The latest find....

[turquoisedude]

While the glue set, I did more cleaning...  When I got through with the inner tub, it was like a brand-new machine!

 

[turquoisedude]

And I also noticed this - the door switch had an unused terminal...  Well, it turned out that this switch is the kind that will supply to one terminal or another depending on whether the door was open or closed.   Being the smart aleck that I am, I ran a new wire from the terminal that's 'live' when the door is open.  More on that later...

 

Also, note the date stamp on the switch.  This is definitely a 1958 model, and I would guess a Virgo... LOL 

 

[turquoisedude]

Now, the fun part - reassembling the dryer!   I thought I was doing fine until I realized that the drum cover plate had two anchors that fasten the front of the dryer cabinet to it.  I hadn't aligned the cover plate correctly so the screws just above the drum opening on the front would not line up...  GRRRR!  It took a couple of tries and with Hubby's help, I got the plate aligned properly.  

 

The cabinet and top went on fine,  but that top'll come off again real soon...  I want to put a drum light into this beauty! 

 

 

[this post was last edited: 3/16/2014-16:51]

 

[turquoisedude]

Test time!

Dryer all cleaned out and wiring inspected?  Check

 

Dangerous and not-up-to-code jury-rigged extension cord plugged in? Check

 

House insurance premiums paid?  Check 

 

Well,  let's turn that dial....

 

[turquoisedude]

Wahoo!!  It lives!!
 

 

[turquoisedude]

And the calrods are heating!

 

[turquoisedude]

So, with any luck, I'll have a test load of clothes to dry this afternoon!

One thing I must admit I'd like to 'improve' with this dryer is the power supply to the heaters... The timer sends full power out to the calrods and I am paranoid of burning a timer contact, so I think it might be wise to use a relay here. Maybe I'll do that the same time as I get the drum light in...

Oh and good news about the first test - I actually heard the thermostat kick off in the last 7 or 8 minutes of the cycle. I was kinda paranoid about that too...

I am really happy about how this little project turned out - I needed to do something positive after the disappointments with the Dominion and Inglis washers! But, I'm not done yet... LOL

 

[turquoisedude]

The true test...

Well, I had a bunch of table linens that needed laundering anyway...

So, here there are, nicely tangled BUT spun dry at 700 RPM in the 63 Frigidaire Deluxe washer.

 

[turquoisedude]

Contents of the load were varied: 3 large tablecloths, place mats, napkins, and a couple of table runners. Fabrics were mostly cotton blends, so I figured a first try of 25 minutes would be appropriate.

 

[turquoisedude]

Let's get ready to tummmmmble!! LOL

 

[turquoisedude]

After the 25 minutes of "broil-drying", most of the table linens were dry and surprisingly not wrinkled to death!! This yellow tablecloth and a few placements that were somewhat heavier were not quite dry - they got another 7 or 8 minutes (I put the timer between the 5 and 10 minute marks).

 

[turquoisedude]

Success! The stragglers were nicely dried and not overdried!

This is most promising - I was a bit leery of the direct-heat method of heating the drum and the low air flow that Tom had mentioned. I guess I was expecting that the end result would be overdrying, but, wow! It turned out fine. I guess the rule of thumb with this kind of dryer is start off with a shorter time than you think and then run it again if the load isn't adequately dried.

 

[bellalaundry]

Fantastic

restore, Paul....

 

[jetcone]

1957

 is the YEAR for 2014, more on that later. Paul nice find and don'tcha love the long-distance deal making we have to do?? SO EXECUTIVE!!

 

 

 

 

[tomturbomatic]

I'm surprised that you were able to see the the Calrods glowing. Hotpoint advertized their "high density" elements that did not glow red in operation. Somewhere I heard it called "black heat." I think that you will find that like most low airflow dryers, the Hotpoint will deliver soft dried fabrics.