Maytag washer "automatic" button

[zipdang]

My grandparents and great-grandmother both had Maytag washers like the one Drmitch has, with the center-mount knob and lighted control panel. One of the machines had the clear glass cycle knob, and the other had the chrome one, although it's been 20+ years ago and I can't remember who had which machine. Anyway, I would swear that one of the washers also had a big wide button marked "automatic". Is that possible? If so, what settings did that control: only speeds, or speeds and temperatures? I'm sure that button existed, but I can't recall seeing another machine with same feature.

Also, my grandparents never had the matching Halo-of-heat dryer. They had an old slant-front Westinghouse with a rear control panel. It had big, "groovy" 60's-like multi-colored toggle-switches for temperatures, and the largest top-mount lint filter I've seen. I haven't seen another dryer like it in anyone's collections. Does anyone have pictures of such a creature, or possibly of the matching washer? (Unconfirmed rumor has it that the Westy washer died and was replaced by the Maytag.)

 

[gyrafoam]

The Maytags with the wide "Automatic" insert were the single-speed models. If a two-speed then two buttons "Regular" or "Gentle" would fill that space. -Steve

 

[zipdang]

I think the machine without the "automatic" insert had a button marked "wash and wear".

When did Maytag stop using "damp dry" and start calling it "spin"?

 

[Unimatic1140]

Big Automatic Button

When you pressed that big Automatic button, the wash would spin during the spin cycles, otherwise a wringer popped out of the side of the machine and it waited for you to wring the clothes between wash and rinse.

 

[fixerman]

Another good answer from Robert. Hahahahahaha. I haven't had so much fun since...........Oh forget it.

 

[zipdang]

Thanks for clarifying that, Robert. I now have the mental image of a wringer springing out and knocking my tiny little great-grandmother over!

 

[jmirawm]

out cold

**grandma's out cold again** Grandpa: "I keep telling her TO PUSH that Automatic button!"

 

[zipdang]

For cryin' out loud, Babs. You passed out all over the clean laundry again.

 

[alr2903]

Big automatic button

My parents had one of these machines with the automatic "filler" where the speed selectors were. also the little " on light" over the timer dial had no bulb behind it, I was dissappointed and only at age 9.