Sun-Aire Gas Dryer 1954

[bellalaundry]

Interesting dryer that appears to be in great shape! I've never heard of this brand before.


I'm having trouble downloading the pic here...

The control panel reminds me a little like Pauls unusual Dominion washer...

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-washer-dryer/stratford-on/vintage-clothes-dryer-1954/1628353649?undefined

 

[maytag85]

That’s a 1954/1955 Whirlpool gas dryer! Rare as hens teeth!

 

[bradfordwhite]

With those door hinges, that top lint filter, certain details on the panel, and the rounded body.... this looks Whirlpool made.

Are you purposely going for a Captain Kirk vibe with that shirt?

 

[bellalaundry]

Thanks

for getting the pics posted! Beam me up...

 

[jamiel]

Hmm...was Inglis licensing WP this early?

 

[turquoisedude]

Jaime, Inglis was building WP-designed appliances as early as 1951.   Here's the fooler... there were never any Inglis gas appliances.  This SunAire dryer is a bit of a mystery, but it's a Whirlpool-designed dryer for sure.  

 

[repairguy]

A little internet searching revealed a 1952 edition of Gas Appliance Merchandising. Sun Aire was built by the Stiglitz Corporation which was touted as the oldest company in Louisville, KY tracing back to 1829. Bridgeford and co was a foundry located by the Ohio river that year. They made Ben Franklin Stoves.

Stiglitz Furnace and Foundry co was built in 1882 and acquired Bridgeford in 1945. Stiglitz built clothes dryers from about 1952 until 1963 and space heaters, ranges, and ovens until early 1967. Later that year they continued to make sheet metal parts for other manufacturers in the appliance and air conditioning business.

 

[DADoES]

 

 

[jamiel]

Speculating--they needed a clothes dryer to round out their line of heaters (sold through gas utilities/LP gas dealers); they did work for GE Appliance park, but GE did not at the time do gas, and the next best thing was relabeling a WP.

 

[combo52]

Sun-Air Gas Dryer

Reply #6,

 

Hi Melvin, interesting history about this dryer, but was is clearly exactly the same dryer as a WP dryer and and came out of the same factory.

 

I am sure that is why it was only sold in Canada because Sears and Whirlpool dealers would not have wanted the Competition with their dryer models.

 

Consumers often quickly catch on to the fact that something is the same except for the label and then the purchase becomes all about price.

 

John L.

 

[maytag85]

I really do hope someone on here is able to save that dryer. First 1954/1955 Whirlpool dryer I’ve seen in the 5 years I’ve been on this forum.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Butcha can't have a matching washer.

 

[maytag85]

Reply #11

My friend Tyler has a 1954 Whirlpool washer that’s a match to that Sun Aire dryer.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Yes, just like you have maintained that your WP dryer has auto dry. The control panel of this dryer does not match the colors of the control panel of your friend's washer.

 

[maytag85]

Reply #13

It’s a close enough match. Not a exact match but close enough. Yes, I am well aware that my Whirlpool dryer from ‘63 doesn’t have the auto dry but since I’ve been using it since last year on a regular basis, haven’t had any issues with either selecting too much or to little dry time. Always have great results since I go by the suggested drying times.