The ones that got away

[eddy1210]

Hi everyone, I haven't posted in a long time but I thought I'd share this "almost" catch. I haven't found anything interesting in a very long time, and with work and personal stuff I really haven't been actively searching much. However, James' (114jwh) eagle eye spotted this set just after they were posted on the local craigslist. We went right to work sending an email to the seller offering the $300 asking price but no reply. Later that day the ad was taken down. Still nothing. So I thought I'd post pictures just so that you can see what's still out there waiting to be saved. I wouldn't be surprised to see this pair listed on Ebay sometime in the future.

 

[appnut]

Ugh@@@  Good to hear from you Eddy!  I've noticed your absence.  Bob

 

[toploader55]

Hey Eddy.

Good to see you post.  What a shame you didn't get those beauties.

 

You'll find something soon.  Take Care,  Eddie

 

[114jwh]

Wonder what the story was with those, especially a matched set? For 55 year old machines they look to be in amazing condition, especially considering most parts have probably been NLA for years and years I'd guess.

Was surprised to see they went so quick - didn't realize there was that much demand for old appliances like these. I'm guessing it was because they were pink? Maybe wouldn't have gone so fast if they had been plain old white?

The good thing is when it rains it often pours so maybe something else is going to come up soon! We'll have to keep our eyes open Eddy!

 

[foraloysius]

Oh my, that would have been a great find! 1959 was such a good year... ;-)

 

[tomturbomatic]

1959 was such a good year.

Maybe for you, Louis, but not for the redesigned Frigidaire washers. There was lots of in the field servicing and motor replacement. Once that was taken care of, they performed well.

Hello Eddie!

 

[turquoisedude]

OOH! Good luck Eddie - I hope you get them!   I'm learning first-hand that the '59 Multi-Tragic is a finicky creature but they're rare birds!!

 

[ae5919]

You won't be seeing them on eBay...

I'm very local and was able to pick these up as soon as she wanted (and for $200.) Rest assured they found a good home. They are in absolutely stunning shape, the paint on the dryer has one small blemish on the bottom corner, that's really all I could find.

 

[bradross]

Congrats to new member ae5919!

A stunning addition to any collection! Glad to hear they went to an appreciative buyer!

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations

That's not paint on the dryer, the cabinet is porcelain.

 

[foraloysius]

Congratulations then and welcome!

Tom,

I know these were troublesome machines, but I do like the design of the 1959 set. I guess the Multimatic transmission was needed for the two speeds? Or would that have been possible with the Unimatic transmission?

 

[philr]

Nice! Congratulations for your find! Were these in Canada or in the USA? 

 

[bwoods]

Congrats!!!!

Congratulations on such a vintage find.. and in such good shape. Hope you get much enjoyment from them!

 

[tomturbomatic]

Hey Louis!
It was not so much the tranny as it was an undersized motor that burned out due to overload. I think that GM thought that because the new mechanism would not have to work as hard as the Unimatic, they could get by with a lower HP motor. I do not know the answer to your question,but I don't think they were able to get two speeds out of the Unimatic. Think of how at the end of the agitate period, the Unimatic mechanism locks down and immediately starts to spin. That's when the load on the motor is so great that the rpm drops low enough that the machine runs in the motor start windings, lights would dim while it pulls a full 15 amps and why it had to be on a circuit protected by what they used to call a "slow-blow" fuse. I don't think the Unimatic mechanism could do that with the motor operating at slow speed. This began the Frigidaire washing machines with the reversing motor and the pause between agitation and spin to make the reversing possible.

 

[ae5919]

They were in the US.

Is there anything I can do to prep these machines for storage? I live in an apartment so there's no way to use them. Going to save them for when I live in a house.

I'll try to post more pictures soon if anybody is interested.

 

[philr]

If you mean in an unheated storage, you should make sure that there's no water remaining in the pump.

 

I can't wait to see more pictures! Do you live in Canada or in the US?

 

[ae5919]

The place where they're going to be stored is heated. I live in Bellingham WA.

 

[foraloysius]

Thank you Tom for the explanation!

 

[jetcone]

Tom is a font of

knowledge!! Its that proximity too the stunning LOC that helps! Greg and I were gobsmacked just being there. He also gives great TOUR !!