I bought a "Fabric Matic" 😀

[paulwash]

Niagara Falls Craigslist I thought hmmm not a fan of Maytag washers because they are not dramatic enough for me. Also short rinse cycle yet long spray rinse during the first spin. Anyways the washer sounded quite during the demonstration at sellers house. My question is how old is this particular model? And could it be used as a daily driver? I'm a whirlpool, sears kenmore, kitchen aid, fridgidaire jet cone, Norge, older speed queen, filter flow guy.. I like drama, splashing, and noise. Maytags are boring. I've always had bad luck with them too at other homes of ny family members. However I remember an older NICE woman across the street that had an older maytag with 4 adult children in the home. She used that maytag washer with rinso powder at leaste ten times a week. She also had a bol kenmore dryer with lots of bounce sheets in the early 80's I heard that maytag humming away a lot. I'm looking for encouragement that I made the right choice. Tell me what year this is.

 

[DADoES]

 
Cite the serial number so the experts can decode the details.

 

[rp2813]

Could this be an orbital machine?  Something looks different about the agitator, but I'm used to seeing white ones in orbitals.

 

Based on the console scheme, I'd guess machine falls into the early 1980s to 1985 range.

 

[brucelucenta]

It may not be dramatic, something I can fully relate to, but it will wash, rinse and spin better than most anything else and last forever......Not an orbital machine. It has the long stroke and is one speed.

 

[maytag85]

That was similar to my first Maytag I bought in September of 2015, but unfortunately the motor died (the motor looked liked it was replaced some time in the 90's). It had the short tub, and was standard capacity, but it did a good job at cleaning! Two speed Maytag machines were more common than the on speed.

 

[wayupnorth]

This is the exact same model I have, LA511. I bought mine along with my DE410 dryer in 1984. 1 repair on the washer and 0 on the dryer in all that time. It is a one speed so the Fabric-Matic as Delicate is intermittent regular speed agitation. You got a great deal and you can keep it going forever.

 

[quincyman]

Short rinses

The clothes barely began to circulate after filling when it stopped for the spin and I never overloaded.

 

[DADoES]

 
Our 1962 Whirlpool had one increment of rinse agitation, 1-1/4 mins (timer had an odd 75-second escapement).

 

[goatfarmer]

I had the same set as Tim for daily drivers.A511, DE410. A set of belts is all I ever did to the washer. The dryer needed a bit more, a motor, front glides, and a heating element, in the 10 years or so we had them.

 

[70series]

This is the long stroke. Came out between 80 and 85.

 

[johnb300m]

That's my parents' washer!
LA511.
Still chugging along.
They bought it in 82.
It's a pretty basic model but it got the job fine for a hustling family of 5.
Still is!
The matching dryer died in 01, but the washer won't quit.

 

[re563]

My Mom got this washer in 1981. It's still going strong today.

 

[nmassman44]

Its either an A510 or 511...The 510 that I had did not have a bleach dispenser. This washer has the long stroke transmission and the blue Big Tub as pictured. This washer is a work horse. Granted its a one speed wonder, but it does quite well. It looks to be in great shape.

 

[maytag85]

Mine was a Maytag A209 washer. I believe there was also a Maytag A209S model, but mine was the A209 model.