Thanks lads
Just came in and now am faced with the reality of what do to with this thing until have time for sorting it out.
First and foremost am surprised at how easily such large and heavy appliance moves. Casters make no noise and the thing goes in any direction almost effortlessly by merely a shove with a finger.
A quick test at delivery before accepting as "ok" showed no damage. Plugged the thing in and the old girl started purring away. Released the agitator and it worked fine, as do the wringer rolls in both directions. At first thought the wringer head was broken because couldn't get to lock into position; but soon got that sorted and all is well.
Plug is a three prong so that's lucky, but didn't test the pump/hose as of yet.
Sadly the agitator is stuck which one having read so many posts here on used Maytag wringers sort of expected. If have time during the week will fill he machine with boiling or at least very hot water and let it sit, then run the machine for several minutes. Hopefully that will loosen things up and then can get the thing off. Have a copy of service manual and thus know how to remove a stuck agitator by other means, but will light that firecracker when it arrives.
Lifted and separated the wringer rollers (thanks Geoffdelp) based upon information from this thread:
http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?30846
Rollers do not appear to have any flat spots but will know more after the eventual disassembly for oiling.
Didn't do a detailed look under the bonnet so to speak, but do not see any traces of oil leaks on the legs or elsewhere.
There are spots of light rust here and there (mostly around the black band) that will need sorting one assumes sooner or later. Plan on setting up the old girl for a date with a bucket of hot water and cleanser (you don't know where things have been do you?), and maybe a bit of polish. Before the last bit *may* touch up some of the limited areas of scratches or other marks with white porcelain appliance paint.
For now one's biggest worry is where to put the thing. While not exactly huge by other standards (my vintage ironers for instance) the old girl is rather bulky. Am thinking something may have to go in order to make room, *and* keep the peace.
Likely candidates for finding a new home are the GE Mobile Maid dishwasher (works fine but as have noted previously the bother of having to take things off and put them back on for loading/unloading is getting on my nerves), and the Hoover TT. It has been brought to my attention that the latter has been used less than about fifteen times in the years since it arrived. Less so after one purchased a stand alone spin dryer.
The Maytag wringer will just fit into the space where GE MM is now, which is one reason why it may be first in line of fire.
How did this all come to happen?
Well as known have been musing about obtaining a wringer washer for some time now, but after the extreme expense of shipping that beast of an ironer was firmly told *BASTA!* This even as a wonderful member offered to give one a wringer washer of one's own choice.
Being as this may kept an eye out on CL just to see what there was.... Missed out on a *FREE* Maytag wringer in excellent condition that included the cover in New Jersey a few months ago. It would be the day one didn't bother doing a CL search and of course the thing was gone literally soon as it was posted. This was around the time posted the CL advert for the free Norge washer in NJ.
Long story short someone was selling a Maytag wringer right here in NYC on eBay. Wanted a porcelain tub over aluminum because that metal is reactive and thus rules out soaking with oxygen bleach, and or use of really a long list of chemicals. Despite the risk of bringing down the wrath, got the thing for opening bid (around $80) as the sole bidder. Could have driven out oneself to collect but placed a U-ship notice and got someone for about what it would have cost to rent a SUV or van so that's me for you. All in all including shipping paid a bit over $180, which seems to be cheap for a Maytag wringer these days.