Maytag DE-500 dryer

[sudsmaster]

Saw one of these this morning. Very interesting, instead of a center dial there's a cicular emblem that says "Electric Drying" or something like that. Then there are four gray buttons to the right, for different types of drying. No timer whatsoever... didn't know that Maytag made one of these so early on. The fins inside the drum looked like they were sensors - sort of coppery metal flutes on them.

I could have had it for $40 but decided I didn't have the room at the moment. But I'm sure someone will snap it up, even though the paint on the cabinet (no porcelain) was pretty worn.

 

[mayken4now]

The Gray Buttons

Were the start buttons. They were/are sping loaded and you would push to start. Very Very cool

Steve

 

[sudsmaster]

The buttons were a little sticky but otherwise ok.

Seller just left a message on my machine, said I could have the dryer for free.... should I get it?

 

[appnut]

yep, you should get it. I believe that's Maytag's first electronic control dry dryer.

 

[bpetersxx]

Yes go get it

It may have the very first wire wrapped baffles in the drum for timing dryness levels

 

[sudsmaster]

Hmmm.

I took a nap instead.



I'll give them a call and see if I can still pick it up.

They probably were wire wrapped.

 

[sudsmaster]

As these things go

Another buyer popped up who wants the washer (modern whirlpool) too, but hasn't called back... so it's up in the air whether I can get the dryer... will know more tomorrow.

 

[sudsmaster]

Still waiting to hear back from the seller. Who knows what's going on? I may have made a mistake in telling her it's of collector interest... lol... funny how people can change when they think there might be some $$$ in it (which I doubt there is, anyway).

 

[goatfarmer]

One thing I NEVER do is say that it's a collectable. I usually say I have a similar one, and need parts.

kennyGF

 

[mayken4now]

Good advice Kenny!

 

[sudsmaster]

I'm supposed to pick it up on Friday. The seller said she'd hold it for me, "as long as I don't find out it's worth $5,000". To which I replied, "No way!". She seemed ok with that. We'll see.

It's not as if I really crave this dryer - it is interesting but not the oldest dryer made by Maytag, by any chance.

Anyway, if she puts me off again I'll just forget the whole thing. I don't need any additional difficult people in my life ;-).

 

[appnut]

but not the oldest dryer made by Maytag, by any chance

Rich, no. There was a dryer that matched AMP washers with the control knobs sticking up to the ceiling on the front right & left corners.

 

[sudsmaster]

The DE-500 is also huge. I didn't measure it, but it must be at least 30 inches wide. The drum capacity didn't appear to be any bigger than my Neptune dryer, though. The lint filter is at the back of the drum. I am surmising that heated air enters the drum via the slotted fins, hence the name, "Halo of Heat". I suppose it works well enough - the seller had no complaints about its functioning, although it appeared that it might not be shutting off properly. She said it just buzzes and they open the door.

Door probably needs new rubber gasket - although there's not much to it anyway. The vent opening is in an odd location - the upper right hand rear corner of the cabinet, on the side. And of coure they had the scary plastic flex ducting still attached... lol...

 

[qsd-dan]

Yeah, older Maytag dryers are pretty wide. They’re about 25% wider than the matching washer.

Did you get the machine? Please post some pics if you did.

 

[toggleswitch]

Maytag

Dryer 28.5"
Washer 25.5"
===========
54.0"

Most other brands:
Dryer 27.0"
Washer 27.0"
============
54.0"

Of course you can still get 29.0" wide dryer by Whirlpool and Kenmore. Paired with their 24.0" wide washer the total size is then one inch smaller at 53.0"

~The vent opening is in an odd location - the upper right hand rear corner of the cabinet, on the side.
Straight back (not to the side) from that location was fairly typical of the older generation but smaller capacity dryers. Side venting was easy to accomplish in a Maytag by turning the elbow inside the machine and opening the knock-out on the side of the machine.

~And of coure they had the scary plastic flex ducting still attached.
These only became really scary (a pronounced fire-hazard) after Bounce and other dyrer sheets were introduced. Dryer manufacturers recommened against them at first due to the risks.

 

[toggleswitch]

They really are bad for the environment, bad for the machine

...and by THEM I mean dryer sheets.

 

[sudsmaster]

"The Eagle Has Laundered"

Yes, things worked out and I was able to buy the DE-500 for a reasonable price.

Here she is, fresh off the truck:

 

[sudsmaster]

Control panel

 

[sudsmaster]

"Electronic Control", indeed!