It was a Frigidaire day, and a clamshell day to be exact!

[swestoyz]

Hey there gang!

 

I wanted to take a moment tonight to write-up a pretty amazing find that I picked up today. The story starts the day after I got back from vacation a few weeks ago, and I received a text from a buddy who is a local antique dealer.  He and other antique dealers get first dibs on the estate sales in the area, and he noticed an old dryer in the basement of one of the estates he was going through that day.  His message was pretty simple, "this looks like something you'd be interested in, right?"

 

YEP.

[this post was last edited: 7/12/2014-21:21]

 

[swestoyz]

He then sent a second picture showing the whole dryer.  I think he thought I was nuts when I said I'd be interested in the washer, too. 

 

[swestoyz]

Photo Taken Today

So, after a week of him getting in touch with the firm that runs the estate, and the firm trying to figure out why I was involved, I had finally made arrangements to go pick up the 1-18 washer and the '63 dryer today.  From the sounds of it, the current owner's mom was using the dryer up until a few years ago.

 

I started chatting with the son of the owners and I mention that I collect this stuff, and he got a big smile on his face and said, "come with me."

[this post was last edited: 7/12/2014-21:22]

 

[swestoyz]

We then start hauling out the goodies on a very muggy Iowa summer day.  Lots of sweat and muscle was used to get this shot.

 

Wait, that isn't a 1-18 washer!?!

 

[swestoyz]

Sure enough, his dad kept the original 1963 Frigidaire in a room just off the wash room in the basement.  Stored in what was a wood shop, I think the guy also smoked Camels down there for 40 years.   I couldn't get a shot of the washer in the room that we hauled it from, but let's just say it was NASTY.

 

[swestoyz]

She cleaned up pretty nicely, after wiping down the nicotine layer off everything.

 

[swestoyz]

Similar to what Jon Charles experienced with his charcoal '57 set, the nicotine preserved everything.  Even though it was in a wet, damp basement, there is actually very little rust on the machine.  The underside was in amazing condition.  The Multimatic mechanism broke loose from the belts and worked great!

 

[swestoyz]

The 1-18 has seen some pretty serious use since it was installed in August of 1979.  This washer was made towards the end of the GM Frigidaire production.  The rollers will need some cleaning, but other than that it sounded fine.

 

[norgeway]

YOU DID!

GREAT!!!Another pair saved!!!!

 

[swestoyz]

The dryer is in about the same condition as the washer.  A continuous pilot certainly hasn't been good for it, but how could I pass it up.

 

[hippiedoll]

OH WOW!!!

that is an AMAZING find there!!! i'm more into maytag center-dials but DAAAAYYYYYUUUUUMMMMMM!!! that sure is purdy!!! you really cleaned that washer up NICE!!! it looks GREAT!!!

man did you luck out on that washer & dryer!! i LOVE the styling of them!!! they are just beauuuuutiful!!!

so, does the washer work??? why did the dad pull it off into the side room?? did it break or what?? you HAD to find out the story!!!???
please tell......

can't wait for a video of the washer in action!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

)

 

[classiccaprice]

Wow! Congrats!

 

[swestoyz]

So, why does the washer model number not indicate the year, similar to the dryer?

 

That's because this was a merchandizing model!  Aimed towards those who were on a budget, you could get a new Frigidaire washer, but not pay for some of the glitz and glam of their standard models. 

 

I have some of the doctrine for the washer, but not this exact model.  What I know is that they started with this model series in 1963, and continued it in 1964.  The 1964 "-2" models look like '63 models, but are indeed 1964.  I've scanned what I have. 

 

Note that the 1963 "-1" mechanizing models have an 8 pound tub!!!  All 1963 standard models had the new 12 pound tub.

[this post was last edited: 7/12/2014-21:30]

 

[swestoyz]

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the 12 pound capacity tub in a 1963 Custom Imperial washer, and an 8 pound tub in the WIAS-1.

 

[swestoyz]

Similar to what Maytag did in 1966, Frigidaire didn't chrome a good chunk of the panel on these budget models as well.  Here's another side-by-side comparison. 

 

[swestoyz]

So why did the dad shove the washer to the side, and replace it with a 1-18? 

 

You may recall in the first photo I posted that there is a timer sitting on top of the washer.  The dad had intended to fix the timer, as it is stuck in the ON position.  Unfortunately the outfit that sourced him a new timer got the WRONG ONE.  Sucked for him, but it worked out great for me!

 

Oh, and I also asked the son if his parents kept any of the owners manuals.  Sure enough...

 

[swestoyz]

So do the lights glow brilliantly?  Does the washer work at all?  I did power up the washer, and with the timer being hung-up, I'm thinking that it isn't quite activating the motor correctly, but it spins fine.  I do want to pull the motor and clean the start switches, as the nicotine is probably close to causing a short. 

 

I'm looking forward to working on the '63 later this fall, along with some other toys that have traveled to the Midwest.

 

More to come!

 

Ben

 

[frigilux]

You definitely struck gold, Ben! The tub on the '63 looks like it's in great shape. Is the Deep Action agitator standard issue, or was it a replacement?

Congratulations!

 

[swestoyz]

Ah yes, Eugene, I totally forgot to mention that.  You are correct, the very rare 1963 and early 1964 pulsator column has been swapped out on the new '63, as well as on my '63 Custom Imperial.  When I first saw the washer in the other room in the basement, I may have asked the washer gods for one more miracle.   The Jet Action agitator on the new '63 is an earlier conversion (probably late 60's), where the Custom Imperial has the mid to late 70's conversion in place.

 

I guess the gods want me to keep looking for one....

 

Ben