There's Gold in Them Hills...

[Unimatic1140]

So Fred and I are both at work one afternoon last week and he "innocently" ;-) texts me this craigslist ad asking me "what brand are these?".

I'm like cool that's a Westinghouse Top Loader! I've never actually had a Westinghouse Top Loader in my hands that was salvageable and it just so happens coincidentally that we were headed to Milwaukee for a Valentines weekend visit with the vacuum cleaner side of our family.

The ad was a bit odd saying just come and get them. So on the way down to Milwaukee we stopped in Madison at the address and found nothing. No maroon Ford Expedition in the alley. So we continued on to Milwaukee and I was slightly relieved not to be bringing home another "temporary" play toy lol.

 

[Unimatic1140]

So on Sunday on the way home Fred convinced me that we should stop at that address again just to be sure and sure enough!

 

[Unimatic1140]

Of course the dryer was in front of the washer so we had to unload both, but at least we got a look at the dryer too. We only had room for the washer and that's all I was interested in anyway...

 

[Unimatic1140]

So the happy three-some is now loaded up and heading back to Minneapolis

 

[Unimatic1140]

The washer cleaned up beautifully. The timer wouldn't advance as one of the gears was stripped, but luckily I had saved some timer parts that matched and was able to fix it. The water level switch needed adjustment otherwise it would have flooded at the higher water levels, the belt needed changing and of course the lid switch needed to be jumped out leaving the lock operational for my stock enjoyment. So much for the seller's "working" statement.

 

[Unimatic1140]

The mandatory aw.org money shot

 

[Unimatic1140]

And thank goodness we had one of these in stock...

 

[turquoisedude]

Congratulations!!  I had a set like that very briefly in the late 90s up at one of former weekend homes in Brownsburg.  Good luck with your new find!

 

[maytagmike]

gold indeed

Hi Robert, nice catch, can't wait to see when she is up and running.

Mike

 

[moparwash]

Great find!....hope someone can get the dryer!

 

[moparwash]

Great find!..hope someone can get the dryer!..its 1961 pal says hi![this post was last edited: 2/18/2016-15:38]

 

[moparwash]

Great find!....its gold 1961 pal says hi!

 

[whitetub]

Great looking washer, but I feel bad for the poor dryer that was left behind.

 

[mayfan69]

Nice set

Very nice set there: they look clean and well maintained.

'Ugly'....methinks not!

Cheers
Leon

 

[goatfarmer]

Dryer

is still available.

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?64181_1~1

 

[revvinkevin]

Water level sw - would have flooded at higher water levels

 

 

Awesome find Robert, CONGRATS on something new to play with!   I love that it has the ramp agitator!  

 

Question: was the seller around for the "sale" or did you help yourself as the ad suggested?

 

A few years ago I acquired (free) a newer version (and the poor thing wasn't pretty) with the straight vane agitator.   The possible flooding issue @ higher water levels seems to be a common thing with these, the one I had was the same way.  The 2nd photo shows the water level right up to the tub ring and it was set at Medium!   I was afraid to see just how much higher it would go!

 

Kevin

 

[appnut]

Your extra action saved the Extra Action.  Don't get cross with that cross-vane dryer though, just go with the tumble!!!

 

[alr2903]

LOL, Very nice save.  I love that you were harvesting machines in a snowstorm.  I wish you would have had a red Christmas ribbon, Reply #1 could be a Christmas advertisement.  Robert and Fred it is so good to see people that truly have fun together. Best Wishes with the Westy..    A

 

[gelaundry4ever]

lint filtering system

Does anybody have any idea what Westinghouse called their lint filtering system? I know GE called theirs the filter-flo.

 

[glomain]

GELaundry4ever

give it a rest look it up !!! (nice find Robert & Fred)

 

[delaneymeegan]

 

 

Wow, the past revisited.  Excellent find, and only a few blocks away from my grandparents house on Franklin St. , back in the 1970s.

 

 

 

[petek]

Congrats on the find:   The water level and temp dials look non-surprisingly similar to the ones on their air conditioners. 

 

[hippiedoll]

nice save there!

It looks like that gold Westy cleaned up nicely for you!

I was curious, there's a "gentle" cycle on the timer knob, so is this a 2-speed? And if not, have you tried the "gentle" cycle yet? What makes the "gentle" different from the normal cycle?
Curious minds want to know
;o)

CONGRATULATIONS on your new addition!!
D

 

[cfz2882]

nice save

looks ~1977? -probably too new to have the black 4-port pump and neutral drain solenoid,but should have round westy motor

 

[moparwash]

That looks like an early one as it doesnt have the 'double w' logo...

 

[wayupnorth]

My nephew had a similar washer and dryer but they were labeled plain Westinghouse and no White. But it was white in color. It was bought very used and didnt last long. For a hundred bucks he got his moneys worth even though he beat them up. He didnt have to use a laundromat at least.

 

[foraloysius]

A pity you couldn't save the dryer, I'm all for matching sets. But the washer is a nice find! No need to use a laundromat now indeed. ;-)

And what a triumph on those faces, like you found your first washer.

 

[roto204]

Wonderful!!!

What a lovely!  Congratulations, Robert and Fred!!

 

[Unimatic1140]

Question: was the seller around for the "sale" or did you help yourself as the ad suggested?
Nope it was a self service purchase lol

The possible flooding issue @ higher water levels seems to be a common thing with these, the one I had was the same way.
Well they used a standard Singer made water level switch which was found on many 60's and 70's washers. I suspect sitting for many years let the internal rubber bladder harden a bit. After adjustment it works perfectly and has a nice range between the lowest and highest water levels.

I was curious, there's a "gentle" cycle on the timer knob, so is this a 2-speed? And if not, have you tried the "gentle" cycle yet? What makes the "gentle" different from the normal cycle?
Just a lower agitate and spin speed, the Spiral Ramp agitator is pretty delicate to begin with.

looks ~1977? -probably too new to have the black 4-port pump and neutral drain solenoid,but should have round westy motor
Yes I would guess '77 as well. And no it has a plastic poly pump mounted on top of the motor.

 

[mrsalvo]

What a fabulous find. I always had a weak spot in my heart for the top loading Westy's. I'd be happy using those. Congratulations. You guys did a wonderful job cleaning them up and making them usable. Always thought Westy's were good machines that did a good job cleaning without wearing the clothes out.
[When I was a young man (that was back when dirt was new and Moses was a teenager) there was a Westinghouse Laundrymat that had toploaders close to our house, when the Norge/Wards gave out we would do our laundry there. Funny, I remember it had carpet with loud colors, but on the whole, the laundrymat had a warm and clean feel to it. Next door was like a Dairy Queen where you could go get some fries or something to eat and bring it over while the Westy's went to work.]
I'm a bit envious!!!

Barry