Welcoming A Westy!

[drummerboy928]

Today was a big day for me. I finally brought the avocado green Westinghouse home! I have not been able to do much looking at it underneath, but it seems in rather good condition, just very dirty from sitting. According to the seller they sat in his aunts basement for close to 30-40 years, so it is a rather lightly used machine. I’ve included some pictures of the Inside basket and agitator, Console and Data plate, to hopefully identify the year of this model since I’m not familiar with it. I also was given this early model A106 As well, but haven’t been able to do much looking at it either, and also can’t find the data tag yet. However I did find a sticker with the model on it and the original company that sold it. Is there any testing I can do on these machines without actually plugging them in, such as spinning the belt and stuff? It’s currently cold out, and I don’t have a heated shop, so I’d prefer to not put water in them just yet, but also don’t want to run the pumps dry. I will get some more pictures if needed this weekend and do any possibly testing this weekend as well. Any help and comments would be appreciated!

-Henry

 

[maytag85]

Usually when I bring a machine home, I always test it on the spin cycle to see what health the motor is in. If it makes weird or ill sounds, means the motor is on it’s way out. I also pay attention to the timer to see if it advances on the spin cycle to see if it’s in good shape as well.

 

[swestoyz]

1968/1969 J series Westy!

LAJ535 translates over to a 1968/1969 model, with the leading K in the serial number indicating being made in 1969.

Congrats on both! Hopefully they don’t need a ton to get going. I do have the service manual for this washer, if needed.

Ben

 

[repairguy]

Congrats!

 

[appnut]

I"m surprised as late as 1969 the Wash'n'Wear label was stiull used for that cycle. Although the manufacture date is 1968/1969, the timer design reminds me of the first generation Westinghouse produced top loaders that were about the same time as their front loaders went from slant front and drop down door to the flat front laundromat design with side-swing door so it matched the dryers for their new top loaders. That would be about 1964 or 1965.

 

[lowefficiency]

On the Maytag, you should be able to just reach in and spin the inner tub by hand.

Underneath, you could pop the water pump belt off if you wanted, and spin the water pump by hand... but don't run the motor electrically without belts on, as the spring-loaded carriage will pull it until the shaft hits the side of the cabinet base plate or the motor carriage, so it would rub and probably make a horrible noise.

 

[drummerboy928]

I'm Glad I was able to grab these two machines to give them a new home! I Haven't yet looked closely at the Maytag for the Serial number (I'm not with the machines anymore at the time of writing this, and it wasn't right under the lid), but this weekend I will take a closer look at both machines. Judging by the Westinghouse being a 1968/1969 Model (and rather rare at that, with the black agitator), I assume the A106 to also be somewhere around 1969 (would the Black Agitator and light gray trim indicate something like this?). The lid to the Maytag is loose on one side, so I believe its missing one of the lid hinge balls, so that will need to be replaced. Other than that, I'm hoping that these machines will be able to be revived fairly easily. Thank you guys for all the help and I hope to get these machines washing beautifully once again!

- Henry

 

[lowefficiency]

The serial number plate started off on the back of the machine, then moved to its spot under the lid later in production. That's actually another clue which helps narrow down the date for your machine.

More info in my thread here:
"Maytag serial number plate location?"

Maytag serial number plate location?

For the center-dial Maytags, when was it that the washer serial number plate moved/changed from the triangular plate under the lid, to the rectangular tag on the back panel? Did all models change, or was it specific models only that had it on the back? Photos of both styles are attached...

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[Unimatic1140]

Congratulations!

Now that Westinghouse is super cool!! I do happen to think it is the only one known to exist with a black agitator in anyone's collection, at least that I know of. Your machine has the 2nd generation style Westinghouse agitator.

Years ago in the late 90s I did take a picture of the agitator and tub of a 1965 early model with the very first Westinghouse made agitator...

 

[drummerboy928]

Wow, I really did not realize just what I was getting when I saw the ad, I just knew I had to try and get it and I’m so glad it worked out! I imagine this machine will stay in my collection for quite a while, and hopefully it will be a very simple job to get both of them cleaning clothes for the first time in at least 30 years.

I was able to find the data plate for the Maytag A106. “HM” so I believe that would be June of 1969. These machines were most likely bought at a similar point in time, presumably in 1969-1970, and were used up until the mid 80s early 90s where they were set off the the side to sit until I brought them home.

 

[gyrafoam]

Great find!

Those two workhorses look to be in pretty good shape. The "Big W" Westy is very cool. If my memory serves me correctly the water pump is right over the motor, so be sure to make sure the hoses/pump is not leaking. I always make sure they are "seaworthy" before I fire them up. A few hours of a hot-water soak does wonders. These machines were very aggressive and cleaned very well, although prone to sudz-lock with the old high-sudz detergents and soaps.

If the Maytag is old enough it may still have the slower agitation (52 opm I think) and a solid-fin Gyratator. When they brought out the new generation machines in 1966 the lower-end models got left-over old parts.

Hope you have some fun with them!

 

[qsd-dan]

<a style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;" name="start_92013.1165859"></a>

If the Maytag is old enough it may still have the slower agitation (52 opm I think) and a solid-fin Gyratator. When they brought out the new generation machines in 1966 the lower-end models got left-over old parts.

 

The 106 and 206 machines got 63 OPM gears in Nov 1967

 

[bradfordwhite]

Congratulation's on your rare find. I hope it works well for you.

 

[woodjack99]

Henry, congratulations on both of your new additions! Your collection has just gotten even better (if that's even possible, because it was pretty great already). I'm a Maytag guy, so of course I personally love the 106; but the Westinghouse is definitely one of the coolest machines you have. Love the avocado. I can't wait to see both machines in action once it warms up. You really lucked out that it seems like both have been relatively lightly-used, and it's cool they're right around the same age too.

Jack

 

[rinso]

I rented a room from my friend when I was in university in 1973. His laundry room had a new Westinghouse Top-loader and matching dryer. The washer did a great job of cleaning, as I remember, though it could have used a faster spin. I read somewhere on AW that it used a Franklin mechanism, whatever that is. IIRC, the tub indexed in the opposite direction of the slanted vanes on the agitator. It had decent turnover.

 

[gansky1]

 

 

What a great find, congrats.  I've had a couple of Westy top loads, both newer than yours but they did an admirable job of cleaning and rinsing was accomplished with copious amounts of water in a long spray rinse and a (2nd) deep rinse.  

 

[lesto]

That's a cool Westy. Probably the last model with a black agitator before they switched to blue. The long spray rinse does a great job too.

 

[swestoyz]

Westinghouse top load Agitators

Scanning the '68 - '73 service manual, they talk about the agitator changes from the later 1967 H series machines through the 1973 P series machines, which does shed a bit of light on both Henry's washer and the one Robert saw in the late 90's.

Henry's LAJ is what Westinghouse called a dash 3 model, with the dash signifying the material change of the agitator from phenolic (or bakelite) to polyproline. Looking at the top of the agitator in Robert's photo, the difference between the two can be seen by the additional rib up near the top of the neck, and possibly even the diameter of the neck itself. Lastly, the Westy logo agitator cap is the dead giveaway for the early bakelite version, too.

The service manual also talks quite a bit about the pre-pump motor arrangement for the late H and J series machines. By the 1970 L series machines, the pre-pump solenoid arrangement goes away and they move towards using a spring loaded idler pulley arrangement. Previous to the pre-pump solenoid it looks as though Westinghouse used a clutch when this platform was introduced in 64/65, similar to a Kelvinator, which can be seen in the LAH service manual on AE.org.

Will be neat to see this one is able to run again so we all can see the neutral drain!

Ben

 

[combo52]

Great information Ben

It will be neat if this Westinghouse actually works I’ve only ever seen one of those in my life and it was almost 50 years ago. It was taking it on trade for a new Maytag or whirlpool washer at the dealer I worked at in the early 70s I remember taking the back off and it had the pre-pump solenoid.

Westinghouse machines of course were not very durable. It’s likely that this one was not used longer I would never have been around.

These were interesting machines. They did not have a Franklin transmission in them. Franklin and Westinghouse had not begun to merge yet.

John