The WCI-Kelvinator

[singsonglee]

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]

 

[westyslantfront]

Great pictures Nate. I enjoyed doing a few loads in your new Kelvy....look forward to us doing official wash in with pictures.....Ross

 

[mayken4now]

Nice Nate! I bet your Kelvy will look real pretty once you get all the painting etc. done on it!

Steve

 

[retromom]

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

 

[user 12105]

The build quality on the Kelvi and Gibson seems to be very decent....from looking at the pictures. WCI actually seemed to pay attention to quality at one point in their existence.

 

[jasonl]

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)

 

[roto204]

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!

 

[DADoES]

I vaguely recall that RJ's mother had a Gibson dishwasher prior to replacing it a few years ago. No clue from where she got hold of that.

 

[westytoploader]

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

 

[westytoploader]

Greg, great Gibson ad!! Yes, WCI dream machines do exist! ;-)

 

[rickr]

The cute face Nate! Not the clothes... I know you have MUCH better taste than that! LOL!

 

[roto204]

LOL

Aw, thanks, Rick! Yes, it's only non-floral-border shirts for this boy!

Austin, yes, I saw a larger-capacity Filter-Flo at a thrift store here in Tucson with Roger and noticed immediately the bigger tub and taller agitator. I'm sure those machines would kick butt, but the control panel wasn't terribly interesting, unlike your very fun and classy-looking Dispensall.

I must say, though, that the GE gets the clothes WAY clean, with that fabulously aggressive ramped Activation. If it's dirty and has to be clean, it goes straight into the GE.

Or, if it's covered in cat hair and needs to be, well, filtered... :-D

 

[norgeman]

poundage machines

One other Machine that can actually wash it's load size is of course the Might Norge with it's 3/4 hp motor and commercially proven transmission systen and 202 degree turbo sweep agitator and it will get the clothes really clean, by the way had to redo my profile and stuff as something happened and locked me out of the descuss o mat couldn't log on so I'm now NorgeMan former Singsonglee.

http://[email protected]

 

[superwash]

My grandmother had a TOL Kelvinator (WCI) dishwasher with push to start controls. The racks were adjustable. It was quiet and cleaned great. When she passed away 13 years ago, it was still working. But my uncle pulled it out and put a BOL Kenmore to update the kitchen before selling the estate.

 

[frigilux]

Re-reading posts from the past is like looking through an old yearbook for those of us who have been around for a decade or more. The names on those posts trigger so many memories. Can't believe I didn't add my 2-cents to a thread about a WCI machine, being a card-carrying member of The Indexing Tub Club!

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

"Push To Start"

In the Kelvinator Horizontal Dial Tradition, where it's directly on the top of the machine behind the lid, I thought it would operate contrary to convection, where you pull to set...

(Have a 1964 CONSUMERS REPORTS buying guide which I think chronicles this, if not just stating the inconvenient arrangement, opposite of the typical vertical set-up on the back-splash...)

-- Dave

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Kelvinator's "Honesty without Fear": The answer to Tappan's "Cruce Non Prudentia"--"Cross Without Caution"...!

-- Dave