No it's not pretty, but this Montgomery Wards washer arrived in time to join todays Wash-In!

[revvinkevin]

It's possibly do to excitement about this afternoons Wash-In, but I woke at 4 am this morning, UGH! After TRYING to go back to sleep for 45 minutes I figured I might as well just get up and post these photos... since I've been needing to for the last few days anyway.

The story. A week ago a member of the car club I belong to, knowing I have an interest in washers, called asking if I'd be interested in his 1977 Montgomery Wards washer they got used and have had for many years. He said it's always worked well, never had any problems and the belt was even replaced last year. He also mentioned it has "a little rust" on top.

Thinking (hoping) it was a Norge built "burpalator" I of course said yes and went over to look at it. Initially I was a little disappointed to see it was not a "burpalator" (actually a Westinghouse) and the rust was more then "a little". I then thought "yes it's rusty, but it still works and I can still play with it!"

The nice thing was, since a friend just delivered the replacement for this Wards (a 4-ish year old KM DD 80 series), there was a truck at his disposal and said they'd deliver it to me too! So a FREE washer AND free delivered. SWEET!

 

[revvinkevin]

A closer shot of the top and control panel

Surface rust on the control panel but it's worse on the lid.

 

[revvinkevin]

Interior shots

Inside it's actually really clean and in good shape. The agitator has a removable lint filter that also includes the vanes/blades on the upper part of the agitator. I don't know that this makes it like a "hand wash" agitator like the Hotpoints of the time, but it sure looks like it!

Once I figured out how to remove the lint filter and take it apart, I discovered it was completely caked/packed/clogged with yuckiness (how's that for a word, LOL).

 

[revvinkevin]

I Forgot to add... when I first looked at the machine, I showed the owner the lint filter and how to remove it, he was surprised and said he had no idea it had a lint filter!

So, after it was delivered I hooked it up to check it out. I discovered the hot water valve was either completely clogged, or just simply didn't work (I later learned they only washed in cold, never using hot OR warm, in an attempt to save energy and $$). I also noticed the water level switch "seems" to me out of adjustment. While the "MIN LOAD" setting seemed correct, the "MED" level setting filled the tub all the way up to top where the "HIGH" level should be! The 1st photo is the "LOW" level setting and the 2nd is "MED".

At first I was afraid to try the "HIGH" level, but did try it the next day when I took these photos. The HIGH level setting filled the tub ALL THE WAY UP TO THE TUB RING!! And I don't mean that screen attached to the tub to keep clothes from going over the top of the inner tub into the outer tub, it was all the way up, touching that wide plastic tub ring! I was still afraid it would overflow or leak, but it didn't!

It also needs bearings! It sounds really good agitating, but is noisy when spinning!

I was surprised to see it has really lousy rollover! I washed a set of twin size bed sheets, one pillow case, a pair of Dockers slacks and a small sweatshirt at the water level in the 2nd photo. It would have barely made one complete "roll" (maybe) during the 14 minute wash cycle if I had not reached in 2 or 3 times to push the cloths and help it along.

Poor roll over or not, it's still fun to play with and if nothing else, I will use it just to wash garage rags and towels!

 

[goatfarmer]

Nice save, Kevin!

 

[mynameismiele]

Seconded!

Message to short

 

[qsd-dan]

It's a shame about the rust. The cabinet and washer look really nice, besides the rust issue. Hope everyone there is enjoying themselves at the wash-in!

 

[bobbins]

These were made by Westinghouse. The noisy bearings in the spin is a sign the main tub seal is worn caused by water leaking in the transmission. I repaired many of these types of washers. The most common problem was the trany tub seal and bearings...huge job to repair, but cool washer to play.

Bob

 

[jons1077]

Love it...

That's a really cool machine! I'm hoping to find that agitator to play with in my Westinghouse one of these days.

 

[gansky1]

How fun - it must be good karma for it to arrive, even if limping into the garage, for the wash-in. I found a GM Frigidaire Skinny-Mini only a week or so before the 2005 Convention here, it was meant to be. Enjoy the duo-agitator! Have fun!!