scary vintage bradford automatic washer...

hippiedoll · Jan 24, 2014

ozzie908/austin....

as far as i know, the washer has always been plugged in. in fact, i think it still might be plugged in? i'm not sure, as i was only looking at the washer & taking pictures of the washer, when i was there. i can look through the pictures i posted in this thread and see if anything looks plugged in. but as far as i know, i don't think anybody has unplugged the washer?

like you say, "we can hope, it won't have chewed wires, etc...". definitely!!!
;o)

as far as the power being turned off at the house, she passed away in july. and the electricity was turned off right after she passed away. so, it's been off since july of 2013. i can't believe it's already been that long??!! i guess since the electricity has been off for 6 months, there is a good possibility that the wires more thank likely, have been chewed up?

/

i guess all we can do is "hope" for the best & expect the worst!!! this way there won't be too much disappointment at what we find.

)

mickeyd · Jan 24, 2014

"would the motor just shut off. and to get the motor/was

RE: Reset Buttons ~ Exactly as you say. Early Frigidaires had them, and they were fun to press back in after over-sudsing with too much Tide. Many people with Frigis switched to All or Dash. And when you press the button in, the cycle resumes where it left off. Like throwing a master switch, the lights come back on, the motor revs, the spin resumes, the pump shoots, and you're off. Woo-eee ! Great fun.

Fond Memories of Grants in downtown Buffalo where the Bradford looked so inviting. I remember one on display and demonstration like yours and how the wings at the top of the agitator made such cool splashes. So wished we could have one, but Geraldine was a die-hard Frigidairian. Never gonna happen.

When you see Ross, give him a big hello and an even bigger hug from me. The 806 S he gave me has become a huge hit around here. Friends and Family who have never seen a suds-return marvel at it, and wonder why they've disappeared, what with everything going green and eco-conscious, and so forth.

I wish you the best of luck getting your Bradford going and when you do, Sweet Christine, you'll have a rare prize in your laundry. See how quickly you turned into one of us, LOL.

jetcone · Jan 25, 2014

Christina

Here's another easy solution I use if you can get power on in the house- I use a drill pump and two garden hoses to drain machines.

Only takes a few minutes and no lifting or splashing of deadly 40 year old diaper water lol!

See the link below:

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_x_25989076-P_x_x?cm_mmc=ACQ-_-Google-_-GPLA-_-25989076&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=25989076&ci_gpa=pla&ci_kw=&gclid=CN-m0umBmrwCFZJxOgodJmwAyQ#utm_source=acq&utm_medium=google&utm_campaign=gpla

hippiedoll · Jan 25, 2014

mickeyd...

thank you for confirming the "RESET" buttons function & purpose. sounds very interesting. i bet it would be a hoot to push the button and wash the machine come back to life.

in fact, now that i think about it, when i was there at the house taking the pictures & looking at the machine, i did push the light button in and i also remember pushing the reset button in too. and i remember both of them making a "click" when i pushed them in. but of course, there not being no electricity at the house, nothing happened. i tried to push the buttons a 2nd time (cuz i figured that is how you would turn the light on & off) but neither button would push in & click again?

so just maybe, the "RESET" button was triggered and the washer was never used after that. maybe???

as for ross, i've emailed with him a couple of times, but i haven't heard back from him lately? i hope he's alright. i will send him another email & see if i hear back from him. if i do, i will definitely give him your message!

)

thanks for the good luck wishes with the bradford. and yes, i see how quickly vintage washers is becoming very interesting. me personally, i've always like older things; cars (the durability & ability to have a mechanic fix/work on), houses (the look & character), music (the quality & instrument realness), and i guess washing machines would be for the same reason as cars.

me & my cousin both agree that the older washers, do just that, "wash" the clothes, with their agitators. she doesn't like newer washers because they don't have agitators in them. which i agree with.

even though i'm not too hip with vintage washers & i'm barely learning at a "baby steps" pace. it is quickly becoming a greater appreciation for vintage appliances, for me. MOVE OVER BOYS (& girls) AND MAKE ROOM FOR "LITTLE O' ME"!!!
ha ha....
;o)

hippiedoll · Jan 25, 2014

jetcone...

thank you for the tip on the drill pump. that is a really good idea!!

but i'm not real sure if we have a drill or not? i'll have to ask my mom. cuz we just might have a drill. and the drill pumps are not expensive either!! and we have 2 hoses here at the house already.

thank you so much for that tip jetcone. i totally appreciate it!!!

)

jetcone · Jan 25, 2014

Dr. Frigidaire is ready to

help anytime!

alr2903 · Jan 26, 2014

Christina, IMHO, Jetcone's solution is the way to solve this problem. If the power supply in the house is holding you back, buy or borrow a cordless drill. A "solid tub Bradford made by Norge sold at W.T. Grant's is a sweet find. I really hope this works out for you. alr

alr2903 · Feb 5, 2014

Christina, how is it going?

hippiedoll · Feb 6, 2014

no new news yet....

hey there!!

we haven't been back to the house again. but hopefully we'll be going back within the next couple of weeks. i'll mention a "trip" to moms & let's see what she says.

we'll see what happens.....

golittlesport · Feb 7, 2014

Franklin

A "solid tub Bradford made by Norge sold at W.T. Grant's" is a sweet find. I really hope this works out for you. alr

Friendly correction: Although Norge did make Bradford machines for Grants at one time, this is not one of them. This is a Franklin built machine. Same as the Western Auto "Wizard" machines. And a very cool find. Hope you get it up and running.

hippiedoll · Feb 7, 2014

thanks....

thank you for the good wishes "golittlesport".
i'll be sure to keep everyone posted on the progress and what's happening when we get down there again.

alr2903 · Feb 8, 2014

Golittlesport, Thank You, for pointing that out. I need to hit the archives and read up on Franklin, Beam and Norge and the stores they "branded" for in the past. Thanks again.

alr

retromania · Feb 9, 2014

Didn't know...

I did not know Grant's had a line of major appliances. So interesting. Anderson, SC where I live had a Grant's on the south side of town that I did not know existed until it went out of business and a local resident turned the building into a hardware store. The door push plates said Grant as did the shopping carts. I miss house brand appliances. I have wavy hair and back in the 70's I used a Kmart hair dryer with a brush attachment to straighten my hair. Lolll

geoff · Feb 13, 2021

HippieDoll

I know I'm resurrecting an old thread and I'm sorry but whatever happened with this machine? Did you ever get it out?

Thanks

Geoff

hippiedoll · Feb 13, 2021

Geoff:

Hi there,

No, we never got the washing machine out. The house sat empty and then the scrappers broke in and pulled out the wires from the walls & light sockets. Then the druggies started getting in the house and doing who knows what, in there. So we boarded the house up.

geoff · Feb 13, 2021

Thanks for the info!

I'm so sorry to hear that

Geoff

hippiedoll · Nov 29, 2023

Bradford update...

Well, After almost 10 years, we finally got the Bradford washing machine in Tucson. I've drained the washtub, wiped it out and wiped off the control panel & top of the washer.

I plugged it in, and it energizes up;

i can push the light button in and the control/timer knob lights up.

I can spin the solid tub by hand in one direction (counter-clockwise)
But all I can get the washer to do is hum...

I tried turning the belt by hand but it's stuck

Would WD40 help?

Pictures...