Look at this 1956 Dexter!

[gyrafoam]

1956 Dexter

Photo#3

 

[gyrafoam]

1956 Dexter

Photo#4
With rear-panel removed.

 

[gyrafoam]

1956 Dexter

Photo#5
With front panel removed.

 

[gyrafoam]

1956 Dexter

Photo#6

Resting in the kitchen waiting to do her first load in years. Got to get that tub to pump hose squared-away first.

 

[gyrafoam]

1956 Dexter

Photo#7

Oh, and check out the vacuum-breaker on the fill! You are looking up at the right FRONT corner of the machine. Water must shoot about three inches across to get to the fill-flume! If any spills, it drops down into the little metal "bowl" that directs it through a couple of holes into the outer-tub.

 

[northwesty]

Very cool and very clean

Congratulations!

Say, about that hose you were going to remove and put silicone on. At the hardware store here there is a tape-like rubber product that I have wrapped around some questionable hoses. Apparently it actually fuses with itself after a while to kinda form a new hose. It was in the plumbing department.

 

[gansky1]

Very nice, Steve. What a great save! I can't believe how clean it is. Were you able to get the oil and grease off the belts and pulleys pretty easily?

Thanks for the tip on the hose-tape, Brian. I'm going to look for some of that to have on hand.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Oh wow Steve, that is just beautiful, very cool find, one of the best finds this year so far! I'm so glad you saved this. When you say "the tub takes a very long time to reach full speed", how long is long?

By the way I have something that you might want to help fix the pitting in your agitator...

 

[pturo]

What a great save and great pictures! You gotta just love that control panel.

 

[gyrafoam]

Robert------

That looks just like I remember the Philco agitator looking like----red cap and all! Awesome! It looks almost new!

Greg----there was no oil on any belts---- I had to use belt-dressing to limber them up a bit. The pulleys are as I found them. The one right under the center of the tub looks pretty greasy on the disc below where the belt is, must have been meant to be that way---no sign of grease dripping down anywhere.

 

[rickr]

Very cool machine Steve! Congratulations on saving a rare classic. Hope you can find a replacement tub to drain hose. Will look forward to some wash action shots. <:

 

[tlee618]

Steve, I am so happy that you got the Dexter!! I know that it is going to a good home. Please keep us posted. It is going to be so much fun when you do your first load in it.

 

[gyrafoam]

Robert------

Oh yeah, take a look at the brochure Greg posted for the Philco Model#W266. In describing the "Ball Point Balance" System, the second feature mentioned is "Slow Acceleration" in the spin! It must take about three full minutes to reach top speed-----funny to watch.

Look at how much difference there is in the tub to pump hose on my machine compared to the one in the service manual photo you posted. I wish the one in my machine was like that!
You would think in the absence of the pressure-fill,they could have found a way to design a more simple hose!

Brian-----that tape sounds wonderful----do you recall the brand name? I wonder if it would work on this accordian looking hose?

 

[swestoyz]

Steve - amazing machine. Simply amazing. Any shots with the panel light on? Keep us posted with your progress - I know we are all quite anxious to see some action shots!

Congrats!

Ben

 

[jetcone]

Steve georgeous machine

and a nice SAVE! I wanna see that in person. Can you take a close up of the "Automatic Washer" script on the right? I would like to turn that into Embroidery and I'll send you a shirt! That's too cool.

I saw a hose that is for the LG combo that looks alot like your tub to drain hose, I bet you could get that to work there.
What were these idiots thinking not molding enough rubber for us??

 

[gyrafoam]

Jet------

Thanks for the tip on the tub to pump hose---I'll check that out.

Heres your photo---------

 

[golittlesport]

Congratulations, Steve! What a wonderful washer...I'm glad you were able to save it! Thanks for all the photos. Can't wait to see pics of her full of suds!

 

[peteski50]

Dexter!

Hi Steve,
It is absolutly beautiful just like you described. It is a real showpiece. I would love to see some live action.
Best Wishes And Good Luck with it
Peter

 

[gyrafoam]

Heres one for you, Ben----------

Photo#9

 

[roto204]

WOW!!!

That's just absolutely gorgeous, Steve!!

 

[mickeyd]

Seeing "SPRAY RINSE" on the dial is so rare

and makes me so happy since I worship spray rinses that I almost got tears in my eyes. How I'd love to see that machine.

You know I'm always struck by family resemblances in washing machines, and the second i saw the Dexter Automatic which I did not know existed until that moment, I recognized the controls right away. On the pink double tub wringer, the are two large matching drain controls with a button in the middle-- all highly reminiscent of that gorgeous automatic. I can't wait to see pics or flix of its operation. I bet you're so happy to have it. Dexter Automatics!! Who knew??

 

[northwesty]

Hose fixin'

It is called Rapid Seal. Says it will hold up to 100 psi. I triple wrapped one hose and haven't had any problems. You remove the white backing as you go, it can be a little tricky. I used tie-downs on the ends to keep it in place too.

 

[gyrafoam]

Thanks Brian----

I'm going to get some of that!

 

[gyrafoam]

Iiiiiits Wash-Time!

Photo#1 shows machine filling.Just like a "Beam" the pump is working, but much quieter than a Beam design.
Very kool fill-flume, fans water out in two directions! Because fill-flume is in the right front corner of the machine I had to hold the camera at an odd angle to get that fill action.
This old house has water pressure on the low side, however the water entered the tub at a rather brisk rate, so must not be any sort of restrictor in the valves.

 

[gyrafoam]

I panned back a bit this time to get a better shot.
Cycle set at "full" water level setting, and temp. selector on hot.
Load of filthy towels, so I dumped in a cup of Viva.

 

[gyrafoam]

Filled all the way to the top and over-flowed just a bit before agitation began----a good thing with this low pressure!(Most "time-fill" machines I have need re-setting to get a full tub of water in this house).

 

[gyrafoam]

About half-way through the wash. The water-level down a bit as some has splashed over the side.
The agitation reminds me of a (vintage) "straight-vane" GE solid-tub------although a bit more aggressive. NOT as aggressive as a SQ though, but still, good turn-over.

There is no over-flow at the end of the wash cycle. Machine pauses one increment then (lethargically) begins the spin---- no throw-out with this machine!

 

[gyrafoam]

Slowly beginning the spin.

 

[gyrafoam]

Suprise! A (warm) "spray-rinse" begins just about the time the tub is clear of the wash water------however machine is still not spinning very fast.
I really like that double fan-spray, it lasts for one increment.

 

[gyrafoam]

Just as the machine reached a full speed it began coasting and filling-----the pump not on-----kind of strange. (Reminded me of an old SQ coin-op with a shortened first spin----not a feature I like!)
About the time the tub was half-way full of water the pump kicked in.
Machine overflowed two increments before agitation for the rinse began and overflow continues throughout. Very through rinse-----tons of water!