mid 70s Maytag washer in shaded coffee color - Wisconsin

[delaneymeegan]

only $25

Am I wrong in thinking this is an A806?

I'm goo-goo-gaa-gaa for the color. With the shading it looks so rich compared to the dryer.

http://racine.craigslist.org/app/5278603580.html

 

[rp2813]

Not enough buttons?

It doesn't look like an 806 to me.  I don't think the panel lights up and there appear to be only two speed selector buttons instead of the four found on the 806.  It's probably the next model down.  Still a great machine and a great buy at $25 if it's operational.

 

[hippiedoll]

I'm thinking...

that's a 606 with the pilot light above the timer dial. But that is a nice coppertone color & shaded at that!
)

 

[appnut]

I see 3 buttons---so it's a 407/408 Fabric-Matic

 

[delaneymeegan]

I went to get it, it won't fit in the vehicle I drove there with, but will go back tomorrow with something larger.

I got at least a souvenir for today: the lid. I noticed it right away, the lid was sitting in place, but I could see there were no hinge balls. "Oh, yeah, that comes off, but it still works." the guy said.

I'm guessing this is like 1972ish. It appears to be all there, with some wear, but no apparent dents or damage.

It has a special feature that has me perplexed at the moment, but if it is what I think it is, will make it even more fun.

Bob, when you write "Fabric-matic" what does that refer too?

 

[appnut]

That's a very beautiful washer.  Fabric-Matic--it's a 1-speed washer--exactly what one would find in Maytag equipped Laundromats.  Regular is regular.  Perm Press supplants part of the spin between the wash & rinse for the cooldown phase and the subsequent spin is short.  The spin after rinse is shorter by a couple of minutes.  For Delicate, you set the timer on the maximum wash time.  The machine will do alternating periods of agitation for 1 minute and about a 3 minute soak twice I do believe.  The rinse agitation period is shortened.  The final spin may be also. 

 

[delaneymeegan]

I don't know. I seem to remember seeing speed switches.

I should have taken a few pictures when there.

Oh well, the mystery and suspense continues.

Now my big dilemma: can I use gum balls for the hinges?

 

[rp2813]

I'm pretty sure the "Fabric Matic" types have a blank plate that reads "Automatic" where the speed selector buttons would normally be.  If you remember seeing that, then it's a single speed.  It's hard to tell from the picture in the ad, but I think the large lettering of "Automatic" would show up better if it were there.  My money is on speed selections.

 

Bob, did you blow up the photo?  I figured it was too grainy and distance too great for a zoom to help.

 

[delaneymeegan]

Yes, you're right.

I've seen the 'automatic' badge on several single speed MTs.

This machine has button in all the openings.

It's a typical crummy Craigslist pic.

I'm impressed that people know the model numbers from memory. Now I know what an 806 and a 906 is, but not the others.... yet.

 

[rp2813]

This was recently posted in another thread and appears to cover the 1972 model line.   Personally, I wouldn't want anything lower than a 606.

 

 

[beekeyknee]

Delaney,
From what I can tell by looking at that C/L picture, that machine appears to be a CA606 from probably from the early 1970's. I can't remember when the copper color was dropped, but I don't think it made it to the mid 1970's. Since it's that old it will need some pretty major maintenance unless the previous owner took extremely good care of it and that's pretty unlikely. Most people just expect household appliances to run and they aren't concerned with maintenance until they break.

If it's a 606 it will have a pilot light above the dial and the switches below and to the right of the dial will be speed switches. Regular and gentle wash; two speeds. The hinge balls are available on line at Repair Clinic dot com and places such as that. There's a trick to putting those in. It involves a cup of boiling hot water, a spoon to retrieve the balls from the water, a bit of know how, brute force, and some patients. If you need more assistance I'm sure some of us will be around to help.

Brian

 

[appnut]

Ralph, I blew up the photo and see a "shadow" of a center button pushed in like there's a shadow for the other two places where buttons are pushed in for water level and water temp.  The markings on the timer dial are consistent with the unique features of the 407.  There was a basic cycle that was controlled by the 3 cycle/"speed" buttons.  The other portion of the cycle dial was an extended 28 minute soak cycle. 

 

[rp2813]

Thanks Bob -- that's something new I've learned.  I thought all the single speed machines had the "Automatic" plate where the buttons belong.

 

I remember when Sears had an outlet store here in the mid '70s, I'd check out the appliance section and there were always some Maytags there.   I remember the ones with the "Automatic" blank and knew they weren't as feature laden as I'd want -- because my mom's Sinister Snorge was on its last legs and replacement was imminent.

 

I'm betting if the outlet had offered a decent enough deal on a 606 or 806 it would have outlasted my mom, and I'd probably have it hooked up on my back patio right now as an auxiliary machine.

 

[delaneymeegan]

I either got gypped, or I got extra whip cream on my sundae

So, I picked it up, got it safely home and in the work shop, and looked it over.

Well..... check the pics and tell me what you think is going down here.

I plugged it in, it seems to work fine. Even without pushing the lid button it will go into spin (you know that isn't right). The speed switch does not seem to do anything.

Next up is removing access panels, checking it over, connecting the plumbing and seeing what drama awaits.

 

[rp2813]

OK, it looks like you have a 206 there.  It might be a suds saver model, but I don't see a suds selection on the dial.  I wonder if the control panel was switched out at some point.  Others will have to chime in on that.

 

It should indeed have two speeds, but the four water level selections are B.S.   That's a standard tub machine, which usually only has three levels.  The four level option at some point ended up only on the large tub models.

 

We had that same machine without the suds saver, bought used in 1986 and never had a problem with it in the 11 years we owned it.

 

[DADoES]

 
A206 doesn't have a soak cycle, AFAIK.  The one I have doesn't.  May be a 407 panel was put on it.

 

[rp2813]

Soak Cycle

Agreed.  I don't recall our 206 having a soak cycle.  This machine has been messed with and apparently lost its original control panel at some point.   It may be a challenge to find the correct panel (or panel guts) for it along with a timer that has the suds saver option.

 

If you don't think it's worth the effort, you can consider keeping it as a potential parts donor.

 

[appnut]

The tub and agitator do not match the 4 water level buttons.  And as stated, a 206 did not come with a soak cycle.  And the suds saver mechanism is no longer there--that drain hose and hole out the back is what is covered up on the back. 

 

[rp2813]

Bob, I'm not sure what you mean about the suds saver mechanism.  What is that uncovered pump looking thing with (presumably) an inlet and outlet in picture #11 above?

 

[appnut]

Photos #12 & 13, the round blue ting with the screws holding it to the back of the cabinet.