This one caught my attention. Does anyone know anything about this model?
Wards in Denver
- Thread starter tsteves5
- Start date
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I only know some general stuff-
Like Sears, Wards did not make their appliances. This appears to be a rebadged Norge, with the Norge virtues and faults.
It looks to be in reasonable condition, and the price is pretty good.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
Like Sears, Wards did not make their appliances. This appears to be a rebadged Norge, with the Norge virtues and faults.
It looks to be in reasonable condition, and the price is pretty good.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
What? NO Pesos?
Fantastically fun washer. Get it if you can, you won't be disappointed. It will swallow heavy loads that most washers will choke on.
Fantastically fun washer. Get it if you can, you won't be disappointed. It will swallow heavy loads that most washers will choke on.
From the panel I would take a stab at early to mid-Seventies. It also looks clean and well kept. Bearing noise during spin would be a good sign to run away.
Ben
Ben
cfz2882
Well-known member
'70s norge
looks early to mid 70s to me too-these norges were a favorite
of mine as a child because they were loud and powerful..
One of these is on my "get"list-have found a couple '90s ones
with the white plastic coated steel tub,but i'm holding out
for one more '72-85 era with the porcelain tub.
It is common to find fins broken off the pump impeller on
these-kind of a fragile design.
looks early to mid 70s to me too-these norges were a favorite
of mine as a child because they were loud and powerful..
One of these is on my "get"list-have found a couple '90s ones
with the white plastic coated steel tub,but i'm holding out
for one more '72-85 era with the porcelain tub.
It is common to find fins broken off the pump impeller on
these-kind of a fragile design.
Get it if you can, you won't be disappointed. It will swallow heavy loads that most washers will choke on.
I totally agree, this is a fun machine to play with, even if you just keep it for a bit and pass it on or use it for parts, as Ben said you won't be disappointed.
I totally agree, this is a fun machine to play with, even if you just keep it for a bit and pass it on or use it for parts, as Ben said you won't be disappointed.
norgeway
Well-known member
It is somewhat different than later versions!
It has a 1/2 horse motor rather than the 1/3 found in most machines,a great big heavy transmision , and a big brake mechanism,to my mind, it is the best washer ever made, not the quietest , and definately not gentle, but for greasy nasty work clothes, nothing compares.
It has a 1/2 horse motor rather than the 1/3 found in most machines,a great big heavy transmision , and a big brake mechanism,to my mind, it is the best washer ever made, not the quietest , and definately not gentle, but for greasy nasty work clothes, nothing compares.
Yes, you must get it! I'm a huge fan of Norge/Wards and have two in my collection. They are noisy, fascinating machines and really get things clean!
No washing failures with a Norge!
Ben brought this "Warge" when he drove over to pick up the Maytag set. It's been a long time since I've had one to play with and I forgot what a beast this washer is. This video is of two cotton bathmats - 1" thick and 2x3 sized - getting thrashed by the Warge.
The Denver machine looks very nice - clean around the opening and agitator, usually those are rather messy because of the splashy filtering action.
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Ben brought this "Warge" when he drove over to pick up the Maytag set. It's been a long time since I've had one to play with and I forgot what a beast this washer is. This video is of two cotton bathmats - 1" thick and 2x3 sized - getting thrashed by the Warge.
The Denver machine looks very nice - clean around the opening and agitator, usually those are rather messy because of the splashy filtering action.
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I have a version of your machine and I LOVE it! It is an incredibly vigorous washer and IMHO has the best combo neutral drain/throw I've ever seen in a top loader. It has a huge tub like a 1-18, the burpolator lint filtration system which, if nothing else, is a stitch and is really not all that noisy except for the solenoid clank when the tub brake is activated or de-activated. Someone here gave me some good advice which is to allow the tub to come to a full stop before defeating the safety switch if that is your bag, to save on wear and tear on the mechanism. And that machine is Avocado-what more could you ask for?
I can't wait to hook up the gas for the matching dryer.
I can't wait to hook up the gas for the matching dryer.
WARDS NORGE WASHERS
These are great performers a little noisy maybe. The worst thing about them is often the durably of the water pump and the drive line is poor and if the drive line has problems they are difficult if not impossible to repair at this point in time. But don't let the powerful agitation fool you its still no where near as hard on clothes as a power-fin agitator in a Maytag.
These are great performers a little noisy maybe. The worst thing about them is often the durably of the water pump and the drive line is poor and if the drive line has problems they are difficult if not impossible to repair at this point in time. But don't let the powerful agitation fool you its still no where near as hard on clothes as a power-fin agitator in a Maytag.
Wards
This came home to live with us the other day. I'm now the owner of more Wards merchandise than I can count, and I never set foot in the store
. Thank goodness it, like seemingly everything else, came in almond; I'd hate to clash.
I like this design best--it has the concave tub cover of the later Norgetags, and a standalone bleach dispenser, as well as a hidden spray inlet for the water. I prefer this to the bleach drawer (oh, what the hell? ) and protruding spray nozzle. It does the lovely partial-neutral, partial-spin drain, still burp-a-lates (I like the smaller, stacked filter/dispenser--and this design is a BREEZE to keep clean), and drives our neighbors crazy. The only thing I could do to make them nuttier would be to stick a 1-18 in the laundry room.
All I've had to do so far is massive cleanup (signs of a cold-water washer--ecch), and adjust the water level switch a teensy bit; it was underfilling. (But maybe it would have made Energy Star standards!) I think I'll try and ferret new belts for it too, while I'm at it.
Between the big motor on the Wards and the big motor on the KitchenAid, the house wiring gets a real run for its money these days. But wow, what a great washer. Roger always said that it's the most masculine washer, and if they could have, they would have made the cabinet come with a gold chain and a hairy chest.
This came home to live with us the other day. I'm now the owner of more Wards merchandise than I can count, and I never set foot in the store
. Thank goodness it, like seemingly everything else, came in almond; I'd hate to clash.I like this design best--it has the concave tub cover of the later Norgetags, and a standalone bleach dispenser, as well as a hidden spray inlet for the water. I prefer this to the bleach drawer (oh, what the hell?
) and protruding spray nozzle. It does the lovely partial-neutral, partial-spin drain, still burp-a-lates (I like the smaller, stacked filter/dispenser--and this design is a BREEZE to keep clean), and drives our neighbors crazy. The only thing I could do to make them nuttier would be to stick a 1-18 in the laundry room. All I've had to do so far is massive cleanup (signs of a cold-water washer--ecch), and adjust the water level switch a teensy bit; it was underfilling. (But maybe it would have made Energy Star standards!) I think I'll try and ferret new belts for it too, while I'm at it.
Between the big motor on the Wards and the big motor on the KitchenAid, the house wiring gets a real run for its money these days. But wow, what a great washer. Roger always said that it's the most masculine washer, and if they could have, they would have made the cabinet come with a gold chain and a hairy chest.
Le "money-shot"
Nothing like maximum--what was it Jon calls it?--"spankalation."
And every Norge/Wards comes with its own end-of-life indicator built right in! When the clothes come out with oil spots, you're done!
Nothing like maximum--what was it Jon calls it?--"spankalation."
And every Norge/Wards comes with its own end-of-life indicator built right in! When the clothes come out with oil spots, you're done!
Transportation on its side
Anecdotally, at least, yes, you can transport it on its side, at least for a little bit; I had to, in order to make it fit in the Jeep. It survived an hour and a half drive from Santa Rosa with no issues and no leaked oil.
Anecdotally, at least, yes, you can transport it on its side, at least for a little bit; I had to, in order to make it fit in the Jeep. It survived an hour and a half drive from Santa Rosa with no issues and no leaked oil.
