rollermatic #6 getting ready for a tuneup

[rollermatic]

this turquoise rollermatic is my 6th and probably last frigidaire rollermatic i will be owning (although never say never).

i picked it up earlier this year from a member in maryland. i would imagine it is a 66 or 67 model because there is no overload protector on the control panel like the earlier 65's had.

 

[rollermatic]

it is a

custom deluxe and my second rollermatic in turquoise. my other 4 are white, pink, coppertone, and soon to be an avacado attempt.

it is one of 3 custom deluxes i have, the others are deluxe, deluxe, and one custom imperial.

 

[rollermatic]

it is kinda unique in that

it has a small load/normal load dial that mechanically moves a lever that kicks the timer escapement into two different gears. so the timer will advance at 2 different increments, hence providing for a faster fill and shorter wash and spin time as well.

my 65 custom imperial also uses this dual escapement timer but has an electric relay that moves the lever back and forth, depending on the cycle and options selected.

one of my other custom deluxes also has this dial and timer and if i remember correctly the increments are 45 seconds or 70 seconds. i timed it about 3 months ago, i could be mistaken here.

 

[rollermatic]

it also has a seperate dial for wash and

rinse temps. none of my other machines have a seperate dial for wash/rinse temps. so that makes it kinda interesting.

 

[rollermatic]

being a custom deluxe

it also has the two speed motor that the deluxe models lack. it turns at 1725/1140 rpms.

in fact i just bought an extra motor from mark michaels this week.

and here is the timer dial pic.

it has the soak cycle that it seems like they all had, at least all of mine.

and since it uses a timed fill vs a metered fill when you want a light or normal wash verses a heavy wash you simply advance the dial to the proper spot once it's fill is complete.

 

[rollermatic]

it looks in good shape all over

just a tad of rust here and there.

and i love the turquoise!

 

[rollermatic]

tub looks fine

with just a light sprinkling of surface rust on the bottom.

 

[rollermatic]

and that wonderful

jet cone pulsator agitator looks like new! little dirt here and there but that will wipe off easily.

when i rebuild them i completely tear them down and rust proof and paint both outer tub and outside of inner tub.
everything comes off and gets checked out, cleaned, and lubed where needed.

it takes me about 4 months per machine as i take my good old time!

i have machine number 4 in peices at this moment. it should be done by january and i hope to start on this one by springtime.

 

[rollermatic]

it fits right in

sitting next to the pink machine, a deluxe model from new orleans.

 

[rollermatic]

and if all goes well

it will be splashing and pulsating away by next summer!

thanks for lookin!!!

 

[joelippard]

Pete

Good to see you around again, glad you're still getting those machines going. I'm finding I really love the simplicity of the rollermatic mechanism as I've worked on several of them. I guess the worst thing I can complain about it is those darned pulsator nuts!

 

[turquoisedude]

COOL! That is real beauty, there, Pete! I can't wait to see your progress and the final results on this one. And I must admit that I am a teensy bit envious of you for having found a superb turquoise model! LOL
Dumb question - do similar-era Frigidaire dryers turn up in your searches? A matching Custom Deluxe dryer would be a wonderful find for you!

 

[turquoisedude]

Wash and rinse temp selections

The separate wash and rinse temp dials got me thinking, "that looks familiar" and I was right! My Canadian 1963 Deluxe has them too! Not sure if that may have been unique to the Canadian models, though...

 

[combo52]

REMOVING ALUMINUM PULSATOR NUTS

I have always found that if you heat these with an inverted propane torch till they smoke a little they come off easily.

 

[VintageDW]

Great looking machines!

The only washers and dryers I've ever found in this area are wood paneled Kenmores...in abundance.

 

[appnut]

when you want a light or normal wash verses a heavy wash you

Peter, I believe that is an incorrect statement. Since the release of the Unimatics, you did not have to do that. You simply set the timer for the soill level (time) you wanteed the load to be washed and the timer took all that into consideration after filling. That haws always been my experience with Unimatics, Multimatics and Rollermatics. But I will add a disclaimer here--I've only used Unimatics and that was not a problem. With multimatics and roller matics, I only used models with the water level knob with the dual speed timer escapement. I noticed on your less deluxe models what you state is probably actual reality, but I've neve used one that low in the product line. But with This particular custom Deluxe, what I've said is still valid, no need to advance timer after fill, it's all done automatically once you set the timer dial and then push in the timer to start the washer.

 

[christfr]

shes gonna be pretty when she is all done
congrats

 

[rollermatic]

thanks,

paul, dryers?? i'm probably an idiot but when i got this blue one from the very nice member in maryland he had a 1965 custom imperial in white if i remember correctly. i almost took it but opted out. my 1965 custom imperial is turquoise just like this one above and i figured since the dryer was white it would not match.

but it would have kinda matched my 1965 custom deluxe which is also white. it was tough decision and i decided i just didn't have the room to display it properly next to my rollermatic washers.

but he did send me home with a pretty 1960something frigidaire dryer. not sure the year but it kinda matches the console on my pink machine. i can't display it with my washers so i have it in the laundry room next to the frigidaire dryer i use as a main machine.

i also brought home 2 frigidaire dryers from member "18 mill st" last year when i visited him and picked up 3 rollermatic washers.

once again i know i was a fool to pass on that beautiful custom imperial dryer!

joe- i agree, i also love the simplicity of the rollermatic design! each time i tear one down i marvel at it! and that pulsator nut is the hardest part! i dread the last 2 machines i have to tackle! once the nut comes loose i know i am home free!

combo 52-thanks for the tip on the torch! almost tried it but was afraid i would damage the jet cone agitator. will wrap a heat shield of aluminum in it when i do!

vintage dw- never say never, they will come your way when you least expect. appliance miracles happen here!

appnut- good question? am i right or wrong here. i will check on that by running my machines that are together and get back on it. a couple of mine have a full load/small load section on the fill then followed by heavy, normal, light. if you set it for small load it simply gives a shorter time period fill. then you can select either heavy, normal etc. and this changes wash time.

i do know all the rollermatics i have are time filled so i don't see how the timer could fill and then wash at different time lengths if you didn't move the dial. but again i'll do some research on mine.

christfr-thanks for the encouragement!

back to the dryers. wanted to do a thread on the beautiful dryer i got in maryland this year, will post it seperately here, probably later tonite! and the other two as well.

 

[mickeyd]

PETE: Reply # 8, the pink & green together--gorgeous!

As nice as your new machine is, I can't get over the beauty of the simple control panel and the elegant pink body. Must have missed your thread about the pink lady. I'd love to have her.

To Bob's point, the cool thing about most Frigidaire timers is that no matter what time or soil level you select, even just 3, 2, or 1 minute, the timer "knows" and the wasing starts when the machine has filled whether normal, small or unavailable. You don't have to adjust the dial. But your note above sounds like they had another set-up. Interesting. Let us know.

To Paul's point, rinse temps dials were standard on the Custom Deluxe, Imperial and Custom Imperial models, unless programmed, and then cold was an option.

Love how wide the Roller Tub is #9. Nice shot.

Guess you'll be smokin' some pulsator nuts real soon ;->