[gansky1]

Great finds guys - I've got my pole and bait ready, let me know when the next fishing trip is!!

 

[tlee618]

Hi Mark, Congratulations on such great finds. Love the Kelvinator and those controls. The GE's bring back so many good memories for me as this was the first automatic washer and dryer that my mom had. It's like turning the clock back 50 years! Thanks so much for sharing with us. Terry

 

[gyrafoam]

WOW!

What a surprise this fishin trip was! I had originally been contacted about the Kelvy and a Kenmore "Frog-Eye" Cycla-Fabric. I was headed up to see Mark on Thursday morning and I made a slight detour to go check out the machines. It was when I was taken to a remote warehouse in the woods that I discovered all these machines. There were no windows left in the building so everything had been exposed for a long time. Fortunatly MOSTLY dust accumulation.

Among some of the other machines were a few other "frog-eye" Kenmore washers, a Westy slant-front with the turquoise bakelite decorative area over the window, and a beautiful white porcelain tub---late '50's? A few very early '50's Kenmore's in rough shape. An early '50's Whirly 24in. washer with a straight-vane agitator. And a cool '50's Whirly with an early example of the spring-loaded lid release that has a red bakelite agitator.

The '54 AMP was in real good if dusty condition. The interior is real nice. The Kenmore Cycla-Fabric has a pregnant "Roto-Swirl" and a nice interior. The '55 Whirly also has a very nice interior and should clean up well.

The real prize though was the Kelvy. The interior is in good condition with everything in place. The agitator does have some issues but is still usable. The tub is very nice. The machine will need a major clean up though.

Needless to say I got the Kelvy paid for and on my truck before the seller could change his mind! Due to space constraints on my truck I called Mark for re-enforcements and he came right away with his large trailer and we loaded it up.

All in all the machines are ones that should clean up nice although they will need some serious restoration. Certainly enough to keep ALL of us busy for quite a while. What a fun day!!!!!!!!!!

I plan a few more "fishin" trips this summer. I hope my luck continues! --Steve

 

[kenmore1978]

So where

was all this stuff located? Did you just stumble upon it?

 

[DADoES]

The "Dial" lever on the Kelvy is the timer. It's spring-loaded, cranks downward to rotate/set the timer cylinder. Then 'turn' the lever knob to the right (or left, I forget which) for on/off (equivalent to push/pull on a rotary timer). I remember once when Granny was actually using the Kelvy (she still had the 1950s Kenmore and was using both of them), she completely forgot how to turn the Kelvy on, how to turn the lever sideways. She called my dad, and he and I both talked to her, and we had a terrible time getting her to understand how to do it.

The timer is a cylinder with cycle markings that move across from left to right as it progresses.

The "Cycle" knob (load size) is on upside down.

 

[Brent-Aucoin]

Steve you are a great fisherman!

Steve,
That is quite a few super finds!
I just love the Kelvy! They are in really good shape being that they sat so long.
Your hard work is really paying off! You are finding some real gems!
Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!
Brent

 

[geodon2000]

I've waited years for my magic minute...

Steve, honey...
Hurry home so we can play...
Contractors are here expanding my laundry lounge as we speak...
I've got the Jubilee and polishing cloths in hand...
Geodon

 

[frontaloadotmy]

VINTAGE GLUT!!!!

I "live" for these kinds of threads!
Feenominal!!!

 

[Unimatic1140]

Congrats You Guys

Wow, this is a fabulous find you guys, that '58 Kelvinator is super cool, as well as the GE and the other machines. Looking forward to seeing some action shots!

 

[gansky1]

Beautiful washer - one of my favorite POD's. Congrats on the great finds, it's always more fun to "need" a trailer for appliance hunting!

 

[gregm]

wow, amazing

great finds, congrads !!!! I love the Kelvi, WP and GE

 

[lightedcontrols]

THANKS!!!

Gansky! Thanks for the ad. Seems like there's a lot to do with that baby to get her looking like that! Mark

 

[gyrafoam]

Thanks Greg, for posting that ad. It will take plenty of cosmetic work and before too long we should have a really nice vintage Kelvy looking almost as pretty as the one in the ad.

Interesting looking little cap on top of the agitator. The cap is currently missing-----I did not see anything like that lying around the machine where I found it. At least the little lint filter survived!

 

[lesto]

Wow! What a haul! Can't wait to see some pics of the controls and interiors of the other machines. The Whirlpools with the red agitators are rare indeed.

 

[frigilux]

I've never seen a Kelvinator with a lint filter before! Does it work like a burp-u-lator? I didn't notice a GE-style water feed to it. And since it's a solid tub machine, the suds saver water must return through a hole at the bottom of the tub under the agitator, maybe? Very cool machine! Congrats for all the 'fish' you caught----we won't turn you in for exceeding the limit!

Gansky--thanks for posting the pic of the '58 Kelvinators. I hadn't seen them before.

 

[rickr]

nice catch

Great finds there guys! Looks like they were rescued just in time. I would love to see some detailed photos of those machines,as is.

Thanks,
Rick