Whirlpool Imperial Mark 18 - She runs!

[streakers]

So, by reading everyone’s comments...

Seems I have myself a pretty neat matching pair? I just figured they were ‘nice’ in the sense of being fancier than anything else I’d seen here in my time of paying attention....

I honestly do not have a clue about where they stand in the model line up.

Someone mentioned about the belt, skinny etc, I have no clue, I’ve not had a chance to open her up and have a look for the water leak as yet, but I’ll post some extra pics if you all like... First though I will need to dust them off properly, I still need to find an electrician to come and install some outlets - and no doubt will be needing a panel upgrade for more 240v.

No hookup for the dryer as yet to see her lit up, but here’s some extra pics! Perhaps the exact model number (in the pics) will answer some of your questions...

Cheers
Steven

 

[repairguy]

Very nice machines! They were both built the 34th week of 1975.

 

[arris]

#19

No I have the exact set as Steven, I got from Kevin... I've rebuilt them from the ground up... new centerpost in the baseplate, new Transmission.... I sent them to get re-painted and am waiting to get them back.....had the other tub re-porcelained The dryer has 30,000 btu burner that modulates down to 20,000 when on the low/delicate setting they were my first !!!! I also have the set from post 19 that I got from Kevin... those I have started up but have not had a chance to do anything to.... right now I'm looking for the kit 239076, or the 338093 orifice for the soft heat kenmore dryer...I got from Jon L, so I can convert it to propane... I think I'm done now though... I need to put a garage up to store all of them in... my basement is getting pretty crowded. I also have a like new 73 Lady Kenmore garage door set.... the washer was only used 6-7 times the dryer more....along with several other sets.... one being a 62 whirlpool set, the washer is a suds-saver

 

[maytag85]

Reply #19

One things that’s ironic is I have a friend in Colorado who has the same Imperial Mark 18 set as you do but is in the process of putting it all back together. Recently did a partial rebuild to my 1963 RCA Whirlpool Imperial Mark XII washer in turquoise and everything works but I ended up having to replace the transmission pulley since it got damaged in the process of trying to transfer it to the used transmission I bought off of eBay. Only issue I am having with my ‘63 Whirlpool is the clutch for the spin seems to have a mind of its own and it engages smoothly when you do a load of laundry in it but tends to not really work when you do a second load of laundry in it and the belt slips quite a bit on the pulleys.

 

[DADoES]

 
9800 models are top-of-the line, that's where they stand in the model line-up.

Seems rather much rare that a set, even a matched set by model number, has the exact same production week.

 

[DADoES]

 
Also, just to say, and someone correct me if wrong, I believe the proper procedure for changing the dryer's tumble speed is to do so *after* starting it running.  It's not a 2-speed motor.  The belt is mechanically shifted between larger- and smaller-diameter areas on a tapered motor pulley, which involves less stress on the belt if it's running at the time.

 

[mrmaytag]

Reply #22

Curious... You mentioned you rebuilt your machines from the ground up, including, specifically replacing the centerpost in the baseplate. Can you tell me more about this? I've heard of having SS sleeves welded over the original centerpost, but have never heard of a WP BD centerpost being replaced?

Thanks
Dennis

 

[arris]

Dennis

Being that the 9800's were my first set of vintage appliances I was pretty gung-ho with them....one because they were my first set and two because they were nice looking and top of the line.... I have since cooled with that now that I have " So Many other Machines " I took the baseplate to a machine shop here.. I bought the 10 foot length of stainless steel.. ( I need to check if it's magnetic or not after talking to Jon L ) they matched it up with the old one... I'm not sure if they froze it first or pressed it in then heated it up... I know they did something like that...... it is thicker than the original center post as it had to be milled out for the bearings to fit.... tomorrow I can post some pictures.... I did a few years ago but can do it again... it looks like a brand new baseplate and center post..for added protection I applied 2 coats of Marine Epoxy for added protection, not covering where the suspension balls fit in.. Jim

 

[arris]

#25

Yes you have to change the speed while the dryer is running... both machines still had the original spec stickers on them... I can't remember what the speed change was...I do remember though the sticker said in Low/Delicate the burner modulated down to 20,000 from 30,000

 

[arris]

New centerpost and baseplate

Here are the pics of the new centerpost and re-done baseplate

 

[combo52]

Beautiful 1975-6 Whirlpool Imperial Mark 18 Pair

Hi Steven, thanks for all the additional great pictures, 

 

TOP of the Line WPs were very rare compared to Sears LKMs, generally big box stores did not carry them at all because the prices were too high and independent stores often also carried brands like Maytag and for the price of a set of Mark 18s you could nearly get a TOL pair of MTs [ Note the WPs heals a lot more than the MTs and performed much better ]

 

When I worked for a MT-WP appliance dealer back in the 70s whenever I came across  TOL WP appliances I would ask the customer who they knew at the WP distributer and they almost had a friend that got them a deal directly from the distributer.

 

Reply #11, Nearly all automatic washers had a timer that advanced in small pulses, All KMs, WPs, Norges except Time-Line models, All MTs, They did this to reduce contact arcing, GE was one of the big exceptions to this along with a few others like later WH FL Washers.

 

John L.

 

[circlew]

The only store I remember seeing the Mark 18 set in was Swallen's, which was Cincinnati's largest appliance dealer. They sold Whirlpool for many years, in addition to Maytag, Hotpoint, and various other brands.

 

[mrmaytag]

Reply #29

Wow, love the pictures of the baseplate. Talk about a professional job, that is just beautiful work. It looks like brand new out of the box. Does the machine shop you used still do this type work? Because if they do, and at a reasonable cost, I can see them getting much business from this group.

Dennis

 

[arris]

Dennis

Yes they still do... I have a couple other baseplates with the smaller drain holes.. before the guy who does this retires....I can't remember how much it was I think 100, to 150. that included the 10ft... I Think... it was a couple years ago.... piece of NON magnetic steel tube too Jim

 

[bradfordwhite]

First thought was

Brady Bunch W/D, but it's too new for that

and it's TOL.



 

That wood paneling though.

 

Has any appliance collector ever had to worry about termites or carpenter ants infesting their machines ? 

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Wish that Whirlpool kept offering speed selections in their washers and dryers like that...

-- Dave

 

[DADoES]

 
Dave, some WP direct-drive washer models have a rotary speed selector with a range of combinations (same as your previous Kenmore), although Ex Low agitation with High spin isn't a choice as it was on the pushbutton 3-speed Imperial Mark XX belt-drive models.

Tumble speed choice on WP dryers was offered for only a few years, I believe from 1972 to 1977.  Kenmore dryers never had tumble speed choices.  WP had 2-speed dryers beginning in the early 1960s but it controlled airflow rate and heat input rate, not tumble speed.