The Huge Tiny Norge Rebuild

[macboy91si]

Well its a Montgomery Wards machine, but all Norge inside. These little guys are very handsome in avocado green. Both needed help. These are very unusual machines in that that they are only 21" wide. The dryer is very deep for what it is and the washer is essentially a full-size Norge with a small tub. Very neat!

The washer is a little rough, while in good cosmetic condition. The main water seal appears to have failed and allowed water into the ball-bearing in the spin hub. The machine came apart reasonably easily however once we got into the real gritty parts, we had to break out the fire and grinders.

We did finally get it apart, but now it is waiting for parts. I was able to find the bearing assembly and water seal, but the correct 2 1/4" tall 3-hole hub (P/N 33-0211) seems to be completely NLA.

Here are some pictures of the progress so far.

-Tim

 

[cfz2882]

first one i have seen

didn't know about these,-very cool what is the motor HP- 1/3 ? If year of manufacture is not known,there will be date code on the Emerson motor-sure looks early-mid 1970s for sure

 

[macboy91si]

1/3 the fun

It's a 1/3 HP Emerson motor. The machine seems to be about 1974 from some of the dates on various parts on it.

Tim

 

[hippiedoll]

WOWZERS!!

That looks like a cute, little, fun avocado washer. I didn't know about them either. Your restoration looks like it's coming along nicely. I can't wait to see when it's all finished! Be sure to post pictures & videos so we can see it in action!

Keeping my fingers crossed for you that it all comes together smoothly
;o)

 

[swestoyz]

Tim - what a fun project! With the narrow tub you'll have to let us know if the wash action is even more thrashy than a standard Wards/Norge from this era.

Ben

 

[repairguy]

Congrats on these neat little machines! Looks like you’re well on your way to a fine restoration. I didn’t know these existed either until last year I believe John L. picked up a set for the museum. Good luck with them!

 

[bradfordwhite]

It looks like you're having fun.

 

From the top the transmission looks like a GE filter-flo which makes me question why GE didn't put their outer tub on the filter-flo onto the transmission so they wouldn't have been such a water hog.

 

[macboy91si]

GE Water Hoggery

GE *could* have done something similar, and probably *should* have done so in the 40ish years of the run of the machines. Going with their existing solid tub design with some slight mechanical updates gave them a perforated tub machine without the cost of a complete redesign as many other manufacturers did. Water consumption probably wasn't really an issue in most places then. It also gives us a neat washing machine that was made into the 90's.

Tim