The Norge Automatic Washer Pro/Con Thread

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Over the years I've read comments for and against Norge and it derivatives such as Ward's, etc. They are all scattered about Automatic Washer, so folks lets hear all those pro's and con's in one single thread. A place anyone thinking of acquiring one can go to get it straight from the horses mouth. And if you can back-up your claim with articles and images, better yet.

 

 

[stricklybojack]

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Well to kick things off the name is freakin' awesome.
In this way Norge and Kelvinator rule the appliance planet...of a different and better universe.
[this post was last edited: 10/13/2015-18:07]

 

[stainfighter]

Childhood and NORGE

1966- Grandpa upgrades from wringer to BOL
1 cycle Norge. OMG I was in heaven!
Solid tub drama at bits finest

 

[norgeway]

Well, I think..

They are NOISY, and use a lot of water, but no better machine has ever been built to clean filthy nasty work clothes and rinse them perfectly, the best washer ever, a Maytag on normal speed washes about like a Norge on gentle.

 

[yogitunes]

well on the 'pro' side

I think its was the only domestic machine built with a 1hp motor....yeah, it was THE machine for someone who worked in construction or a mechanic...

and that 20lb capacity could hold a lot....

noisy yes, especially that tub break when it would 'BANG'....

 

[rockland1]

Norge aka Magic Chef

In the 80's sold a number of Magic Chef Laundry pairs. There was a lot to talk about
when selling. The motor was 3/4 HP at that time. When you showed a customer
the tub......well nothing else was close. At that time you could say it was a company owned by Maytag. They also had a generous rebate for the customer and the salesman! Whats not to love?

 

[wayupnorth]

I just remember the tv commercials with "Hear the solid sound of quality, Knock on any Norge, Years from now, you'll be glad its a Norge"

 

[washerlover]

I must give my two cents' worth (please note my avatar is a '66 Norge tub shot). I would say that with a burpalator lint filter agitator, lint removal came in second to a GE Filter-Flo. Agitation quite vigorous, and amazing rinsing. Yes, very noisy, but not much more than a Frigidaire 1-18. And I believe we can credit Norge for inventing the fabric dispenser wheel -- no need for any dispensers relying on a solenoid or other electric device. And did Norge come up with the "timeline" dial as well?

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Yes they did come up with the timeline. 1953, 54 I think?

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Well, it seems the Norge is quite a washer. The conscientious is that it's noisy,  but washes and rinses well. One H.P. motor? I think I'm in love.

 

[gansky1]

Norge, Norge, Norge

What a fun washing experience, though not for the dirty clothes as Hans said!
Here are a few videos of my Norges agitating - turn down the sound ;-) and judge for yourself.

It had been a while since I'd used the solid-tub 56 Norge so when Ross in AZ passed along a dispenser wheel for his washer now in my care, I had to use it.



56 Norge - garage testing


1981 Norge-Wards BOL washer


The above Wards washer originally came from Ben, found behind an appliance store IIRC. Here is his video:

 

[akronman]

my 2 cents

my 1978 Norge ran for about 36 years, not bad at all. Loud, great turnover, the partial nuetral drain followed by the spin and spray worked well. The burpolator and filter and dispenser are something unique for all washer hobbyists to see, very loud and effective and fun, you'll know the machine is running for sure.

Mine also allowed choices of Fast-slow, fast fast, slow-slow, slow-fast. Also 5 water temp wash rinse combinations. All in all a damn fine, loud, excellent washer for 36 years.

And then it needed new bearings......

 

[brucelucenta]

Norge was a very popular washer and dryer set back in the 50's. The old solid tub washers went out long before the dryers did, so there are very few of them left now. When they came out with the perforated tub machines in about '63 or so, they were the largest capacity at the time. Norge always washed well from the solid tub models to the perforated tub ones. The solid tub models tended to have oil seal failures after the machines were a few years old and would let oil get into the tub with the clothes and all over them. They were good machines though and lasted quite a while under normal use.

 

[goatfarmer]

Maybe the ultimate Norge

is RickR's Touch & Wash.

http://https//youtu.be/LI7yJhLKhF0

 

[yogitunes]

THAT's the videos I was trying to find, as Rick was changing out the different lint filters......

 

[bajaespuma]

Had it not broken down, my Wards/Norge would be my Daily Driver today. No-nonsense washing ability and large capacity coupled with good cycles and versatile controls. A Grand old Brand gone the way of the Do-Do bird because of corporate nonsense as with so many.

 

[alr2903]

I have posted about my long gone Magic Chef/Norge in another thread.   One way to say it is,  you might not notice a big difference when you first buy it.    When it is gone, you will definitely miss it.   The little bit of extra noise was well worth it.  The matching dryer not so much...

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

I don't know what there is, but if I'm ever in an appliance store and see a Norge or Admiral, or happen to be in a Montgomery Ward & see a M/W or Signature, I seem to graduate towards a White-Westy or Frigidaire preferring them...

 

But there are things I like about the Norge machines other than them being notoriously rough on clothes even on Delicate settings/speeds...

 

However, I've never seen anyone wearing anything that would make me think, "Oh, No!--That got washed in a NORGE!"...

 

 

-- Dave

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

I too have heard about the rough washing. Anyone have first hand experience?

 

[akronman]

Rough washing

I'd call it aggressive/effective more than rough. No 2 brands are quite alike, maybe 1-18 Frigidaire and Norge were most aggressive, GE Filter Flo in the middle, and many Kenmore's and Maytags gentler. But I never wore out anything in my Norge, it gave great results. And there are clothes that need a gentle cycle, the Norge did that well too.

It seems like the wings high up the agitator helped for great turnover even when loaded heavily with towels, blankets, etc.

Mine is still pushed aside in the basement, in hopes of replacing the bearings some day, not an easy job

 

[appnut]

We had a 1964 Dispensomat Norge15.  It washed well and I don't tink it was aggressive to the point of being harshe on fabrics.  We did generate som dirty laundry in its day and handled it well.  It was followed by the infamous Kenmore 800 in 1970/early 1971.  I still didn't thihnk it was too rough on clothes.  then came the straight-vane GE Filterflo that I( had as well as my mom got because she had to have what I had.  I found it to be very intense and rough on certain types of clothes and ended up using gentle settings more frequently.  The DD Lady Shredmore followed my GE.  'nuf said and cured me forever never having another top loader plus all the wasted water. 

 

[mrsalvo]

We had a MonkyWards/Norge I think about 1969 model, it had the slant console. Lint filter in back of the tube and water inlet on the left hand side. What I remember was that it was loud and could hold 4 sheets and pillow cases on a medium setting. The capacity was HUGE, so you could cut the number of loads down. We had a near matching dryer that was HUGE as well, I dare say there has never been a dryer that has had as large tube as Norge. I remember the clutch kicking in and brakes stopping the tub, very loud. It seems to have lasted about 6 or 7 years, my mom did laundry every few days and really could go through a washer. I don't remember why it failed, grease or seals worn out. At the time I don't remember it being rough on clothes, but man could it clean. Very strong agitation. That's what I remember, as a kid. My mother liked Speed Queens and later GE filter flos so Im not sure how she really felt about the Norge, indifferent maybe. Strange what you remember as a kid.

 

[tolivac]

My Mom had a Norge washer that had the large,black,large vaned "Burpilator" agitator and polished metal lint dish.Liked that thing-loved to watch it as a kid.This would have been sometime in the fifties.This machine was replaced by a GE Filter Flo with a copper colored metal lint pan.Early 60's.Then she got Maytags after the divorce.My Stepmom had a KN washer with the Roto Swirl agitator like my Grandmothers.

 

[rickr]

Why knock on a Norge??

Because they can be brought back from the dead!

 

[rickr]

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Just waiting to get the cabinet into the paint shop. But it does runs now. New motor, pump, bearings, seals, hours and hours of work, and two donor machines to make one...

 

[rickr]

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Close up of machine base. I took two of these and sawed them in two parts, to make one good base. Note the heavy rust pitting on the base.

 

[rickr]

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What it looked like when Kenny (Goatfarmer) and I pulled it out of the woods, where it sat for 40+ years. We pulled this out of the junkyard in 2006.

 

[toploader55]

You do AMAZING work Rick.

 

 

 

[toploader55]

You do AMAZING work Rick.

 

 

 

[washerlover]

Rick, amazing is an understatement! I remember seeing that post, looking longingly at that poor machine. Can't wait to see more pics of the makeover. Unbelievable and thanks for saving another Norge!