Introducing the 1969 Frigidaire Custom Deluxe and the Big Door GE Dryer!

[joelippard]

Another dream has come true. I've been working non-stop since Friday afternoon. My body aches all over, and as of this writing I am in repose on the bed. But I'm finished, and the dream is alive. Here are the machines that were found by "stainfigher" back in March down in SC. Bob Orear was kind enough to pick up and store them for me. We had a nice little meeting here at my house on Friday. Bob and his friend Darryl who is always so helpful in moving things came up, and so did Steve Riley and Robert (from Roanoake) So nice to finally meet you guys in person.

These machines looked good enough in the original pictures, but I'm going to tell you all about what I've been thru!

Here we have the 1969 Frigidaire (Snubber stamped 4/69). This is the machine that started it all for me, the duplicate of my Mother's Avacado Frigidaire. The cabinet was very dirty although it didn't appear so, the water container top was cruddy, including rust, and a few dead bugs. Under the bottom was worse, filthy rollers, a motor full of dust, and cat hair lined the crevices of the snubber bracket and crossbrace.

 

[joelippard]

Here she is washing.

After I cleaned it up, it wouldn't spin, seemed something was binding. I took the clutch apart and cleaned it up -- man was it filthy! I've learned how those clutches work now and it's very simple to remove and clean. After taking the clutch back out a second time, removing the brake plate and checking the bearings I reassembled (feeling defeated) -- plugged it in, no spin, gave the tub a good hard (angry) yank and aparently whatever was binding the tub gave way, and off she went!

 

[joelippard]

Here is where some of the work came in

This picture of the lid didn't turn out as well as I would like, but this lid looked kinda nasty as someone had brushed a bit of aluminum paint over it, most of that had come off, it was also rusty. I fixed this using rustoleum primer, and the rustoleum gloss black paint, 4 coats, dried for 2 days in our "hot as hell" weather around here. Look at the steam pour off that lid from the hot water!

 

[joelippard]

Overflow Rinsing

 

[joelippard]

Success!

Here we have the start of a successful spin, fully loaded with water and six sheets. This particular machine has the single speed spin on the normal cycle and I love the growl that it makes when ramping up -- sounds just like the old days!

 

[rollermatic]

oh what a beautiful

rollermaric you have there joe! and avacado, my favorite color!

glad you got it to spin fine, i also learned how simple those clutch mechanisms are to work on! they pop right off!

the one machine i have that i had to tear down for parts due to it's advanced stage of rust has the same top console as your's. i intend to use this console on a 67 rollermatic i am about to rebuild.

anyway it's always great to see another rollermatic up and running here on the site! enjoy it!

 

[joelippard]

Now for the Big Door!

Here she is in lighted glory.

 

[joelippard]

Versatronic!

This machine was also full of dust, and bugs. I've forgotten how buggy SC can be, my Grandmother grew up on a plantation there and I remember her comments about them.

 

[joelippard]

The black hole

Here's the big mouth.

 

[joelippard]

Now,

I need a little advice about these dryers. It has a chattering to it when it is not raised up high enough. I adjusted the felt in the top a little and it helped but it was not a cure all. Before I mess around with things I am not well informed of I'd like to hear advice from people who know about these dyers.

 

[autowasherfreak]

Beautiful machines, especially the Thumper!

 

[duet83]

AWESOME

Grats !
They look Great. Such a feeling of accomplishment when you find your babies, salvage them, clean them up, and bring them back to life. Just like any other parent would do.

I had that dryer, also in Avacodo, complete with the atomic nuclear symbol on the control panel, only it was standard capacity and gas.

The versatronic sensor is on the door here. On the standard capacity models its mounted behind the filter holder. There are several wires that connect to it. I'm wondering how yours connects? Further pics?

I always liked the flourescent console and the wide wood-tone handle.

They look great. Dreams DO come true.

 

[circlew]

Nice looking machines

I remember both of these models when they were new in the local GE & Frigidaire dealers.

According to my sister's at the time mother-in-law, these big GE dryers are just plain noisy. Her's had a rumble sound from the time it was new, and it didn't improve any over time. She had GE look at it, and they told her there was nothing wrong with it.

 

[alr2903]

They are beautiful, is that a new agitator cap, or did someone wipe it off a few times over the years? Both are very nice machines. alr2903

 

[norgeway]

Same Frigidaire...

Only in white was what was delivered to our house in 1969 to replace the 55 Pulsamatic that finally died,the Frigidaire lasted 17 years.

 

[gyrafoam]

Looks great, Joe. It was nice to meet you. Hope you will come visit us in Roanoke soon.

I have heard two different trains of thought over the years. Some say the GE has too small a blower for its capacity and others find no problem with it other than the usual collection of lint around the bottom of the door that never seems to make it into the filter---a very GE thing to do.

I like all dryers with large openings as they are easier to load and unload especially with large bulky items.

 

[combo52]

EXTRA LARGE GE DRYERS

Because the heaters are the same size as the regular dryers the blower is matched to the heat input. These were very good dryers they allowed the load to dry in more space with less wrinkles, but they weren't really any faster. The first of the gas models did have a 30,000 BTU burner these should be a little faster drying.

 

[mickeyd]

Hope you've rested up, Joe. What an accomplishment!

Always amazed at how much wider the 12 pound tub looks after having and using only 10 pounders. And the arrangement of the sheets during the rinse compared to that at spin time shows your getting turnover, even with SIX large sheets. Impressive. What a great washer.

The amber energy ring you sent me works and looks so nice, making my machine a roller/multimatic, of sorts. Maybe some day I'll have a whole rollermatic!

 

[maypool]

how about a video

hey i hardly see the jet cones up close the camera always seem to be a mile away. how about clothes turn over action lol, anyway nice job man in bringin' to life.