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Cool Machine!

Hey Robert!

That's a very cool machine! Now i know what the rest of it looks like after seeing the "montage" video you did!

And that agitator looks VERY similar to the one in my Simpson.

Leon
 
wow

OK, my first thought was GE or Hotpoint. But then,hmm, that is exactly what Samantha would want Darrin to think.
Then I noticed the tranny. Hmm, thought I, I have seen that somewhere before...and it was not under the skirts of a GE or Hotpoint...
Then I gave up and read the rest of the links.
Pig is a nice name for him. But, gosh - at least there is real metal in there.
Question: What does the "reset" button do? The motor? Or the water level? Enquiring minds want to know!
 
This machine also reminds me of a childhood neighbor's similar Coronado. It had a most unique and unusual operating sound---not completely unlike a pig, as Robert has noted---and it was a fairly unrefined machine all 'round.

There was a partial fill button; I notice yours has a 'water level selector' button. If you wanted less than a maximum fill, you'd press the fill button which would shut off the fill and start the agitation. I remember the vertically angled clothes guard, like the one in the photo above. I don't recall it having an angel-wing agitator, though.

Gotta love the solid tub.
 
Oh that thing is a PIG!

Right down to the deluxe "Rah Hah" styling and silkscreened information on the panel.

The original Wizard operators drank VO heavily and smoked a "pack" over that machine while the steaks with the really thick fat band sizzled on the new K-mart aluminum cookeware in avocado green. And right next to the machine was a huge jug of store brand pink fabric softener called "Fluffy Best" with that bright pink smell! oh Yeah! Fine Livin'!

It's technology comes down direct from caveman times "beat your clothes hard on a good solid rock"! That machine can save you a fortune in prewashed jeans! Just buy the regular unwashed jeans and toss them in for one load and they are as soft as butter after! I've seen it with myne owyne eyes!

Klunk-smash-0-matic that's what that machine is!

Robert isn't it funny how storage can kill a machine as bad as heavy caustic detergent use can. I am surprised the pump seized and it grew pin hole leaks there. Did you whip out your magic purse and slap on the JB Weld?

ducks and runssssssssssssssssss
 
Looking at the tranny, were Wizard washers made using some GE parts?
No, not to my knowledge, although the pump coupler looks very similar, there are some slight differences and the bottom of the transmission looks similar as well, but it’s not the same.

I have to say, you wouldn't have itchy clothes with the amount of water that this thing uses!
I agree Nate, I don’t think this machine could use any more water if it tried. 49 Gallons for a complete wash cycle! It has a spray rinse in the wash spin as well as the final spin, a three minute overflow rinse (at full pressure, not like a Frigidaire that cuts the water pressure flow down by 40%). Plus to top it off "pardon the pun", 2/3rds through the wash cycle the machine has a one minute "replenishment fill" to restore the water level in the wash tub because of all the splashing that has splashed water over the top of the tub and down the drain.

Did this design stay basically in place as the machines evolved--i.e., did a mid-seventies WCI Kelvinator have essentially the same mechanical layout underneath, I wonder?
The transmission is similar, but I know they changed the pump for the perforated basket machines of the 1970’s. Nate can you take a picture of the mechanicals under your Franklin/WCI/Kelvinator? It would be interesting to see.

What does the "reset" button do? The motor? Or the water level? Enquiring minds want to know!.
Ken the reset is the motor protector button, and the water level button simply stops fill and starts agitation when you press it.

I am surprised the pump seized and it grew pin hole leaks there. Did you whip out your magic purse and slap on the JB Weld?
Not quite Jon. The pump was seized when I first acquired the washer, so I unseized it with a pair of vice grips, I’m not surprised it reseized up in the few years I had it in storage. But since I was going to install the machine now in the collection I figured it was time to put on a brand new shiny pump. As for the pin holes, they were there before storage, I just put down a towel before, but this time I needed to go in and fix the problem. I didn’t use JB Weld, I prefer two part plumbers epoxy, it dries and ready for testing in less than an hour. No need to wait overnight like with JB.
 
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 :-)
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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 :)
 
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.
 
Thanks, Robert ;-)

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

So true...

DCP_3111.JPG
 
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.
 
Thanks Nate, wow, that is really different more so than I expected. What thread was that from? Can you post a link to it?
 
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).

6-7-2007-19-53-1--Unimatic1140.jpg
 
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
 
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.

6-7-2007-22-17-39--Unimatic1140.jpg
 

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