Vintage photos of wringer washers

[abcomatic]

Hi everyone , Geoff

Geoff, I have a 1954 Commander and love it too; I wonder why they discontinued them too? I have a question for you. The rubber strip around the bottom of the outside of the tub. When it gets wet, some black water streams down the side. What can i do about that?
Gary

 

[abcomatic]

my Easy center dial

Here is a picture of my Easy center dial. I have no idea how old my machine is but i sure do like using it. The only problem that i have is that the spinner basket must be out of balance because it sure makes a racket when it spins. Any ideas there? Thank, Gary

Ya Brad!

 

[mickeyd]

Geoff, if you come back,

I remember when you got the Maytag automatic. Before that did you only have wringers?

Do you do most or all of your laundry in the Conventionals, aka wringers ?

Agreed, his laundry room is over the top. The chrome & turquoise radio is priceless.

 

[wetguymd]

My Maytag

on laundry day!!

 

[stan]

Lyle

what's the story with that agitator ?
Never seen one like that on a maytag wringer?

 

[mr-maytag]

Thanks for starting this string, Brad. It's fun to see everyone's machines all in one place! Here's a picture of my February 1964 Maytag Model J:

 

[mr-maytag]

Here's my (brand new) October 1983 model E:

 

[geoffdelp]

Thanks guys ... never really left; been here all the time. Just nothing new to share!!

Mickey ... no; I do most of my laundry in the automatic. I do use the wringer more in the summer time, especially for blue jeans and outside clothes. Love doing white sheets and pillowcases in hot water in them and use the rinse tubs and then out on the line; super nice.

Gary ... the black band gets hardened from time/use. You could put some Armor-All on it and that might help for a while. Phil from Ovid, NY sells those; you have to fully remove the tub first, however. Also love your Easy dial; those are great machines!!

Lyle ... love your E with the lint filter agitator; so cool!

Still not too sure why the J, or Commander, was discontinued. I'll have to ask some friends who sold them ... my guess is they weren't the price leaders like the N and E. The N was appealing because of its size/convenience, price; the E had other features like the hinged lid, double-wall to keep water hotter. The J was in the middle and priced below the E. My guess is that women would pay the $40-$50 more for the E and get the extra features ... I really don't know.

The funny thing is the J had the same water gallon content (18 gallons), same wringer head/frame as the E ... I like it because the lid comes completely off and you have all this work space. Washing rugs or blankets is easier in the J; you have room to move around. I think it was discontinued at the end of 1969 ... November or December. It had about a year with the safety pedal. Sure do love Maytag's; they have been great machines for me and I learned the wringers pretty well. Not so hot with the actual gear in the wringer head; that is a tough one. Pounding out the stem for the worm gear in the transmission or adjusting the thrust is no picnic, either. I still learn a lot when I work on them.

 

[geoffdelp]

And Ted ... those are truly fabulous machines, also!! Certainly fun to use!!

 

[bradross]

re. Reply 75 for Anthony (waterwitch)

Hi Anthony...sorry I don't have any info on this machine. Just discovered the pic while surfin' the net one day. I think it's in a house museum somewhere. It's a beaut, isn't it?

 

[mr-maytag]

Thanks, Geoff! I really enjoy them. Yours are obviously outstanding, too! I would love to see them sometime. I agree with you - I like to use the J. Is it just me, or do they seem just a little quieter than the E?

 

[waterwitch]

Paint

@bradross;

I will always have a weakness for that wonderful Green that was indicative to the late 20's and early 30's. How did they manage to blend the colors like that? Interesting. I like how the legs flounce out like that too.

 

[joefuss1984]

Golden Girls Wringer Washer?

I was watching and episode of the Golden Girls last night.  It is from the 5th season, Clinton Avenue Memoirs is the episode name.  It is when Sophia is loosing her memory and Dorothy goes with her back to Brooklyn to the old apartment.  In the kitchen, they flash back to when they were all younger and you can see a mint green wringer in the background.  If anyone has seen the episode what kind of wringer was it?

 

[wringer]

I totally

agree with all of the above and am happy you guys have these beauties in your collections. However, I am so envious of Ted's E that I could crap !!!!! I use both my E and J as daily drivers weekly. One washes and one rinses. The only thing I use my auto for is to spin out the clothes after the rinse to take more moisture out of them. I have a Maytag Wringer connection as I have stated previously. They are Amish and have 100's of Maytag wringers to pick from and have rebuilt. They look new as can be when they are done. I have an N on order now and will get it in June. It is an older one with the red agitator. Thanks again for all of the postings and please keep em coming !!

Jim

 

[wringer]

Geoff,

Your Maytag's are awesome !!! I have always admired the pics you post of them. I am not as gifted as you tho nor do I have the room to rebuild/repair on my own. They would prolly mean more to me if I did all the work like you do. I hope you will replace whoever is on the top of the list to purchase them when you are through keeping them with my name . Seriously, you have some very beautiful Maytags !!

Jiim

 

[mickeyd]

Volume

Ted, I've noticed that the E seems to have more treble and echo than the J. It's got to be the crown holding in a significant amount of volume, and/or the difference in outer tub construction. Just a guess.

Joe, I'd like to see the episode. If you can think of more details, maybe we could identify it.

TUBS: I realize the shot favors the J over the E in this old photo.

 

[geoffdelp]

Mickey ... creating your own "double-tub" Maytag!!

Ted ... my Model E was brand new, also; I have used it and have never put chlorine bleach in it; it's as shiny as the day I got it which was an incredible amount of fun for me!

 

[geoffdelp]

Another shot ... I also have a brand new Model N2LPS which I bought off the showroom floor of a Maytag dealership; all those years (about 25) it sat there. I'll have to find my photos of it. Here's more of the E2LPS.

 

[geoffdelp]

One more for the road ...

 

[geoffdelp]

And ... you are right; the Model J is more quiet than the E or the N. Mickey is right; the E is louder because of the echoing from the aluminum tub. The J is a very quiet machine; the design, I would suppose.

Last one ... promise.

 

[wringer]

My

E is much noisier than my J. I am told that it is because of the double tub and the resonating noise between the two. I didn't realize the N would be louder than the J tho. I hope to soon find out when my N gets here. Does anyone have any knowledge as to why the E's are noisier that differs from what I have been told or is mentioned here? Thanks !!

Jim

 

[abcomatic]

Noisy E

My E is very noisy, the lid rattles, big time. I did a huge wash in it today in the basement and you could hear it churning along just fine, in the dining room! lol Love this thread Brad. Gary

 

[westingman123]

I love this thread!

So, here's my question for you, Geoff. My Grandma's E, which we've used forever and ever, finally had motor seizure. I got a new motor from Phil in Ovid, which he thought would fit--but it's really not cooperating. Have you any advice for the old motor? I wouldn't think it needs rewound, but perhaps. I love this machine and really want to get her running again, even though there's 4 of her sisters filling in.

 

[autowasherfreak]

Not mine :-( but I wish it was.

 

[autowasherfreak]

A friend sent me this pics.

 

[mr-maytag]

Geoff - Wasn't it exciting finding the new ones? I have the plastic bag and all those paper pieces you have, too. Mine, like your E2LPS, was also ordered at the very end of production by a Maytag store and had never been sold. I was absolutely shocked to find it! What kind of detergent are you using these days? (especially in the E) I have a few boxes of regular Tide left, but I think they've changed the formulation to "Ultra." I'm wondering if the Ultra will darken the tub... I see recipes online to make powder soap with washing soda, grated Fels Naptha, and borax. What do you think of that?

Lots of really great pictures here, guys. Thanks for sharing them!

It must have been exiting getting that new Norge, too, Mickey. What a beautiful machine! I enjoyed your "action" shots, too!

 

[wringer]

Ted,

When I got my E I worked like the devil to polish the inside of the tub. It looked like new. The first time I washed in it with Tide without bleach it turned dark. I have been told that any kind of oxygen bleach or soda will tarnish it more. Aluminum seems to have some chemicals that tarnish it. Some that aren't known I'm afraid. Since mine is a daily driver, I only clean the tub occasionally to keep it looking nice. I did find out that you can use Clorox in them and it won't tarnish. So, who knows. Just another statement to let you guys know who have the NOS machines that I am envious as heck of you but very happy for you that you have them.

Jim

 

[geoffdelp]

Keith ... it might be worth you taking your motor to a local electric motor service dealer. Locally, in St. Cloud, we have one and they usually assess it for free and then recommend what needs to be done. I've even had them paint some (black ones) and always have a new 72" 3-prong cord put on. I would trust Phil, also. The motors fit all 3 models, so there really shouldn't be too many problems. Sometimes, however, you need to slide the motor forward or backwards to tighten up the belt. Make sure you have a good belt, too. I'm sure Phil sells those, also. A new belt can make your machine quieter, also.

Ted ... TOTALLY exciting finding those; I had been working on them for years and to come across two of them brand new ... well ... needless to say, I was thrilled! I have been using regular Tide (not HE) in my pink E2LP ever since I got it and it has kept the tub shiny and newer looking; hot water and Tide use even took out the original darkness that the condition of the tub was in. I don't use chlorine bleach at all in the E; that definitely will darken the tub with continued use. Also, don't soak clothes if using Tide in the E; it will darken the tub. In my new E2LPS, I only use soap. I don't make the recipe you see; I use straight Fels (1/2 of a bar grated is what is recommended by The Dial Corp ... it turns out to be about 1 cup grated fine) and my water is mechanically softened so I don't have to use Calgon or Rain Soft. I get great results but it is very strong smelling; I like using grated Zote ... it smells a little better and in Minnesota the citronella might drive away the mosquitoes!! As Launderess tells us, it is so important to rinse, rinse, rinse when using soap. Locally, I can still buy regular Tide in the 102 use box; Sam's Club is only selling the HE version which I don't care for ... I like to see the suds and when using soap in a wringer washer you sure get suds; fantastic!!!!

Gary ... try adjusting the lid. If you have a 1/2" open ended wrench, reach up underneath the crown of the tub by the hinges and try tightening the bolts. If that doesn't work, you could loosen the bolts a bit and adjust the hinges so it grabs the pins on the lid better. Always worth a try, huh?

 

[wetguymd]

Thanks Geoff... I love that agitator...

Stan: This was my mother's machine from probally around 1972 and that was an "upgrade" when they bought it was to have the agitator with the lint filter. These were mostly in the automatic machines. She used this for about 3 years and then they got a GE filter flow automatic and the wringer was put in storage in the basement for many years and I finally ended up with it. I love it and use it all the time... She had a Kenmore Vistamatic before the Maytag and I have many fond memories of that machine as well. It was pink and white with the big open chrome wringer. I can still remember the smell of the bleach over the smell of bacon frying and coffee brewing very early in the morning before I went to school.

 

[stan]

Hi Ted

You might want to check (if possible) to see if the new Tide has more sodium carbonate than old?

I have a E, that I love, (Pic up thread) but kind of wish it were a N, because of the tub.

I find that I have to be careful of washing soda especially, also borax, and oxyclean.
Since the "online soap versions" contain washing soda, borax, IMHO I'd be careful, unless you are just using the Fels alone, with maybe some STPP.
Tide liquid may be a better option?

On occasion I find that I have to fill mine with a little warm soap and water, and with a light hand, use 2000 grit sand paper to restore it's brilliance.

One of these days I'm going to trade/ swap my E for a N just so I can use bleach if I want!

Hope I did'nt but in *LOL*