POD 5/13/2017

[brucelucenta]

I have seen, but never actually used one of these machines with the AMP mechanism. From what I could see, the tub is somewhat smaller and it has the small heavy lid with the water level control built in it for the float in the agitator that engages it and the off balance switch. I have heard from a couple of people who owned one that it did an adequate job of washing and spinning, but each of them loved the new machine they replaced it with. I do know the model made right after this one with the new mechanism was one of the best operating and built machines ever made. That machine was the beginning of Maytag becoming the best loved automatic washer ever made. This machine was also durable, it just wasn't as stellar a performer or as easy to load and unload. It also had a smaller usable capacity.

 

[gyrafoam]

I have a "daily driver" model 101P. It does a good job of cleaning, however, capacity is not it's strong point. I think a lot of them, back in the day, were constantly overloaded, but since the machine would not agitate with the lid open it was hard for some people to properly judge the limits of the machine. Irregardless, like most Maytags, the laundry always comes out clean.

Neutralizing the mercury switch in the lid proved interesting. If the lid is held about half-way open during the rinse the water valves will open, allowing for an over-flow rinse! Sometimes it will just do it on it's own!

From a design standpoint I think these machines were pretty tough however, the lids did tend to rust. Steam from Hot water would get in between the two parts of the lid too easily. If the owner had a habit of closing the lid when finished using the machine, it couldn't dry out. Also that corrosion works on the coating of the electrical wires of the mercury switches.
Back when I was little I had more than a few machines that lit me up because I tried to peek inside and forgot I didn't have shoes on!

 

[twintubdexter]

mentioned before but here's a repeat...

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">Tons of these machines came in as trades but unlike later Maytags they were all destined for the scrap guy. I became an expert at taking apart the lid and removing the mercury filled glass tubes which I cracked open like a freshly-laid egg. I soon had a Best Foods Mayonnaise jar full of the stuff which my friends and I had fun playing with...I'm still alive, not sure where they are.</span>

 

[gyrafoam]

Joe

I take it they weren't popular to tweak and re-sell?

I rember us kids playing with mercury. I remember being told to wash my hands well after playing with it because it is poison.
Maybe all the years drinking whiskey cleaned out my liver.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Maytag automatics gained their reputation based on the performance of the conventional washers. The automatics had many drawbacks, like small capacity and poor circulation because of poor agitator design for the narrow tub, but someone at Consumer Reports boosted them in spite of all evidence, even going so far during the capacity wars of the 60s as to claim that the Maytag was not overloaded with a 12 pound load while the Kenmore was.  They were dependable and cleaned well if you bleached whites, but they were hard on fabrics and people who replaced Maytags with Whirlpool-made machines noticed better cleaning and rinsing along with better lint filtering.

 

[brucelucenta]

Late 1950's Maytags

In around 1957-58, when Maytag made their redesigned mechanism, they had a really terrific machine. Even consumer reports pointed out how easy it was to load and unload with no restrictions and it did hold about the largest load of the time. Judging by using one of the standard capacity machines, it did hold slightly more than the Kenmore/Whirlpool standard capacity machine and was easier to load and unload. They were truly great machines, easy to service and very durable. Like any machine, they did their best when not overloaded. Even the old time fill Highlander models, with nothing more than one speed, one cycle, hot or warm water were excellent machines that lasted for many years without problems.