Meet the Chef

[bobbyderegis]

Magic Chef, that is.
I found this beauty in an estate sale. The owner was an elderly lady that had it in the basement, but became too frail to get down the stairs. It was hardly used when she had a stack pair installed in her kitchen. It was top of the line, and is in near perfect condition.
Bobby in Boston

 

[bobbyderegis]

Some console shots:

The temp selector:

 

[bobbyderegis]

Console shots:

The speed selector:

 

[bobbyderegis]

Console shots:

The variable water level:

 

[bobbyderegis]

Console shots:

The timer:
Note there is no perm press cycle. The delicate cycle has intermittent agitation. Soak cycle has agitation periods at each start point and at the end. Spray rinse begins at the same time the brake solenoid releases during the drain/spin.

 

[bobbyderegis]

20 lb. capacity

The tub with the spitting agitator:

 

[bobbyderegis]

Filling

The fill flume has been recessed under the top:

 

[washmeup]

Beautiful

Wow, what a great machine!

 

[bobbyderegis]

Almost full, with the tub underloaded:

 

[bobbyderegis]

Washing away!

The typical Norge sounds, and you can see the water spitting out of the top of the agitator:

 

[bobbyderegis]

Rinse water is always clear. Very long agitation stroke and brisk action provide great cleaning:

 

[bobbyderegis]

The old and the new

Comparison of the older Norge lint filter ring and blue fabric softener dispenser with the newer Magic Chef smaller lint filter ring and white FS dispenser. The Magic Chef dispenser is two piece and can be separated for easy cleaning:

 

[bobbyderegis]

Matching dryer

Bonus!

 

[goatfarmer]

Nice set!

 

[mickeyd]

You've found the killler machine--the legendary " S

For whitest whites, you dial up a hot water wash with the full 45 minute "Soak to Wash." It's as close as we get to a "boil wash" here in the states ;'D Turn up your tank to HOT.

Imagine what a long hot soak in powdered Tide with Bleach followed by a 15 minute wash in the same luxurious washing liquors will do for your whites. Your baby will do it all automatically.

Hate to cliche, but....Bobby..... that is a totally awesome washing machine!

The possibilities for fabric treatment in a "Soak to Wash" are absolutely dazzling

 

[peterh770]

Not "spit up"

It is a "burp up" or "burpalator"... LOL!

 

[laundromat]

Awesome!!!!!

You scored bigtime!!!I used to sell them at George's in Baltimore.The washer retailed for $399 and the dryer was $299($50 xtra for gas models). Both were the last of the great Norge line of washers and dryers just before Fedders,the owners of Magic Chef,Norge and Dixie-Narco,sold out to Maytag.I was lucky to have a couple of neighbors who had these either under the Norge or Magic Chef lable and they were great in getting clothes clean and the dryers were amung the fastest in drying time.We also had Maytag,Whirlpool,Amana,GE and Frigidaire products.I sold a lot of the Frigidaires and the White- Westinghouse Space Mates.

 

[gyrafoam]

Hey Bobby, thats a great machine! Congratulations of your find!

 

[gadgetgary]

Bobby

What a great find!

 

[rickr]

Great looking set Bobby!
Is this a recent find, or is this the one that has been making some strange noises for you?

 

[gansky1]

It looks like it's in great shape. Do you know when it was made?
I cleaned a house a long time ago that had a set of these - probably the same models. The washer sounds were just awesome (loud!) but I always thought the (electric) dryer was interminably slow.

 

[pulsator]

GAWGEOUS!!!! The things I would do for such a fabulous washer!!!

 

[swestoyz]

Very, very nice set Bobby!

Ben

 

[revvinkevin]

Wow Bobby, CONGRATS on an AWESOME find!!!! Those look fantastic!

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Wow wow wow!

Wonderful shape. I've forgotten how much fun that washer design is to use! Congrats!

RCD

 

[polkanut]

I take my hat off to you, Sir!

 

[bobbyderegis]

I thought everyone might enjoy looking at this.

The washer is really fabulous. The agitation action is really vigorous without being rough, and the spin is great. I want to do a water extraction test comparing the Norge/Magic Chef, the Maytag 712, the GE Filter-Flo, and the Frigidaire 1-18. My money is on the Magic Chef. I haven't fired up the dryer yet. Gas is a real PIA to hook up.

Rickr: yes, this is the same machine I was talking about earlier. I got it about a year ago, and just got around to playing with it. It's a loud groaner when it's draining. The agitator turns slowly as it drains and the noise it makes is hilarious. Sounds like an old rusty door hinge.

Mickeyd: I agree. The soak to wash is the best thing since sliced bread. My Maytag 712 has the same soak to wash. It is the best for cleaning. I double the amount of detergent in hot water and use the full soak cycle until it gets to the wash cycle, then advance the timer to about 5 or 6 minutes of wash. I can't see beating the hell out of the clothes for 18 minutes. Most of the grime is gone after the soak.

Greg: I don't know the exact date of manufacture. I guess 1980, give or take a year.

Bobby in Boston

 

[mrb627]

Timer Dials

I love timer dials that detail WASH/SPIN/RINSE/SPIN.

 

[lesto]

Great machine. It's just like my "Chef Norge" except teh colrs on the cycles are different on mine. Soak to wash is grey, normal cycle is yellow and the short cycle is red. Other than that I see
no differences. Mine also has the recessed water flume.
Love that Norge tranny sound!

Les

 

[cleanteamofny]

Bobby,

It's time for a moooooooovie!
You can do it, show us the goods!