Updated Photos of Maytag Highlander

[geoffdelp]

Hi all ... it looks like the seller has relisted this item and included some updated photos.

A Maytag Highlander with a timed fill and 3 water temps. Looks like the wash time is up to 10 minutes, or is that 9?

Definitely worth the $75 "Buy Now" feature!

http://cgi.ebay.com/50s-model-Mayta...4QQihZ010QQcategoryZ71256QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[gadgetgary]

Geoff

I agree with you with the BIN.....Definitely worth it!
Someone needs to take this baby home.

 

[swestoyz]

Hey Geoff - if I remember right - these machines have a 12 minute total wash time. The last number shown is 10, but then there is a dot after the 10, then the last slash which would be the 12 minute mark. It if funny you mention this - I was just looking at the timer on my 124 last night! lol

Ben

 

[westytoploader]

SAVE PLEASE.

 

[geoffdelp]

Hi Ben ... that's possible, huh?

What is the red button for on the top left? Is that a "reset" in case the motor trips? Wow ... were those machines prone to do that?

Gary and Austin ... I agree; somebody please save???!!

 

[swestoyz]

Hey Geoff,

I am guessing - and this is just a guess, that since these budget models were meant to be just that - budget, they used a cheaper electric motor that was not thermally protected, internally anyway. So, they used the red reset button on the top of the panel. I think these early highlanders (123,124,125,126) were the only Maytag's to feature this thermo-switch. The thermo switch would have kicked out just like any other Maytag when the motor would overheat - or draw too many amps for the circuit.

Enjoy your upcoming weekend of fun!

Ben

 

[geoffdelp]

Thanks for the info, Ben!

What do you suppose one of these cost brand new? They were at the bottom of the line but still had good features.

If you think about it, you could have all the wash/rinse combinations that the higher-end machines had ... I'm sure the standard on this was hot wash/warm rinse; warm wash/warm rise; and cold wash/cold rinse.

By pressing the cold button after the machine filled for wash you could have had ... hot/warm, hot/cold, warm/warm, warm/cold and then you could have cold/cold. If you pressed the warm or hot button after a cold wash filled, you could then have cold/warm (don't know why, but you could I guess!).

Also, I saw where there was a fabric softener dispenser for this type of agitator; it fit right on the top!

In the service notes in the mid 1960's, they suggested that this agitator be replaced with a lint filter one.

So ... I guess "bottom of line" was just a matter of opinion, huh?

 

[jeb]

maytag bid

I bid on this really because its in my home town and I if I get it it can save the place until I get my dream set. I bid the last time but was out bid, then I got an e-mail that the high bidder backed out and I could get it for his bid. I asked the seller if my original bid would work and he said he could scrap it for that- so now its back.

 

[geoffdelp]

Well ... I hope you get it! It would be a shame to have it scrapped.

Good luck!!

 

[mickeyd]

Hello handsome lionhearts, Geoff and Ben--Guess What??

I am Clueless as to exactly what a Highlander is as opposed to a non-Highlander Maytag.

Taking a chance with an old verbal proportion: Highlander is to Maytag as Pulsamatic is to Frigidaire--am I on the right track.

My Model J2L--wicked, though beloved, little queen that she is-- has stopped speaking to me when she found out I didn't know what a Highlander was.

Geoff Delp, Please Help.

 

[westytoploader]

Exactly. Sort of equivalent to the "Deluxe" and "Super" Frigidaires...or those diaper washers we've seen quite a bit.

 

[mickeyd]

Thanks Video Wizard, Austin, BUT,

were they only produced for a few years? etc etc

How can you tell the difference--is it all in the pix, those being the only differences?

 

[coldspot66]

I think those budget models were the only ones ever to have a timed fill and the wringer agitator. Might have been all 1 speed machines, but not sure.

 

[mickeyd]

Ah ha! so their cheap version had a timed fill like ALL Frig

and that black agi is just like the aqua one in my Model J, as you say.

Thanks Coldspot, starting to get the picture.

How long did the Highlander run, run?

 

[swestoyz]

Wash Time Dilemma ~ !

Hey Geoff,

Man, I need to learn not to post when I'm at work! How am I supposed to check my references? lol

I got home and did some more investigating - and after some super sleuth detective work - here is the low-down on the early Highlander machines:

Model 123 (1957):
Single speed yoke mounted motor, timed fill, 10 minute max wash, toggle switch temp controls

Model 124 (1958):
Single speed yoke mounted motor, timed fill, 10 minute max wash, push button temp controls

Model 125 (1959 and later):
Single speed base-plate mounted motor, pressure regulated fill, 14 minute max wash

Model 126 (1959 and later):
Two speed base-plate mounted motor, pressure regulated fill, 14 minute max wash

Of course, all machines were available with a suds saver. The parts documentation list all four models coming standard with the 2-555 Gyratator agitator - not the lint filter agitator. the 123/124 machines have a single bay for either water temp buttons or toggle switches, the 125/126 have the two bays. 125 says 'Automatic' in the spare bay, while the 126 has the luxury of two speeds. All the early Highlanders have the motor protector on the top of the panel as well. All 4 machines came with the white porcelain wash tub, PN 2-760. The rinse conditioner for these machines would have been PN 2-1417. Anyone have one of these? I've never seen one before. Wonder if it would work in a Model E ;-)

Once Maytag switched over to the A series for the model nomenclature - old models became new machines:

125 - A100
126 - A200
142 - A700
160 - A900

The next new line of machines were the A300 and the A500. Those had the taller back panels, such has Steve R's beautiful specimen. The actual features of these new machines were matched with the lower modeled machines - A100 features on an A300 panel, and A200 features on an A500 panel. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but the 300/500 models were then known as the Super Highlanders. I've also seen documentation referring to the higher end models (700 series) as Super Highlanders as well, but from what I've seen, those commonly were known as the All-Fabric machines - dating back to the 140 lighted panel machines.

Last little tidbit - parts documentation shows that the motor protector was dropped from the top panel on the Highlanders starting with the A100/A200 series. I can only imagine that the cost difference wasn't too terrible for the bean counters to justify putting all thermally protected motors in those machines.

Hope this helps!

Ben

 

[mickeyd]

"Benny and the Jets"

You are AMAZING-- thank you! What kind of cool washer dude synchronicity is that?! I'm asking about the years of production the exact moment, literally, that you're posting them. Life is sweet. You're really something, Ben. We're so lucky to have you. I bet your kids just love you to death, and your wife must be in heaven.

Mike

 

[swestoyz]

Kids and wife?

I realized that I made a HUGE mistake. The 125/126 do not have the motor protector on top of the panel - instead it is a little plug. I knew this but totally got caught up in the moment. Here is a nice pictorial of each model. You can see the differences between all four models nicely here.

Mike - kids and wife? lol - maybe in a few years - kinda hard to have kids without a wife, or g/f for that matter. Cats and some washing machines do just fine for now - ;-)

 

[swestoyz]

And lastly ...

Here is a shot of the inside of the early guys - 123/124. Notice the yoke mounted motor - also used on the 131/141 and early 142. These early machines also have a slighty different suspension for the tub as well - see those little springs, vs. the much larger ones for the 06 Series? I remember Tom talking about that not too long ago.

Anyone have/seen one of these rinse dispensers - I bet they were a mess. Pretty cool stuff.

Ben

 

[mickeyd]

Way back when --i joined a year ago January--

you posted a pic of you in your driveway with a little snow and you talked about a machine that served "us" well, washing family sized loads. Somehow i got it into this giant though often vacant brain that you were married with children.

I'll be danged. You're single and available. Holy feces! Will wonders never cease.
No offense, good Buddy. Few things in life are more humbling and hilarious than being absolutely unequivocally wrong.

Goodnight and sweet dreams, Gentle Ben

And they all had suds-savers--love it-- reversable pumps

 

[geoffdelp]

WOW ... a guy doesn't look at the website for a while and holy smokes ... Ben ... you're a walking Maytag encyclopedia; I love it and thanks for posting all of that information!

I'm still not too sure what the "little plug" that looks like a reset switch on top of the control panel did on the Highlander; can you please enlighten?

Washing for a large family, these machines probably did the trick, don't you think? They must have been total workhorses.

Didn't Maytag advertise the Highlander as being "thrifty"?

Were these the same basic machines that were used in early laundromats? I remember Maytag laundries growing up and they either had the 2-555 agitator or the lint filter agitator with a solid cap on the top. There was also the toggle-switch for "hot or warm" water and that was about it. Pretty basic, but got the job done.

I hope someone from the club is able to get this little gem!

What a great piece of Maytag Americana!!

 

[gansky1]

Hi Geoff -

That is a reset switch on the panel, that motor wouldn't have had an automatic overload protector so that was incorporated into the reset switch just like Frigidaire and others.

The Highlander was the economy line from Maytag - the 142 with a lighted panel, metered fill, etc. would have been the step up. My grandmother had an early 60's Highlander that ran with only a few minor repairs for over 30 years. It was moved to the basement for washing rugs, overalls, etc. in '75 when they bought an A208 and was the washer I was allowed to "play" with while staying at their house during the summers.

There were quite a few laundromats "Highlander Centers" around here that had those machines. I remember one in particular that had a number of different brands - Highlanders in pink, Speed Queens and GE's. 50 cents to wash! The Maytag coin slides were so old and worn, if you pushed the coin slide in and pulled it out very slowly and carefully, it wouldn't take the money but the machine would start. I'll bet those Highlanders in laundromats were more of a pain to service as everything had to be done with the back panel removed.

I have one of those skinny-post agitator softener dispensers, several of us got them in Arizona when we went parts hunting - NIB!

 

[geoffdelp]

Hi Greg ...

OH MY GOODNESS!! Hang on to the softener dispenser; what a great find!!

Thanks for clearing that up about the reset switch; did those machines have "overloads" a lot? That's kind of different, huh?

That's right ... "Highland Centers"; I had forgotten about that. Yes; I bet it was a "pain" to repair those machines. You'd probably have to take 2 out to get to 1.

How fun that you could play with the Highlander in your grandparent's basement! Boy, what a treat! Could you put water in it and allow it agitate and everything! Boy, I wasn't allowed near our Maytag without my Mom there.

 

[gansky1]

"My" childhood Highlander was hooked up to water and drain and was used regularly for the really dirty stuff my grandmother didn't want to put in her new washer. On washday, there would be a pile of things for me to take downstairs and then hang outside.

 

[geoffdelp]

OH MY ... how great that you could "play" with the Highlander AND do some actual laundry.

Your grandmother loved you!!

 

[bajaespuma]

Thank you Swestoyz!

Thanks for posting those spec sheets. Wow! I would go nuts if I ever found one of those Maytag early rinse conditioner dispensers. Has anyone ever seen one???

 

[brettsomers]

baja

i think Gansky just finished saying he did.

 

[alr2903]

how did tag pick that name? "highlander"

IIRC, Tag coin op equipped continued to use their "Highlander" Center Sign even into the 1970's of course the coin op tags had the fabrimatic routine, by then it was either harvest or avocado, the POD that shows up from time to time with those orange chairs in the coin op store, are very true to my memory, with the earth colors of the 70's. Maybe it was a name recognition thing with the early coin op products fwd. Must admit as a preteen, until finding this website, i wondered what in the he**, does "highlander" have to do with laundry.

 

[bajaespuma]

Greg,

Could you post some pictures of those softener dispensers?

 

[tomturbomatic]

My aunt had the basic 57 with suds saver; 2 toggle switches! WOW. I don't understand the whole white tub thing because my slightly later time-fill Highlander has dark blue porcelain tub with white specks and hers did too. I put the black Power Fin in mine along with the 50 cycle pulley kit. When it is agitating, it looks like it is swallowing the load.

The Highlander line was introduced to make Maytags more affordable and Maytag made sure that these Highlanders did not look nearly as nice as the All Fabric Washers. The Highlander literature always showed a man in a kilt to emphasize thrift, economy, cheapskates, tightwads etc. This continued until the 06 style change.

 

[bajaespuma]

Higlanders popular in old apartments.

The first Maytag I ever saw was a Highlander just as you described it with a dark blue speckled tub and the small black wringer-style agitator. It belonged to neighbors/friends of ours who lived in the same building. I was born into an apartment complex in New York City called "Peter Cooper" that was built in the late 40's along with "Stuyvesant Town", by Metropolitain Life for their employees who were soldiers returning from the war and along with their families, needed housing. The apartments were/are all extremely well built, well-lit and very affordable. You may have seen a news piece on it recently as it sold to a private investor for the highest sale price in US real-estate history.

Apartments in Peter Cooper cost a little more than Stuy-town because they were a little larger and they were wired so tenants could install air-conditioning if they wanted to. But neither complex allowed washing machines and back then they didn't even have laundromats in their basements! Local appliance dealers who realized an opportunity when they saw one would sell washing machines to families who wanted to cheat (many, including my own) by selling them with casters so you could scuttle the machine away in a closet if management ever came calling, and they would deliver them to the apartments in furniture crates to disguise the ploy. There were many Maytags in that apartment complex because the brand already had a reputation for producing machines that were quiet, didn't produce a lot of suds and maintained good balance during the spin cycle. Those were the three things that gave the crime away. Neighbors would complain loudly if the remains of a suds-cake showed up in their kitchen sinks during dinner. Ours was a Whirlpool with a teal-blue dial,a 1956 or 57 Whirlpool(much like the "Deluxe 10" pictured below), on casters with no safety switch. I spent hours watching that thing spin. It had one toggleswitch for water temp and a shiny black agitator with three straight vanes and the venerable old Whirlpool/Kenmore black-fingernail notch agitator cap. I haven't seen one exactly like it even on this site since. Some very close, but there's always a bump-out of some sort. Some kind soul on this site posted a brochure of that machine last year. I was crushed when we finally moved to a house and my Parents told me that they gave it away to one of my Mother's favorite models. But then that was my introduction to GE Filter-flo's and my first look at a matching dryer (for one whole day I thought my parents had bought two washing machines). The rest, of course, is history