The WCI-Kelvinator

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Great pictures Nate...what a cool machine! I can just hear that "groaning" right now!!! Didn't realize they had this tub ring/filter design with a porcelain tub, and that some WCI machines had a push-to-start timer! LOVE the styling too...I'm going to guess 1973-4 since it appears to have a repairable motor, compared with the "throwaway-type" motor on the 1-18.

So 5 wings and a taller agitator combined with a large tub does better with rollover? I used a 24" stackable with a 4-vane angel-wing (much smaller plastic tub as well) and it had hardly any turnover at all, but really thrashed the clothes around! Of course I ran Greg's 1968 Westinghouse with the DEEP ramp agitator (and I mean deep too!) and the turnover was fantastic, even with the indexing tub and a full load!! Did "Lady Kenmore" ever pick the Westy up...I'll pay double if it's still there!! ;-)

--Austin
 
OMG!! They were made for each other

The kid looks like a young Nate!! (:
 
Base Plate...

We need a patent search on the base-plate technology. Frigidaire obviously used it in the 1-18's but I don't think they were first. I have parts and service stuff for Franklin that shows a balance/snubber arrangement similar to that pictured above and I can see an evolution from the damper pads and upsidedown bowl (very similar to Maytag helical machines) that was used in very early Franklin (post Beam) designs. Perhaps Robert can enlighten us on his Franklin-Wizard's suspension & snubber too.
 
Woo-hoo!

Thank you all for the great posts. Here goes:

Robert--Thank you! :-D I like the metal tub too, and let's face it, we all love turquoise better than white :-P Yes, if it had the plastic tub it would have been an instant pass-up.

(And if you want a fabric softener dispenser, the GE Filter-Flo fits on there nicely LOL!!)

Jon--Thanks for the kudos :-D! Yes, I agree with you and Greg, something's up with that base-plate/snubber arrangement that's too common for coincidence.

What if WCI and GM were conspiring back toward the inception of the 1-18 series to at least merge, if not trade hands completely? Hmmm...

The guy getting the head squeeze is my perpetually photo-phobic other half, Will :-D

Peter--I will make a video the next time I have an opportunity to use Ross' camera--I used one for these pictures that has no ability to take movies, but I will get one for you soon.

Austin--Thanks!! :-D Yep, it groans and splashes away, and is very smooth. When I first got it, I thought about your mention of "riding the WCI wave" :-P

I'm glad you mentioned the four-versus-five-vane thing, because Roger and I talked about it the other evening, too. We agree that the four-vanes--which appear in smaller-capacity machines--don't do much in the way of turnover, but the five-vane arrangement is a lot better. Of course, due to the indexing tub, the motion is predominantly round-and-round (you can hold the tub, as you mentioned, but the improvement isn't so pronounced in this machine, except on tinier loads), but when I take a video you'll see items easily disappear down the center, too. Yes, the capacity is quite good on this machine--far better than the GE's, but still slightly less than the 1-18.

The color throws me, but I still suspect this is an early eighties machine...but I'll take the info I have and try to research it and see.

Thank you all again! :-D

--KelviNate
 
dating the Kelvy

I'm going to take a stab at it I'm going to say its about a 1976 or 77 model. But don't hold me to that as I am just guessing of course. But is a really nice washer. Oh by the way I kind of agree with you guys that GM and WCI might of had a thing going as when I lived in Hershey, Ne. With my folds we had a Frigidaire 1-18 and it really wasn't the quality that it should have been for GM Frigidaire that was it's trade mark of the 50's and 60's. It only lasted 9 years and my folks bought a montgomery Wards washer that was Norge built and a lot better machine. But it only lasted 9 years also but did a better job of getting clothes clean. Thanks for listening will talk latter. Dan

http://[email protected]
 
Great pictures Nate. I enjoyed doing a few loads in your new Kelvy....look forward to us doing official wash in with pictures.....Ross
 
Great Nate!

I am sooooooo glad you found a replacement for the "Evil Kenmore"! Terrific turquoise agitator too! Tell me, were there any problems with items getting "hung-up" on those wings?

The similarities to the GM Frigidaire are interesting.

Now for the real question.....who is Jill Clark, and what is she doing now (besides laundry LOL)?

Have fun with your new find!

Venus :-)
 
Why Mr. Clark got some that night

I have never in my life saw a Gibson appliances, except on The Price Is Right. But they do look nice (and so does the wife :-D)
 
Thanks!

Dan -- I think you and Greg are right. We'll have to investigate the similarities in cabinet/baseplate design at some point...apparently the machines were concurrent.

Ross -- Definitely! I can't wait to have a wash-in with both you and Roger. I'll be sure to save up some towels (they're way fun in the Kelvinator).

Venus -- Oddly enough, things never "stick" to the angel wings; if an item gets hung-up in them, it just drops down and gets turned-over. :-)

Steve -- Thanks! I can't wait to paint it, too. Rust bugs me :-)

Agiflow -- Yes, it's not bad quality...but it is cheap materials. It's the lightest washer I've ever moved, which is nice, but it's indicative of the much thinner sheet metal they used in the washbasket and cabinet. If you compare it with the 1-18, you'll really see the difference in rigidity.

The fit and finish is good, but man, I hate painted tops!
 
Even though your WCI-Kelvinator holds more than your standard-capacity Filter-Flo, if you find an 18 pound machine with the ribbed Ramp Activator, pick it up...you will really be surprised and impressed on how much it holds. I find that my Dispensall (using the Ramp Activator) is the next biggest machine I have compared to the 1-18. An ordinary person would think that both machines' tubs aren't the largest, but the 1-18 and GE are two machines that can hold more than initially expected and can actually wash their stated capacity.

--Austin
 

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