maytag DE308

[hippiedoll]

hey everybody!!!

well, i just contacted the seller of a maytag DE308 electric dryer. but it does have some minor "issues";
1. the door doesn't stay closed because it needs the catch part of the door latch.
2. it doesn't have a power cord.

it is a DE308, so it only has "regular" timed dry and "perm. press" timed dry, and a short "air fluff" cycle, with 2 temperature buttons (low & regular).

so, i have to buy a door latch kit and an electrical cord for it. but the price is $20. another thing, this dryer was made december 1979.

my question to you is, what are your opinions on this, yay or nay?? do you think i should "go for it"??

thank you & i'll be looking forward to all of your opinions on this....

oh yeah, i forgot to mention, it is white just like my A608, so it will match.

;o)

 

[hippiedoll]

picture...

 

[bluejay]

I'd say go for it. Wiring the cord is ridiculously easy; I'm not mechanically inclined and I found it pretty easy to do. The latch should be an easy fix as well. It looks like a pretty clean unit otherwise.

 

[combo52]

DE308 Dryer

I would go for it if you have the matching washer and desperately want a pair, other wise there are much better performing vintage dryers out there, WP KM and GE-HP come to mind.

Still the price is good and MT dryers of this vintage are easy to fix.

 

[nashmaytagbear]

I say do it! That's the same set we have exactly! The 308 is one that my partners grandmother bought brand new and we are still using it. We have had to buy a few parts here and there but it is always worth it. The 608 I bought a few years ago to have a "matched set" in the laundry room. We love both and wouldn't part with either one.

 

[goatfarmer]

Get it! The cord is a non issue, and the plastic latch can be bought. Both are simple fixes.

 

[hippiedoll]

i'm "going for it".....

have plans to go pick it up tomorrow.
the seller is a guy and says that he can load it on the back of the truck for me. i tried to get a hold of my cousin, so that he could go with me for the drive, but i didn't get no answer from him. so, i will be driving alone, to go pick up the dryer.

the thing is, just where in the heck am i going to put it so that moms doesn't find out anytime soon!!! oh man, is she going to get pissed!!! LOL.......

all i have to say is, "it only costed me $20, how could i say no!?".
LOL.......

oh she is going to sh*t!!!
hee hee hee......

well, wish me luck on my drive up & back.
trying to figure out what all i will need;
blanket (to pull the dryer into the bed of the truck & also to pull the dryer off the tailgate)
dolly (just in case the seller doesn't have one)
straps (already have some cheapies in the truck)
some extra handtowels, just in case we need them to protect our hands when grabbing the dryer from underneath.

is there a certain side not to lay the dryer on, when loading it onto the back of the truck??
i figured it would be ok to lay it on either side to put it into the truck bed. and then, just stand it up. not on it's back, cuz i don't want to bend or crush the vent, not on it's front cuz of the little door knob.
if there is a side its NOT supposed to be layed on, please let me know.

thank you guys for the replies and the words of encouragement & thumbs up about going & getting this dryer. you guys are soooo appreciated & loved!!!

)

 

[hippiedoll]

plastic latch....

i just bought a door latch replacement off of ebay. so, i've gotten that part taken care of.
(oh my mom is going to flip!!!).....

 

[hippiedoll]

update....

ok so i went to go pick up the DE308 and brought it home this afternoon. so far, from what i can tell, i feel more like i brought home a giant metal "stuffed" animal!!! this thing seems to have more lint stuffing than my poor ol' "moppy mouse" stuffed animal.

when i pulled the lint screen out, something thick & furry rolled out of the lint filter and down into the dryer cabinet! at first, i thought it was some kind of fuzzy "critter". but when i looked down into the lint screen housing, i could see it was a thick mass of lint and what looked like pet hair (dog?). and i'm sure that is just the "tip of the iceberg". i guess i should of taken some pictures. but i was too excited. LOL....

i can't wait to get the front panel off this DE308 and go crazy with my eureka canister vacuum cleaner!!! i promise to have my phone close by to take some pictures to share with you all!!!

one thing i noticed, in the area, where you connect the power cord, it seems to be missing a cover panel or something. i will take some pictures tomorrow when there is light. but in the meantime, if someone could take a picture of the back of their 1970's center-dial maytag dryer, so that i can see what it is supposed to look like, i would really appreciate it.

thank you....

)

 

[hippiedoll]

oh yeah.....

i forgot to mention, this dryer seems to be in pretty good condition regarding the sunglow lower console panel and also the chrome edged trimming around the control panel. in the on picture i posted, it looked like it might have had a stain on the sunglow panel. but looking closely at it, i could see that it was just dirty/dusty.

i think this is going to look OUTTA SIGHT after i give it a good wipedown!!!
will try to remember to take before pictures of this as well!!!

you know, for someone who didn't really want a dryer, i am starting to get pretty darned excited about this one!!!
hm hm hm.......

;o)

 

[gadgetgary]

As per request

Acquired in April '07 matched set for $60.
Covered in nicotine and cleaned up perfectly.

Washer A108
Dryer DE309

 

[goatfarmer]

I probably have the cover for that dryer, if you can't find one.

 

[hippiedoll]

thank you...

gadgetgary:
for the pictures that i requested, of the back of your dryer. this dryer that i just got doesn't look exactly like your's, to me???
i will have to take a picture of it and post it on here for comparison, and to see just what is missing.

 

[hippiedoll]

awwww....

thank you goatfarmer/kenny!!!

let me take a picture & post it on here so that i can see what all is missing off the back panel.

i'll send you an email to find out how much for the cover.

thank you again, so much kenny!!!

;o)

 

[electronicontrl]

Very Nice

Congrats Christina,
That is awesome for you!!!
My aunt had the exact same dryer in harvest gold and a matching A207S washer.
Oh I love those center dial Maytags. Such rich history!!!
So happy to see you excited over your "new" Maytag!!!
Yippee!!!!

 

[hippiedoll]

ha ha ha......

thank you electronicontrl/michael D

oh i bet your aunt's looked great being in one of the funky popular 1970's colors!! that was what i was wanting to get. my A608 & now DE308 are just in plain white. BUT, to break up the monotony of the no-frills, washed out, plain-looking white, that you see on all the machines of today, these are center-dial maytags that have the chrome trimming & sunglow lower panel, and the clear plastic, diamond-like control knob. so i am so happy for the little splash of color, textures, and shine that these do have!!! and another thing i've been thinking about adding to my set is those "flower power", rickie tickie, flower stickers to mine. i know that these are probably not everyone's cup of tea but, i think those would really put a smile on my face & a sparkle in my eye!!! ;o)

kinda reminds me of that on newer white set of washer & dryer, that somebody posted in the "shoppers square", that had light-colored, big polkadot stickers (i believe) all over both washer & dryer. i actually did like that the polkadots broke up the plain ol' white of the machines. )
ha ha ha....

i'm like you michael, i love the look of the maytag center-dials too!
you know, in someone's picture of their set, the way the flash glared off the aluminum center-dial, it looked like it was lit up. and for a second there, i thought, too bad maytag didn't make the center-dials so that they lit up just in center. sort of like a centered headlight. i bet that would have looked really cool!!!

anyway, i still haven't had a chance to open up the dryer, to clean it out yet. i'll have to wait until monday, cuz moms still hasn't seen the dryer and doesn't know i have it!!! i put it in the sideyard where our clothesline is. hopefully she won't want to start doing laundry today!!! i did cover it with an old sheet, to help protect it from the sun, wind, rain, and dust/dirt.

keep your fingers crossed that she don't see it!!!!!!!!!
LOL......

;oD

 

[hippiedoll]

quick update....

it's sunday and i did receive the door latch kit in yesterday's mail. and of course, i was pretty itch to put the new door catch in the dryer. and when i woke up, moms was doing laundry (which means she will be going into the sideyard to hang the levis out on the clothes {that's where i have the maytag dryer hidden!!!}). so, when the first load finished washing, i asked her if she wanted me to hang out the load while she got the next one ready for washing.
WHHHHHEEEEEEEWWWWWWW!!!
she said ok. and i was even up on the 2nd load that came out of the washer too!!!
hm hm hm.......

so, i couldn't resist, i opened the door latch kit package & took out the door catch and went out to the side yard, lifted the sheet up & pushed the door catch into the hole. easy peasy as puddin' pie!!! so, i took the medical tape off of the door & cabinet and closed the door (the way it's supposed to be closed).

tomorrow (monday) i will proceed with vacuuming out the cabinet.

i'll keep you all posted...........

;o)

 

[washdaddy]

Christina-
Don't you think your mom is going to be a little suspicious when you start running a vacuum outside in the side yard. lol

You know she's not going to think your vacuuming the grass.

Maybe you'll get lucky and she'll think you're fluffing up some bushes or something.

j/k with all the nonsense of course.

Good luck,
Rick, Washdaddy

p.s. Congrats on a great score. I'm sure you'll love it.

 

[hippiedoll]

ha ha ha.....

thanks washdaddy/rick!!! )

moms will be at work tomorrow (monday), so i'll have all day to vacuum and tinker around with my new (to me) maytag dryer. i still have to get the electric cord for it. but i know that this thing is going to be FULL of lint, just by the way the lint screen was, when i pulled it out. and from what i could see down in the lint screen slot.
we'll see what happens......

keep your fingers crossed for me!!!

;o)