Help choosing a vintage Maytag

[simplyjh]

Hello,
I am considering purchasing a Maytag washer/dryer set and would like advice on choosing and evaluating a couple of options for sale from private sellers. Both pairs are described as being in working order.

The first pair are washer model #A490 series 04, and dryer model #D6512 series 02. The pair is priced at $250 and cosmetically looks near mint. The dryer is natural gas and would need to be converted to propane. Are propane conversion kits still readily available for these? I looked around and the cost appears to be around $30 assuming I can find the correct kit. The distance to pick up is 1 hour 10 minutes.

The second pair are washer model #A482, dryer model #DG482. The look very similar to the first set. Cosmetically a few minor imperfections. Priced at $200 for the pair. This dryer is already set up to run on propane. The distance to pick up is 1 hour 50 minutes in the opposite direction from the first pair.

It will not be practical to go and see both units before choosing.

 

[simplyjh]

Sorry, I must have hit "post" before I had a change to attack the second photo.

The photo in the original post is of pair one.

A photo of second pair is attached here.

 

[combo52]

Both pairs are fairly equal. I guess I would try to find out more information from the sellers if they can give you an estimate as to how much use the machines had the one that had much less use would be a better pair, it certainly advantage the one that’s already converted to propane. Also, if you had no other information to go on, I’d probably get that pair.

 

[pierreandreply4]

if luck is with you you might also be able to fine a model that will give you a warm rinse as well as wash spin selector

 

[phillymatt53]

Ah!
Someone's unloading those?
I'd never let mine go!
LOL

 

[qsd-dan]

Crazy the prices these are bringing in now, I think people are finally waking up to quality washers/dryers and charging higher prices. 10-15 years ago, a set like this would go for $50 or less, including so many free ones. I knew waaay back then this would eventually happen, too bad so many of these got crushed before the public woke up. All of the "upgraded" junk that replaced these 20+ years ago have all been crushed long ago.

The 482 and 490 are pretty much identical and are the Montgomery Wards version of the A412. The matching dryer to the 490 (probably a DG612) is a higher end unit (upper MOL) compared to the DG482 (MOL).

 

[phillymatt53]

Crazy the prices these are bringing in now, I think people are finally waking up to quality washers/dryers and charging higher prices. 10-15 years ago, a set like this would go for $50 or less, including so many free ones. I knew waaay back then this would eventually happen, too bad so many of these got crushed before the public woke up. All of the "upgraded" junk that replaced these 20+ years ago have all been crushed long ago.

The 482 and 490 are pretty much identical and are the Montgomery Wards version of the A412. The matching dryer to the 490 (probably a DG612) is a higher end unit (upper MOL) compared to the DG482 (MOL).

I totally agree with you there, Dan!
And not only are major appliances affected, but the home entertainment crowd has been increasingly interested in vintage hifi equipment of the past.
I saw this when I worked at the shop.
besides doing repairs, we also had a large display in the lobby area with vintage stereo equipment. - and it had no problems finding a new home for someone.
Receivers, Amplifiers, turntables, you name it - people wanted that Golden Era quality.

 

[simplyjh]

Thanks for the info. I will probably go with the propane set and can probably get them for less than the asking price. Are these still a good value at this age? I am hoping to keep them in service for many more years without too much maintenance work.

I have had terrible luck with newer washers over the past 15 years. Amana, Kenmore, Samsung, and Maytag. All of them with frequent electronic failures.

The alternative plan would be to purchase used but newer Speed Queens which I know are also good machines, but they pull higher prices on the used market.

 

[combo52]

You can probably keep a pair like this running for quite a few years, but they will likely require some repair work, it’s really important to find out how much use they’ve had and of course the other question I’m gonna ask you is how many loads a week do you run, you’re not gonna run 10 to 20 loads a week through these Maytag without having some problems in the next few years unless they were just totally unused machines.

Good luck and you’re in the right place if you do have problems, there are lots of other experts here in addition to myself of course.

John L

 

[simplyjh]

I have asked about the propane pair's use as I am dealing directly with the original owner. She says 5-6 loads/week. Assuming the machines have been in use since 1988, that would give us 9,620-11,544 loads.

The other set was just acquired as part of a house purchase and so the gentleman only knows that they are working well today. Their history is unknown.

I have a good sized family and we probably do close to 10 loads per week.

A new or used Speed Queen is not out of the question for us. Used ones are selling from $350-500 in our market. Maybe I could get a better deal if I am patient.

I have a working washer for now and two working dryers, one of which is a very well built 1970's GE.

I would like to non-urgently upgrade our washer and keep the older one as a back up so that we have something to use when maintenance issues arise.

 

[phillymatt53]

I have asked about the propane pair's use as I am dealing directly with the original owner. She says 5-6 loads/week. Assuming the machines have been in use since 1988, that would give us 9,620-11,544 loads.

The other set was just acquired as part of a house purchase and so the gentleman only knows that they are working well today. Their history is unknown.

I have a good sized family and we probably do close to 10 loads per week.

A new or used Speed Queen is not out of the question for us. Used ones are selling from $350-500 in our market. Maybe I could get a better deal if I am patient.

I have a working washer for now and two working dryers, one of which is a very well built 1970's GE.

I would like to non-urgently upgrade our washer and keep the older one as a back up so that we have something to use when maintenance issues arise.

The previous owners of my home purchased the A482 washer and matching DG482 dryer in 1987.
They had 3 children, so I'm guessing those appliances got typical use.
Since I became the new homeowner 20 years ago, those machines are still performing like they should.