WAKE THE DEAD: TOL Maytag washer and dryer - $50 (Cedar Rapids)

[mayfan69]

Aussie Maytag's

Hi Brian,

 

Yes, Maytag domestic machines were sold in Australia from about 1980, starting with the '10' series till only recently with the Atlantis and Performa models and VERY briefly with the WP cloned 'Centennial' models.

 

Unfortunately, Maytag have disappeared altogether from the Oz market and I've heard Whirlpool will soon be going too!

 

For the Oz market, the 10 and 12 series washers were limited to the A110,210 and A112, 212 and 512. It was only when the Orbital machines appeared from about 1990 did we get higher spec models such as the A/LAT9800 and LAT9824 and sales began to gather momentum.

 

By this time, Maytag and 'Kleenmaid' (re-badged Speed Queen's) were pretty well above in terms of quality from the Australian domestic machines at the time.

 

Cheers

Leon

 

 

[d-jones]

Please note I even removed the baffle plate for you

Baffle plate? Did the early Powerfin agitators have baffle plates on them? I thought those went away with the Bakelite agitators. Now I'm really baffled! Would this type of agitator pump more water than the standard Powerfin?

[this post was last edited: 4/12/2014-21:09]

 

[beekeyknee]

David,

The water goes down the ridges between the fins and comes out the four holes along the bottom edge of the agitator skirt corresponding to the ridges on the top. I don't know about it pumping more water or not, but it forces it to the outside edge of the agitator instead of releasing it at the bottom of the barrel.

B.

 

[kenmore71]

The "integral spline" one-piece agitator was introduced in January of 1968.  The early Power-Fin agitators still had the baffle.

 

[bajaespuma]

Thanks for the pictures.

Every single piece of that agitator looks pure Iowa, except for that removable (!) chrome cap! The lint filter cylinder looks to be a hybrid of the old style grafted onto the new style. I have to wonder what the contractual arrangements for manufacturing were like for these machines. Makes me think that all the parts for this agitator were molded here, sent there except for the cap??? Doesn't really matter, but I have to wonder. Are the tubs Stainless Steel because the machines heat the water?

 

You're right Leon, the Storey bridge is overall, a prettier and more stable structure than the Queensborough which is actually NOT a true cantilever design, but the Q is my home-town span (built in 1917). Did Bradley build the Storey bridge?

 

[70series]

This truly is a phenominal story, not just of a wonderful acquisition, but of a pure hearted random act of kindness that restores faith that good will still exists out there.

Brian: You did a wonderful selfless deed for a fellow member and you showed yourself to be a top person.

Andy: Congratulations on such a beautiful set. With everything you have gone through and are still going through, may this be the beginning of many wonderful and joyous things to come your way.

Have a good one,
James

 

[mayfan69]

Maytag and Wilkins Servis...

Hi Ken

 

Maytag had no knowledge what so ever that Wilkins Servis were building their machines in Australia, until after Wilkins Servis went bankrupt in 1978.

 

The story goes that another Australian whitegoods manufacturer obtained the rights to build Maytag cloned machines in Australia under their own name (I don't know the name of the company). However, before they could do so, they went bankrupt. Wilkins Servis subsequently bought that companies name and with it (so they believed) the rights to build Maytags as Australian Wilkins Servis machines.

 

So, all parts of the machines were built here. During this time, Malleys Whirlpool Australia used to do porcelain enamelling for not only themselves but also for Simpson and Wilkins Servis who didn't have their own enamelling centres. However, Whirlpool decided to increase the price so Simpson went elsewhere and Wilkins Servis decided to try something different: and that's how the Stainless Steel bowl came about. It not only gave Wilkins Servis a 'point of difference' but they were also able to save costs by introducing plastic outer tubs with the introduction of the SS bowl.

 

According to my repairer contacts, Maytag only found out Wilkins Servis were making their machines when a rep from Maytag was here in Oz and saw a Wilkins Servis machine in a workshop: and was pretty shocked apparently. But, they couldn't do anything about it as Wilkins Servis had gone bankrupt by this time.

 

As for our Story Bridge, no, it was not designed by Bradley, but devised by Professor Roger Hawkin.

 

A pic of one of my Wilkins machines with the plastic outer tub: I've recently retro-fitted a SS bowl into another Wilkins machine with the enamel outer tub.

 

Cheers

Leon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[maytag63]

Wonderful story. They were well taken cared of. Beautiful condition. My dream pair.

 

[combo52]

Early MT Power-Fin Agitators

These had an additional baffle plate on the bottom like the Bakelite [ lint filter ] agitators they replaced, this additional baffle plate made the pumping action through the lint filter MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE, this BP system also made for a much more effective detergent dispenser and also gave concentrated fabric softener more area to dilute itself in so the chance of clothing spotting was reduced.

The only down-side of these two=piece agitators was there was not a positive water seal between the two major parts. Because of this a positive air-pocket was not always maintained it could allow water to surround the agitator shaft and seal area, which resulted in many more seal failures in washers with two-piece agitators. { MT stated that this was the reason for the change in agitator design ]

The interesting thing about all this is I got a long letter from an AW member a few month's ago. He had recently gotten a fully restored mid-70s A806 washer that replaced his 1967 KM BD washer that had a roto-swrirl agitator. He was very disappointed that the MT PFA was destroying his clothing, so he decided to try one of these older two piece PF agitators that he had been given by another friend of mine. He said the difference was amazing with the four extra fins, better clothing turn-over and MUCH LESS CLOTHING DAMAGE. His conclusion was that MT had changed to make the agitator cheaper to build, which I am sure is true but I also think that the newer one piece agitator would make the washer more durable.

I will be very interested in what you think of this different agitator Andy once you get this washer.

 

[swestoyz]

John is spot on when it comes to the two piece agitators not holding the air pocket. Not only was there a possibility of seal failures, but the agitators themselves are a bear to get off once water encroaches the spline drive. The two piece poly agitators I've come across came out via a hacksaw.

That's why I was so surprised this agitator came out. It's as if the washer was never used!

Drew - congrats again. What an amazing find.

Ben

 

[yogitunes]

beyond an OUTSTANDING story and events......

congrats Drew and Brian......

there should be an AWO Award for "Going above and Beyond the call of Duty from one member to another"

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Thanks, John!

Since I have a standard agi waiting in the wings, I will have fun trying them both! Thanks for the info.

RCD

 

[polkanut]

Brian,

I know I'm late the party but did the sellers give you you any background info on the history of these beauties?

 

[Chetlaham]

Incredibe Luck!

I wish you all the best. And both are in great condition two. Congrats to you!

Im still drooling over them LOL!

 

[beekeyknee]

Tim,

If I remember correctly, the lady I bought them from said they hadn't been used much. She also mentioned moving a wringer washer out of the basement. Maybe the lady of the household preferred the wringer machine, I don't know. Also the tub light still works. An indication that they weren't used too hard.

After I got them home it wasn't hard to tell that they were "low mileage". The cabinets were in good shape and the agitator pulled off without too much trouble. I believe it hadn't been removed before. The drive shaft wasn't rusted and the spline shines. The drain hose is still soft. All indications of low usage.

B.

 

[gansky1]

They're on their way!

Brian is on his way to Reno with the Maytags, he left Columbia, MO this morning and stopped this evening after his first leg of the journey. It was wonderful to meet Brian, we had a very nice evening and of course, did some washing!

Here we are doing the first load in the Kelvinator

 

[gansky1]

And Brian's first Unimatic wash

 

[gansky1]

And then a Blackstone experience

 

[philr]

Greg, you have very nice machines!

 

[redcarpetdrew]

There and back again...

A BeeKeyKnee's Holiday... LOL!

You lucky guy! One of the best places to experience your first Uni, too. My little, humble shop doesn't hold a candle to that! I'll have a small but fun bit of machines there and I am looking forward to having a little Halo of Heat 101 with you. Check out the new 906 and give you some hands on tear down time for when you tear into your own. Best way to learn is to get in and get your hands dirty!

Ohh, almost forgot. You'll have access to a huge library of service and parts manuals and a photocopier. It'll be fun!

RCD