Never lock up a washer when there is a washer boy around

[Hometechdoc]

Finally got pics from a trip to Maui from the other half. We where there in Mid March. We stayed at the Lahina Shores Resort which is just north of downtown. We have stayed there several times before, but in my aunts unit. That unit was not available so we found another unit in the same building. Since it is a rental unit, many things were locked up. No problem, but after being there for a day or two, I could not resist, I had to know what washer dryer was in the unit. The unit we usually stayed in had a mid eighties lady K portable and an early 70's kenmore portable dryer stacked. So here is the lock so how long do you think it took me to get in?

 

[Hometechdoc]

A GM Frigidaire Laundry Center

After 10 minutes of starting with 000,001,002. I sat down with BF and we brainstormed common numbers to try. I knew the unit owner was from Columbus Oh, so I tried that area code 614 and got in and here is what we found.

 

[Hometechdoc]

Another Shot

Full size view. I am not sure, but this must have been a 27" model. My first condo had a Kenmore version of this in a 24" model in the mid eighties. This washer had a larger capacity, the dryer seemed very similar in size.

 

[Hometechdoc]

Inside Shot

Of course I had to do a load. Big AgiTub

 

[Hometechdoc]

Outside of Building

Just for fun a pic of the Lahina Shores Beach Resort, one of my favorite places to go and hide.

 

[frigilux]

How cool is that? Didn't GM call these 'Skinny Mini's' for awhile?

BTW, Congratulations: It is my pleasure to announce that you have achieved your 2nd degree black belt in Washer Fanaticism by not letting AN ACTUAL LOCK get in the way of your (and, subsequently, our) viewing pleasure.

You are truly dedicated----or as non-washerheads call us, "weird", LOL!

 

[Hometechdoc]

My man

Still looks pretty good even after 11 years! Certainly good to me and that is not always easy

 

[Hometechdoc]

Another one, I could not resistS

Smile! So cute half Salvadorian, half German

 

[Hometechdoc]

Me

The Flower Bear

 

[tlee618]

Neat pictures Allen, thanks for sharing.

 

[jaytag]

non jetcone?

Did frigidaire build these? The agitator is jet cone.

 

[Hometechdoc]

No Jetcone

Frigidaire made a line of thin stacked machines with this type of tub called an AgiTue. I do not know what years exactly, but it was around the mid seventies. It was a one piece tub and agitator combination with a fairly wide stroke and a powerful motor. This machine was very loud and I don't know if that was normal or the fact that it was 30 years old and obviously had not been well maintained. The first of these series were called "skinny minny" Again I don't know if these were 24 or 27" models or if they made both. The one I had in the mid eighties was 24" and had a moveable agitator and was much quieter. I was surprised at the wash action and rollover in the machine pictured here.

 

[goatfarmer]

From what I remember, the Frigidaire Laundry Centers were not unusually loud. That is, unless they had a bad bearing or two...

 

[golittlesport]

When White Consolidated Industries took over Frigidaire the agitub in these compact stack units was replaced with the "Franklin-style" innards -- smaller perforated tub and separate angel wing agitator.

The GM Frigidaire agitub had a very large capacity for a 24-inch machine, and did a good job. Being a solid tub, it had an overflow rinse. I believe all GM "Skinny Mini" machines were 24-inches wide. The later WCI models came in both 24 and 27 inch widths.

 

[qsd-dan]

Weird coincidence

I just saw this stackable set on craigslist.

http://redding.craigslist.org/hsh/781580079.html

 

[tuthill]

Oooo i want a skinny mini! Maybe I'm gonna have to make another road trip...LOL

 

[j2400]

A Stupid Question...

Was Frigidaire the one who originally developed machines like this? I seem to recall seeing them advertised when I was young (say, early 80s), and got the impression that they were unique for a while to one company.

 

[Hometechdoc]

compact stackable laundry

With the prevelance of condos and townhouses in the early to mid seventies, there was a market for these type of units. Also apartments and trailer homes made a compact washer and dryer marketable. Wesinghouse had a stackable unit (front loader) that was somewhat popular since the late 50's. Sears, Speeed Queen, Maytag, and Hoover marketed some version of a compact model during the sixties and seventies, as did others. The Frigidaire version seemed to be very popular as a one piece unit and dominnted the market until Maytag introduced their unicontrol full size stack unit in the mid eighties. Within a few years, virtually all the mamufactureres had some sort of small scale stacked unit.

 

[frontaloadotmy]

Weird Coincidence # 2

I just saw one yesterday here in Grass Valley , Harvest Gold,
she said she wanted $50 , but would take $35. It certainly
seemed to be solidly built. I passed.