Top ten things we never thought we'd find in Tucson

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

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What a door!

I think most bank vaults have thinner doors. Look at the mega-flange of metal on this! Yes, it does have a gasket (a tiny, thin one), but I wonder if it needs it.

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The works

...hides behind the kick panel. Timer, door switch, fill valve relay, and so forth live in a tiny box. Note that the timer *could* have a dial, but doesn't.

And yes, it's an escapement timer (and runs). *scritch!*

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The motor (sigh)

The motor's start windings shorted-out and are now in contact with the run windings, so running the motor means running the start windings all the time, even though the centrifugal switch works perfectly.

If anyone has a motor like this laying around, I'd be infinitely grateful! Otherwise, I'll explore rewinding options...

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Neat

The upper rack flips-over in its aluminum cradle, so you can put taller items in the bottom rack, or sits right-side up so you can have taller glasses in the top rack. Spiffy! It's the Roll-R-Rack. I wonder if that pairs well with Robert's Wond-R-Dial? :-)
 
The story

A friend of Roger's found this machine in a vintage items store here, and told him about it. Since it was about a block from where I work, I scooted over there (on my lunch half-hour, of course, because I couldn't freaking wait to see what it was).

When I asked about the machine (it was part of an apartment "scene" that represented an old kitchen), the owner of the shop said that it was actually from her house (they are out there!), and that it had worked up until it started smoking (ergo, the toasted start windings).

Her other-half took it out and intended to toss it, but she realized it'd go great in her store as a prop. Yay to her!!

Prior to her own experiences, the machine was owned by a little old lady who never used it (surprise!). Hence, the mint porcelain and racks.

The water fill is neat--it showers down from a constant rinse-like twirly on the top, which probably helps remove debris from the backs of the dishes.

The drain is gravity for now, but this machine's timer and terminal block support an electric pump, and I will definitely be adding that.

So, for now, I need to address the motor--but once that's settled, she should be a fab dishwasher! :-D
 
wonderful machines

Hey Nate. These were wonderful machines. I had friends that had one from 1956, stainless steel-like door. There was the button to mash (I'm Southern), but the '56 model had a visible timer dial on the kick plate that you could see to tell where in the cycle it was.

And YES, the fan would spin during the drying cycle to quickly air dry the dishes.

You could really load those babies up, too. Bowls and pots fit nicely in the corners of the lower rack. Made a fair amount of noise, but really cleaned.

I had other friends that had a GE top load with the same type of washing mechanism and no visible timer dial. They never used the machine. It was part of a sink/dishwasher unit. In fact, they had a Whirlpool portable that they used. The GE went untouched except for maybe storing paper bags for at least 15 years.

Early one morning, the lady was awakened to the smell of smoke and got up to see what was going on. That dishwasher had started on its own and was merily running -- but had run so long that the motor was overheating. You can bet the wires were yanked out immediately and it was never touched again until the kitchen was remodeled.

Just a little tidbit I thought you'd be interested in.

Tucson was a wonderful experience and we all owe a debt of gratitude to Ross and Roger and Nate. Thanks, guys. Love you.

Hugs, Jerry Gay
 
Wow, Nate...congratulations! What an awesome dishwasher. I love it! Glad you got it. Maybe it is a little thank you from up above for all your wonderful hospitality!
 
Oh Nate

Thats just a cool find! And PINK; FABOOO PINK; Titty Pink; Maimie Eisenhower Pink too boot!

You know I used to have a motor just like that from a Kenmore washer, let me look around if I still have it its yours for shipping. A kenmore motor would work since they were one speed one direction also. In fact any kenmore motor should work.

What a great year for Vintage!!

jon
 
Am not into dishwashers, but I have to say that this one is pretty cool! <:
 
Nate, that's definitely not the BOL model. The racks here are separete sliding. The bol, the top rack sat on top of the bottom rack and had to be removed (parked on drainboard or countertop) for loading the bottom rack. Next year you'll have this running. This is one of the DWs I was exposed to a lot when I was very young. It was a very popular brand in Dallas.
 
That motor looks almost the same as a Blackstone 350 motor; I saved about a dozen of these. I'll check the specs on my motors. Not sure about the length of the shaft. Yours for the shipping, also. Fred.
 
Just checked the shaft length and diameter......1/2" diameter and the length is 1 and 5/8ths. I thought it looked like the motor in my Blackstone too Fred.
 
What a beauty

Nate, congratulations! I love that flesh-tone pink color and the styling. Definitely one of the better-performing impeller dishwashers as well, aside from Kenmore. All of these new finds have me even more excited to get up there next year. Especially this one...I'd love to see how it does with a good Bob-load. And I bet Bob is too, LOL!
 
Dude Nate - what a fantastic save there! The start button is the best part of the machine - no bells, no whistles, just load her up, and push start! And in pink - too cool.

The motor shouldn't be much of an issue, looks like a standard belt drive motor - or if you need some help finding a new one, take it down to Grainger, those guys should get you hooked up in no time.

Ben
 
Also...

Since it's not a disposable T-frame, could you possibly take the motor to a motor shop to be rewound instead of replacing it?
 
YAY!!

And YES, the fan would spin during the drying cycle to quickly air dry the dishes. -- Thanks, Jerry, that's good to know--how fun! :-D I'm also glad to hear that they have good capacity. I love the story about the slighted GE built-in that decided to run on its own. How fun! See? An unused appliance is an unhappy appliance :-D

Tucson was a wonderful experience and we all owe a debt of gratitude to Ross and Roger and Nate. Thanks, guys. Love you. -- Aw, thank you so much, Jerry. It was great to get to meet you, and it was definitely our pleasure!!

Maybe it is a little thank you from up above for all your wonderful hospitality! -- Thank you, Rich!! :-D If it is, it's one heck of a thank-you!!

Thats just a cool find! And PINK; FABOOO PINK; Titty Pink; Maimie Eisenhower Pink too boot! -- ROTF!!!! I think I shall henceforth christen this "Titty Pink," the Mary Kay dishwasher, in your honor :-D Look at how pink it is! It makes the turquoise Kenmore next to it look white!

You know I used to have a motor just like that from a Kenmore washer, let me look around if I still have it its yours for shipping. A kenmore motor would work since they were one speed one direction also. In fact any kenmore motor should work. -- Thank you SO much, Jon. I'd really appreciate that.

Nate, that's definitely not the BOL model. The racks here are separete sliding. The bol, the top rack sat on top of the bottom rack and had to be removed (parked on drainboard or countertop) for loading the bottom rack. Next year you'll have this running. This is one of the DWs I was exposed to a lot when I was very young. It was a very popular brand in Dallas. -- Then I'll look forward to seeing you load it, Bob!! :-D That's very good to know, and I had forgotten about those stacked racks. Nifty!! And yes, it took us a while to figure out those detergent dispensers. Roger figured out how it worked--GE sure had a penchant for not using solenoids or electricals to dispense the detergent, didn't they?

That motor looks almost the same as a Blackstone 350 motor; I saved about a dozen of these. I'll check the specs on my motors. Not sure about the length of the shaft. Yours for the shipping, also. Fred. -- Thank you VERY much, Fred--I very much appreciate your help! I'll have to send you and Jon pies or some such for your troubles!

Definitely one of the better-performing impeller dishwashers as well, aside from Kenmore. All of these new finds have me even more excited to get up there next year. -- What shall we eat next year? Oatmeal and peanut-butter to test? :-D

I was really surprised to hear that this machine was one of the better performers, and I'm very excited. I don't care about loud. I likes me some results! :-D The electric pump option certainly is icing. I like it when the machine can do the draining itself, and you don't have to reinvent the wheel to get around the gravity drain. Yay!!

Yes, Ross, I'll have to arm-wrestle Beth Ann and Justin over this one. And no repainting it--that's porcelain! :-D
 
Oh that is a nice find!

Hi Nate, wow that is a beautiful find. I know we saw a lot of those GE impellers up at the parts place in Phoenix so you might be able to find a brand new one for it.

As for the motor, that look pretty standard. If you find a similar GE motor, but the shaft is different you can take it apart and switch the armatures between the two motors, because the part that is toasted is the stator.
 
Nate what a great find!! Roger was telling me about it this afternoon on the phone. We had friends that had this machine and they really liked it. I never really got to load it but always wanted to. It would be fun to turn it into a portable and be able to use it. Love the "pank"
 
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