texassuds
Member
Well.
Howdy from Texas, y'all. I want to start off by saying I didn't want this project. But it's kind of chosen me, I'm afraid.
This was initially intended for a different kind of suds altogether. I bought this Maytag Model 90 this weekend with the idea I'd stick my beer in the tub in the summertime with some Sonic ice when I had company over, and it would be a cool old beer cooler. On wheels, too. I mean, hot damn, right? You can just push the party anywhere you want to go.
It might still serve that purpose. It would certainly be easy to drain when the ice melts. But the more I looked at it, and the more I researched what this was, found out how old it was and inspected what I had, the more I figured maybe instead of keeping this as/is for its "patina," maybe I should look into seeing about a full restoration.
Then I found the deal on Brad Ross, and his work...and I mean, I am not the kind of guy who necessarily digs appliances. But when I saw the before and after on his Model 30 and Model 90, I thought, well hell. That's pretty amazing. And it does the job. You know, I could put the rags and stuff in my garage in this, or the really dirty stuff that my wife yells at me for putting in her washing machine and do it in this, and it would do the job nicely, according to his videos.
And, I mean, how many Model 90s are left in this world, right?
The guy I bought this from for $40 said it was his grandfather's. It came from their place in Colorado, but his granddad brought it with him down to Houston (hence the pitting on the aluminum. I'm a little worried how close they were to the shore and how deep that pitting goes). Anyhow, he wanted to restore it, never did, then his dad was going to and never did. So he kept it on his back porch until he decided to move. Well, that's a cool story in itself, I guess. And then you've got that homemade leg out of scrap lumber and bailing wire. Pirate peg leg.
The more I looked it over, the more complete it appeared to me. I don't think I'm missing anything too major. I'm a little concerned about that rusted-through leg, but I thought, that might just be a matter of finding the right gauge steel pipe, popping that wheel out of the tetanus ranch it's currently residing in, cleaning it up and sticking it into a new pipe leg.
The handle on the mangle doesn't turn, and the on/off switch doesn't turn. I'm hoping a little Kroil will knock them loose. I'll be gentle, for sure.
Anyhow. I figured I'd reach out here, because obviously there are experts who are alive today who might could guide/encourage/assist with doing this right. I guess the first place to start would be replacing the power cord, lubing the electric motor and seeing if there's any life down below, right? I see that Mr. Ross changed it out with a three-prong plug for safety. Any hints on where I should put the ground wire?
I didn't need yet another thing to polish and paint. But...I pet the three-legged stray dogs in this life, and they always seem to follow me home. Maybe y'all can help me out as I try to get this thing to do something.
Howdy from Texas, y'all. I want to start off by saying I didn't want this project. But it's kind of chosen me, I'm afraid.
This was initially intended for a different kind of suds altogether. I bought this Maytag Model 90 this weekend with the idea I'd stick my beer in the tub in the summertime with some Sonic ice when I had company over, and it would be a cool old beer cooler. On wheels, too. I mean, hot damn, right? You can just push the party anywhere you want to go.
It might still serve that purpose. It would certainly be easy to drain when the ice melts. But the more I looked at it, and the more I researched what this was, found out how old it was and inspected what I had, the more I figured maybe instead of keeping this as/is for its "patina," maybe I should look into seeing about a full restoration.
Then I found the deal on Brad Ross, and his work...and I mean, I am not the kind of guy who necessarily digs appliances. But when I saw the before and after on his Model 30 and Model 90, I thought, well hell. That's pretty amazing. And it does the job. You know, I could put the rags and stuff in my garage in this, or the really dirty stuff that my wife yells at me for putting in her washing machine and do it in this, and it would do the job nicely, according to his videos.
And, I mean, how many Model 90s are left in this world, right?
The guy I bought this from for $40 said it was his grandfather's. It came from their place in Colorado, but his granddad brought it with him down to Houston (hence the pitting on the aluminum. I'm a little worried how close they were to the shore and how deep that pitting goes). Anyhow, he wanted to restore it, never did, then his dad was going to and never did. So he kept it on his back porch until he decided to move. Well, that's a cool story in itself, I guess. And then you've got that homemade leg out of scrap lumber and bailing wire. Pirate peg leg.
The more I looked it over, the more complete it appeared to me. I don't think I'm missing anything too major. I'm a little concerned about that rusted-through leg, but I thought, that might just be a matter of finding the right gauge steel pipe, popping that wheel out of the tetanus ranch it's currently residing in, cleaning it up and sticking it into a new pipe leg.
The handle on the mangle doesn't turn, and the on/off switch doesn't turn. I'm hoping a little Kroil will knock them loose. I'll be gentle, for sure.
Anyhow. I figured I'd reach out here, because obviously there are experts who are alive today who might could guide/encourage/assist with doing this right. I guess the first place to start would be replacing the power cord, lubing the electric motor and seeing if there's any life down below, right? I see that Mr. Ross changed it out with a three-prong plug for safety. Any hints on where I should put the ground wire?
I didn't need yet another thing to polish and paint. But...I pet the three-legged stray dogs in this life, and they always seem to follow me home. Maybe y'all can help me out as I try to get this thing to do something.
