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roto204

roto204

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Feb 5, 2010
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2,779
Location
Tucson, AZ
Well, I'm just back from my first appliance hunt.

There's a place here in Tucson that specializes in vintage appliances (somewhere between a junkyard and an actual restoration facility), and I just HAD to go and investigate.

Lots of old fridges, including Philcos, and the pushbutton-adjustable rack GEs; tons of straight and spiral-vane GEs; one Norge-design Signature Montgomery Ward dryer (all I could think about was gansky's lint-explosion story), a belt-drive Maytag dishwasher, a few center-timer Maytag washers, and a WC-Westy SpaceMate unit. Also of note was what I think was a late sixties Lady Kenmore electric dryer. Chrome galore and two big, wide plastic push-buttons (the kind that slant downward when you push them).

There was also a crap-tastic WCI-Frigidaire washer, complete with duct-tape-defeated lid lock (I had to laugh, considering earlier threads on the issue in Super).

Aside from the 20-lb late-eighties-early-nineties Magic Chef that topped the Consumer Reports capacity ratings (even over Dual Action Kenmores--way to go, team), there wasn't much of note, but it looks like a promising place for future scouting.

I saw a headless machine and just decided to open the lid on a lark. It was a Frigidaire 1-18!!! A Jet-Action agitator stared me in the face. Everything else was there--it was so exciting, and yet--no controls? Argh.

It was a nice beginner's foray into things. I have to get in the groove of learning how to look for these things in my area :-)

Let me know if any of the above spark particular interest and I'll go back and research more.
 
No substitute for perseverance?

Hiya Austin :-)

How did you come upon the incredible finds you've had so far? Do they just turn up at random times? I'm not a big yard-saler, so I tend to look for places where large appliances collect (you know, junkyards, restoration places, the cracks in the sofa cushions...). The down-side is that they know what you're after and, much like buying a car, you have to appear hopelessly unamused by it all, or risk paying a bundle.

And, well, being unamused when it comes to vintage goodies is hard for me to do :-P
 
Nate, keep looking for Frigidaire 1-18s out there. You'll find one yet. May take a couple to pull together a working one.
 
You know...

I'm contemplating being a nut and purchasing the cabinet and innards from this 1-18. The inside and everything is pristine--even the lint filter's in place.

What the h-e-double-toothpicks happened to the control panel?

If all it takes is a control panel, I'd be set. Either that, or I can cobble together the world's first 1-18 semiautomatic :-D

I'm sorely tempted...and this might be a valuable parts machine even so...

Hmmm. :-)
 
That does it...

Okay, I'll go investigate what they want for this machine. If it's reasonable, I'll get it, and then John, I'll be washing your car, cleaning the gutters, you name it :-P

Thanks, you guys!! :-) This is exciting...
 
Plain white :-)

It's plain white, which is a good thing--if I brought home a coppertone or magma-orange machine I'd be sleeping on the sofa.

I'm only allowed to pursue the retro-appliance hobby if it looks good in the future "laundromat-lounge" that we're planning (you know, retro machines, complete with martinis and comfy furniture. Do your wash in atomic-age style!).

Thus, turquoise is sketchy and pink is not allowed. See how complicated this gets?!?

Ah, the joys of relationships... :-)
 
Be sure to check around all the cones to ensure perfection.

I have many 1-18 heads also, unless I clean out the carport and send them to the Krusher.
 
Level III Check :-)

I'll give it a super-thorough inspection before I start to pursue it seriously. The other consideration is how to move it (last time I checked, Chevy Malibus don't take full-size washers, even with the seats folded down...

I didn't tear it apart to look at it because it was headless and I didn't know if this would be a big issue or not (I wouldn't have even known this was a 1-18 had I not lifted the lid), so a more detailed investigation is warranted.

I'll go this afternoon, and will keep you posted :-)
 
True :-P

I'd give my eyeteeth to find a Unimatic such as the one on the front page of this site, but I'll probably win the lottery sooner than find one around here.

So, that notwithstanding, the 1-18 is at least a nice demo piece of Frigidaire's unique wash action before it was sold to WCI and became rather mundane. Plus, it has the larger capacity that most people are accustomed to nowadays.

And let's face it--a little simulated woodgrain never hurt anyone :-P

Maybe I should install an eight-track in it... lol
 
Waffling!

Okay, so here's the scoop.

They found the control head for the 1-18, so yup, it's a 1-18.

The lint filter, in-agitator detergent dispenser, and bits and pieces are all there. I noticed that it's easy to rotate the basket by hand--I'm guessing that's normal (all my experience was with BD Whirlpool/Kenmore machines, so guesstimating mechanical integrity on a Frigidaire is way out of my league).

No major rust or scaries, just a tiny bit here and there.

PeterHH70, you were right--I noticed two imperfections on the agitator; one slightly bent edge (no big woo), and one fractured cone-fin (big woo--it'd have to be cemented back into place. At least the fragment is still there!)

They want $35-50 for it. I'll have a rare opportunity next week to be able to transport it, so I'm waffling. It is neat, it is a 1-18, and it looks all-there. But it's not a to-die-for model like a Unimatic per se, and it would really need a new agitator to be fully trustworthy.

Waffle, waffle, waffle. :-) Any thoughts? I'll make up my mind tonight anyhow, but I'd love the input.
 
Oh hell...

I thought about it. I called the place, my friends are coming to the rescue with a minivan on Saturday, and dang it, assuming I don't lose it to fate, I'm gonna have a labor of love!

(Jumping up and down with excitement--also savoring the excitement of Unimatic's STELLAR acquisitions!!!)
 
Step 1 -- Have it be there when you want it

Yay! The guy who owns the place answered the phone when I called today, and he said he'd sit on it until I can bring transportation Saturday.

He also noted A) he thinks it might work (I told him I'm purchasing it just for parts because I'm evil that way), and B) he seldom messes with the Frigidaire machines due to the hard-to-find nature of parts.

When it comes to a find, "laissez-faire" is music to my ears...

Stay tuned for tomorrow's exciting episode of haggle-and-transport!

By the way, can it be tipped on its back, or does it have to stand straight up when being transported? I don't want to kill it, but I do have a minivan coming, not an open-bed truck...

(Thanks! :-) )
 
Phew!

Thanks, Robert! I'm feeling better and better :-)

(I could just see dragging it home to find out something to the effect of "but didn't you know that with the super-onion-dip-torque-flite-turbo-700 tranny it can't be tipped more than 37.2 degrees!?!...you know, there are funky things that have such caveats...it's good to know that this doesn't :-P)

Thanks again!
 
And the winner of the Frigidaire 1-18 is......

Nate:

The suspense is killing me! Did you pick it up? Is it at your house? C'mon give us all the details!

Congrats on your first vintage find! Of course you know that her restoration will take love, patience, and money; but not necessarily in that order. ;-)
 
Y'all ready for this?

Okay, first of all, I'm a cretin for not posting pics, but the digital camera conked right after the first picture. I'll try to get some this afternoon.

We went on a rainy (DANG IT) Saturday morning to the appliance place, and there it was, sitting outside, control panel and all.

We dollied it back to the van (and dropped it on a stove while trying to negotiate a stairstep--thank God for durable stoves and Frigidaire's bullet-proof finish--neither was damaged), and took it home.

I wanted to reassemble it and test it, but the rain had permeated all the wire harnesses, and I had to take them all apart and blast them out with canned air.

And wait.

And wait and wait and wait.

(ARGH!)

So, I finally gleefully reassembled the control panel to the top of the cabinet, reconnected the harnesses, and reconfigured the lid switch. (I was tempted to defeat it, but I'm a purist with this machine :-P.)

All the while, I'm waiting to find out what it is that was wrong with this machine that sent it to the bonepile in the first place.

Does it leak?

I filled it up with water about three-fourths up the tub and let it sit for three hours. No leaks.

Does it run?

I connect the power chord. My best friend and I are there, looking nervously at each other. (She hides behind a lawn chair.)

I pull the timer.

A soft humming emanates from the back.

Wait a minute! There's water in the machine!

Oh yeah, they cut the tube that goes from the water level switch to the control panel in their haste to decapitate the machine.

Off to Lowe's we go, to get a new section of tubing.

Is it icky inside?

I dismantle the cabinet to get to the water pressure switch. It's amazing.

First of all, this is the EASIEST to work on machine I have ever encountered. Pop the front panel off, squeeze the spring clips and flip the top back, and you've got all-access to just about everything.

I was worried about what I'd find. Rubber shavings? Busted hoses? Mice? An explosion of oil everywhere?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Not even dust. The hoses are soft and flexible, and even the spring clips are pliable and intact.

Nothing is broken. No rust. Just a little hard water and soap crud here and there.

The motor gleams and has no dust on it.

Most importantly, not a drop of oil anywhere.

I replace the tubing and reassemble the cabinet and reattach the controls.

Take two

I prepare to pull the timer. (My best friend Beck hides yet again.)

Ka-CHUNK! Chug-chug-chug-chug-chug!

The agitator springs to life with a mighty squeak (which has never happened since--I think it was from sitting), and, as everyone said, sounds like a diesel engine chugging away.

Maiden wash?

After testing the other systems and making sure all is well and functions, I find that absolutely everything works and is intact. After the important addition of a drain hose and a way to directly connect the water valves, I find that the Jet-Circle spray works, too--YAY! All my friends are standing around mesmerized. No one from my generation has seen a washing machine that did things like this. (It's like all the ingenuity and creativity was systematically removed from washer design right around 1980.)

The decision is made to do a test load of laundry.

We gingerly lower a scoop of detergent into the agitator dispenser. (We could have used the cap as a measure--how convenient!!)

I replace the cap, let the machine fill, and then we all watch as a plume of detergent fans out of the agitator and into the water.

About 30 seconds into the agitation, the agitator cap goes SPROING!! and rockets about a foot and a half in the air, followed closely on its heels by the detergent compartment.

Note to self: Turn cap until it clicks.

After that minor snafu, I did *SIX* loads of laundry and gave the Jet-Flow lint filter a run for its money. Everyone commented on the immense capacity (even under ridiculous loads of jeans and cottons) and seemingly relentless attempt by the agitator to force everything to circulate--and it always won out.

Also impressive was the relatively short cycle time and amazing efficiency of the spin, which takes far less time than the seemingly endless spin cycles of the WP/KM machines I was used to as a kid...but the water extraction is even better!

The verdict

From being not-so-impressed initially ("it doesn't look very retro") to being extremely impressed and intrigued by it, my friends (whose house I'm keeping it at) are mulling the concept of wheeling their 2004 GE off into the storage shed and using the 1-18 full-time.

My friend's mom even made the comment, "wow, a real washing machine."

:-D

I'm stoked, stoked, stoked, and the 1-18 works gloriously. This will definitely be my full-time machine when we get our house.

I'm so glad I found you guys when I did, and learned to broaden my affection for vintage machines--the timing was perfect, and meant to be :-)

And YES, I will post pics ASAP!! :-)

A big THANK YOU to all of you for all your help!
 
WOW, glad it works and that you saved it from the Krusher! The vertical-action Frigidaires are truly amazing; shame on WCI for swallowing Frigidaire up from GM.

Be sure to check the bellows seals (especially the outer, "water" bellows) in the long run...they're usually pretty "tough" but if the water bellows blows out...not pretty.

--Austin
 
Repair info?

Thanks, Austin, I'll do that. Everything seems copasetic, but I do want to make sure I don't just run the puppy into the ground. Any tips on what to check for with the bellows?

BTW, I did find a random chunk of what seems to be urethane foam laying at the bottom of the inside cabinet. I'm guessing maybe there was some insulation or bumper-guards to deal with an oscillating tub in case of the off-balance spin-bonks (you know, like the time washing a pair of jeans with a load of dish-towels *seemed* like a good idea...)...but I don't know for sure...

I need to find a repair manual for this...the insides of a 1-18 look to me the way a Saturn V rocket must have looked to a Model-T mechanic. It's a way different animal than the belt-drive WP/KM machines I'm used to.

:-)
 
I'm so happy for you......

It makes you wonder why the machine was in the junk pile in the first place. I am so happy you have it and that everything works smoothly. Take good care of it and it will take good care of you. Wow, this is a real success story in my opinion. Now you'll have to start looking for a matching dryer! By the way, what is the model number of your machine?
 
:-D

Thanks so much, Patrick! :-) I should swing by my friends' house tonight at some point, so I'll get the model number off of it.

I'll do my best to take good care of it--I do need to learn a LOT about the Frigidaire engineering to understand what to look for, how it all comes together, and how best to care for it.

I too really do wonder what happened. The only thing really wrong with the machine is a crack in an agitator fin, but I can fix that (it's a split, but not a complete fracture).

I think someone just decided it was time for a new machine. What really makes me wonder at the whole thing is the fact that the place where I hunt for machines was going to de facto dismantle it--they didn't even test it to see if it worked, and since they can't readily get parts, they didn't even want to bother.

LOL about the matching dryer--it'd be fun to match the set, but I'm *DYING* to find a condenser dryer so that I can show my friends what it's like to not have baked, stiff clothes come out of the machine (their recent GE dryer just cooks the clothes if you happen to put it on Cotton, so a Filtrator would be a nice departure from that).

Was the Frigidaire matching dryer to the 1-18 pretty cool? I'm guessing from reading various posts that, by that time, they had gone to a flow-through air design, but I'll keep my eyes open and see if one wanders through :-)

Thanks again!! :-D
 

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