Maytag AMP weekend in Omaha!

[swestoyz]

Hey Gang ---

I'll try to make this less talk, more photos as the pictures really do justice for the AMP set that was recently on eBay.

With western Iowa so close to Waterloo, as well as Omaha, there wasn't any reason why this set needed to leave it's native state after reaching retirement age in the new millennium.

Check the link to Greg's post for the full story on this weekend and a write up on how the set came to be. I can't imagine that they've been used since the mid 50's. The lack of rust and how dry everything was would lead one to believe that the set was not in a basement but probably in a main floor laundry area for it's entire life.

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?30826_26

 

[swestoyz]

Original seller's photo.

 

[swestoyz]

Saturday was an unseasonably cool day in the Midwest with some fairly strong rain storms that came through. We made the trek to Red Oak, Iowa in the late morning, and brought the set back to Omaha for a much deserved check over for the remainder of the day.[this post was last edited: 9/26/2010-23:04]

 

[swestoyz]

AMP bottom-side, fresh from the hills of Pottawattamie County. Quite a bit of fine dust and spider webs, mixed with clutch oil, but otherwise quite minty!

 

[swestoyz]

Dryer bottom-side. After removing the bottom inspection panel, we discovered a few dozen walnuts and walnut dust from a previous squatter. Thankfully their found hunger was quenched by foreign objects and not that of the minty wires left behind!

 

[swestoyz]

This dryer is a very EARLY production 60W dryer with the hanging motor and idler for the pump belt. Not that it makes using this dryer any easier - even Rude Goldberg would have been ashamed!

Shortly after production they went to a fixed mount for the motor with a fixed idler called the "kiss idler" to keep the belt from inverting and falling off the pulleys.

Thankfully a skini-mini belt worked in place of the dry-rotted original.

 

[swestoyz]

The dryer even came with 50 year old dust!

One of the strange things about these early Maytag dryers is the top does not feature a porcelain finish, but instead an enamel paint. This is the reason for the scuffs, scratches, and slight rust that has occurred during terms for the last 11 presidents.

Also, even though the dryer is almost an exact match of the washer, instead of having red dots painted on the top panel, the dryer features little chrome balls similar to the A3MP and later Customatic Maytags for the control indicators. I suspect they didn't want to tool an entirely different top for just the AMP knowing the A3MP was just around the corner.[this post was last edited: 9/26/2010-23:07]

 

[swestoyz]

As found AMP.

 

[swestoyz]

Lid open. Two small breaks in the porcelain lid, common for all AMP lids.

 

[swestoyz]

Timer dial shot.

 

[swestoyz]

Original mercury switches featuring some previous repairs. The rubber insulated wires are brittle enough to crack, which means soft wire NOS replacements will eventually be needed.

 

[swestoyz]

So ----

The condition of the washer was so good that we decided to test it! After a trip to L*wes for a new cord, it was time to see what she would do!

Newton nervously waits....

 

[swestoyz]

So... after priming the pump with super hot water, we threw some juice to the timer and waited with baited breath for the AMP's response.

The only issue? The trip lever was sticky/stuck after sitting for decades.

Otherwise, everything else works expect the timer motor! No leaks no squeals, perfect agitation and the quietest spin you'll ever hear on a Maytag.

However, since this is an AMP you need to remove the cabinet to do pretty much any service work.[this post was last edited: 9/26/2010-23:08]

 

[swestoyz]

Cabinet removed. Love that red agitator.

Taking advantage of having the cabinet off, I installed an NOS water valve as preventative maintenance, along with a new hose to the fill flume (thanks Greg!).

 

[swestoyz]

One cool surprise was a date stamp on the outer tub. November 9th, 1953. How cool is this! Of the other two AMP's I've torn apart I haven't see this before (both were later machines)

 

[swestoyz]

Naked money shot.

 

[swestoyz]

Cabinet assembled, back side.

 

[washernoob]

WOW!

That agitator is just awesome! Never seen a red one. Looks so mint!

It seems that it is quite a small machine. Looking at the Lux super J next to it its almost as wide as the washer it seems.

I see you got that and the constellation out to assist in "cobweb" hunting!

What a cool find. They really are special! The innards are unbelievable for being from 53.

 

[swestoyz]

First test - success! We took advantage of the timer motor being bad by having long clean out wash and an extra long rinse. Thankfully the Warge can handle the overflow.

 

[swestoyz]

Towels, anyone?

 

[swestoyz]

Spinning out the wash water.

 

[swestoyz]

Again, it was a fantastic night for Maytag.

Tom Smith would have been proud.

 

[swestoyz]

The set, back in Waterloo with repair and parts information for both.

 

[swestoyz]

Washer model tag. Not sure when the change was made on these, but earlier AMP tags have the 'Maytag' logo in the earlier font found on the front of the machine.

November 1953 - a very late example of an AMP.

 

[swestoyz]

Washer patents, up through '53.

 

[swestoyz]

Dryer model tag. Now, I'm really not sure if this is the 2008th 60W made, or possibly the 008th 60W.

After looking over the machine this weekend and seeing the early hinged/floating motor and idler pulley arrangement (which was changed to a fix mount weeks after initial production), as well as the early gang box connection for the electrical service hook-up (which was changed completely on March 6th), this 60W could be one of the earliest examples of a Maytag dryer in existence.

Also, why have a date code of April 53 when we know it was probably made in either February or early March due to the changes that are documented in the repair supplements?

I'm not sure if there are any documents out there that could validate my theories, but still, very cool!

Notice that the tag is screwed on and not riveted...[this post was last edited: 9/26/2010-23:10]

 

[swestoyz]

Original dryer installation instructions and wiring diagram.

 

[swestoyz]

Dryer money shot.

While the dryer is in good shape, it does need a complete tear down and rebuild before it should be put to use.

These are very sensitive machines that have multiple shut offs based on water pressure from the water valve and from the output volume of the pump, that require everything to be in tip-top shape for complete operation. I'm in no rush to work on it but for now it will look great next to the matching washer!

Thanks again Greg for the great weekend, and I hope everyone enjoys the photos and a trip down Maytag history lane!

Ben

 

[Unimatic1140]

Yay for Mint - licious

Absolutely a showpiece Ben, I'm think those are just amazing. Congratulations, I know you are going to cherish these!

 

[lebron]

Nice machines, nice photos.