Vintage Viking Washer and Dryer

[bellalaundry]

I'm thinking I might pick up this set. It's so close to me. Can anyone tell me who actually made them. My guess would be Whirlpool, however I see that the tub is a solid tub...

Any ideas?

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-details.html?adId=1495828583

 

[appnut]

This is a solid-tub machine.  Other than that, I don't have a clue, mostly because of the agitator.  

 

[circlew]

Not WP

Maybe Kelvinator?

 

[appnut]

Not Kelvinator either.  Maybe produced by Beam?  

 

[DADoES]

 
Larger pics & tub/agitator lightened.

Looks much like a Wizard ... also looks to be in very good condition, at least cosmetically.  Under-console light, switch at lower right.

 

[bellalaundry]

Thanks

for increasing the picture size! The set does look to be in good cosmetic shape. I've e-mail the seller to get more details on the machine.

Guy

 

[rpms]

I always liked the Viking boat decal.

 

[114jwh]

Franklin built Eatons Viking

Congrats on an amazing find! Looks like what you've found is a Franklin built washer made for Eatons department store. Very rare these days as I think they were somewhat unreliable machines coupled with parts availability limitations I've heard, at least in Canada.

Eatons started using GE to build their Viking laundry equipment around 1971 I believe so this machine would be before that change over. My guess would be this is from the mid-1960's

Given the condition from the pictures and the mere fact its still in existence, I'd bet the pair was purchased to replace a wringer, it was used a couple times (if ever) and the homeowner went back to using the wringer and continued using the dryer. Either that or it came from a secondary home.

My grandmother had a Franklin built Viking dryer, older than this. It had the lint filter door on top like a WP/Inglis/Kenmore. I don't remember her ever having any problems with it and I think it worked fairly well.

I'd snap the set up in a heartbeat - can't wait to see more pictures once you pick it up!

 

[eurekastar]

Definitely snatch that up! 

 

[bajaespuma]

Norwegians were Vikings, after all

The bottom kick-plate reminds me of a Norge that I've seen. The agitator looks like ones in Philco/Dexter dual wringer washers that have been posted on this site as does the control panel. Interesting machine; those pictures are giving me nostalgia.Those pictures look like the Platonic form of a gosh-derned Warshing Machine.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Wow that machine needs to be saved, it's a very rare solid-tub Franklin made washer, almost exactly the same machine as my old '66 Coronado. But this machine appears to be almost never used! Look at the shine on the lid and agitator.

Someone really needs to save this.

 

[turquoisedude]

Oh wow!! Eddy in Vancouver had (hopefully still does) one of these Franklin - built Viking washers!  Guy, please save this if you can!!

 

[mrsalvo]

Fantastic find!! It reminds me of the old Western Auto Wizard machines of the late 60's, they were not the quietest machines. I think the tub indexed, much like the Westinghouse. Those machines were pigs.

Would love, love to see a video of it running.

Barry

 

[circlew]

Bob, when I mentioned Kelvinator, I was thinking of the models made after they became part of WCI, rather than American Motors. Those Kelvinators, along with Gibson and Hamilton, were Franklin based machines.

 

[bellalaundry]

I agree

with the notion that these were probably not used because someone liked using their wringer.

The seller did return my e-mail and told me that the dryer was electric and hard wired in.

I am going to pass on these...they should be saved, just not by me. I do not have the skill that is required to keep these up and running.

If I am going to get another vintage machine, it needs to be something that uses more common parts.

Guy

 

[turquoisedude]

Oh!! This is so not fair... I would grab them but I literally would be turned back at the Quebec/Ontario border if I tried to cross... sigh....

 

[combo52]

Difinitely An Early 60s Franklin Built Washer

Franklin was a division of the Studebaker car company.

 

Our family got one of these washers in 1960 branded with the CO-OP name, it lasted till 1966 with only a few minor problems.

 

This washer was a bit of a copy of a solid-tub GE washer, the matching dryer was a loose copy of a late 50s WP dryer.

 

These washers in this early ST versions were pretty quite running, If this machine is in good shape it would be a fun vintage but not good for an everyday driver as parts are non-existent.

 

The dryer like late 50s was slow and unlike WPs dryers was not well built, I would expect the dryer to be less reliable than the washer.

 

Paul you should get these machines.

 

John L.

 

[turquoisedude]

Trust me, John, if I was able to leave the province, I would...  I don't think the provincial police would believe a Viking rescue mission was an emergency requiring travel.... LOL 

 

[pulltostart]

Guy,

Just a suggestion here, if these are truly close why don't you go ahead and rescue them, knowing that you have an audience interested in them eventually?  At least the pair would be rescued, and you can continue to watch for another pair that is better suited to you?

 

lawrence

 

[gansky1]

The Dryer for posterity.

Very cool set. Wash time can be dialed back by at least 1/3 as this is probably one of the most violent agitators ever made. Good for scrubbing out coveralls and work clothes, while it lasted. Doing a load of jeans in Robert's once, this beast ripped a waist button-stud off of a pair of Levi's.

This is a rather close shot of Robert's 64 Wizard washing. Same agitator as in this Viking. I believe there are PODs that feature Wizard (Western Auto) and Coronado (Gambles) washers of this vintage.