Late 60's Kelvinator and Canadian Viking Washers

[scrubflex]

Does anyone have and information, photos, catalog brochure pictures or old videos of these cool washers?

I'd especially like the non-indexing tub, super-fast tub brake, turqoise, ten-vane "angel wing" agitator, non-ribbed perforated "giant tub" washer.

Also, the late 60's to 70's Gamble-Coronado and Gibson washers as well.

 

[scrubflex]

Does anyone own any of these washers? Anybody...any information...pics...etc

 

[qsd-dan]

There are a few youtube clips of late 50's Kelvintor washers in action, but I can't find any clips for the late 60's models.

Did they still use the same wash action on the late 60's models as the late 50's?

 

[scrubflex]

Hey Dan, no I believe the later 60's Kelvinator washer design changed and they started using a giant capacity washtub and the ten vane agitator. The club named it the "angel wing" agitator.

 

[scrubflex]

Are these washers unpopular?

 

[cfz2882]

franklin washers

once on a POD there was a "cutaway"illustration of a 1968 era
franklin washer,really enjoyed that as i had never seen a
franklin washer from that era-all the ones i have seen have
been the Ca.mid'70s up plastic tub ones.

 

[scrubflex]

Yeah, WCI shrank the capacities when they incorporated plastic tubs in their machines...that SUCKED!!! I thought plastic would be better...not. The porcelain steel or enamel tubs are better... IMOP.

Hopefully that 68' Franklin washer "cutaway" will be reposted.

Can we make request?

 

[cfz2882]

searchalator

Just try "franklin"in the "searchalator"and that cutaway is
just a couple threads down.

 

[scrubflex]

Thanks alot cfz2882, I'll try that...BTW, what does "MW Franklin" stand for?

 

[cfz2882]

MW

MW-montgomery wards. montgomery wards washers were made by
norge,westinghouse, and franklin.

 

[scrubflex]

Right...I'm searcing now.

 

[cfz2882]

cutaway

lots of interesting details in that cutaway-round,apparently
stationary transmission,appears to be a clutch on the motor
shaft,two section turbine style pump.
Still has a lot of simularities to the later plastic tub
versions..

 

[scrubflex]

Cfz2882,

there are a few pictures, which one did the 68' Kelvinator use?

Since you are able to hold the indexing tub while it washes, do you it's possible to decrease the counter-clockwise stroke (degree)?

 

[combo52]

KELVINATOR WASHERS

I have one of the last real Kelvinator machines its from around 1966 or 1967. When WCI took over and went to the Franklin design it was a totally different machine . IT would fun to see one of these original machines run but it may be hard to find. Not only was production fairly low on these [ Montgomery Wards didn't ever sell these under thier name ] they also had major durability issues, we were throwing away almost ever one we saw in the early 1970s. But there is probably one sitting out there some where unused in a basement just waiting for us to find. To me this is what makes this hobby so much fun as almost everyone knows that an old car can be valuable but few people realize that old washers and dryers have any value to anyone.

 

[scrubflex]

There's something about that turquoise "angel wing" fin agitator of the Franklin Kelvinator, Gibson, Coronado, etc. washer I just love.

Were the 68' to early 70's percelain enamel steel washtub's wide and deep?

 

[nmassman44]

They also made washers for WT Grant and sold washers under the Bradford name. I remember seeing them when I was a kid nd couldnt believe at how massive the capacity was in those machines. If I can recall Eddy in BC has or had a Viking version of the machine.

 

[cfz2882]

angel wing agitator

The '89 franklin i recently got has a white angel wing agitator
-i like the look of it,though turquoise would be way cool!
Mine has a "bed of pins"style lint filter that slides out,but
i think the earier franklins may have had a trough style
filter a lot like that of a westinghouse.
running mine with bigger loads,the indexing decreased to about
60*,with the tub held the stroke is the same both directions
also the sound changes a bit:Rrrr Rrrr Rrrr indexing,
RrrRrrRrr tub held

 

[scrubflex]

Cfz2882,

Can you PLEASE take pics of your 89'franklin...control panel, agitator (MONEY SHOT)of course, agitator-in-tub, lint filter, etc.
I'm loving the fact the indexing decreases to a 60 degree stroke...that allows the angel wing fin agitator to work a little better...it would be PERFECT if the decrease was (30 degrees) increments.
I wonder how wide is your angel wing fin agitator base width... Eddy's Viking agitator was too small which was why it was not able to handle big washloads.
It really would be AWESOME if you could make a video. There aren't any videos of the angel wing fin agitator in action. Many would love to see that...and you never know someone in the club may have a spare TURQUOISE angel wing fin agitator lying around to sell or give away

 

[roto204]

Like...

...so?

 

[roto204]

And...

...so?

These were awesome machines. Very cheaply made and rust-prone, but kick-butt washers that held a ton (and circulated the load). A very far cry from the apathetic plastic kin that came after.

 

[roto204]

Control panel

Full:

 

[roto204]

Timer

Cycles...temp controlled by cycle time. BOL. Cool pointer. And push-to-start!

 

[roto204]

Insignia

Very groovy font. The tiny text above the red insignia says "Honesty without fear." Heh.

 

[cfz2882]

agitator

Yep,other than color that is the same agitator that is in mine
-rest of the machine is pretty close too..
Looks like your "kelvinator"franklin is from around 1975-80?
when i get my camera figured out i'll try to get some pics
of my '89 wards up-still in nice cosmetic shape,it's a nice
looking machine.

 

[scrubflex]

Thanks for the pics Roto204, did you save any parts of your Kelvinator? What cause the final break down...weren't able to replace or repair the part? What washer that you own with the largest capacity could you compare the Kelvinator to in similar tub size (TALL and WIDE)? Do you remember the agitation OPM and spin RPM speeds?

Cfz2882, I'm looking forward to those pics. So, is your 89' Franklin control panel similar in style? Is it a TOL, MOL or BOL model? What about you, do know the washer's wash OPM and spin RPM speeds? Does your 89' Frankln washer hold alot of clothes also? Can you PLEASE tell me how tall and wide is you angel wing fin agitator and agitator base size? I have an idea that will increase the angel wing fin agitator TURNOVER power.

 

[scrubflex]

During what time did Kelvinator Franklin washers use non-indexing washtubs? When were the porcelain enamel steel tubs switched to plastic? And, they ever use white, porecelain enamel tubs?

 

[cfz2882]

opm and rpm

timed and tached my franklin today;
-OPM 67-68
-RPM: 520,about the same as a WP/KM BD or a westinghouse
-the BDs do have a larger diameter tub,westys might too,
increasing the centrifugal force exerted on the clothes..
actually load did seem spun out fairly well despite the
low spin rpm-kinda tempted to take a spun load out of the
franklin and respin them in my little splendide combomatic
(1200rpm,IIRC)and see if it spins out any more water...
Could increase the rpm by putting on a larger motor pulley
but during agitation the tub might build up enough speed
indexing with a light load to hold the load outward,
away from the agitator...
more info coming up when i get the chance to take measurements

 

[scrubflex]

AWESOME!!!

I often wondered how large were the Kelvinator plastic tub diameter...And, I'll tell you about my idea to help increase the turnover power of the angel-wing fin agitator.

 

[petek]

Here's some Eatons Viking machines
1976

 

[petek]

twin tubs