Todays POD Wizard Washer

[iheartmaytag]

The Wizard washer in todays Pic of the day led me to wonder. Who actually made Wizard appliances? Were they sourced like Sears Kenmore, or did they have their own plant?

My mother had a Wizard refrigerator at one time, who someone said was made by Philco.

Just my curiosity.

 

[jaytag]

Wizard Makers

I do know that the Air Conditioners were made by Gibson. Gibson made the wonderful Air Sweep with side vent discharge. I m not 100% sure but I believe washers were made by Norge. Anyone else?

 

[roto204]

Wizard

I believe that the Western Auto Wizard/Citation of the pictured generation was made by Franklin, which evolved into the WCI toploader design we know and love today, complete with brakeless transmission and indexing tub.

Franklin was kind of like the D&M of the washer world (as was Beam), in that they didn't market stuff under their own label, but they produced for other marques.

Norge did make some Western Auto appliances in the 70s, because the Citation washer of that era that Consumer Reports tested was decidedly a Norge design.

 

[danemodsandy]

What's Scary:

What's scary about that ad is that you can still go into a big-box home store and buy a new washer for that price today, in spite of the difference in the value of the dollar. Needless to say, the one you buy now won't last like the old ones did...