POD 06/03/10- Wizard

[bobbins]

The Wizards are such a robust washer. I know in Canada Wizard manufactured there product under the brand name Colorado. What other brands did Wizard have? To what year did the Wizard stop manufacturing their product before becoming the WCI?

ALSO are there any videos?

Bob

 

[jasonl]

I think those were made by Bradford/Franklin/WCI or whatever their name was at the time. Wizard was a Western Auto brand (like Radio Shack Realistic).

My grandparents had a Wizard air conditioner back in the 70s.

 

[circlew]

Wizard is just a brand name Western Auto Stores used, just like Kenmore for Sears, and Signature for Montgomery Ward. The machines pictured were a Franklin product. Not sure of all the other brands produced by them. My Uncle and Aunt had a Wizard refrigerator in the 80's which was made by Admiral. Earlier and later Wizard laundry equipment may have been made by other manufacturers than Franklin, which later became part of WCI.

 

[polkanut]

Maybe it was a typo on your part, but shouldn't it be Coronado, rather than Colorado. Coronado appliances were sold by Gambles stores.

 

[bobbins]

oops - yes it was "Coronado". In Canada I believe the Co-op sold them (maybe Co-op had some connections with Gamble stores)

Bob

 

[jasonl]

Those Wizards are so rare now it would be a treat to find one, pig or not.

 

[gyrafoam]

PeterH and I rescued one from that old warehouse down in Jessup, Ga. about four years ago. The top is almost completely rusted away, however the rest of the machine is in really nice condition! A good auto-body shop can repair that top to look like new. It appears to be an early sixties machine to me.
Anyway, it is still in Peter's collection.

Wizzzzards were fun old machines. If you took the filter out the roll-over improved and there was room for a bit more clothes. Back in the day, they would show-up in homes where you would least expect them. Sometimes I think Western Auto was able to sell them because people who went into the store for car parts rememberd their wife complaining about their old washer----so the men bought then a new "present".

They must not have been built for longevety because like the old Hotpoint's, they were there and then--poof---they were gone.