Push-button Fabricmatic Maytags

[kenmore71]

I have something that I am curious about. Can anyone explain how the Maytag "Pushbutton Fabricmatic" washing machine cycles operated?

I know that these were one-speed machines and from what I have read some examples were the A407, A408, A610, A210, etc. What I am slightly mystified by is the fact that these machines have a 3-position switch for "Regular", "Permanent Press" & "Delicate" but only one washing cycle on the cycle dial (in addition to a long soak cycle).

I fully understand how the "Fabricmatic" concept works on a machine with 3 cycles on the main timer dial (my mother had a LAW9400 that I was very familiar with) but how is this done with only 1 cycle on the dial? Do all cycles get a PP-syle cool-down or is there a "rapid-advance" past this portion on "Regular" (or is a regular advance where simply nothing happens)? In the delicate cycle is there a seperate set of motor cams in the timer that are engaged when this button is pushed that cycle the motor on and off during the wash? Is the final spin for delicates shortened in a similar fashion?

An inquiring mind is curious.

 

[peteski50]

Maytag!

The 610 is the push button Fabricmatic in this series

 

[peteski50]

Maytag!

Another of the 610!

 

[appnut]

The fabric buttons controlled the cycle sequences.  This was no different than their commercial washer in laundramats with the 6 cycle/fabric knob selector.  Regular and Perm press were identical up until the end of the wash cycle.   Basically in the sapce on the timer for the drain and spin as well as spin spray rinse and then post spin of the spin spray rinse of the normal cycle was the space that allowed the events of the cooldown sequence.  The rinse is the same for both cycles.  The final spin on PP cycle is shortened.  For Delicate it agitates at either the 8 or 10 minute mark, the pauses (soaks) for about 3 or 4 minutes, agitates for anoother timer increment, the pauses.  Then it spins and spray rinses per the timer sequence.  The rinse has a shortened agitation phase.  The final spin.  For using the delicate cycle, the instructions say to fill the machine no more than about 1/2 to 3/4 full of fabrics and use a full water level always to minimize the chance of fabric damage. 

 

[kenmore71]

Ah...

Thank you for that explanation. It should have dawned on me that all of the laundromat machines were "Fabricmatics" in their own way. God knows I used enough of those machines during the "college years'.

 

[tomturbomatic]

It's understandable that you would not have used the delicate cycle much for sheer garments and such. No one of good breeding would wash delicates in a public machine. I am sure you sudsed those out in the bathroom sink and only washed regular apparel in the coin-op machines.

 

[kenmore71]

Maytag collectors

A call to those of you collect lots of Maytag literature...

Do any of you have actual timer schematic and sequence charts that show a Fabricmatic or Commercial (i.e. an A17CM) timer?

Ben, Greg, Dan, Brian, Cory?

 

[appnut]

you would not have used the delicate cycle much for sheer ga

Well, when I was in college from 1973 to 1977, remember much of the "rage" of modern fabrics were polyester knits, polyester shirts, quiana, and big woven cotton shirts.  Yup my wardrobe in college.  Naturally these had always been washed on gentle.  When I moved into the dorm, it came with fabric-matic tag commercial machines.  I was appaled at the regular agitation on the delicate cycle.  I really didn't feel the two or three minutes of agitation and the rest of the time soaking was an effective enough wash.  My somewhat less than satisfactory solution was to let it start its thing on delicate.  After it did the 2nd agitation and went innto the pause phase again, I;'d turn the knob to Perm Press and let it agitate for another 2 or 3 minutes before it started the cooldown spin. 

 

[retromania]

Not familiar with that model series ....

....but the older Maytags had unbelievable dependablity! The family I knew that had one had their's for -no lie- about 20 years. Now granted it may have been repaired and had some maintenance done to it, but it lasted a really long time. Our families were about the same size. Our '64 Frigidaire washer was replaced in 1975 with a GE Filter-Flo. The Filter-Flo was replaced in '84 with a Whirlpool. Then replaced in '96 with another Whirlpool. Seems the most we could get out of one was 10-12 years. Now at my place I have the high efficiency Bosch front load washer and ductless dryer (will not buy another ductless dryer!). I like the fact that it saves water because we have had to droughts with water restrictions, but I do so miss the old machines from home. Some day I hope to own a vintage set. Fully restored of course!!

 

[cehalstead]

my aunt has a Maytag washer she bought in 1978. It has never been repaired and has done the wash for a farm family of four.....still going strong. It's the only automatic washer she has ever had.

 

[gr81nknox]

Maytag dependability

The older machines were pretty robust. My parents bought a Maytag pair when they got married in '75. That washer was the one I got my teeth wet on as a child and permanently got me interested in washers and other things mechanical. It was used regularly for our family of 4 until 1995 when it was replaced with a 90 Series Kenmore. To my best knowledge, the only issue the old Maytag had was the lid switch wore out(courtesy of me and my youthful inquiry about what was going on under it!). My dad just bypassed it and the thing would run(spin and all) with the lid open! The timer was also starting to drag around the time it was replaced in '95. The Kenmore that replaced it got 15 years of pretty heavy use and was still working when it was replaced last fall. The only service it needed was a motor coupler and a pump.

 

[retromania]

Well....

I don't what we were doing to our's or NOT doing that we didn't get more service out of them!!

 

[retromania]

Maytags

Can someone tell me. Didn't Maytags cost a little more than some of the leading machines back in the day?

 

[tomturbomatic]

In 1959, just to take a year, most TOL machines had a list price of $400 give or take. Due to sales and trade-in deals, some could be bought for less. Of course, if you bought a Maytag you were not pressured to sign up for a service contract that had to be renewed each year. This money bought some machines that lasted a long time, sometimes without much trouble, some machines that died early and totally and others that performed for an average number of years with greater or lesser needs for servicing.

 

[arbilab]

In all my life I have never had a washing machine 'die'. Only one required service I couldn't do myself (a Westy tub boot). Closest I came to failure was the avocado Maytag I gave to a coworker when I got the current FL in 1997, the motor quit a year later. Avocado tells you roughly how old it was, and I bought it used.

TTBOMK, Maytags of this era used linear-step timers. IOW, each click took the same time as the one before it. My 'Frigi' FL has variable steps. I like to think I know a great many things but I don't know how they do that. Not taking it apart to find out, least not so long as it's working.

I'll say with 96% certainty that the 'Tag in question was a linear timer and the buttons switched contact sets, say from 'constant run' motor to 'intermittent' or 'pause'.

 

[retromania]

Thanks!!

 

[kenmore71]

Yes

Arbilab, you are definitely on to something there. I've never heard that specific term applied to that concept until now but it makes sense. My 1967 A806 (pre-PP timer) has that style of timer with 45 second increments. This works quite well for this machine. My favorite thing about how that particular timer is arranged is that the 45 second intervals gives you a 45 second spray rinse! I know that some Maytags used timers with 30 second increments and I know for certain that the model A906 machines used a timer with 1 minute intervals towards the end of production in the very late 60s into 1970.

 

[appnut]

The linear timer with teh 45 second increments has been referred to sas the snapping timer. 

 

As for the Frigidaire FL having variable timed steps, the timer advancement is controlled by the computer.  The computer literally counts the number of tub revolutions bascially that it's programmed to perform for each function for most of the cycle.  Particularly for washing/rinsing as well as spinning. 

 

[arbilab]

Beg to differ, app, but I'm 97.5% certain this Frigi is nowhere near that elegant. The only thing even vaguely 'computer' about it is the motor drive module. The timer is pure clockwork. For example, it's not intelligent enough to know when a spin cycle is missed due to imbalance. The timer has no idea what the machine is doing. It just spits out the same commands every time without consideration for whether they get carried out or not.

A timer position can last as long as 13min or as short as 5sec. And it's not a computer, it's a motor and gears. Much easier to explain if it WAS a computer. But I've seen it, I know what computers look like, and this isn't one.