Rheem Clothes Dryer in Chicago

[jamiel]

My grandmother had a clothes dryer in Chicago which was very different from any other I've ever seen--wonder if anyone has seen one like it.

It was a Rheem Wedgewood (like water heaters) and was from the 50s. Gas, vented outside from the back. It had a spring-type timer (tick tick tick) and high/low temperature buttons (which were the pilot light) on the backsplash. At the top middle of the backsplash was a grille, under which was a blanking panel to the venting tube, but it could be vented to the inside and there was a lint filter which was then used instead of the blanking panel.

The door latch was a pushbutton on the door (buttons and dials were kind of pinky-flesh toned). There was an UV light and a regular light in the drum. Small plastic/bakelite vanes.

The weird part was that the entire top of the machine was hinged and lifted up, and was a saddle-shaped piece of enameled hardware cloth, on which you placed things you didn't want tumbled (lingerie, underwear, etc). It was the strangest thing. The air blew through it.

Has anyone seen anything like this? It lasted until 1988 or so, when she replaced with a Maytag.

 

[DADoES]

Wow!

 

[alr2903]

never seen that one

My Aunt once had a universal dryer, I know they lived in kansas at one time I always suspected it came from their local gas company. Controls on front and the handle to open was across the entire front of the door it was all chrome. I have always looked fwd to when the vintage dryer archives come on line. ( below the vintage washer archives). alr2903.

 

[retromom]

Universal Dryer

Does anyone have a pic? You've "piqued" my interest.

Venus

 

[golittlesport]

hey...me too!

My aunt had a Universal dryer too when I was a child. Her washer was an Easy spindrier (twin tub). This dryer had a single control knob on the front of the cabinet and what was unusual was that the door was almost as tall as the whole cabinet was...looked more like a little refrigerator. I've seen old stoves by Universal, and I've seen ads for their appliances...refrigerators, wringer washers, etc. In fact I have a Universal tank vacuum from the mid 50's that still works great. Never saw a Universal automatic washer.

That Rheem Wedgewood dryer sounds wild!

 

[Unimatic1140]

Universal Automatics

Universal only had automatic washers for about five years, and they we made by the one and only APEX! Bouncing baskets machines, they also made a model in a 55" wide cabinet which was a washer and dryer combo, the washer on the left the dryer on the right!

 

[peteski50]

Universal Automatics

That Universal 55" wide cabinet sounds interesting. I would love to see pictures of some of these units.
Peter

 

[alr2903]

Tall/ golittlesport

Yes the door was tall and narrow, just as you said golittle sport, I never saw the inside, as i posted previously the chrome handle went all the way across the door. I could never figure out if it was hinged right, left or at the bottom. This was years ago. She had the Kenmore washer with, if i remember the dial correctly a coral, yellow, and turquoise cycle. and of course a Rotoswirl. Who would ever forget that

 

[Cybrvanr]

Rheem-Wedgewood, an RV nameplate?

The name Rheem-Wedgewood reminds me of the Recreational vehicle appliances. On the modern day campers and RV's, only the "Wedgewood" nameplate is used on the appliances they make, like the ranges, water heaters, and furnaces. Those are made by Rheem still I imagine. My older RV has Rheem-Wedgewood on the appliances like your grandmother's dryer.

Is her's a compact dryer? My thoughts are that it origionally could have been installed as original equipment in a manufactured home or trailer and she purchased it secondhand.

 

[alr2903]

Roberts post 55256

Now that would be a POD...Thanks

 

[david]

A Rheem?

Must admit I've never heard nor seen this one-but that is one of many things that make this site so fascinating. Gosh, I've only seen rheem heat/ac and water heaters. Around here where I live I bet easily 90% of the washer and dryers people own are Kenmore/Whirlpool. It's always been that way long as I can remember. GE would be next, Maytag, Frigidaire, then miscellaneous. I wonder if that reflects the national market or just an anomaly. It's amazing that I ever saw a Universal stove in a town so full of Calorics.