Riddle Washer of the Week

[gansky1]

I started a new thread with the washer I brought home from the recesses of the Iowa guy's warehouse. I've been to that place six times and am still finding new and interesting things and have a couple things yet to go back for.

I brought this washer home today, made by a company we'd never heard of before. Can anyone guess what brand this machine is from the model/serial tag? It is indeed an automatic washer.

 

[user 12105]

Well,...Whirlpool has been in Michigan for well over 50 yrs.

Maybe too obvious though. Can't wait to find out.

 

[goatfarmer]

Gibson was just up the road,in Greenville.

kennyGF

 

[mayken4now]

HUMMMMMMMMMMMMM 11 AMPS - could it be a Wizard? (Sold at Western Auto) My guess!

Steve

 

[Unimatic1140]

Ohh good riddle Greg, I never heard of GR Manufacturing before, the model # looks like a Philco Model but 11AMPS is a lot of power, even a Unimatic is rated at 7 AMPS. Almost makes me wonder if it has a heater of some sort? I probably would have to guess a Franklin or Beam machine.

 

[laundromat]

washer puzzle

Is it a Wizard????????

 

[JerseyMike]

I love a good mystery!

I've never heard of the GR Manufacturing Company before and I agree that 11.0 amps is a lot of power. That sounds almost like a vacuum cleaner, a dishwasher or maybe even an early portable dryer? Inquiring minds want to know!!!

I noticed that there's a zip code as part of GR Manufacturing Company's address, so that means that our mystery machine was made after zip codes were introduced. (I'm going to date myself, but I can remember when we didn't have zip codes.) According to wikipedia.org (link below) non-mandatory zip codes were introduced on July 1, 1963 and became mandatory for bulk mailers in 1967.

Mike

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zip_codes#Background

 

[mrb627]

Could it be...

A search for E12745 brings up an identifier like:

‘E12745’’ — ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS. NORTH AMERICAN, DIV OF WHITE CONS. INDS INC.

Perhaps it is a vacuum.

 

[westytoploader]

Is it one of those "Marquette" washers...I remember looking at the "Janney Semple Hill & Co." scans and thought I saw something "GR" on there.

 

[gansky1]

Here's another hint... You guys are getting close, but what BRAND is the machine? The manufacture date is September 1969.

 

[pulsator-power]

How about Bradford?
Jerry

 

[westytoploader]

Well if it's an 18-pounder then it could quite possibly be the Norge design. I've seen that lettering and company before somewhere but can't quite put my finger on it...

 

[user 12105]

Gibson or Kelvinator?

 

[angus]

I might have to go with Bradford, also. But there is also Hoover which if I remember was a rebranded Easy

 

[frontaloadotmy]

It's a Black

stone

 

[Unimatic1140]

I'm going to guess Kelvinator.

 

[veg-o-matic]

Hamilton!

 

[petek]

Even though I don't have the foggiest I'll guess M Wards only because it has a WA in the #

 

[frontaloadotmy]

I bet Wizard

from Western Auto

 

[magic clean]

I'm thinking

"Kelvinator" too

 

[norgeman]

Guessing Game

I'm going to guess Norge or Kelvinator or even possibaly (Speed Queen?) But If my memory serves correctly From working at Montgomery Wards Some of our washers came from Grand Rapids, so will stick with Norge or Kelvinator.

http://[email protected]

 

[westytoploader]

Wow...if it's a Norge-design Kelvinator that would be great!

 

[westytoploader]

But that doesn't fall under the "unknown brand" category, so the mystery remains...

Greg's really giving our heads a workout! ;-)

 

[compwhiz128]

Is it a corny RCA or roper washer?

 

[foraloysius]

Austin, Greg told us that the company that made it is unknown, not that we don't know the name on the tag of the machine.

 

[westytoploader]

Oops!! Thanks Louis for reminding me...so the company is unknown, not the brand!!

I was watching the Convention 2002 DVD and Jason zoomed in on a 60's Norge. Lo and behold, there was "Heavy Duty Washer" in that same lettering as this. Maybe a little reveal will solve the mystery? ;-)

 

[mayken4now]

Still say Wizard!

Steve

 

[gansky1]

Kelvinator is the winner!!

Here is the new washer, not terribly exciting for a vintage washer but I thought it might be a curious machine to see running. It's a dirty mess inside and needs a little tweaking in the motor start switch and a pump rebuild, but it will work eventually. This is a very strange filter/dispenser, some of you may remember this from pics I posted ages ago. There is a small hole that is kept closed with a small ball bearing to hold the contents during the wash cycle. During the first spin, the ball rides up the channel and opens the hole so when the machine stops spinning, the softener pees down into the washtub for the rinse cycle.

 

[gansky1]

After a quick dusting with kleenex and spit (we forgot the rags!) we posed them for a parting shot in front of the orphanage.

 

[gansky1]

Kelvinator controls