I Got Tag'ed This Weekend...

[macboy91si]

So... This store, which I have gotten some other stuff puts a lot of their things on C/L... I have been driving by this place that had this thing in the window. I asked some friends about it, and tried to talk myself out of it. I drove past it some more. Saturday I went in and looked at it... Saturday I bought it...

 

What could it be?

 

Hint, there's more to this picture than the coppertone...

 

 

 

[swestoyz]

Hum... PF serial and a separate UL sticker. An early 142?

Nice avatar...

 

[macboy91si]

Oops

Yeah I was trying to be all suspenseful... 

 

selected the wrong pic to upload.

 

-Tim

 

[swestoyz]

Sorry about that Tim!

 

[macboy91si]

Spot On!

Wow Ben, that's amazing...

 

Yes it is a 1958 Maytag 142...

 

This is the oldest Maytag I now own, being older I think than the N2L wringer by a few months.

 

 

The guy wanted some $$$ for the machine, but I got it for less and got a matched set of Coppertone 1976 model A407's with it. Basically I got this machine, plus 2 still nice Maytags for less than the original asking price.

 

I spent most of the day on Sunday cleaning and testing the machine, and it works well, very smooth. I need a couple of lightbulbs and there is a slow lower seal leak. This machine was taken out of service working, belonged to an older lady who passed away, all 3 machines came from the same house. Grams used the 142, no dryer, and had an E2LP in there as well. The machine was off of the kitchen in an enclosed sun porch.

 

I noticed a few replacement parts in the machine, like belts and a newer water valve. The pump is original to the machine is seems or was replaced by another 1958 pump. I was surprised at the differences in this early Newton/Helical machine. The motor, pump tub supprt and the old AMP lid, very cool.

 

Here is a pic, I think it's in VERY good shape for it's age aside from the lower oil seal. Machine has seen some use, but is not worn out.

 

-Tim

 

 

 

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

Oops, never mind!

 

[macboy91si]

Control Panel

I was amazed at the condition of the control panel. The chrome was good, and the glass was as well. This is such a beautiful machine all around and so much chrome and lights.

 

 

 

[macboy91si]

And...

YES My washer DOES tell me that it's an "Automatic Washer"

 

 

Woo Hoo!

 

 

 

[macboy91si]

Show Me the Money!

Obligatory money-shot...

 

The tub is worn a little, not through, but the white has dulled considerable. Also the agitator is well used and unfortunately stuck in for the time being. Some minor rust around some of the lower holes. As you can also see from the pic, the tub cover is NASTY. This will be dealt with. I also found a lot of what appears to be Chex Mix in and around the machine...

 

PS the tub is not listing, the machine is uneven in the driveway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[macboy91si]

Lint Filter

This is (to me) an unusual lint filter. It's copper colored, and very light. I think the entire thing is copper. It's oxidized pretty badly, maybe a vinegar soak with make it look better. I figured it would be stainless like the Highlander's.

 

 

 

[macboy91si]

In My Belly!

Popped the front panel off to see what I was getting in to and to see how this thing was put together. As you can see, there is a fair bit of oil sling in the cabinet. There is also a bit of oil underneath. I have no way of knowing how old the oil is and how fast it leaks yet. Check out the non-Poly pump and that huge motor spring. Again, she didn't look bad for a 54 year-old machine inside.

 

[macboy91si]

Swing It!

The motor setup in this is like none other that I have seen on a Maytag. The motor sits in a cradle, with a pivot attached to the lower arm of it. The cradle pivots on a bearing attached to lower arm and has an adjustable tension spring attached to the pump. It works well and I can't see there being much maintenance involved with this setup as opposed to the motor carriage of the later machines.

 

Also notice the big, fat 2-speed GE motor...

 

 

 

[macboy91si]

The Not-So-Poly.. Pump

Another 1st for me, a metal poly-pump. When cleaning I wiped the date of of the pump, but it was made in "Feb 1958" so I can only assume it's original to the machine. Look's exactly like a poly-pump, just metal. There are no issues with the pump.

 The giant spring and hook are the tensioner for the motor arm. I assume that the screw castings on the top were for a suds valve if equipped?

 

 

[macboy91si]

Tops Off To Ya...

Time to clean that tub cover mess. I'm not sure what the mess was, but it was nasty, I got most of it off. The top is raised as normal by two 3/8" screws on each front corner. I though the black porcelain underside was neat as well. Also, while you can't really see it there, the outer tub is speckled. The rubber supply hose was still in good shape as well. I thought the aerator thing was cool as well.

 

[swestoyz]

I think the entire thing is copper

Don't scrub too hard, the filter is supposed to look like that

The early 141/142 washers had the 'copper' anodized lint filter, ultra-rare in comparison to the later SS filters. The copper color theme was used only for a few years, and was also used on the timer dial escutcheon. You've got a keeper there.

The original swing mount for the motor turned out to be more trouble prone than the later motor glide. The one's I've seen have weak springs and cannot uniformly provide enough pressure against the belt to properly transfer the torque early in the spin. What I’ve always found intriguing is the poly pumps made all the way till the end can be adapted to the motor spring in case they were used as service replacements for the early Helical trans.

This machine is in really good shape. The trans may need some attention, but in this day in age, any Maytag this old will need new fluid for effective washing. Also amazing is to see an original pump, pre-TBI!

NICE FIND!

Ben

 

[macboy91si]

Beautiful

Ben how would you suggest cleaning the screen section? It's a bit rough. I have no intentions right now of pulling the tub or anything, everything on the machine checks out, and I will be installing it in the laundry room soon for light use. I am going to keep an eye on the oil leak.

 

The machine rolls into spins very strong and the agitation is very brisk, so excess slip or bogging here. This machine is also near silent when spinning. It won't see much use, but I'm also not afraid to tear into it if needed, I'd like for it to be around for a while.

 

-Tim

 

[macboy91si]

All Cleaned Up

I cleaned all of the muck from the tub guard and cleared the drain holes. Amazing how much difference that made.

 

 

 

[macboy91si]

Water Fill

This is a neat little thing. A porcelain chute connected to a hose with a copper water pipe feeding it. I'm assuming this is an aerator? The roommate was curious to what it was, he thinks the machine is screaming 1950's design, I am loving all of the little designs on this early machines as I've only really dealt with the 06' series. Even the Highlander is very different.

 

[macboy91si]

Yuck

This was the baseplate from however many years of leaking oil. The belts looked pretty new and were not oily.