I’ve been looking through the archives to see if there are any photos of the Norge/Montgomery Wards dryers disassembled but so far have found nothing. I’ve heard they have a blower/fan as big as the drum but haven’t seen any photos of one taken apart. I am sure they are simple machines inside since some of the older models would have a belt going to one of the rollers for the drum drive but again haven’t seen one taken apart and disassembled for cleaning/lubrication.
Norge/Montgomery Wards dryer question
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cfz2882
Well-known member
behind the drum fan Norge designs
not sure when this habit began,but it might have been around 1958 when the first co-axial fan design Norge came out using a radial fan to blow air out 3 triangular openings in the drum.Around 1968,the new design came using a big axial flow fan driven at about 1500 RPM by a v-belt from the heavily loaded 1/2 HP motor.About 1983,the design was modified a little with a slightly smaller(~15")radial fan and motor reduced to 1/3 HP this lasting through about 1985.The sheet metal fans mounted to the pot metal hub with 3 screws and often worked loose.The ~1986 up version had blower on end of motor. Of the ~1968-85 fan hubs,earlier ones were bronze bushing,but this was changed to ball bearing by about 1979.
not sure when this habit began,but it might have been around 1958 when the first co-axial fan design Norge came out using a radial fan to blow air out 3 triangular openings in the drum.Around 1968,the new design came using a big axial flow fan driven at about 1500 RPM by a v-belt from the heavily loaded 1/2 HP motor.About 1983,the design was modified a little with a slightly smaller(~15")radial fan and motor reduced to 1/3 HP this lasting through about 1985.The sheet metal fans mounted to the pot metal hub with 3 screws and often worked loose.The ~1986 up version had blower on end of motor. Of the ~1968-85 fan hubs,earlier ones were bronze bushing,but this was changed to ball bearing by about 1979.
rinso
Well-known member
We bought a Ward's Signature (Norge made) set in 1984. The dryer was very fast with its positive air flow, but we also found it quite linty. It was super easy to work on, so every 6 months, we'd disassemble it and vacuum out all the lint in the cabinet and all other areas. Everything about the set was perfect for my heavily-soiled work clothes.
This is from a thread Paul created back in 2018 of his 1955 Norge dryer. Is this where the blower/fan is located or not? Looks to be right behind the drum from the looks of it but since I’ve never seen one apart, can’t really tell where it’s located.
This is from a thread Paul created back in 2018 of his 1955 Norge dryer. Is this where the blower/fan is located or not? Looks to be right behind the drum from the looks of it but since I’ve never seen one apart, can’t really tell where it’s located.
cfz2882
Well-known member
that is the fan-looks like it turns at a lower speed than the later design,based on pulley size-something like 600 RPM.
The fan is much slower in the early Norge dryers, but it was much larger and have much higher pitch as well so I think the air movement was similar they made the fan smaller in the last version of these again so they were three different fans in the positive airflow Norge dryers.
These early ones you couldn’t really remove the fan blade it was assembled into the back of the rotating drum you could replace the bearing separately however.
John L
These early ones you couldn’t really remove the fan blade it was assembled into the back of the rotating drum you could replace the bearing separately however.
John L
Reply #6 & #7
Getting a better idea of how these dryers work. Reason why I am asking is if I ever have a Norge or Montgomery Wards dryer come through (not likely anytime soon), I’ll have some idea to how it works and how it’ll go back together. John, does the drum on these older Norge built dryers from the 50’s and early 60’s just remove easily or do you have to remove any screws or fasteners before you take the drum out?
Getting a better idea of how these dryers work. Reason why I am asking is if I ever have a Norge or Montgomery Wards dryer come through (not likely anytime soon), I’ll have some idea to how it works and how it’ll go back together. John, does the drum on these older Norge built dryers from the 50’s and early 60’s just remove easily or do you have to remove any screws or fasteners before you take the drum out?
cfz2882
Well-known member
cool to see these go at least as far back as 1955
Parents bought a new MW Norge in 1980 after ~1958 Hotpoint dryer ate through it's drive roll shaft when the plastic bushing wore through...The monkey Norge was junked in 1998 when the motor seized and no replacement was avalible at the dump.I still have the fan and some other parts.
Trouble areas of the dryer was the GE motor was prone to overheating and shutting off if lint wasn't vacumed out of the motor about every 9 mo.The door latch became worn and the positive air pressure would blow the door just slightly off the gasket letting lint escape as dryer ran.
Parents bought a new MW Norge in 1980 after ~1958 Hotpoint dryer ate through it's drive roll shaft when the plastic bushing wore through...The monkey Norge was junked in 1998 when the motor seized and no replacement was avalible at the dump.I still have the fan and some other parts.Trouble areas of the dryer was the GE motor was prone to overheating and shutting off if lint wasn't vacumed out of the motor about every 9 mo.The door latch became worn and the positive air pressure would blow the door just slightly off the gasket letting lint escape as dryer ran.
