Vintage photos of wringer washers

[historyman]

Maytag or others?

I've been interested in acquiring a wringer washer for quite some time. I know Maytag wringers are probably the most common, but Speed Queen seems to be a close 2nd in the used searches.

While Maytag wringer parts seem to be findable for the most part, are there still places for spare parts for Speed Queen wringers, etc.?

 

[rpms]

The turquiose Coranado is stunning. I wonder where the hose goes? It must go into a lint filter? With no hook on the outside and I can't imagine it would drip into an empty cavity?

 

[mickeyd]

gravity drains & pump drips & the Norge

Thanks: You guys must love how easily the Maytags move. Certainly they have the best-made wheels in the industry. Mine glide like ice skates, so if you have to move the machine to a floor drain, it's so easy.

 

The unusual thing about wringer pumps is that the are dead entities until you pull the lever, handle, etc. This action moves the pump to engage the drive, and then it comes to life. So you can operate the washer away from sinks or drains and not a drop will fall from the hose until you engage.

 

Have been under the skirts of Speed Queen, Kenmore, Norge, and Maytag. Their pumps all have wheels or pulleys that contact and rub against a driver, suddenly spinning with it. But the weird thing is the Norge. It has a separate mini-belt and pulley system for the pump--the only time I've seen that. very cool to see, and so surprising. I hope to get a movie of the Norge up by the 4th of July. It has another huge difference from the other brands involving the wringer. Borg-Warner who made mine was king.

 

It was fun to see such interest in the Norge. Who knew? I have no idea why you all like it so much, and I am very happy to oblige.

 

What a riveting thread! I can't get over it.

One for the road.[this post was last edited: 5/29/2012-23:04]

 

[chestermikeuk]

Wringers

Wealth of information coming out in this thread, one thing struck me, most of our wringers are SQUARE cabinet designs whereas most others continued with the ROUND styling...

Mickey, you need to get all the wringers lined up outside on the deck washing away...Fab!!

I didnt realize Maytag produced a tumbler washer until I went back and looked at the pics from Jasper County Museum....wonder why they didnt continue with it??

 

[mickeyd]

Wow, Mike,

that baby looks like a cement mixer. To answer your Q, maybe Ben knows or maybe there's some info at Lee Maxwell's site.

 

Mike I like how your names "Princess, Countess, Empress," are so regal while our Maytags are so military : Brigadier, Commander, and I forgot the other two. Nice history lesson there: conquest and warfare. Now, we only want to have performance and feature contests (wars) among the brands. Who wins the most powerful spray rinse, the fastest suds-return, the most controls, and, lest we forget, the Almighty turnover LOL --so much more fun than war.

 

In a minute, I'll have up my last Norge photo: open water Atlantic, speaking of England and America, the Deep Rinse.

 

[mickeyd]

PS: All wringers on deck

That'd be quite a move: the Tags, Speed queen, the Old Norge, and Visimatic are in the basement; only the Norge is upstairs. But someday, I'll be up for it. Ya put a gleam in me eye, Lad!

MIKE: what ever happened to the blue Visimatic near London? If you guys don't want it, I wonder what the slowest, longest, shipping fee would be? Any ideas?

 

[historyman]

Speed Queen parts vs. Maytag parts

It seems like there are still several ways to acquire spare parts for Maytag wringers.

Is the same true of Speed Queen wringers or are you on your own?

 

[mickeyd]

Agreed

The Speed Queen machines show up often enough, but I haven't seen many parts offered. Another member might know better.

 

[abcomatic]

Mickey

Hi Mick, I have a question for you. Is this a picture of your Speed Queen? I have one thats look the same. Have you ever had any trouble with the wringer releasing itself when I am wringing clothes through it? I need to know what to do to fix it. Thanks, Gary

 

[aldspinboy]

Wow this thread is rocking.
No internet for two weeks aaaah.
Mike your Norge like I said is really nice man,now if we just can see it
in action..
I will finish off what I strated.
During a great vacation last year me and Mike went to see
Gary ( Abc O matic )and had the best time I Thank you Gary again
for your hospitality.
One part theres more to the story.
Me and Mike on the road to Gary's home.
Look at the sky so beautiful.

<iframe width=420 height=315 src= frameborder=0 allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[aldspinboy]

We got there and had a fantastic dinner
and great music he has a wounderful organ.
Here we are in the best room of the house washing in the
GE wringer with a actavator.
Some has seen this since I left the videos unlocked.
Agitating.

<iframe width=420 height=315 src= frameborder=0 allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[aldspinboy]

Vid 2.
Filling & agitating.
Love the Click Clack sound.

<iframe width=420height=315 src= frameborder=0 allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[aldspinboy]

Vid 3.
Washing.
Thanks Gary.
<iframe width=420 height=315 src= frameborder=0 allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[aldspinboy]

Austin made this video and he will be missed!
What a great guy !
Very hurt by the situation long live Austin.
Eugine here is the twin tub.
Me and Mike,Gary, Fred, & Todd.
There was a leaf in the water I scared myself
when I snatched it.
Impulse.

<iframe width=560 height=315 src= frameborder=0 allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[aldspinboy]

Fred & Gary Wringing.

<iframe width=420 height=315 src= frameborder=0 allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[aldspinboy]

Pic.
Still Shot.

 

[aldspinboy]

Pic 2.
Still.
End game
Darren k

 

[abcomatic]

Darren

HI Darren, Great pictures of the wash-in at Mike's and my house. What happaned to Austin? Thanks for sharing the pictures. Gary

 

[aldspinboy]

Thanks Gary.
Aulstin took his life and is no longer with us
Unfortunetly.
But he still lives in me and im sure for others here as well.
Darren k

 

[mickeyd]

The Vids! Fabulous! Hadn't seen them. Thanks, Darren.

It 's just so cool the way the Activator flips and flushes the clothes--WOW!-- just like the action in the 47 Automatic.

The Dexter vids and pix are amazing. What a unique machine. It's the closest thing to two washers in one ever conceived. An actual Twin Tub, as in identical.

People don't appreciate how well wringer washers moved the load.

GARY: Hi, Yes it is an SQ and the wringer works fine, but the wringer on my Tag has been snapping lately when it gets too wet. I don't know why it's doing that. I reset it or hold the upper handle when it refuses to reset. Then after it rests and dries, it fixes itself until it gets too wet again. I took a Tag wringer apart once and there's a lot of stuff going on which I have yet to master. Some day...... ;'D

 

[abcomatic]

Darren

Darren, I am so sorry to hear that. I hope you are doing well with your lose? Gary

 

[historyman]

Montgomery Wards wringers are basically rebadged Speed Queens? They look very familiar. Am I right?

 

[bradross]

GE vintage wringers

Here's a couple more for your enjoyment!

View attachment bradross++6-7-2012-15-51-1.jpg

 

[dishwashercrazy]

I would like to submit this photo duo of my Mom's Dexter Double-Tub Washer.

Top: Me (Mike) at age 14 months, taken in March 1954. The bug had bitten me by this early age.

Bottom: Me at age 3 1/2, and my sister (Lynn) at age 2 1/2, taken in August 1956. She did not get bitten, but appreciates my collection today. Surprisingly, it is her oldest son (Tyler) who is really interested in the collection when he is at my house for rare family get-togethers.

Mike

 

[westingman123]

That's too cute!

 

[bradross]

Rub-a-Dub-Dub, two toddlers in a tub...

Mike, great pics - very cute! Thanks for posting them!

 

[dishwashercrazy]

You are quite welcome, Brad.

 

[mickeyd]

Mike and Brad

Really digging the juxtaposition of the 4 black and whites. Love how you can date the decades by the gals' aprons. And seeing the hooked-over-sink drain hose on the 50's GE is so satisfying, Very artsy how she has no visible rinsing tubs: she's either rinsing in the sink or right in her big GE. The 30's lady in her starched apron and severe hair-do is all business with her set tubs and very severe GE.

 

And now we have Gerber-worthy shots of Mike and Lynn having a ball in the Dexter Twin, through the years. Wonderful. Interesting to hear your nephew has the gene.

 

These great pix make me think that this is exactly what Brad had hoped for when he created the thread.

 

[westingman123]

Let us not forget the mangle in the background of the '50's pic! I want that laundry room/kitchen! Youngstown cabinets and all.

 

[luckyfind]

great pics and history... question

Great photos. Much history... Americana here. I need help finding an age on a new find! Im also liking the fact that the item does not match exactly anything i can find on the web... similar.. i figured they were so poor they did not contine the line or this may be a rare find. Thanks for any input. It is a Norge wringer washer.. has 5 casters model. I saw the pristine version in a couple pics. This unit has a elegant, fine checkere design (24" long and 8 inches deep aprox)maybe turquoise with gold... hard to tell as it does have some unfortuneate paint accidently covering a third of the unit, from a trailer painter as it sat in the corner of his shop. (black but may be able to restore) any help with year, info on the unit and perhaps a technique to gently remove some paint? Thanks Jim Also want to test it... without causing damage, so a heads up on Do's and Donts is appreciated.