The "Hajj" to Newton!

[kenmore71]

I spent the last few days in the greater Des Moines, IA area for a DCI competition and a performance by the Des Moines Metro Opera. On Wednesday afternoon I made the trip over the Newton and stopped in at the Jasper County Historical Museum to see what the collection was like. I wasn't disapointed!

On the way into town:

 

[kenmore71]

very early Maytags

 

[kenmore71]

Did you know Maytag made a vacuum cleaner?

 

[kenmore71]

cast aluminum

 

[kenmore71]

multi-motors

 

[kenmore71]

An attachment for everything, it seems!

 

[kenmore71]

The only post-1966 wringer I've ever seen with a gasoline engine.

 

[kenmore71]

An early "decorator" color

 

[kenmore71]

One of the first AMP automatic washers

 

[kenmore71]

Early automatic dryer

 

[kenmore71]

Pank!

 

[kenmore71]

The ever-so-rare Maytag Combo (I believe one of 4 whose existence has been verified)

 

[kenmore71]

The 25 millionth washing machine

 

[kenmore71]

The last machine off the line, December 22, 2006.

 

[kenmore71]

At the Drake Diner in Des Moines.[this post was last edited: 7/14/2011-21:59]

 

[mayfan69]

Great pics Mark...

Great pics there Mark

 

As a long time Maytag fan, it's a goal to one day visit the museum and a number of members in both the US and Canada......possibly in 2013 or 2014.

 

Cheers

Leon

 

[appnut]

Mark, thank you for taking the pics. Still moving after all these years!!

 

[hooverwheelaway]

That's so fabulous that everyone signed the inside of the last machine off the line.  **sniffle**

 

And as we're looking at these pictures, Robert says "That's not a 1949 AMP."

 



 

Thanks for sharing!

 

Fred

 

[kenmore71]

It may well not be. I got the impression that they mean very well there, but I think there may be some acuracy issues. I gave our sweet 75 year old volunteer "docent" quite an education on the history of Maytag and the particular significance of some of the machines in the museum.

 

[peteski50]

Maytag!

My family had the LA810 purchaced in 1981. My mom had wanted a 1/18 but they had just stopped making them! This Maytag was a work horse and lasted for 17 years. And she still could have repaired it but decided not to.
Peter

 

[MaytagA710]

Fantasic! I love the Maytag hand operated washer "So easy, even a child can use it!"

Thanks for sharing, Once I renew my passport, I will take a trip down to Iowa and soak up this museum completely!

 

[swestoyz]

Robert says "That's not a 1949 AMP."

Robert is correct. The washer is a A3MP (a slim chance that it is also an A4MP), from mid 1955 through mid 1956. Several years ago when I went through the museum I corrected the tour guide as well, but didn't expect corrections to be made to the card stock model plates they've put on display.

The dryer is also not a 60W, which would be the first Maytag dryer. The dryer in the museum is actually a 70C - the first gas Maytag dryer, and one of the few that still exists. As far as I know, the earliest example of a Maytag dryer - an April of 1953 made 60W with the original Maytag AMP emblem, is the one I picked up last fall in Western Iowa.

Still, both examples in Newton are beautiful machines and are certainly worthy of being in the museum.

Great pictures Mark! Glad to see another member take the time to visit Newton. I honestly can say I was there the day after the last washer was made - literally the day the Maytag Store closed. I was so sad that day, but was relieved to find the JCM open. Those old grey hairs were so happy to have a fanboy onsite, it was so much fun to get a personal tour from them!

Happy to see the last Newton washer on display. Would love to see what changes they've made in the last 5 years since I've been there.

(April 1953 60W, November 1953 AMP)

Ben

 

[autowasherfreak]

Great pictures!  The last machine off the line, looks a lot like our washer at work.  The employees at Galesburg plant signed the last refrigerator off the line and it's on display in some building in Galesburg.

 

What does the printed card say for the typewriter?

 

 

[gansky1]

Several of us have talked about "volunteering" to help with the displays and machines at the Jasper County museum, looks like they still need some help.  There have always been very sweet and helpful ladies at the museum, usually disappointed that we haven't wanted the full tour of the building.   Thanks for the pictures, did you make it to the long room with the general store, kitchen and typical room-displays?   They do have some interesting things to see, besides the Maytags.  Gasp! 

  Well, sort of.  Their gift shop was always good, a few mementos and ephemera from Maytag Co.  Did you see Grampy's Antiques downtown Newton?  We've found some nice Maytag things there as well, including my yellow combo.  Great town, great history.

 

 

[washernoob]

Holly maytag batman.

Thats amazing! I would love to visit that place. And I am sure every used appliance store is filled with tags!

The vacuum is awesome!