laundy 1973

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The Maytag(#1) is the one I grew up with. It lasted 21 years and was replaced with another Maytag that my mothers hates. She said she would love to have that one back.
 
Agitub Question

It says on the Skinni-Mini that it has "delicate and regular wash cycles". Does this mean that it washes/spins at 2 speeds? I thought these only had 1 speed, but I guess I'm wrong.
 
Not since a marathon of 70's television shows (Bewitched, Brady Bunch, Partridge Family, et al), have I seen so much Poppy,Harvest, Avocado,Coppertone, Goldtone and White! *LOL*

Sort of like walking into any kitchen in are area/family whilst growing up!

Have never seen an avocado Nesco washer before. Did the Silex "Handy Hot" also come in different colors?

Several Maytags (1) have shown up on fleaBay over the past few months, but have never seen the "Porta-Washer" from Maytag. What was this machine like?

On a similar note why are the Hoover twin tubs rare as hen's teeth? Production ended not that long ago, surely there should be quite a few around. Remember watching one of the women I used to babysit for doing her child's laundry in one. While it was fun to watch, all that transfering seemed like allot of work IMHO.

Launderess
 
I'll write my comments now

Its Aloha friday-its hot an' I'm too lazy to do any real work this afternoon, so I'll rewrite my commentary.
This picture is from a Top Value stamp catalog. I never heard of them but Dennis got this off of fleabay. It is deeply entertaining. There are pictures of other majapps, small appliances, vacuums, dishes, furniture, toys. I especially love this picture. Where have you ever seen this much beauty assembled together in one place? This catalog is from '73. I was 9 years old and very familiar with all of these machines.
1. Maytag A606- truly the "workhorse" of mthe Maytag line. From the days before that crummy orbital transmission. Available in California Gold, Spanish Avocado and Cordoba Copper. When Maytag really built a machine to last.
2. Big Green Whirlpool. Since I was raised in the Maytag religion, I did not realize how well built the old belt drive whirlpools were. Once I started working at the parts counter, I found out that most of the free world owns a whirlpool laundry product.
3. Frigidaire Skinny-mini AGITUB ALERT! I noticed that this model was finished on top, which they don't bother with on new Laundry centers.
4. Westinghouse Toploader. this one has the "weigh to save" door. I also bet its got the small handwash agitator under the big spiral one. I like how they used both dials and buttons. It was in fact our recent discussion of Westy TLs that made me think of this picture.
5.Maytag Porta-Washer. I've had a couple of these in my life. They wash great, better than the Hoover because the have 2 impellers that reverse every 30 secs. The spin tub chamber was too small and would always suds-lock. "For women who think they can't have a washer"
6. Let us now humbly get on bended knee before the great GM/Frigidaire 1-18 looking very handsome in colonial copper. Notice that none of these automatics are stripped down economy models either. This frigidaire has the fabric selection dial, so the smart machine chooses water temps and speeds.
7. Hoover twin tub. Styled to look like fine furniture. Go Anywhere! I love these machines and have enjoyed several of them.
8. Cute little Green Nesco!
9. GE filter flo 18. I wonder if that one has the "low-8" or the spiral activator. I think this was the last year they had that big circle graphic around the timer dial. When they went away from that look, I think they lost something. These old GEs were built almost as good as Maytags-what happened?
the opposite page of the catalog has a Maytag N2L wringer so there is something for everyone here.
I wish I could spend a washday with each of these machines.I look at this picture a lot and Dennis probably thinks I'm crazy, but is far to kind to say so.

David
 
Former Maytag TT Owner

Excellent picture; I would take any one of the automatics or TT machines. The Nesco's cool, but the top-mounted motor prohibits watching the action, which is why I never thought once about buying one on eBay. I wondered if they made a glass-tub demo model.

I had that exact Maytag Porta-Washer when I first joined Applianceville in March, but it was in very poor shape. I bid on a Maytag portable set on eBay, but told the seller I wanted only the washer (dryer didn't work), and the seller agreed. The lady bought the set for her husband for washing shop rags, and he never used it. Her son then used it in his trailer for a while, then it ended up on eBay. It arrived, and I was a little surprised at its shape. The avocado cabinet had white marks all over it, the inside under the machine was dirty (frankly, looking at those motors, I'm surprised either worked), the timer knob was not attached well (popped off when spin started), the yellowed washtub lid was broken from its hinges, it reeked of stale cigarettes and was rusty. Needless to say I cleaned it up, filled it, and tried it out. I was very surprised with the powerful action the twin impellers made. Spin speed was very impressive too, and I later found out it was 2,000 RPM. Unfortunately it was rode hard, and leaked from the diverter valve. Judging by the interior, it seemed like it had been doing this for quite some time. The seals would hold after being used for a while, so I left the front cover off and dealt with the "first load leak". I also took the spin brake off, as it made an annoying "BANG!" when the latch was released.

I washed many loads in the kitchen with this machine, and it cleaned every one of them well with much entertainment (the wash action and the 5 minute timer which was very much like a dryer timer). It handled a good-sized load for a side-impeller machine (although from my experiences, a bottom-impeller machine holds much, much more), with everything from whites to towels to jeans to sheets. But David, you're right, the spin basket's outer tub was way too small, and if I used too much detergent (the impeller made a considerable amount of suds which really didn't help) it would lock up, and was very hard to clear. Surf and Fab worked well, but if I put Tide in, then SUDS-LOCK!

The diverter valve problem seemed to be getting worse, however, and I ordered a new one. In the meantime, I bought the GE Portable Automatic (shown in album) from a used-appliance shop. I changed the diverter valve out, checked the connections, and hooked up the hose. I was eager to start another load, and let's just say that this was the first scenario where I saw a Poly-Pump leak, and it wasn't from the hose connections either. I quickly drained the tub and realized I bought a new diverter valve for nothing. I parted out 3/4 of the parts, saving the spin basket, impellers & impeller drive belt, motors, new diverter valve, knobs, timer, you name it. I used the old 3-prong cord on my Bendix.

The key to buying a Maytag Twin-Tub is to get a machine in decent shape; unfortunately I didn't follow that rule. If it has rust and signs of a long-term leak, don't buy it. But if you find one in considerably good shape, enjoy! Very fun and effective wash/spin action; I would have one again!

I would really like to find a Deluxe Hoover, but they do seem a little hard to find. The single, non-reversing impeller and Autorinse feature must be fun! Hoovers have an Achille's heel as well: the pump. I read in the Archives that the pumps were the #1 failure in Hoover machines that otherwise worked well. Thankfully UK Hoovermatics were made into the 1990s and I still see pumps on eBay.

Hope I was descriptive enough...;-)

--Austin
 
TOP VALUE STAMPS

My grandmother always got Top Value Stamps at Krogers grocery store.My sisters and I would sit and lick and paste them in the books.Grandma would take them to the redempion center in Canton,Ohio and get all kinds of stuff. I always wanted her to save enough for a washer but she said it would take forever. I bet there is a catolog somewhere in her basement yet!

Jerry
 
Maytag

Partcounterman: Great ad! The Maytag A606 looks identical to the A208 I recently acquired for restoring, down to the number of push-buttons. Do you know what the difference is between these two model numbers, or are they the same machine? Also, I've been trying to hunt down the exact manufacture year of my A208, but to no avail. Any ideas?

Additionally, I picked up the original Maytag repair master from my library today to help me get started. It mentions an "AMP" model, which I think is much older, and a "Highlander" series. Does anyone know what the "Highlander" series is?

Pete
 
Your Maytag questions answered

The A606 and A208 are similar. The A606 was a Big Tub 2 speed machine. Early versions of this machine had 3 water levels, later big tub machines always had 4 water levels. The '06 series of Maytag machines ran from 1966 to 1976, when the '08 series was introduced. The '08 line added a bleach dispenser on most models and featured more cold rinsing than the '06 line, Your A208 is the standard capacity 2 speed model. The A206 and A208 also lacked the soak cycle their big tub sibling had. So the main difference is the tub size.
The AMP models are maytags original automatic design, They LOOK like a perforated tub machine, but are not. There is a second spin tub that rides piggyback with the perf tub. In '56 or so, Maytag intoduced the much simplified
 
Stamp catalog Maytag

"The Maytag(#1) is the one I grew up with. It lasted 21 years and was replaced with another Maytag that my mothers hates. She said she would love to have that one back."

So, find one, totally restore it, and surprise her with it.
 
Hoover portable

and notice that the Hoover has a "Serv-A-Top" Always the catchy name....

I used to love reading car catalog accessory catalogs and reading about "Swift Sure" power brakes(Ford), "Pedal Ease" power brakes (Oldsmobile), "Master-Guide" power steering(Ford), "Wonder Touch" power steering(Pontiac) "Wonder Bar" radios (all GM cars). Made me chuckle
 
Thanks!

Partscounterman:

Thanks for the reply. I checked my machine afterwards and it fits your descriptions. For the heck of it, I tried removing the agitator last night, thinking it would be really difficult. It popped right up. The post and splines appear to be in really good condition. I was able to re-install it too - the last 1/2 inch required some extra pressure, but it snapped back into place. There was a lot of detergent residue underneath. Regardless of the mechinical repairs I'm facing with this machine, it appears that a good cleaning with CLR will make it look like new. The repair manual looks a little intimidating though.

Pete
 

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