RCA Whirlpool matching washer/dryer set

[sudsmaster]

I'm going to look at a matching old RCA Whirlpool "Supreme" matching set tonite. Turquoise, with lighted control panels. Will post photos later after I see them. The design looks like it could be 60's or 70's, not sure when RCA divested itself of Whirlpool.

I'm assuming the washer is a belt drive type, similar to the design they had until the direct drive shredmores of the 90's.

I like that they are a matching set, in pretty good shape, with lighted panels. So far I have GE, Maytag, and Frigidaire (sort of modern front loader) in my growing collection, so this would certainly broaden it.

Not so hot about turquoise, but since they're going on display in the workshop it won't be an issue.

Anybody care to comment?

 

[goatfarmer]

Anything turquoise is good.....

 

[hydralique]

Turquoise . . .

Ah, but goatfarmer is right: anything turquoise is good! It is my favorite of all the classic appliance colors, even better than pank.

I am pretty sure that any set in turquoise is unlikely to be '70s, as once avacado green and harvest gold came in during the late '60s the turquoise disappeared . . . sigh . . .

As far as I know, RCA never owned Whirlpool but rather the name was used as a marketing agreement . . . someone please correct me if I'm wrong! My grandmother had a wonderful RCA Whirlpool bottom-freezer refrigerator in yellow, which matched her Frigidaire Pulsamatic in the same color.

Good luck with your find!

 

[sudsmaster]

I confess I prefer plain appliance white for vintage washers/stoves/fridges etc. Has a nice clean look, easier to touch up, goes with just about any other color, doesn't show dents or dust a readily, etc.

Although I'd have to say that the old 60's Frigidaire washers looked pretty good in turquoise, maybe even better than in white.

Any comments on the old Whirlpool washer mechanism of the 60's?

 

[sudsmaster]

PS- I looked in the washer museum and the control panel closely resembles Gansky's '67 hybrid washer.

 

[rapidry1000]

Turquoise Whirlpool

This matching set is being advertised on Craigslist San Francisco. There is also another listing for a bottom of the line Kenmore washer probably from the mid 60's that is being offered for free in Petaluma about 40 minutes north of San Francisco. The Kenmore works.

 

[sudsmaster]

I got the RCA Whirlpool set... the washer is a Supreme 80, Model number LPA780. I'll upload some photos as soon as I can.

I don't think the control panel is back-lighted, but it's possible that the bulb is burned out, or it can be retrofitted for back lighting.

 

[sudsmaster]

First photos

Here's the set in the truck just after I got home tonight. This is where they will be spending the night... under a furniture blanket... too tired to move them (and it's too late to wake up all the neighbors).

 

[sudsmaster]

Here's the washer panel dial...

 

[sudsmaster]

Here's the dryer dial... I think it's pretty cool that it's a two speed dryer... or maybe pretty hot... I'm so confused now...

 

[sudsmaster]

At last a real RCA-Whirlpool!

 

[sudsmaster]

Don't stare too long at the vortex... you might get hypnotized...

 

[sudsmaster]

And no tub is complete without a black agitator!

 

[sudsmaster]

Easy to follow instructions? Not!

 

[appnut]

Rich, you hit te mother lode!! These are darn nice and beautiful. The two-speed dryer rocks!! Infinite dryer heat temps. Yes, the washer lid instructions ARE easy to follow. And the WnW cycle shifts to gentle speed at the 4 minute mark!!! Now I gotta go find another cigarette!!! whew!!!

 

[sudsmaster]

Thanks, Bob! I'm completely exhausted. Truck got a flat on the way home (and that's the short version), so didn't get home until past 11 pm.

This weekend I'll try plugging the washer in to see if it will run a full cycle (gotta go get some cold water Tide!!!) without dripping or spewing grease all over the neighborhood. I *think* I have a suitable 220 outlet in the workshop to plug the dryer into, but not completely sure at this point. If not the main house has one, but it would be a tight fit (and nowhere to send the exhaust except out the door).

 

[appnut]

I'm sorry about the flat tire buddy!! You always seem to have challenges but you still shine when it's all said & done!!

 

[sudsmaster]

Hey Bob, no problem. I tried jacking up the truck twice with the silly little twirly jack that comes with a '78 Dodge D100 truck. It worked just fine, except it couldn't get the tire off the ground. Tried it twice. Then found a pay phone and called Triple-A and the seller. They showed up at the same time, AAA with a real jack and the seller with some water and cookies. LOL.

I'm a little embarrassed about how I got the flat... I got lost in the city I grew up in (although I have never been real familiar with that area). I wound up making a U turn and ground a front tire against a high curb (I was hoping the wheel would climb the curb instead of grind it). Quite a few blocks later, still lost, the tire blew. With a cartoon classic POP! and then a "Peeeeeeeeuuuuuuuu!". Quite a night. But I made it home ok and now it's time for bed even though I'm too amped to sleep.

 

[DADoES]

Kewl set! LPA/LPE/LPI is 1965-1966ish, I think. We had an LME-4600 dryer, bought in 1964.

Two speeds on the dryer refers to airflow rate, not tumble speed. If it's a belt-drive blower design, the blower pulley is two speed with the belt being moved by a shift arm mechanically operated by a cable on the speed control. If it's the direct-drive blower design, airflow rate is controlled by a damper door in the exhaust system. I'm not sure if Whirlpool may also at some point in time have included a dual-stage heating element or gas burner as part of the two speed feature.

Super Wash runs a 2, 4, or 6 minute prewash, a pause for two mins (one timer increment), a partial drain (until the pressure switch resets) with pause for remainder of the drain increment, then continues on through the Normal cycle. Usage instructions called for 1-1/2 to 2x detergent dosage for Super Wash. Imperial models of the time included Super Wash on Wash-n-Wear (later Perm Press) as well. Notice there's a larger "Off" section in front of W-n-W. The timer cams may include the sequence for Super Wash there, but it isn't electrically active.

 

[sudsmaster]

Neat.

Now, what's the "Magic Filter"?

 

[DADoES]

And notice the instructions say to use HOT water for non-Delicate Wash-n-Wear items!

 

[sudsmaster]

Oops, "Magic Clean Filter"...?

 

[appnut]

Self-cleaning filter

 

[scott55405]

Very cool machines, what a wonderful find! I believe 1967 was the last year for "RCA Whirlpool."

 

[DADoES]

Magic Clean filter is the recirculating, self-cleaning lint filter. The red (neon?) light above the water level control is supposed to light up during wash and rinse agitation to indicate the filter is doing its thing. It back-flushes during drain to clear the collected lint. Look under the machine, this one may be a disc mounted at either the left or right rear corner.

 

[sudsmaster]

OIC

 

[sudsmaster]

Is the agitator black plastic or black bakelite???

 

[DADoES]

Bakelite.

 

[DADoES]

Bakelite agitators mount on a hexagonal drive block which is pressed onto the agitator shaft. The drive block may be either metal or plastic, not sure which on this model. Early models used a metal drive block and a keyed shaft. Later the tranny drive shaft was splined all the way 'round and the drive block was possibly still metal for a while, then changed to plastic or nylon. Unscrew the cap and pull the agitator to see it. The double-threaded nut for the agitator cap may unscrew and come off as part of the cap, or the cap may come off with the nut left in the drive block. When agitators changed from bakelite to plastic, the hexagonal drive block was eliminated and the agitator pressed directly onto the splined tranny shaft.

 

[peteski50]

Beautiful Set!

The color is awsome and the machines are a real Gem
Best Of Luck with them
Peter