One-Minute washer

[DaWoodster]

Greetings, very fresh newbie here. Just picked up what I believe is a One-Minute wringer circa 1940s?

I've never owned or even researched these prior, I was just looking for a wringer for my shop towels and detail rags. Then I saw the ad for this washer and had to have it.

I've been browsing the forum and it obviously seemed like a great place to see if anyone had any additional info. Any documentation would be a real bonus. I didn't really find much in searching the forums, other than this was one of the many models associated with Beam and it seems a bit rare.

I did find some general info on the web noting the One-Minute washer co. moved to Kellog from Newton.

I have pics of the faded logo and the serial no tag in my photo album.

Thanks for looking, the forum and any help you can offer!

 

[volvoguy87]

Interesting.

No idea who made it, but the wringer head looks like it has some Maytag in its design. Maytag was located in Newton, IA. Perhaps someone else here has more info.

Would you post a pic of the wash tub and agitator?

Thanks,
Dave

One more thing, when not in use, make sure the pressure on the rollers is released!

 

[maytagbear]

The legs DO look

Maytag-esque.

Thank you for posting. I have heard of the "One Minute" washer brand, but have never seen one before.

One Minute sure would be an interesting wash cycle!

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[qsd-dan]

Interesting, it looks very similar to a Maytag N2L.

Welcome Aboard!

 

[sensi-temp]

No resemblence to a Maytag wringer at all, looks quite a bit like a GE wringer. Wringer was probably made by Lovell-Lowell, not sure on the spelling, they were an independent wringer maker. One Minuite is a very old brand, had not idea they made something this new.

 

[DaWoodster]

Thanks for the tip on releasing the roller tension, I'm sure I forgot in all my excitement.

The link below is our impromptu video my wife took from her phone as we attempted our first "wash". This also gives an idea of the tube and agitator. I just threw in 3 of my microfiber detailing rags, note how clean the water is at the beginning and how quickly that old-school agitation turns it black... pretty darn cool for us novices.

Although I"m not planning on a full restoration, I will be cleaning it up and fixing a few minor things. Should be fun!

Here's the pic of the serial no., if anyone can decipher a year from it, that would be great.

 

[qsd-dan]

Wow, pretty aggressive agitation. Perfect for cleaning shop rags and such.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations; Now for the serious stuff:

In your "cleaning up" of the machine, please make sure that the tension release mechanism for the rollers is well lubed and working smoothly. These parts required grease, not oil. The tension release mechanism is your only safety device when using the wringer if something other than what you want to wring gets caught in the rollers or if a piece of fabric sticks to the top roller and starts wrapping around it. Practice quickly releasing the tension and stopping the wringer. Consumer Reports preferred a tension release that you hit rather than pulled thinking hitting in an emergency was more instinctive than pulling. They also said that it should not take much force on the release bar to release the tension since it was mostly women operating these machines. I know that most of us here are men, but safety is still important

It worries me a great deal when people who have not had a lot of experience with and education about wringers start using one. I don't know if that includes you or not. Both of my grandmothers had them as well as my mother and several aunts. All took every opportunity to impress on children how dangerous the wringer was. We were never allowed to be near the front when clothes were being fed into it, but could guide them down into the rinse tubs as they emerged. Wringers require constant 100% attention while being used, something most people today are not used to giving to a task. Consumer Reports considered them so dangerous that they were not given the "A Recommended" rating. This wringer's age makes it almost certain that the rollers have hardened somewhat making them even more dangerous. Please be very careful. You don't have your grandmother standing there directing you on the finer points of wringer use and safety such as wearing short sleeves or no sleeves, but NEVER rolled up sleeves that can loosen and fall during the course of the operation and suddenly become caught in the wringer resulting in broken bones or a dislocation of the shoulder. That sloped front surface of the wringer is to be used to feed items into the wringer. In the first few loads when the water was very hot, the "washing stick" was used to lift clothes out of the hot water and up to the wringer. Most users of wringer washers used a 'washing stick" about 18 inches long to push clothes under the water and to lift them to the wringer. Consider fashioning one from the rounded end of a broom handle. Push items up that board until the rolls catch the leading edge. If you are holding the items in your hands as you feed them into the wringer, hold them about 6 inches back from the leading edge. NEVER try to use a finger to move something that looks like it is feeding improperly or moving off to the side of the roller. Stop the wringer and release the tension before putting your fingers near the rollers.

Have fun with this machine, but remember safety. I do not have any manuals for wringer washers that feature Lovell wringers, but some here might have a manual. I would encourage them to scan the page or two of use instructions and safety tips for you.

 

[norgeway]

One Minute!

They made a automatic,somewhere ive got an old magazine ad!

 

[combo52]

ONE MINUTE WAS THIER OWN COMPANY

They had no connection to MT. This past weekend I picked up a whole truck of old service manuals from an old dealer that closed shop. one of the books was all the One Minute machines parts and service information. As Tom said be careful in using these machines, you won't likely find many or even any parts for this brand. Probably the most common machine are the MT machines and the safest ones are the late 50s through 1971 WPs and KM machines good luck with you new toy.

 

[alr2903]

Mr. Lee Maxwell has several models of "One Minute" machines on his Website. Most were mfr. in Newton Iowa. Here is a link. alr2903

Oldewash

 

[DaWoodster]

This unit's logo says Kellog, so know it was mfr after they moved there. Haven't really found any info on when that happened, though.

I hadn't seen Mr. Maxwell's site... WOW. It does appear all of his One Minute units are pre 1940 and all from the Newton plant. So, I'm guessing they moved to Kellog around 1940.

Combo5: do the manuals offer any insight into helping establish what year mine might be?

I appreciate everyone's comments and tips!