Montgomery Ward washer/dryer set California CL $350

[retropia]

This looks similar to but a little newer than the top-of-the-line set in my 1964 Montgomery Ward catalog. Any idea what year these are? Who made washers and dryers for Montgomery Ward? Are they any good?

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/app/1685029310.html

 

[retropia]

Washer control panel

Any idea what that box-looking thing is on the top right of the washer?

 

[retropia]

Dryer photo

The Craigslist ad says it is a "Signature" model.

 

[retropia]

Dryer control panel

What sort of Wrinkle Guard would this dryer have? I hate ironing!

 

[appnut]

They were made by Norge. Probably early to mid 1970s. And I'd say theyw were TOL

 

[appnut]

That box thing on the top right of the washer is the detergent dispenser.

 

[appnut]

Wrinkle-rid is probably continuous no-heat tumble with loud obnoxious buzzer periodically sounding for a total of 30 or more minutes of tumbling.

 

[appnut]

It's a gas dryer and close to 8.0 cu. ft. drum.

 

[a440]

This is a very cool set!
One of my neighbors had this set.
They were a great pair.
The one thing I remember about the gas dryer is that is was not an "in-shot gas burner" but a cast iron gas burner. Flat type. I thought even at this time in my lost young life that this was different.
This would be a great pair if in good shape.
Brent

 

[gyrafoam]

They "look" like they are in great shape for their age.

 

[bajaespuma]

Ouch.

I was just saying to myself the other day that I really wanted a Norge/Wards washing machine. You NEVER see them for sale anywheres.Never had one/used one and thanks to all you knuckleheads, now I'm curious about them. Especially the old huge capacity ones with the hourglass-shaped agitators with the holes in the base. I'm so damn cash-poor(ha! right, just CASH poor) right now but so damn tempted. These look prime! Good thing they're not in coppertone, harvest gold or avocado; I'd have no say in the thing.

Now what would Homer do?

 

[rp2813]

They seem way overpriced to me. Of course, by now most people here know that I hate these Norge/Signatures so much that you couldn't pay me to accept them, but seriously, even a pristine center dial set from the same period would have trouble commanding such a price.

The seller will have these machines for a long time to come at the price they're being offered. Not even a lifetime supply of earplugs would make $350 seem reasonable.

 

[revvinkevin]

I agree, the price seems a little high to me....

...Or more then I'd be willing to pay.

However, if anyone is interested in them, send me an e-mail... I could go pick them up for anyone who is seriously interested.

Kevin

 

[washerlover]

I have the same set in Harvest Gold...great machines, the dryer runs really hot and the flexibility of the wash agitate/spin speeds is awesome. Love those burpalators!

 

[rickr]

WOW! These do look to be in VERY nice shape from the photos, and they are TOL and a matched set. If they are in good mechanical condition, I would think they should be worth $300.00 to $350.00. When you think what amount of time (and money) it takes to restore a vintage set, these would be considered a good buy for the price the owner is asking.

 

[DADoES]

 
Never take a vintage sale offering to be as good mechanically as it may appear from the outside. I've been caught several times with machines that appear good but then find that numerous repairs and part$ are needed.

 

[rp2813]

I agree with DAD. Just ask Nate how it's going with the outwardly OK-looking KD 12P that was supposedly used "just the other night" before it was purchased.

 

[roto204]

Oh, no!

No, I have no doubt that it was used "just the night before."

I also am quite certain the owners' subflooring looked like oatmeal when they pulled that machine...

 

[tolivac]

Don't see or find MW or Norge in my arrea either-ask at all of the local applaince swap shop and they say that none ever come in.Ask the shops to keep an eye out though and call me if any come in.Also they say BD KN and WP washers don't show up anymore either.

 

[combo52]

NORGE WASHERS & DRYRES

Hi Brent Norge gas dryers went to the more common single shot burners in about 1966 for all thier gas dryers. The drilled port cast iron burner they used in all thier earlier models was really neat but they some times clogged with lint and didn't burn evenly. It is a great washer and dryer pair for a collector its rare to see any that survived as neither the washer or dryer were very durable.

 

[cfz2882]

i had MW norge dryer bought new in 1980 until 1999 when the
motor seized-the motor was 1/2hp,twice the power of most
other dryers,but drove a large axial fan with about 20 blade
behind the drum via a belt and that must have put a heavy
load on the motor as the motor would overheat and shut off
if you didn't remove the front of the dryer and vacume the
lint from the motor air intakes every year or so,also the
door latch eventually got weak and the door would sometimes
blow open.Havn't had a norge washer of that era,but on most
i have examined,the pumps had most of the fins broke off the
impeller.
As a child,really liked the norges because they were big,
powerful, and loud.

 

[gmmcnair]

These Old Norges....

....really did a fantastic job and they had a great capacity. They also extracted water VERY well for a top-loader of their generation, IIRC.

I think that one reason why you don't see them is because they were so powerful and LOUD. The clunks and grunts of these machines put a lot of people off. My grandmother sent hers back because she hated the noise.

They also had a tendency to be sensitive to off balance loads, and would walk right toward you, block doors, frighten children...LOL.

Personally, I like them just fine. I loved how well they cleaned.

 

[combo52]

NORGE WASHERS

Norge washers & dryers were louder than many and I often noiticed the louder a machine is the shorter its life is before repair problems crop up. But I must say I never saw a Norge washer that had walking problem they generally had good suspension systems and they didn't spin any faster than most washers except BD WP products the noise may have led you to believe they were spinning fast,look up the actual spin speeds if you like.

 

[cfz2882]

670 rpm

'82 MW catalog says these spun at 670 rpm,did not mention the
spin speed of the westinghouse based washers also in the cat.
3/4 hp motor on the norge base machines.

 

[a440]

Hi John,

Thanks for the info about the gas burners in these.
I guess their pair was quite a bit older.
I do remember that she kept them so clean. They always looked showroom new. The color was avocado. Or "Green". She lived across the street from us and always got a kick of how I liked to watch them wash and dry.
I guess she supported the habit.
Have a great weekend!
Brent

 

[1972lkdishwash]

Mont. Ward set .Washer & Dryer...

Well, you asked...here it is...had a pair exactly, ONLY THE DRYER WAS ELECTRIC.1981 FROM MONTGOMERY WARD BRAND NEW..MY MOTHER INHERITED BOTH WHEN WE MOVED INTO A HOUSE WITH lADY KENMORE, INSTALLED TIGHT INTO CUPBOARD SYSTEM.AND WERE JUST PERFECT.They are made by the Norge Company...Washer clunked loudly as changed cycle and went into spins, eventually the tranny went>> and my mother had it thrown out for a Maytag...A terrible loss.repairman said, get rid of it..cost more than it was worth,it was 14 years old..Dryer still going strong and wish we had the washer repaired., Mom has the dryer, huge drum.

http://automaticwasher.org