Whirlpool's very very first Automatic Washer!

[tuthill]

Woo-hoo! What a score! This weekend I made the trek down I-35 to a little place called Mission, Kansas. Waiting for me was MIB (box sold seperately hehe) 1950 Whirlpool Automatic w/ suds-saver. From what I know, it is the only machine like this left in existience. It's in literally perfect condition, as it was sitting on a Whirlpool dealer's floor its whole life. The link shows the dealer's website. Thanks again for the machine and hospitality Dave, Paul, and Lori! So without further ado, here she is (hold comments till end of thread thx!)

http://hull-lamar.com/

 

[tuthill]

The nervous Whirlpool just outside its new home

 

[tuthill]

Installed!

The Unimatic is NOT happy

 

[tuthill]

[No message]

 

[tuthill]

Money Shot!

Omg... what is THAT?

 

[gyrafoam]

Oh, congratulations! Don't come across too many machines in new condition! That metal Surgilator is so nice.
I'll bet that thing just purrs along in near silence.
But, dirt beware! Very few other straight-vanes are as aggressive as a Surgilator!
Excellent find!!!!!!!!!

 

[tuthill]

On closer look

An aluminum Surgilator!

 

[tuthill]

First fill with super hot water... Should've heard the machine warm up lol

 

[tuthill]

Look at the porcelain... I would love to get my hands on that special wrench and take the inner tub out... Imagine what the centerpost would look like!

 

[tuthill]

Controls up close

 

[tuthill]

Timer

 

[tuthill]

First load

 

[tuthill]

Surgilatin'!

 

[tuthill]

The quintessential 50's feature lol

 

[ronhic]

Fantastic!

Well done and a very special find....

I'm not a top-load kinda guy, but if I found something as special as that you'd have to fight me for it....

I can hear YouTube calling you by the way...lol

 

[tuthill]

Badge of honor

 

[aldspinboy]

GREAT WONDERFUL FIND CONGRATULATIONS..... I know you will have a good time with with the machine. How do's it sound? and the blue tinge on the agitator is that what it suppose to look like new? Darren k

 

[tuthill]

Maybe some more pictures later. The model number is 91562 and the serial number is 5541... dates anyone??

-Jed

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[tuthill]

The machine is actually kind of loud, but then I'm used to a perfect Unimatic. I love the sound of the suds solenoid when it's draining the wash water.

 

[pulsator]

**WOW** Jed, this is an AMAZING find!!! Congratulations!!!! OMFG!!!! lol

 

[tuthill]

O yeah, one more thing. The timer motor doesn't advance. Kinda sucks. Does anyone know if you can still get these? Or did they make enough changes to the timer from the original that it would be impossible to find... anyways, if anyone thinks they may have something that works or ideas, LET ME KNOW.

 

[JerseyMike]

Nice find!

Someone took very good care of that washer. It looks like it's in very good shape.

Thank you for saving it.

Congratulations and enjoy!

Mike

 

[mayfan69]

Gorgeaus Jed!

Well, that's just gorgeaus Jed!
Congrats!

Cheers
Leon

 

[suds14]

Congrats on your Whirlpool washer, I never seen one with a metal agitator.

Enjoy

David

 

[gyrafoam]

That timer may only need a good contact cleaning, and a whack or two, and it will start right up.

 

[tuthill]

Ok, another question... does anyonoe know how to take the handles off the timer and temp control. I tried to unscrew them but I didn't want to break anything.

Also got the parts breakdown for the machine, 3 tranny gaskets, and an agitator shaft.

 

[gyrafoam]

Combo52 and Kenmore64 are two guru's you should be talking to!
Also Combo52 is likely to have any part you might need or at least will know where to get it, and few people have more experience working on Whirly/'Kenmo's as he (and his brother) have.

 

[tuthill]

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[joelippard]

Man, that is so cool! I hope you find what you need to repair the timer. Keep thinking I may find a Rollermatic in the same condition someday...

Congratulations!

 

[swestoyz]

Congrats Jed! The 1952 in the basement is very happy for you!

IIRC - when this was first posted a while ago, the owner mentioned that it had been completely rebuilt sometime in the 70's, then put out on the floor for a display. So I imagine that the thing runs like it is new!

Love the casted Surgulator; no idea it was around this early. I know the later models had an allen set screw for the knobs. If there are no holes for a set screw, maybe try turning them counter clockwise? Could be thread shafts. I dunno.

Ben