scary vintage bradford automatic washer...

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"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.
 
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!
:o)

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)
 
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!!!
:o)
 
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
 
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.....
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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:

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.
😕
 
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...

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Kenmore dryer...

The little bottle of deodorizer was still liquid, but it was dark and sluggish moving in the bottle. I couldn't unscrew the cap, so I could smell it though.
 
I don't know...

If I've already asked this question before...
But what is the RESET button for, to the right of the control knob?
For off-balance loads, or motor overload RESET?
 
I think that reset button is for the overload on the motor along with being an off-balance switch as well.

Looks like that Kenmore gas dryer has the modulating burner.
 
Good to hear from you Christina. I don’t remember reading this post before so it was intriguing and when it ended in 2014 and was revived in 2021 i figured the machine was long gone. But here you are again and the washer is now at your house. How cool. The motor/pump/transmission setup looks a lot like GE especially with that rubber coupling connecting the top of the motor to what I assume would be the water pump. I agree that the belt is probably frozen in the pulley and the top where it connects to the pump doesn’t look good. It can surely be fixed but I think a major restoration will be in order. It’s a really cool washer and I hope it all works out for you. Looking forward to updates. If the machine buzzes from the motor when powered up the reset is not tripped but if you let it buzz too long it could trip at that point.
 
super cool that washer was recovered and cleaned up halfway decent : THE motor is an Emerson and probably ruined-rotor rusted into the stator and stator lams spread from the rust...Emerson motors of the era often had the specs stamped into the dust cap covering the lower bearing-if stampings still legible,there will be a date code to determine when the motor was made.Looks like a GE Filter flo motor and clutch could be mounted as a substitute-especially if pulley is about the same size.An era correct round GE motor would be most authentic :) If the transmission is found to be in good order,you are waaay ahead in getting this classic washing again :)
 
Hi Christina!

The reset button is motor protector overload reset FYI. The pump (and clutch shoes) may be stuck frozen which would prevent the motor from turning. You should try filling the pump with hot water by pouring hot water down the drain hose and then take a wrench to the top of the pump where the rubber/cloth coupling attaches and gently turn the wheel back and forth to get it going. Then try the motor again. If the pump turns easily then that isn't the problem. The problem then most likely is the motor start switch which needs to be sanded and cleaned.

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I'm so sorry...

I apologize I haven't been replying.
There is alot happening on this side.

It's been pretty nonstop. But when things seem more back to normal, I will be able to get on here and tinker with the Bradford.

Thank you for your advices, tips, and pictures. I really appreciate you❣️

I'd like to wish you all a Happy & Blessed, Merry Christmas...

💞,💭,🙏🏻
 
Christina/hippiedoll: Congrats and thanks for your update!

So are you planning to get both of those machines working together as a pair?

 

Will be neat to see, and cool if you have a dedicated space for them as a second pair or if you only use one area for them as your daily drivers...

 

 

 

-- Dave
 
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