So What Is It?

[roto204]

Tee-hee

Um, er, Robert, we put the WCI Kelvy out to the curb about a year ago with a sign on it that said "free--works." It was gone in an half an hour.

I liked the mechanicals, but it was totally BOL. On our next trip up to Phoenix, I'll peruse the Franklin department of the Glendale yard and find another to bring home and play with. We'll get some intimate photos then

 

[bwoods]

Good one, Rob!! (or do you prefer Robert??)

As soon as I saw that coupler, I said GE product. You got me on this one.

BTW Do you recall an appliance line from the 1960's known as "Bradford" or am I dreaming this.

Barry

 

[roto204]

Hi Barry

You're not dreaming. Bradford was the appliance line of W.T. Grant's five-and-dime stores.

For the ones I've seen, Norge made the full(er)-size washers/dryers, and Panasonic made the little twinnies that they sold, but there were probably other models and other suppliers.

 

[trainguy]

Beautiful machine, Robert. Thanks for the pics.

 

[Unimatic1140]

That was a machine purchased at the Western Auto, correct?
Hi Steve, yes you would have to purchase a Wizard appliance at a Western Auto store. There were quite a few Franklin made machines of this era, such as Marquette, Wizard, Coronado, Co-Op, Bradford, etc.

Um, er, Robert, we put the WCI Kelvy out to the curb about a year ago with a sign on it that said "free--works." It was gone in an half an hour.
Sigh. So does anyone out there have a 1970’s Franklin machine to compare? I could be wrong but I believe there is only one other known solid-basket Franklin washer out there that the Georgia boys have, but I believe it’s in a pre-restored condition.

 

[roto204]

:-(

Sorry about that...in retrospect, had I known what a commodity it would become...

*sobs*

 

[jons1077]

Fun to see...

I would really like to see this machine in action. It's either an online video or I'm going to have to crash Robert's house with a bag of clothes. What's it gonna be??? hehe

 

[Unimatic1140]

Oh Nate nothing to be sorry about, I would have thrown it away as well :-/ after playing with it that is. As much as we would like to we can only save so much.

 

[Unimatic1140]

would really like to see this machine in action. It's either an online video or I'm going to have to crash Robert's house with a bag of clothes. What's it gonna be??? hehe

Something tells me I better get the Constellation out and get the house cleaned quick

 

[gyrafoam]

Pre-restored is right----!

That old Wizzzzarrrrd is sitting in the warehouse. Poor dear needs a new top----that original halter-top has finally fallen apart. Otherwise though, she appears to be in pretty good shape. Maybe someday soon I can talk you-know-who into doing a day of testing to see if we can get any of these old girls to work.

 

[roto204]

To the rescue!

Thank you for archiving the Imperial forum, Robert!!! Hee-go.

So, no, it is different. Decidedly.

 

[roto204]

Thanks, Robert ;-)

As much as we would like to we can only save so much.

So true...

 

[roto204]

Seventies WCI-Franklin

The motor no longer drives the pump through a coupler like a GE; the pump flips and is now mounted on the underside of the motor and is directly driven.

I'm not sure how similar/dissimilar the transmission configuration is.

The overall impression of this machine is that it was much more similar to a Westinghouse toploader, only with the pump on the bottom of the motor instead of the top, and with no irritating idler pulley to make changing the belt a complete PITA.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Thanks Nate, wow, that is really different more so than I expected. What thread was that from? Can you post a link to it?

 

[roto204]

Link

http://www.automaticwasher.org/TD/ARCHIVE/VINTAGE/2005/3666x42.htm

 

[Unimatic1140]

Thanks Nate. By the way to post a link directly here without using the box below be sure to leave out the " marks. Like this:
a href=http://www.automaticwasher.org/TD/ARCHIVE/VINTAGE/2005/3666x42.htm

http://www.automaticwasher.org/TD/ARCHIVE/VINTAGE/2005/3666x42.htm

 

[peterh770]

Hush, Steve...

There are 3 pics of the Wizzard we have... This one, "next", and "next"...

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/00ShowCollectionGETD.cgi?photoshow=46@The%20Wizard,%20the%20poor%[email protected]&dir=/COLLECTIONS/PETERH770

 

[Unimatic1140]

This Wizard is a 1966 model and in case you are wondering Consumer Reports ranked this machine dead last in their 9/66 issue. I'm surprised at their water extraction rating, I didn't think it was that bad. It certainly is better than my '63 Velvapower Easy or my '62 Co-Axial Hotpoint those two take the cake for the worse at spinning in the basement, (the '56 Hotpoint is much better at water extraction than the '62 by the way).

 

[gocartwasher]

yes a GE

if you look at the clutch its one that I ised on my first homemade gocart ,then later used a oil filled clutch from a Speed Queen

 

[Unimatic1140]

OK This is going to be WAY TOOOOO MUCH FUN!

Leon had mentioned above "And that agitator looks VERY similar to the one in my Simpson." Funny I thought the same thing when I saw the agitator in his Simpson which is a Beam machine, but this is a Franklin machine. Well I figured I better check this out, so look at this! The Beam/Speed Queen agitator fits PERFECTLY into the Franklin. No adjustments or shims necessary, it's a perfect fit and the agitator drive blocks are essentially the same.