NORGE 20 Pound Washer found in Austin!!!

[westytoploader]

WOW! I checked the Austin, TX Craigslist, and one of the first ads I spotted was "Norge 20 pound washer, works fine, $40." So I emailed the seller and said I would take it. Can't believe I actually found one of these guys; judging by previous posts and appliance-dealer comments these washers are built like tanks. They also "clunk" on the spin brake, and that large 4-vaned agitator must be something! I don't remember any "plastic" Norges either so I'm pretty squared away on appearance...

I'm hoping it has the Burpalator as well, which it probably will. Asked for pictures and will post them ASAP.

There's also a mid-80's Filter-Flo set in good exterior condition (waiting on interior pictures) as well if anyone's interested. Washer works great; dryer's a little slow according to the seller so it might need to be cleaned of lint.

--Austin

http://austin.craigslist.org/hsh/44517452.html

 

[Brent-Aucoin]

Sounds cool Austin!

Keep us posted.
I think that you would have lot's of fun with that machine.
I found one once, but the owner would not sell because it was his grandmothers. He did let me do a load of towels with him. I must say it was a very fun time as far as sounds go.
Keep us posted.
You are finding some good stuff.
Brent

 

[washerlover]

Burp a Lator

That's great; what a find! I recently added a 1976 Wards Signature (manufactured by Norge) 20 lb washer to my collection. You'll love all the sounds this machine makes; it's quite noisy but lots of fun to watch. Please post pix if you can!

 

[laundromat]

Norge 20 pound washer SQ

"Knock on any Norge--knock,knock,knock,knock--knock on any Norge--knock,knock,knock,knock--.Hear the sound of silent quality ,knock on any Norge--knock,knock,knock,knock--.Years from now you'll be glad it's a Norge!"

 

[Unimatic1140]

That's going to be a fun machine to play with Austin, is this your first experience with a vintage Norge made machine?

 

[coldspot66]

OMG! I remember that tv commercial for Norge!! Maybe in the 70's?

 

[agiflow-action]

Austin...congratulations!! You are gonna love that noisy beast.
BTW is it a Fedders Norge? Yes these machines are very well built,I miss the one we had,powerful agitation and low water level is actually low on these machines,as opposed to something from the WP family of machines. Enjoy!!!

Pat

 

[cleanteamofny]

Coldspot66,

It was a commercial for Timex.
It takes a licking and keep on ticking!

Go Norge!
Have a great time Austin.....

 

[gansky1]

I'd forgotten about the Timex commercial - I remember how thrilled I was the first time I saw it!

 

[goatfarmer]

Could be a Fedders or a Borg-Warner.

 

[westytoploader]

Well, the person sent the pictures and the machine is a little newer than I expected (mid-80's), but it is the old design which is important, because sometime in the late 80's--early 1990's (according to Consumer Reports) Magic Chef machines that carried the Norge design switched to the "plastic design" and lost the "clunking" tub brake. Not sure if Norge washers existed after the introduction of this or not; if someone has any more details let me know.

The tub on this machine doesn't appear to be plastic (a little shiny; plastic on a washer this old would be dull), and the new "Tragic Chef" design had a different style tub ring and bleach dispenser cup, so we should be in good shape. However, if this machine is the old design and I bring it home I'm ordering a Burpalator from RepairClinic and putting it in! As far as the condition goes, it does have a few scratches on the outside and will need a cleaning, but overall it looks like it was pretty well taken care of for a Texas machine.

Here are the pictures...

--Austin

http://automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/00ShowCollectionGETD.cgi?photoshow=30@Norge%20Washer%[email protected]&dir=/COLLECTIONS/WESTYTOPLOADER

 

[goatfarmer]

I dunno,Austin,that looks like a Magic Chef.... Better check it out.

kennyGF

 

[westytoploader]

But the Tragic Chefs have visible holes in the bottom of the basket in a different pattern; this one doesn't; the holes appear to be concealed under the agitator like the old Wards models.

Look at this picture of a Tragic Chef's wonderful plastic tub and see what I mean. Check out the tub guard and bleach cup as well; minor differences between this and the Norge.

When I check it out this weekend or the weekend after that I'll plug it in and listen for the "clunk..." If not, forget it!

--Austin

 

[coldspot66]

Austin,

It DOES look like the 1st changover to Magic chef. The first machines did have painted metal tubs, but the clunking brake was gone by then. Those early models did have brake problems where they would not release the brake to spin. Although you may be able to change to a burpilator as long as the drive block is the same.

 

[westytoploader]

If you're referring to the second picture I posted is the inside of a plastic Magic Chef, not the Norge I'm looking at (although the Norge does have a painted metal tub)

But if it is in fact one of the first models of the "new" Magic Chef/Admiral/Norge designs, then I guess it's time to hit the shops...I was hoping for a Norge Signature or older model but I guess I need to visit a few places.

I seem to have the least luck on washers this year!!! Too many "dud finds"...

 

[zipdang]

That Norge is a plastic tub model. BTW, when did the lid go from opening left to back?

 

[zipdang]

Sorry, meant to say it LOOKS like a plastic tub model.

 

[appnut]

Austin, that really doesn't look like a Norge Signature in its true form. Looks more like a Tragic Chef/Maytag breed.

Chuck, I remember that Norge slogan and commercial. I do not remember if it was in use while we still had our 1964 Norge, or right after it bit the dust in 1970-71. but I do remember thinking, yeah right!!! If ya hit it too hard, it's gonna fall apart.

 

[geoff]

Austin,

I'm terribly sorry to sink your battleship so-to-speak, but this is a Magic Chef machine. We have a Magic Chef at the Hospital I work at. I actually had to use it last week to wash my Pharmacy jackets and inspected it. The hospital machine and your machine share the same bleach dispenser, knobs, agitator and basket. The hospitals machine has a porcelain on steel wash basket, not plastic. Same pattern and everything. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but yours is most likely a "Tragic Chef" design.