O.K., in Dave's honor: Why does everyone think (GM) Frigidaire is so great?

[mrcleanjeans]

Why we care about Frigidaire

Steve, I never knew they were that quirky. It's so kewl to learn all these tidbits about our beloved appliances. Frigidaire (GM of course)is still one of my all time favorite lines of appliances. I even love the Spin Tube machine since it was totally different from all other dishwashers of its day with the exception of Youngstown Kitchens, a similarish design overall.

 

[gadgetgary]

1967

My Mom was still using a Maytag wringer washer(went thru four kids with that one). She decided to get an 'automatic washer'. The choice was a Frigidaire Rapidry 1000 or a Maytag(both available thru local dealers intown).
My parents looked at both and since my father worked for a division of General Motors they decided on the Frigidaire.
It was a wonderful machine, and was matched with a Frigidaire dryer in 1970.
Mom passed away in 1968 and never had the luxury of a dryer.

 

[toggleswitch2]

Mine's on the door, as pictured.

~They were also the first self-cleaning oven that had their insulating door seal located on the inner cavity, not the door.

Anyone have such a pic?

 

[norgeway]

Monotube units,

How many know what other ranges used T.K. monotubes, these were NOT a Frigidaire product they were made by a company known as T.K. These units were used on Philco,Admiral Universal and some Kelvinator,I think they distribute heat better than any unit made,the surface units today are a joke especially for canning,my partners mom has a new whirlpool, and has broken several units with a canner and the stove is less than 4 years old...pitiful. T.K--Terro and Kift.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Frigidaire

Hi all, fascinating to read all these threads about machines / branding / pricing etc....

My first visit & wash convention in 2001 at Roberts had me in awe of all these machines...The control towers just look soo elegant and then I could remember the jetcone agi washers we had in those colourful launderettes over here!!!

The first machine I used at the convention on my own was The Lady Kenmore 57 , I have a real soft spot for that machine (and where is it now...Lol)

I love the retro look and robustness of the Maytags and have the honour of a top loading set, wringer, twintub and the latest front loaders...!!

Question: What was the perceived brand structure / hierarchy / pricepoint / of the day?? was it...from the top down??

Frigidaire
Maytag
Whirlpool
Kemore
Norge etc

 

[gyrafoam]

Mikey, thats a tough one-----

Hmmmmm. I think in sheer numbers sold the Kenmore would ring the bell. Sold through all the Sears, Roebuck & Co. stores, who offered payment plans, they were just the ticket for many a couple starting a family, or a family in progress.

I believe the public percieved quality level of Frigidaire and Maytag the same. Most of the people I remember did. Then Hotpoint/GE, then Kenmore/Whirlpool (Whirlpool was not heavily marketed in the "deep-south" until RCA divested (in 1966?).

Then there were the rest: Kelvinator, Speed Queen, Westinghouse, Norge, Philco/Bendix, Bradford, Wizard, Wards, etc.

I also think a major variable would have been what part of the US you lived in. For instance Blackstone and Easy were almost unheard of in the "deep south" and I only saw them when visiting relatives up in New York-----who were mostly Maytag people. If you lived in Milwaukee, Speed Queen and Kelvinator were likely the most popular. Ohio and Michigan were likely BIG Frigidaire country.

And keep in mind it was the major automobile manufacturers who marketed three pretty big sellers and I would think the public might percieve quality level or price point via these companies. American Motors=Kelvinator, Ford=Philco/Bendix, GM= Frigidaire.

Also, families starting out in the post WWII economy were struggling and scratched and clawed to make every penny count.
So department stores such as Sears, Penny's, and Wards did a great business of selling whatever brands they had via revolving credit plans.
In Atlanta, (where, in the old days EVERYBODY was nearly all gas--heating,stove,waterheater,clothes dryer,etc.) the Atlanta Gas Light Company sold mostly Maytag and Westinghouse and you could make your monthly payments on your gas bill. They didn't care if you only sent $1.00 a month as long as you paid something, and you could take as long as you needed. Needless to say, they made a LOT of friends that way!

Anyway, thats my two shekels. It will be interesting to hear some other opinions as I am sure most everyone percieves things differently (no!----in THIS group of "alley cats"?).

 

[mickeyd]

De Frigidairibus

Following Frigidaire's directions, forcing yourself to load in four quadrants and drop the clothes vertically rather than horizontally is completely counterintuitive; but once you master it, your tangling woes are over. Even so, I remember yanking many a "rope" out of the washer and tossing the whole cable into the dryer--a boy in hurry, doing Mom's bidding-- and our "Roper" dryer which lasted THIRTY YEARS in a family of eight, always delivered soft fluffy unraveled laundry. Funny that a Roper could solve the Frigidaire rope issue:->

Frigilux says:"My Parents? SEARS people. I felt completely ripped-off. I've come to appreciate vintage Kenmores, but the whole time I grew up, I wanted a Frigidaire washer in the worst way." The exact sentence exists in my mind; just switch the brands. We HAD to have a Frigidaire. The Tower which lasted a decade, then a gorgeous copper Rollermatic in 65 or 6. Loved going over to my Aunt Marie's because she alone had a KM, the delights of which were mesmerizing. Spent hours in her basement, absolutely gaga over the spray rinsing, the neutral drain and the right-out-of-washer-heaven sudsreturn, so sad to return home to the imposing Tower.

To Mikey's point: In this neck of the woods, Buffalo and Western NY, Frigidaire was king, then Speed Queen/ Norge/Whirlpool, in terms of hierarchy. In terms of popularity, most houses had Kenmores with sudsavers. In the oldest neighborhood, whose homes lacked basements, the Easy Spin reigned supreme; everyone had one except the grandparents who had Wringers, many of them Maytags from the sole Tag store here. Interesting to note, I never saw a Tag automatic growing up. Not one. Maybe the rich people had them, and thought they were better than Frigidiare's, and we working class stiffs didn't know any better.;'D;'D;'D. We were told that the Frigidaire's were "the best on the market!" Still believe it. Would never prefer a Tag over a Fridge--except maybe when and if I get rich, LOL.

Sick of Frigidiares, I never went back, until the joining the club when I was reminded of their power and glory, and now could not live happily ever after without one. Here's a 62 Multi pullin' down a huge winter comforter in a luxurious 4 minute overflow rinse, the scent of fresh water intoxicating like Niagara Falls.

 

[thomasortega]

Talking about frigidaires...

Hey Guys, after being very busy during the last weeks, I'm finally back.

First of all, I want to excuse me to all my friends that I abandoned. My inbox is full of unread emails, now I'm going to start writing the replies.

Emilio Berisso, from Buenos Aires may be thinking that I'm the most arrogant guy in the world because after all the wonderful help he gave me during the negotiation to get my Unimatic, I didn't phone or email him to let him know the machine arrive perfectly.

Back to the topic, as we're talking about Frigidaires, what do you know about that horizontal axis top loader by Frigidaire? I can't remember where I did see it.

 

[gyrafoam]

Thomas I haven't forgotten you. Am trying to get a bit of help. Will be in touch via e-mail.

 

[danemodsandy]

For Toggles: Southern Frigidaires

Toggles:

You're correct that builders often used Frigidaire down South; GM was very aggressive in going after that business, offering great pricing and more features for the money than other manufacturers did on their "builder quality" offerings. The South was in a huge subdivision-building boom for about twenty years there.

For existing homes, Frigidaire was a top choice because of Georgia Power, who offered Frigidaire majors on much the same basis Atlanta Gas Light had for gas stuff. As long as you paid something, they didn't hassle you.

Later, when Sears made credit easy, they captured much of the Atlanta area. In the '50s, you saw many different brands there. By the later '60s, there was a whole lotta Kenmore goin' on. Because of Sears' E-Z terms, people could often treat themselves to more appliance than they could elsewhere (Sears' "no down payment" terms were what made the difference). Keyboard Lady K's were pretty common, and 800's too.

 

[mickeyd]

Concerning Frigidiares, Con'd

Dueling wonders of KM's versus Frigi's, revisited--when i fell back in love with them, after early abandonment.

Kenmore: the riveting spray rinse, the excitement of the first time.....how long does each one last? How many will there be? How 'bout that clang of the valve between the first minute of spin and the beginning of the sprays. Then it does it all AGAIN after the rinse. You're kidding me---EIGHT six second sprays--HEAVEN!

Then Frigidaire came through in about 1960 when the 1140 spin was followed immediately with the rinse fill and NO PAUSE. The water whirled from the wide flume, the tub flying high, the pulsator going up and down, a chaos of spray, an orgy of water. It was dazzling. I called my Aunt Ellen into the basement to show it to her when the machine was new and we both got wet from the spray during the long long coast.

Answered prayers, Frigi has a spray. Then as Steve hints, the 1-18 spray in warm water (both valves open, high pressure) out of multiple (anyone know how many?) ring-jetted water spouts--pure dreamscape stuff.) Many of us Unimatic users fantasized about just such a rinsing system, and when an engineer had the same dream and made it a reality we were awestruck. Remember, Gents & Ladies?

Inverted Panel--don't know how it happened--no joke!

 

[iheartmaytag]

This is not meant to be naughty, but there is something sensual about a Frigidaire in action.

 

[mickeyd]

Kelly writes of "the stunning glory of dazzling porcela

Indeed. For Kelly and Steve. Sorry for a fake light, but all the rest is real, over a half a century old--almost 60, I think.

iheart......have you ever seen the black tube pulsator on the pulsamatic? The similarity is unmistakable. Maybe someone will post a pic. My gram had one, and I know Robert has one, not sure if he has the phallic agitator.

 

[joelippard]

Since we're doing pictures

I'll never pass up an opportunity. How could you not love something so "Simply Complex"

 

[joelippard]

Why Just Look

At all that splashing, What a Mess!

 

[norgeway]

Black pulsator...

My grandmothers 55 pulsamatic had that ,did have a sexual look to it.

 

[mickeyd]

Calling all Gansky's

Hello Amazing Graceful Greg

Wonderful Robert says that you have the older Pulsamatic. Do you have a pic handy to show Iheart and company the infamous black tube pulsator? Keeping it clean and G-rated as you would expect with children tuning in.

Your friend,

Mike.

 

[strongenough78]

I've never had the oppritunity to use a Frigidaire washer before. I hope someday I can. I must say from the video's I've seen, I'd love to try or even own one of the earlier models with the 3 Ring agitator. I LOVE Roberts turquoise set. I can't remember the year lol. But I do love it. I like the Jet Action too, but I'm leaning more to the 3 ring types. I have to admit I don't like the 1-18. I've seen a few videos where there is little or no turnover, and they don't rinse as well it seems. It seems like there's just as much suds at the end of the rinse cycle that there was in the wash cycle. So yeah I'd go for a Unimatic. If that's the correct one lol. Great turn over, and virtually eliminates suds if oversoaped like in Roberts video. Plus 1140 RPM spin speed! I think EVERY washer should have that. That means less time in the dryer! Maybe one day I'll be able to come to one of Roberts Wash- In's and maybe get to use that beautiful machine, and maybe a few others of his. The strange thing about Frigidaire washers, I've never seen anyone here with one. No one in my family, or friends of the family. It was either Maytag, Whirlpool or Kenmore! I wonder if that's a west coast thing?

 

[norfolksouthern]

StrongEnough: You are sadly mislead on the 1-18. They do, in fact, have excellent turnover. And they rinse better than most anything on the current market. It's just that they are so efficient with detergent, you actually need very little. And yes, you see foam but that's because the cones disturb and oxygenate the water surface so much. I sure wish I had a video system so I can display the rollover properly. Why, oh why do so many people overload these things?

NorfolkSouthern

 

[norgeway]

Appliances in the south...

My friend Gyrafoams impressions about Frigidaire are about like mine...In the town I am from, Lenoir N.C., a town touted for years as the furniture manufacuring center of the south..population in the 50s about 14000 now about 22000 or so , we had the following appliance dealers..
W.E.Shaw-Frigidaire--Considered one of if not the best store, likewise, Frigidaire was considered the best brand.
Teague Furniture-Norge and Philco
W.B.Lindsey-Speed Queen and Hotpoint
Bernhardt and Seagle-Westinghouse and Amana
Shields-Bendix Kelvinator and Maytag
Leftwich-Westinghouse
Duke Power Co. Hotpoint...Just like Atlanta, you could have the bill added monthly to your power bill.
Crowells-G.E.
Home Electric-G.E.
Valmead Furniture-Leonard
O.P.Lutz Furniture-Frigidaire and Monarch
D.D. Suddreth-Philco,Gibson andMaytag
How we got all those stores carrying the same thing ill never know But most people were loyal to there store,in other words if you had an account at Teagues,you might not like Norge as well as Frigidaire, but you had an account there so you bought what he sold,usually if you were rich,you shopped at Shaws, which meant Frigidaire, Or Zenith TV, oh yeah I almost forgot
Carolina Tire and Appliance-Crosley
Overall, there was more Hotpoint Ge and Frigidaire than anything else,but a fair amount of Westinghouse.