POD Maytag "0" series 806

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support :

tomturbomatic

Well-known member
Gold Member
Joined
May 21, 2001
Messages
21,749
Location
Beltsville, MD
This picture shows the labeling of the first water level selector switch for the deep tub machines: Small, Medium, Normal and Ex-large. Normal was a vague reference to the 16 gallon standard tub machine. This terminology was changed and "Normal" became "Large" since Maytag felt the word "Normal" implied a value judgement or something as I partially remember from some service literature. It might have also had something to do with their trying to emphasize the capacity of the new deep tub, but as Tim said, you loaded these machines lightly compared to WP-made, GE and other brands of washers. How anyone except a Maytag-affiliated person could look at that tub and agitator, compared to WP's Surgilator and wider tub, and not see more potential in the WP is beyond me. Of course, if you want only a Maytag and believe it to be the best, you will only look at a Maytag. I bought mine, knowing the capacity limitations, but only doing laundry for one, it was not a problem.
 
Maytag for One Please...

Yes, I was aware of the capacity limitations of the machine going in. I love the machines though, they are something different and with me, I can certainly manage. Me an my roommate use the 1976 A407 and matching 1976 DE408 dryer as daily drivers, neither of us generate that much laundry. I mainly like them because the machines have very clean lines on the cabinet and control panel and they were in good condition and not used very heavily. I'd say they run maybe 3-5 full loads a week. I would personally consider the "big-tub" Maytag on par with standard capacity machines of other brands and of the machines that I own, the GE is the largest "real-world" capacity machine that I own. I have no ran into any fabric damage myself with the Maytag, but I can see where overloading would cause clothing issues. The Super Highlander 502 I have is much more aggressive with it's fixed-vane bakelite agitator, coupled with it's smaller tubs, you have to be careful how you load it. Again I will never understand why they didn't let the machine wash with the lid up. I've had to pull that one sock too many out before on my machine more than once but I have the lid-switch disabled. My 1976 A407 still reads Small, Medium, "Normal", and Large on the water levels.

 

-Tim

[this post was last edited: 12/16/2011-12:19]

macboy91si++12-16-2011-12-19-12.jpg
 
While still techincally series "0" machines, this ad would not be from the original release of the new "large capacity Washerpower" machines that were introduced in January of 1966. The fact that they have permanent press cycles, 4 water levels, models 407 & 207 BUT lack the "sun glow" panel strip indicates to me that this brochure was produced sometime between 1970 & 1975.

The ORIGINAL 806, 606 & 406 machines had only 3 water levels: small, normal & large. Small was a 12-1/2 gallon fill, normal was 16 gallons (the same as the "normal" capacity machines) and large was 19 gallons. The four button water level selector as shown in the POD was added in December of 1968. Also, none of the early machines has a special "Permanent Press" cycle with a cool-down phase. That was introduced in February of 1969. I cannot find documentation to determine when the 206 & 406 became the 207 & 407 and when the 107 was introduced. I am relatively certain that this HAD happened by 1972, though. I'm also not entirely certain what things were changed so significantly was to warrant re-numbering those models and NOT the 606 and 806 (in fact, the 806 retained its model number all the way up until the introduction of the *10 series machines in 1980!)

Here's a pic of the 1966 brochure with the 3 water level switch on an 806

kenmore71++12-16-2011-18-19-12.jpg
 
Back
Top