POD 1/5/2017

[brucelucenta]

I do recall when Frigidaire first introduced these machines. People who had Frigidiaire machines before were surprised because they were so different than any previous line of machines. They would hold almost twice what any previous Frigidaire would hold. They were top in capacity. At the same time these were introduced, my parents old GE bit the bullet and I talked them into getting one. It was a good machine and we soon had to get a dryer to replace the old GE, since it was much smaller in capacity. I was unaware of the 24" models until Frigidaire started advertising the "skinny mini". I don't remember seeing any of just the single washers and dryers that were 24" until much later. I don't think they were very popular, but the "skinny mini" certainly was! There were apartment complexes that put those in because they were the only one of their kind at the time that would fit in a 24" space. Quite innovative! But then GM always was. One other thing I wanted to mention. Frigidaire did not really have any kind of linting issues until the Jet Action agitator came out. Although not obvious to most, it completely changed the way Frigidaire washed clothes. Before, the pulsator moved the water so vigorously that the water moved the clothes, but promoted no lint. That tangled them rather severely. The Jet Action agitator actually moved the clothes by coming in contact with them and pulled them down into the water. That really didn't move them as well and created a lot of linting, but reduced the tangling greatly. I really did completely change the way Frigidaire washers washed clothes. It was no longer the big rubber pulsator on the bottom of the agitator moving the water.[this post was last edited: 1/5/2017-06:35]

 

[mayken4now]

Ever saw a 1-16 lucenta?

 

[e2l-arry]

Skinny Mini

The first place I rented when I moved to Denver had a Skinny Mini. After having a set of Whirlpool compact/portables in my old condo, I was thrilled to live in a place with a washer/dryer. I guess by that time I was spoiled. My landlady told me she didn't think the Skinny washed very well. Said it just kind of "swished the clothes a bit". And I my opinion she was right. The clothes just sort of moved back and forth with the tub action but there was very little, if any, turn over. Nothing like I got with my old Surgilator action in the Whirlpool. Still, I was glad to have them vs. going to a Laundromat.

 

[mixguy]

First Automatic washer

My mom & dad bought their first washer & dryer in 1971 and it was an avocado Frigidaire model WIAS and DGIAS (or DIAGS) set. It looked just like WIA3T It was installed on a Friday and mom was excited to have her first wash day on a Saturday morning. I was asleep and when the agitator started the sound/vibration awakened me. The washer was a really effective in cleaning clothes not much pretreating was needed and Shout was a new product at that time! We lived in a house on pillars so any vibrations were felt. Sound also naturally "funneled" from living area to the bedrooms too. We never used the clothes line again! My sister and I were promoted to laundry detail too, learning to sort, and fold clothes promptly hanging permanent press when the dryer buzzed (and you best not delay or you got a verbal reminder lol!) My sister and I were old enough to do this along with the other Sat chores of vacuum and dusting. I took out the trash too. Most of the time everything was finished in a couple of hours. Learning to do all that made living on your own so much easier!

The washer lasted about 16 years without any repair. Gave to someone that used it until hurricane Rita drowned it. He had it in his camp so it only had occasional use. the dryer was put to rest in 1986, the igniter was always troublesome, it was replaced 4 times that I know. Both were replaced with Maytags, a Dependable Care set

 

[gregingotham]

early 70s 1-18s

For some reason these are probably my favorite consoles of the frigidaire models. Love the chrome dials and the layout of the controls. I also think they do an excellent job. I picked a 73 gold crown up a couple years ago and it is going strong on what I'd call light daily duty. Has not been rebuilt to my knowledge. Always amazed at how effective the rinsing is with the circle jet spray system. These machines also take me back as my aunt had one in her kitchen (had to turn it off to talk on the phone!) and used it constantly as she was a clean freak.

 

[brucelucenta]

mayken4now

Not sure I understand the question. ?

 

[frigilux]

Bruce--- It's the model listed as WCDA3T in the chart in today's POD. It lists the capacity as 16 pounds.

Have you seen one, Steve? How did it differ from the 1-18's? Was the tub smaller?

 

[mayken4now]

Bruce, I did seen one at Chunkies Appliance Store in Basile, Louisiana.  Was a mere 11 years young then.  It was around 1971 - 1972 area.  It had a plastic lid and the logo clearly stated 1-16. IIRC, the cabinet of the machine was a tad smaller as well.  

 

Eugene, yes the tub was a bit smaller than the 1-18 and it seemed to be (as Gyrafoam would say) a diaper washer.  Meaning less money than the tricked out 1-18.

 

 

 

[combo52]

FD 1-16 Washers

Had the same size tub as the 1-18s but it did not fill as full and used the smaller Jet-Cone agitator from the solid tub washers, the outside cabinet and all mechanism parts were the same as well.

 

[brucelucenta]

Guess I should probably stay out of it. What I saw was much different. I saw the exact same tub with lower water level than the others. Later on, they made a real BOL model that had one cycle, hot or warm water on the timer dial and had the old style jet action agitator that was made for the old solid tub washers. Still had the same big perforated tub though, only filled part way up to wash. Don't remember what the poundage rating was on that machine.That machine had a plastic lid too, but the cabinet of the machine was all the same. Frigidaire did some odd things before GM turned loose of them. During the production of the 1-18 the tub was slightly changed in the fact that the perforation holes were removed from the very bottom of the tub up to the side and the bottom was solid. All the perforated tubs were the exact same size though.The ONLY other machines I have EVER seen of that vintage that had a different tub were the commercial coin op machines for laundromats. Those had the solid tubs like the ones before. I have always regretted that I never had a chance to work on or really examine the commercial coin op machines with the solid tub. I did work on many many many of the 1-18 machines and the dryers though. I always thought that GM could have done a better job designing that machine and the dryers.[this post was last edited: 1/6/2017-12:09]

 

[gyrafoam]

As John pointed out the 1-16's had the Deep Action Agitator of the solid-tub era. Evidently a way for GM to make good use of old parts. It looked ridiculous. Lost in that huge tub. Diaper -washers for sure.
Some friends of mine had one and we used to laugh at it in operation. We could easily hold the water level switch and over fill it to the top of the agitator cap. Lots of splashy action as the clothes didn't quite know what to do. They would roll-over from the bottom to the middle before turning in and whatever made it to the top got "jetted" toward the outside.

Skinny-Mini's were quite fun. The roll-over was actually quite impressive in spite of how one might imagine it. Although, I don't think I ever saw one in operation with two or three pair of stiff new jeans!

It was really fun to watch the synchro-swing in action with the over-flow rinse going.
IMO a remarkably thorough washing machine.

 

[frigilux]

Thanks for the info/explanations Steve B., John, and Steve S. I can imagine the old Deep Action agitator looked pretty goofy in that big tub. Would love to see a video of one in action.