My 1st Wringer - Maytag N2L

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

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Tom ... the "basic" N you are referring to was called the "NX". It was also called the "Blue Bell". It looked like a canner with the blue speckled tub!!

Believe me, that was a "no frills" machine. You could not buy it with a pump, it had no hanger for the lid, it used both of the "soft" rollers (it didn't get water out that well), it had a short power cord, and most had the "postless" gyratator ... am I missing anything? :-)

It's primary use was to "up-sell" Mrs. Homemaker to a full-fledged Maytag. There were dealers who would sell it, however, and I do believe in the early 1960's, these went for $99 ... what a deal!!

It was discontinued in 1969 along with the Model J. Both weren't very popular; were those women crazy???!!! :-)
 
Thanks, Geoff

Yes, remember the blue one being referred to as the "Bluebell". Didn't know the J was discontinued that early -we had one on the floor, so it was obviously old stock in '77. The store closed sometime in the late 80's from what I can recall, and they still had these on display until the end. This store had a reputation for high prices, and therefore didn't sell alot of merchandise.
 
Tom ... those machines were expensive right at the end. I do believe a Model N sold for around $400 in 1983 and the E was about $500; lots of money then (and now, too!).

They sold the heck out of these machines for a lot of years. I think the N was $139.95, the J was $159.95 and the E was either $189.95 or $209.95. Adding a pump to any model was $10 more. They were like this for a long time. Don't know when the price really started changing, however. That would be interesting to find out; I'll have to dig a bit.

Dealers also had cool promotions. "Buy a wringer washer and get a set of wash tubs, a laundry basket and big "home laundry use" box of Tide". I'll take 2, please!! :-) Wouldn't that be fun??

These machines were what made Maytag famous and then their automatic came along and changed the scope. In 1958, Maytag starting making and selling more automatics than wringer washers. The wringer declined even more in the 1960's and by the end of production in 1983, they really dwindled down; no one wanted to bother with them. Shame, shame, shame!! :-)
 
At one point I had 2 E2L machines, one with the red release bar and the other with the aqua color release bar. Long story short, dad ended up throwing out the machine with the aqua release bar, but I kept the motor and belt. He wanted to throw out the machine with the red release bar, and I have since hidden it.

Tim, nice find!!
 
I'm pretty lucky ... I have 1 of each model of the red-release bar and 1 of each model of the turquoise release bar; I love them all!!

Here's my 1968 Model J that I rescued from my cousin's mother-in-law's basement after she passed away. It's one of my favorite machines. It is so very quiet and powerful. This one was made in October (if I remember right) 1968 and in November or December 1968, Maytag introduced that crazy safety pedal; even the last of the NX's had them! This J is one of the last without that crazy thing!!

It's a no pump model and her nickname is "Myrtle" (named after her former owner). :-)

I don't know why women didn't care for the J. Maybe the price was too close to the E to get all those features?? Who still knows this information now that Maytag in Newton is gone??

geoffdelp++9-29-2010-16-48-6.jpg
 
Geoff, I always love the pictures of the Harem. You keep teasing with posting pictures of the red machines (I THINK that's what you said...) One of these days, you'll have to put them ALL in a room and take a picture so we can see all the Harem together... ;)

I still would like to find a clear tubbed demonstrator like Robert has. THAT would be a find to be proud of...

RCD
 
Just Curious...

Do these machines arrive in that condition or do you restore most of them pretty extensively? If you do restore them then its an amazing job. They all look so nice.

-Tim
 
GEOFF!

Bethany (E2LPS below) misses Chafanda - she wants more photos, please!

BTW - how did you get that tub to look so minty new? Holly cow!

Tim - nice looking N! Enjoy it, those N's really are fantastic washers.

swestoyz++9-29-2010-20-00-26.jpg
 
Questions?

What model had the aluminum agitator?
That was the machine my Mom used up until 1967, when she got the Frigidaire Rapidry 1000.

How did you drain the water without a pump?
[this post was last edited: 9/29/2010-22:00]
 
Rollers and Drains

I don't know how to make them spring up like that myself, I hit the release bar and the tension is off the rollers though.

Without a pump the machines are gravity drain, you lower the hose to a point below the tub and drain it into a bucket or concrete floor or yard or whatever is near. It's not really the most fun part of the experience that's for sure. Nice looking red E2L by the way. Do the E's have an aluminum agitator or the standard plastic or bakelite gyrator like the others?

-Tim
 
Answering some questions ...

Hopefully, I can answer some of your questions.

Ben's right; the aluminum agitator went to red bakelite in the early 1950's when Maytag was in the "throws" of making their first automatic. The aluminum agitator was used from 1939 until the red bakelite. The black bakelite agitator switched in 1956 and the turquoise in 1966.

To separate the rollers in between wash days ... make sure machine is unplugged, release tension on rollers, place one hand in between top and bottom roller, lift up about an inch or so and with the other hand, turn the tension reset lever on the top ... like you were setting the tension. That will keep it in the "up" position.

To drop rollers the next wash day ... press and hold the release bar and turn the tension reset lever counter-clockwise. That will drop the top frame and you can then set the tension like you normally would!! :-)

How do you drain the machine without a pump? Lower the drain hose into a floor drain or a bucket. If you are using a bucket, start to lift the hose prior to the bucket getting too full. A genuine Maytag drain hose was considered "no drip" (still kind of "drippy", however).

Getting the tub straightened out? Well ... I let it agitate for a long time using hot water and plain Tide to "soften" the aluminum ... you could smell the aluminum when I was draining the tub. As the tub was draining, I took a terry cloth and really rubbed the sides; you should have seen the aluminum stains on the rag! The hot water/Tide makes it more maleable to a gentle rubbing with a Brillo pad that has OxyClean in it; it worked really well, don't you think?

Nope, these machines don't arrive in this condition; I put a LOT of work into them. Labors of Love!! :-) Here's the pink E2L as I received it:

geoffdelp++9-30-2010-13-24-0.jpg
 
As the tub was starting to get "de-stained" ... you have to work quickly; it cools off fast. It's best to clean these tubs after hot, hot water has been in them. Do a small area at a time.

geoffdelp++9-30-2010-13-28-39.jpg
 
A quick video of a small load:

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value=""></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
 
Nice, Greg ... sounds good.

But ... you gotta fill that baby up with water to get the full gyratator action ... and then do 2 or 3 loads in the same water.

:-)

What WOULD our grandmothers say?? Heaven's sakes!!
 
Sorry to mention Speed Queen

I have a Speed Queen wringer washer, aluminum agitator, a dull rougher aluminum than your shiny perfect Maytag tub interior, but any ideas on how to clean the somewhat pitted, stained agitator? Anyone have experience with rough, industrial aluminum instead of the super-shiny tub? I can live with it as is, would prefer to clean it, but am afraid of wrong process making it worse. Any advice is appreciated--
Mark

akronman++9-30-2010-16-41-6.jpg
 

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