Montgomery Ward washer/dryer set California CL $350

[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.

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