The Voyage of the Viking

[turquoisedude]

Remember that posting that Robert put up here for a vintage Viking Dishwasher in Sundridge Ontario (Canada)? Well, I went and picked it up this past weekend! It was long but very scenic drive - left Montreal at around 6 AM Saturday and finally hauled into Ogden just before 1 AM Sunday. After some snooze time and several coffees, it was time to unload dishwasher number 11!!

 

[turquoisedude]

Underiside

Motor, pump, wires and hoses all looked good!

 

[turquoisedude]

Proof of it's Viking heritage

Sigh - I still miss the Eatons department store...
This dishwasher was definitely made by Westinghouse, therefore the design is D&M.

 

[turquoisedude]

Inside the tub

The machine had not been used in something like 12 years, sitting on its back caused stuff to ooze out of the pump. The pink residue is plumbing anti-freeze - the former owners had been very dilligent in protecting this appliance when they closed down their summer home for the season!

 

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Spray arm and pump guard

Also in great shape!!

 

[turquoisedude]

Like any 'new' find...

I filled 'er up with a couple of buckets of hot water and let it sit for about a half hour.
I plugged it in, hit the Rinse and Hold button and....
It worked!! The sound of water slinging around inside was heard, the motor ran smoothly and quietly, and the timer seemed to be cycling correctly!! Here's the first draining of the machine, back into a bucket.

 

[turquoisedude]

So, I figured it was time to do some cleaning up

The inside tub was near enough pristine - some light scrubbing to remove water scale was all that was needed!

 

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Outside near mint!!

Look at how beautiful the finish of the cabinet still is! Man, I thought I was on the 5th floor of the old Eatons store in downtown Montreal again!!

 

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Now what I did wrong...

I got a little over-zealous when I was cleaning up the cabinet and managed to dissolve the lettering on the front panel where the lid latch is... It should say "Jet Spray"...
D'OH!!!

 

[turquoisedude]

Top hinge spring

Don't what the **** I did here, but one of the door springs and supports snapped. Probably got loose in transit. Darn near took off a finger when it went, too. I did an "Oh my, that hurts" dance around the garage. Good thing the nearest neighbor is nearly a mile away!!

 

[turquoisedude]

Plastic support pin

I am thinking that glueing this is not going to be an option...
So, if anyone familiar with D&M dishwashers recognizes this and knows where I can find a replacement, please let me know!!
Maiden wash of the Viking should be this weekend... Must find some more plexiglas...

 

[soberleaf]

love your pics!

never heard of a "viking" before! never seen one with that spray arm either! very interesting (as arte johnson would say).

made by d&m huh! i didn't know westinghouse was d&m! they made a bunch didn't they?! motor looks familiar and the entire bottom looks great, tub looks great too! like the outer cabinet design too. looking forward to seein more pics when you get to it.

oh yea, love that pic of it in the back of your car! been there many times, now that my truck died and my pontiac (which holds a dishwasher in it's trunk well) is out for awhile i'm gonna take the top off my jeep and simply throw em in the back seat if i do get any more!

take care

 

[turquoisedude]

Viking was only sold up here in Canada, but I guess some of the border town residents might've trucked one or two in.
I wonder if a similar model by Westinghouse was even sold in the US...
Funny you should mention the spray arm - check the photo; it's V-shaped! I have never seen anything quite like that either!
Yeah, Freddy the Focus has been a good little dishwasher hauler! So far 9 of the 11 I now own will have been hauled by it! My parts and belts guy in Ogden keeps pushing me to buy his 2000 Dodge Dakota pick-up - now THAT would get me into all kinds of trouble...

 

[revvinkevin]

Wow, very VERY NICE!

Hey Paul, what year is this dishwasher?
Also, what is "D&M" and what is the turquiose square thing mounted on the side wall inside the machine?
Is that the detergent cup or some sort of vent?

Thanks!
Kevin

 

[turquoisedude]

Thanks Kevin!

.
I believe it's a late 60's model (grew up with a '67 model and it still had an impeller!). I am going to do some hunting for Eatons appliances and see what comes up...
D&M stands for Design & Manufacturing - they built some basic design appliances and branded them differently. I am only familiar with what dishwashers they made, starting with the American Kitchens Roto-Tray and going through the late 50's and 60's with brands like Admiral, Kelvinator, Westinghouse, and even some Kenmores.
Hope that's not too much information!! LOL
The turquoise square is indeed the detergent cup. Just like the one we had when I was a smartass punk kid! Oh, and this is neat, the water inlet valve will position over each of the detergent cups for filling. If you select the single wash option on the timer, the inlet goes over cup 1, and if you select the double wash, the valve starts on cup 2, then clicks to cup 1 for the second wash!

 

[jamiel]

I don't think you're right about the mfgr of this dishwasher...I think it really is a Westinghouse...Westinghouse manufactured for Philco, as well during this period. D&M didn't use filters...they used the chopper blade and the black pump guard...There was a rating by Consumer Reports in 1968 which had the Westinghouse and Philco as similar units (and not like the D&M models).

 

[appnut]

Paul, that's all true Westinghouse--filter, spray arm, and pump guard. reminds me of the 1968 Westy I had in college in an apartment.

 

[soberleaf]

well whoever did make it

made a very unique and beautiful top loader! it would be a great addition to anyone's collection! glad you got it and are enjoying it so!

and yes, i had a dodge dakota, the truck i bought for 200 bucks that broke down on my recent trip to tenn. it is a big part of the reason i now have 5 rollermatics and 2 dryers in the living room and 30 dishwashers in the house! it will get you into trouble!

 

[mrcleanjeans]

You can be sure THAT it's Westinghouse!

True,this is a Westinghouse made by Westinghouse. BTW, how did they rate in '68?

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Great looking machine Paul

I love those "first run" tests - they are so exciting - trying to outguess whether there is going to be trouble, or whether they will run flawlessly.

I'm looking forward to your wash-in in Ogden.

Mike

 

[christfr]

cool. have nerver seen one of those before. seems your luck is really good.. cant wait to see more

 

[turquoisedude]

Wow - I really thought that Westinghouse had already 'sub-contracted' to D&M for these machines. Looks like I am really building myself a Westinghouse collection here - the turquoise refrigerator, the L5 Laundromat (coming soon to a laundry room near me!), this rebadged dishwasher and well, who knows, maybe an L8 Laundromat and matching dryer... Stay tuned!!

 

[jeff_adelphi]

W.H. top rated by Consumer Reports.

Westinghouse DW's were top rated for cleaning by Consumer Reports in the 60's. It out cleaned the KA's of the time because it had a center spray tower. It had a powerful pump and a good filter design. They were very popular at the time.

 

[abcomatic]

HI Paul, This is sooo cool. Congratulations and I hope all is well with you guys? Gary

 

[appnut]

Westinghouse DW's were top rated for cleaning by Consume

I can personally attest to that!! I lived in an apartment complex summer school 1976 in Austin--the complext was built like in 1967 or 1968 with Westy kitchens. The dishwasher was next to BOL, it had Full Cycle and Rinse & Hold buttons with short wash on the timer dial. It kicked butt and helt a ton and then some. Talk about BobLoads between crammed full and lots of starchy rice that didn't phase the machine. The apartment also had a cool range. I believe it was more of a slide-in, but had two-tiered levels--two burners on each level and the control knobs for the burnersr were to the far right side of the range tope. I wanted to yank those appliance out and take them with me when I left 3 months later!!!