Historic Maytag photograph - Wisconsin State Fair circa 1940

[bradross]

Came across this fantastic photo of the Maytag exhibit at the Wisconson State Fair. Note the brand new Model E front and center! Amazing to see the variety of models available - I can make out the Model 32 square tub (differs from the Model 30 with a round wringer head) and the round tub is possibly an N10. Also shown near center is an automatic ironing machine.

 

[combo52]

Maytag At The Wisconsin Fair

Great picture Brad, What year do you think this was ?

 

It is interesting that the new model E appears to be gray, did they do this to continue the Gray-Ghost legacy, I have never seen the model E in any color other than white and later avocado and pink.

 

John L.

 

[geoffdelp]

Oh my gosh, Brad; that's a great photo! Thank you for sharing!

There's the infamous gray Model E. I've read about those, but have never seen one. They used the same paint as the gray ghosts. I read that Maytag wanted to use up their paint stock. Very frugal. WOW! What color do you think the release bar is? Doesn't appear to be dark enough to be red. LOVE that photo!

 

[geoffdelp]

Date

John ... I'm betting the date is 1939 or 1940. I don't see any Model J's or N's in the photo; I think those were produced in 1940 until the start of WW II? Fun photo!

 

[mickeyd]

What a fun thing to wake up to, and Miller beer, too! LOL.

Thanks for the intel: being a black and white photo, thought the E might be a pink.

 

[bradross]

Date is probably August 1940

According to Volume 2 of the Maytag Collector's Club manual, production of the "E" started in late October 1939. Therefore, the earliest date of the photo could be the following August, in time for the Wisconsin State Fair.

Another interesting note from the manual: The last gray Model E was serial # 109528-L and was produced Dec 11, 1940. Initially, the models were "ELW" for white, or "ELG" for gray. The "L" designated electric, or "M" for multi-motor (gasoline). Later when gray was no longer offered, the "W" and "G" were dropped.

Mystery solved on the round tub machine on the left - it is a Model 108 (Jan.1939 - Apr 1941). Notice that the wringer head is not typical. It was, in fact, outsourced and made of sheet metal, not cast.
The all-white round tub on the right is probably a Model 110 (Jul 1934 - Jul 1939). They were typically painted blue-green with a tan lid, but some of the last production models were all white. (this information courtesy of Volume Two, again).

 

[tomturbomatic]

Great Photo! Thanks

How long did Maytag offer the cabinet washer with the cylinder in the tank with the wringer at the end? I thought of that and the Bendix whenever Maytag tried to say they were introducing the horizontal axis washer with the Neptune.

 

[bradross]

Volume One should provide more details...

Does anybody have a copy of the Maytag Collector's Club "Conventional Washers Volume One"? I only have Volume Two, which doesn't cover anything in detail before the Model 70, which debuted in 1920 (offering the first cast aluminum tub).

There is an index in Volume Two showing cabinet models 50, 56, and 57, with production dates from 1918 - 1923.

 

[mickeyd]

Here you go, Brad ~

43 bucks, postpaid in Wisconsin.

http://www.maytagclub.com/page-15.htm

 

[tomturbomatic]

Thank you for the dates, Brad and thank you for the name of the book, Michael.

 

[neptunebob]

The gray one in the back that is smaller than the others, it that aimed toward a (rare at the time) small family?

 

[bradross]

Neptunebob

If you're referring to the back of the exhibit, I see two Model 32s, which were considered the "top of the line" before the debut of the Model E. This was an upgrade to the Model 30 and the last of the "Gray Ghost" line.

Perhaps you're thinking they look smaller because they're in the background.

 

[electronicontrl]

Hi Brad,

Thanks for the pic.