Harmonizing Wash Day

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gansky1

gansky1

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I saw an ad on CL late Saturday night for this Antique Washer (always search antiques on CL!) and my heart skipped a beat. A model WL-60 Frigidiaire washer from 1949. I emailed the seller and spent most of Sunday wringing my hands waiting for a response. The seller called me back and we made arrangements for me to drive out to pick it up today. The pictures weren't great in the ad but hoping for the best, I drove the 1 1/2 hours and was quite pleased to see it in person. Much better than I expected, other than some hard water and soap scum, it's in great shape overall and the mechanism turns freely and quiet. It will need a full shop & spa treatment before we can actually use it, of course.

The most interesting thing about this model is that it has a redesigned tub. It still uses the Harmonzier balancer mounted under the bottom of the tub but it was now a one-piece tub instead of the solid bowl with liner in earlier models. This is one of the missing links in the Frigidaire history that many of us knew existed but have never seen. To see a picture of the Harmonizer, follow the link. For those familiar with the Frigidaire tubs, you can see the rim of this tub is much different than the early white bowl shaped and the later with the weighted balance ring tubs used through the rest of the solid tub years.

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?16200
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Very nice looking find you managed to get a hold of.  Can't wait to see some vid's of your machine in operation when you get it all cleaned up and up to snuff. Good luck in your quest.

 
 
Greg, that is an awesome find!  It looks to be in fantastic cosmetic shape! 

 
 
Congratulations on a great find! This model with the new style tub was what I first saw with a neighbor who had a WL-60 and then again when my parents purchased a three unit building with a tenant with the exact same Frigidaire with the one piece tub. Our service Laundromat two blocks away from the family home also had a row of this model Frigidaire washer. I've never recalled seeing any advertising for this model Frigidaire with the one piece tub. Thanks for the memories.
 
Pretty spectacular condition, especially with consideration of age!

 

With regards to the balancing system, having watched the videos of these, and how unbalanced the spin is in its very initial stages, I had wondered whether the motor was mounted on springs, or perhaps the shaft had provisions to "bend and twist." The shot of the Harmonizer at least simplifies some of my interest in this - but I'm always interested in more! :D

 

This machine should come up a treat. Looking forward to the shots of the maiden wash!
 
Wow!  What an amazing find, Greg!  Congratulations!!  It sure looks in good shape and as if it had been well-cared for.  

 

Keep the photos coming!
 
Congrats Greg, now that you found the 1949 model with the original tub. We have never seen this first completey solid tub. Over the last 15 years we have now seen every type of early Frigidaire washer. This was the last fronteir to find. Other 1949 models had been found, but the tub had been replaced.

In my 1947 model there is a double lined perforated tub, in 1949 Frigidaire went to a completely solid tub but still had the spring balance system underneath the tub. In 1950 they moved the balance system into the top rim, simply by using weight.

Mine is the 1947 model WJ-47, this fabulous new find is the 1949 the WL-49.

Early%20Frigidaire%20Washer%20Chart.jpg
 
Interesting  how the balance system evolved.  Was one system better than the other?  Great "timeline" chart Robert, Thank You!

Great Find Greg! Congrats

-A

[this post was last edited: 8/13/2015-11:18]
 
Congratulations! What an absolutely incredible find. The fact that these are still out there simply blows my mind. Enjoy this machine.
 
RE: Balance system

It evolved as a cheaper alternative to a solid metal plate because the heavy stabilizer ring at the top of the tub was filled with steel filings which were essentially factory waste while the early harmonizer was a cast piece of metal.

In 2001 John and I transported a tub for a WO-65. We put it in the van on its side. BIG NO-NO. The filings shifted and the first time Robert went to use it, the unbalanced dynamic forces almost took out half of Minneapolis.
 
Tom, it does still have the flip-down wire support for drying out the machine, one of my favorite details about these. These flat-top machines were always wet around the edges of the top under the lid, despite the drain holes (blow holes during spin) little puddles always remained, especially if the machine wasn't level.

I have a couple of projects ahead of this, a Hotpoint and WP/KM but this guy will wait patiently for his turn. He's already been waiting for 44 years, a little longer won't hurt anything. I have not plugged it in to try it, I already saw the motor fan was loose and with the scarcity of parts for Unimatics what it is, there's no reason to risk wasting any for curiosity's sake.

gansky1-2015081406560405486_1.jpg
 
Congratulations Greg! 

That's a very interesting find! The cabinet looks very clean, no visible chips! 

 

I like that Whirlpool too!
 

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