How well do you know...

[Designgeek]

Thanks you just cleared up another mystery for me. My fridge has a TruCold label on it with that logo, and my oven has the same logo but says Menu Magic. (The fridge should be replaced or seriously reconditioned or something, it is also too big for the space it's crammed into, and really inefficient; this being rental property I can't just go replace it at will.)

So the MW logo is actually Montgomery Wards. Aha, that solves that.

I wonder where the Wards used to be in the Oakland area. I don't recall there being one here since I got here (1983). Hmm.

 

[gansky1]

This Gibson is the same as that Kelvinator...

Oh Robert, I'll bring you the GR Manufacturing Kelvinator that I brought home from Iowa last year - then you'll get to see it in action.

It's a very Franklin machine but has elements of Maytag design in the mechanism as well. I've been working on that washer in the last couple of weeks and have gotten it to run OK but it needs a new pump as it pumps water out the drain hose while it's washing. The filter recirculation is very splashy, my lint filter has the softener dispenser in the center of it so water tends to spray everywhere. I'm saving it long enough to play with next week when Steve (gyrofoam) and Kim are here so we'll take some pictures to show. The strangest thing is that these machines do not have an indexing tub like Westinghouse and other Franklins. They also have a tub brake that stops the spin "on a dime" so are rather unique. The agitator with those angel-wing fins on the top is very powerful and it seems like it would do a pretty good job washing. Holding true to Franklin tradition, it's a rather cheaply made machine, very loud while agitating and quite splasy and therefore messy - under the lid, tub ring, etc. were filthy! Given all that, it earns the nickname of "Kelvi-Pig."

 

[spinout]

Who's the real shady?

I'm curious about this one. The Franklin and TL Westinghouse (WCI) are two very different designs. So this is a Franklin tranny? How about a pic. Thanks

 

[Unimatic1140]

Oh Robert, I'll bring you the GR Manufacturing Kelvinator that I brought home from Iowa last year

YAY. Perfect Greg, I'll send my 1947 Frigidaire to the crusher to make room for this new Franklin.

 

[cvillewasherbo]

the tub in the pic clearly has holes in it.

 

[Bryan71]

Would love it...

I for one would love to see pics or video of this machine running with and without the filter/dispenser.

 

[jetcone]

You'll do nothing of the kind MISTER!

That 1947 STAYS PUT! PERIOD!

 

[appnut]

Why should it stay Jon? It's only a Unimatic. Those were such aweful machines!!!

(Ducks & hobbles)

 

[westytoploader]

WOW, a TUB BRAKE in your GR-Kelvinator Greg?? How cool is that!! I never once thought that a Franklin machine would be equipped with one; that angel-wing agitator must be especially splashy with a stationary tub! It will be interesting to see if it indexes sympathetically or not, but the way you put it, the brake stops fast and has a pretty strong grip on the tub? And is the agitator speed comparable to that of Robert's Wizard?

That will be definitely one to hang onto; good luck with the pump. Is there a leaky valve or compartment in the pump (something that has to do with the recirculation) that is causing it to pump water out of the drain hose during agitation?

--Austin

 

[gansky1]

Austin, I think the agitator speed is about the same as Robert's "Pig" Wizard, but the tub and agitator are much larger of course. There isn't any sympathetic index to the tub, the brake does hold it pretty tight.

This will not be a permanent addition to the collection - only to play with for a while. I've tried to reseal and tweak the pump twice now and it's still pumping water out. I'm only interested in the playtime value of this machine so I won't put a new pump on it (if one could even be found) and plan on sending this washer on it's way very soon.