wft2800
Well-known member
I think I've seen this picture or a similar one before. I understand Norge were not generally viewed as being of the finest quality? The machines look handsome enough. Any survivors?
POD 17/01/2018 - Norge washer, gas dryer & water heater
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norgeway
Well-known member
Dont Believe it
Norge was a good product, Borg Warner Gear corporation never made no junk! The Dryers were known for blowing lint as they aged but really dried well with very little wrinkling, they had a huge drum and a gigantic vacuum cleaner type fan right behind the drum that blew air through the drum, The washers were unequalled in my book, Great ranges and fridges too.The reason Norges didn't last as long as Maytags is they Actually WASHED, they were the choice of country farm women and those who dealy with nasty work clothes, they were noisy, but nothing will beat the dirt out any better.Think of a Norge as a Ram Power Wagon truck with a Hemi and a Maytag a 6 cylinder Chevrolet, that's about the difference.
Norge was a good product, Borg Warner Gear corporation never made no junk! The Dryers were known for blowing lint as they aged but really dried well with very little wrinkling, they had a huge drum and a gigantic vacuum cleaner type fan right behind the drum that blew air through the drum, The washers were unequalled in my book, Great ranges and fridges too.The reason Norges didn't last as long as Maytags is they Actually WASHED, they were the choice of country farm women and those who dealy with nasty work clothes, they were noisy, but nothing will beat the dirt out any better.Think of a Norge as a Ram Power Wagon truck with a Hemi and a Maytag a 6 cylinder Chevrolet, that's about the difference.
Love the beautifully framed in access door for the water heater. Looks like it would be a blast to remove and install a replacement 
wft2800
Well-known member
Isn't insulting the old centre-dial Maytags around here a capital offence?! I know I've got in hot water (pun intended) for mentioning their weak rollover!
The rest of your references I don't understand... all I know about Borg Warner is just about all the British car manufacturers used their Type 35 and later Type 65 3-speed automatic gearboxes, which tended not to be tremendously strong...
So how does Norge wash performance compare to a Unimatic Frigidaire?
The rest of your references I don't understand... all I know about Borg Warner is just about all the British car manufacturers used their Type 35 and later Type 65 3-speed automatic gearboxes, which tended not to be tremendously strong...
So how does Norge wash performance compare to a Unimatic Frigidaire?
It doesn't tangle clothes... LOL
Seriously, I think the Norge washes better. It may not look like it's rolling clothes over rapidly, but the Norge really does beat the dirt out of clothes. Full disclosure: this is based on my totally unscientific laundry tests between a 1951 W065 Frigidaire and a 1956 AW432 Norge Timeline.
Seriously, I think the Norge washes better. It may not look like it's rolling clothes over rapidly, but the Norge really does beat the dirt out of clothes. Full disclosure: this is based on my totally unscientific laundry tests between a 1951 W065 Frigidaire and a 1956 AW432 Norge Timeline.
I've been in the NW Iowa countryside and seen a store full of old Maytags the farm folks for miles around flock to. Even the driveway is lined with them. I'm not thinking Maytag would have sold too many machines if they couldn't wash the clothes. Millions of machines. Wringers and automatics. When I was young the country folks in the Deep South loved them. They were all over Atlanta as well.
My personal experience is that I have never used a Maytag that did not do a great job of cleaning my clothes. I have a '64 Highlander that has been a daily driver for a dozen years.
My early '60's Norge is a lot of fun. It holds a small load. However, that small load will get cleaned. Unless it is a load of small items there is little roll over. The agitator is huge and it will thrash the hell out of anything that won't roll over. Even on the slow speed that is very aggressive agitation. I am careful about what I wash in it. It is truly the electric version of beating clothes on a rock.
My personal experience is that I have never used a Maytag that did not do a great job of cleaning my clothes. I have a '64 Highlander that has been a daily driver for a dozen years.
My early '60's Norge is a lot of fun. It holds a small load. However, that small load will get cleaned. Unless it is a load of small items there is little roll over. The agitator is huge and it will thrash the hell out of anything that won't roll over. Even on the slow speed that is very aggressive agitation. I am careful about what I wash in it. It is truly the electric version of beating clothes on a rock.
norgeway
Well-known member
Truthfully
The only luck I have had out of a Maytag has been BAD, I have had I think 5 of them,they all either slung grease and walked all over, or just walked all over and the washing action is anemic unless very lightly loaded....I'm biased, I HATE LOATHE and DESPISE them if you want the truth, but I grew up with a Frigidaire so I am used to a lot of action.If I had to use a Maytag I would go to a creek and beat my clothes on a rock..LOL, Now if you are talking about wringer washers, THEN Maytag had no or very little competition, they were truly a FINE machine, the square tub made a difference.And of course their Reverse Rack Dishwashers were to my mind as good as anything made.
The only luck I have had out of a Maytag has been BAD, I have had I think 5 of them,they all either slung grease and walked all over, or just walked all over and the washing action is anemic unless very lightly loaded....I'm biased, I HATE LOATHE and DESPISE them if you want the truth, but I grew up with a Frigidaire so I am used to a lot of action.If I had to use a Maytag I would go to a creek and beat my clothes on a rock..LOL, Now if you are talking about wringer washers, THEN Maytag had no or very little competition, they were truly a FINE machine, the square tub made a difference.And of course their Reverse Rack Dishwashers were to my mind as good as anything made.
We had the first of the perforated 15 pound Norges brought out in 1964. They were very aggressive and washed well. They took basically the same tub and managed to get 18-20 pound capacities out of them before they ended production.
norgeway
Well-known member
And the sound of
That brake...SLAM BANG! LOL
That brake...SLAM BANG! LOL
Hans, don't forget as agitation begins and the tub moves around with that initial agitation until it locks in place. There's a definite thud/clank as it locks. Ours totally drained and then motor stopped and whatever engaged (sometimes with a thunk and growled as it began ramping up in spin. And after the modification of the perforated tubs where it would do a partial drain and then would clank or bang as it began spinning while the pump continued pumping out. Our neighbor across the street, hers would begin squeaking/whistling as it began ramping up faster to full spin.
norgeway
Well-known member
Borg Warner
Made transmissions for all kinds of vehicles, manual and automatic,American Motors and Ford come to mind,The Borg Warner 4 speed was used in many high performance cars of the 60s, great company.
Made transmissions for all kinds of vehicles, manual and automatic,American Motors and Ford come to mind,The Borg Warner 4 speed was used in many high performance cars of the 60s, great company.
Norge, Snorge!
Well stated, Steve!
You just don't see 30, 40, or even 50-year-old Norges showing up on CL, ebay, or other classified sites -- working or (more than likely) not. If someone loved buying new washers every few years, Norge would have been their brand of choice -- and I had the set of masochistic parents, loyal Montgomery Ward shoppers, to prove it. I might add that simulating the beating of clothing on a rock doesn't exactly sound like advanced washing technology. And the rock would be quieter.
On the other hand, Maytags in that same age range and even older are out there still quietly washing clothes and not budging a millimeter in the process, and on any given day can usually be found for sale on line -- by sellers who don't know any better.
It's not even a contest.
Well stated, Steve!
You just don't see 30, 40, or even 50-year-old Norges showing up on CL, ebay, or other classified sites -- working or (more than likely) not. If someone loved buying new washers every few years, Norge would have been their brand of choice -- and I had the set of masochistic parents, loyal Montgomery Ward shoppers, to prove it. I might add that simulating the beating of clothing on a rock doesn't exactly sound like advanced washing technology. And the rock would be quieter.
On the other hand, Maytags in that same age range and even older are out there still quietly washing clothes and not budging a millimeter in the process, and on any given day can usually be found for sale on line -- by sellers who don't know any better.
It's not even a contest.
Opinions will differ...
The Norge machines are great, they wash the hell out of clothes. I have used Steve's Norge and I am thoroughly impressed with its wash action. Speaking of that machine, here is a video I made of it a few months back:
Comparing a Norge to a GM Frigidaire, now that is tough. Both machines are respectable in their own way. The Frigidaire has a unique washing action unlike no other and the Norge has a giant agitator with a small tub. Both machines rinse well, both wash well. Though the Frigidaire spins like no other either! I would take the Unimatic over all others, using one of those, you can never go back lol. They are great towel washers and will wash just about anything you can fit in them. (Though not much by today's standards). The Unimatic is still a very coveted washer and there seem to be more Frigidaires around than Norges'.
Both machines are neat and I would love to own either, though I would prefer the Unimatic. ;-)
-Tyler
The Norge machines are great, they wash the hell out of clothes. I have used Steve's Norge and I am thoroughly impressed with its wash action. Speaking of that machine, here is a video I made of it a few months back:
Comparing a Norge to a GM Frigidaire, now that is tough. Both machines are respectable in their own way. The Frigidaire has a unique washing action unlike no other and the Norge has a giant agitator with a small tub. Both machines rinse well, both wash well. Though the Frigidaire spins like no other either! I would take the Unimatic over all others, using one of those, you can never go back lol. They are great towel washers and will wash just about anything you can fit in them. (Though not much by today's standards). The Unimatic is still a very coveted washer and there seem to be more Frigidaires around than Norges'.
Both machines are neat and I would love to own either, though I would prefer the Unimatic. ;-)
-Tyler
Norge vs Frigidaire!
I like the norge and it is a real powerhouse, but I would still always take the Frigidaire over it because it is gentler but more through washing jetaction! I think the norge had the longest overflow rinse of all solid tub washers. can someone verify that?
Thanks,
Peter
I like the norge and it is a real powerhouse, but I would still always take the Frigidaire over it because it is gentler but more through washing jetaction! I think the norge had the longest overflow rinse of all solid tub washers. can someone verify that?
Thanks,
Peter
Peter
I think the '63 WCI must have a four or five minute rinse.
I think the '63 WCI must have a four or five minute rinse.
The B/W model 35 3-speed aluminum case automatic transmission was a fine unit. It was designed for small engines and did not waste as much horsepower as other transmissions. I've had quite a few T-35s in Rambler Americans over the years and found them to be quite durable with the smaller six cylinder engines. I believe the reason the trans has a poor reputation is that automakers would sometimes put more horsepower in front of it than it was made for.
Norge fridge
My parents had a bottom freezer 1963 Norge refrigerator. The freezer door lowered like a drawbridge gate, and you pulled out the basket onto the door. The most unusual feature on it, was it defrosted using reverse hot gas bypass, instead of heating coils. To my knowledge, I can't think of any other refrigerator that operated this way.
My parents had a bottom freezer 1963 Norge refrigerator. The freezer door lowered like a drawbridge gate, and you pulled out the basket onto the door. The most unusual feature on it, was it defrosted using reverse hot gas bypass, instead of heating coils. To my knowledge, I can't think of any other refrigerator that operated this way.
GE refrigerators used the hot gas defrost system starting in 1959 and into the mid-60s. It's interesting that Norge followed suit, and also copied the swing-out shelving system from GE, although I think the drop down freezer door may have briefly been a Frigidaire or Coldspot feature.
I think Norge produced decent appliances outside of their washers. You still see refrigerators, freezers, stoves and dryers from Norge coming up for sale once in a while, but their vintage washers have long since been refashioned into Yugos.
I think Norge produced decent appliances outside of their washers. You still see refrigerators, freezers, stoves and dryers from Norge coming up for sale once in a while, but their vintage washers have long since been refashioned into Yugos.
I think I remember that Norge was one of the top rated washers by CU in the 1958 test and was one of the 4 brands retested for 1959 along with the Frigidaire, which had undergone the transmission change, and the Maytag. I think the SNorge was in the group, but not positive, but the reason I think it was included was because I was surprised by it. The solid tub machines with the huge agitators really washed up a storm. The most vulnerable part of the early Norges was the pot metal water pump. They did not last long and when the second one went, people usually got rid of the machine.
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