losangeles
Well-known member
Can someone please explain to me the difference syles of unimatics. I see different terms used for the same machines. For example , Rolomatics, and multimatics.
Unimatic
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speedqueen
Well-known member
These terms pertain to the particular transmission designs. All produced a similar result in vertical agitation but are not the same.
Unimatics were from the start of automatic washer production at Frigidaire till the late 1950s. They are known for being robust but were expensive to manufacture. Multimatic mechanisms were used in the late '50s and early '60s, they were not exactly known for being the best quality. Many here call them "MultiTragic". Rollermatics replaced the Multimatics and the same general mechanism was used for the 1-18s, too. Why it seems like they are the same machines is that both the UM and MM had models using the 3-ring agitator.
I will leave it up to the Frigidaire experts for more elaboration, this is just my rough understanding.
Unimatics were from the start of automatic washer production at Frigidaire till the late 1950s. They are known for being robust but were expensive to manufacture. Multimatic mechanisms were used in the late '50s and early '60s, they were not exactly known for being the best quality. Many here call them "MultiTragic". Rollermatics replaced the Multimatics and the same general mechanism was used for the 1-18s, too. Why it seems like they are the same machines is that both the UM and MM had models using the 3-ring agitator.
I will leave it up to the Frigidaire experts for more elaboration, this is just my rough understanding.
potatochips
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Hey Tommy, funny you should ask as I was just reading this two days ago. Check out the link below, the second post in that thread was from Robert and gives a great explanation of the systems and changes.
http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?361
http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?361
You could still get coin-op Unimatics until the Rollermatics took over. They had the Three-Ring Pulsators found in the Multi-Matic machines, just no caps. I also saw quite a few with Deep-Action Agitators, also no caps. Maybe as the Three-Rings got worn-out they made the switch.
The Five Different Full Size Frigidaire Washer Drive Systems
I have all but the mid 50s Pulse-a-matic and they all have their interesting characteristics, Roberts explanation in the old thread is a very good history of the different systems and time table of when they were built and used.
From a repair and use perspective I like my 1968 Rapid-Dry 1010 and the 1973 1-18 Custom Imperial best, But the 1952 WO-65 Unimatic with its double deep rinse and our 1962 CI with the 850 RPM rapid-dry final spin are also favorites.
The later designs without an oil filled transmission were much easier to work on especially in the home, all four major designs had problems especially in the early stages till GE-FD worked out a few bugs, but overall the most reliable ones in IMEO were the 1-18s.
John L.
I have all but the mid 50s Pulse-a-matic and they all have their interesting characteristics, Roberts explanation in the old thread is a very good history of the different systems and time table of when they were built and used.
From a repair and use perspective I like my 1968 Rapid-Dry 1010 and the 1973 1-18 Custom Imperial best, But the 1952 WO-65 Unimatic with its double deep rinse and our 1962 CI with the 850 RPM rapid-dry final spin are also favorites.
The later designs without an oil filled transmission were much easier to work on especially in the home, all four major designs had problems especially in the early stages till GE-FD worked out a few bugs, but overall the most reliable ones in IMEO were the 1-18s.
John L.
laundromat
Well-known member
Thwycame with the caps but the customers used them as ash trays. Really.
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