I have a Whirlpool washer that’s 16 years old, heavily used all during this time, and has never needed a repair or any service. It was $400 new in 2004. No, I would not pay $1500 for a new washer. It was never mentioned in this video how much usage this old machine has actually endured.
@@ThatGingerBrandon I have a 1971 whirlpool fullsize with lots of settings. It is my age :lol:. Runs perfect. A few years ago I changed out the pump. It may outlive me, assuming parts are around. It is very simple.
I would too. The problem is... not enough of us would. Society moves, remodels and divorces MUCH more than it did 70 yeatlrs ago. When I go to a newlywed couple to fix something I love to say "why do you need a 20 year appliance with a 2 year marriage?" It IS in jest.. and they know it. There is more than a trace of truth in it though.
@@chas717 I work on those machines. There are really 3 top load SQ washers. Some are electronic with no transmission. Some are belt drive and some are a sort of both. The basic structure is the Amana of 20 years ago. I believe they are probably the best top load right now. I dont think they will last that long. Take a look at Staber washers. I have one and service them also. I DO believe they will last 25+ years.
"How, in 1952, were we able to produce a washing machine that spun at 1136 RPM, for a final spin speed, yet somehow in 2020 a washer that spins that fast tends to blow up?" Answer: Because everything made today is cheap garbage.
They make things to break down now after 5 to 10 years so they can sell you new. Just enough time so you don't think that the product is garbage so you buy the same brand again. This includes all products. Including Automobiles
Plenty of machines clean this well. You just can't go to Lowes and find one that cleans well for $500, you need to go to a specialty store and buy a more expensive and higher quality one. Miele and Speed Queen are good, like the other commenter mentioned. That applies for all sorts of household appliances. Ovens, vacuums, etc. They all used to be really expensive, now for the most part they're cheap to buy and cheaply built to meet consumer demand.
Me too, and I disagree with the other commenters, especially on Miele washers. There's a reason they aren't popular in the U.S., and it's not the price. Plenty of people buy overpriced "vanity" appliances.
@@bklynp718 People buy overpriced vanity appliances that look flashy, like Dyson vacuum cleaners. They're a status symbol. Many Americans haven't even heard of Miele and their machines look bland enough that people can't show them off. Miele makes great products in terms of effectiveness, but if durability is what you want then I'd go for a Speed Queen. Miele is unpopular here because people can't go out to the local hardware store and buy one. We've become so used to being able to buy everything we need from just one store that many consumers are unwilling to visit specialty stores even when they provide better products and services.
Yup, but you will probably never need to buy another one again. Nowadays, you'll be forking over $1500 for a pair that will need replacement every 5 or 6 years. Even as late as the 80s it was not uncommon for a low end machine to last 20 years. I think the replacement cycle on all of this china made garbage are way too short. The last dishwasher I bought began having problems after onky 2 years but it still cost $700!
@hawkturkey Yeah I've heard a lot about failing electronics in modern machines... "knock on wood" I haven't had any board failures myself. Being an electronics tech, my guess is a lot of the problems probably stem from inferior quality capacitors. This has been an ongoing theme with Chinese made electronics since the early 2000s.
Nowadays, it’s as if the companies who make them don’t want them to last. Why are they even doing this in the first place? Is it for greater profit margins?
Very well said, I can remember back in 06 when I moved into the house I'm now to take care of my now late grandmother, we still had the top loading GE washing machine my grandfather bought her in 1980, as she use to work for GE, and would not own something in any other brand if she had the option, and it only died a few years later in 2010, but the GE HE top loader that replaced it, HOLLY HELL what a difference in build quality, I've had to replace every knob, and stalk on both the washer, and matching dryer, as the plastics crack, I'll be surprised if my units last another 5 - 10 years before a part becomes to costly, or hard to find, and I just have to junk them for new ones.
Remember back in 1970s company would sell "suds free" soap. People didn't put 2+2 together and find out they were using too much soap. Companies took advantage of it to sell suds free soap.
Back in the era when this washer was made, it was one of the very BEST. Period. The simple answer as to why a washer such as this can spin at 1130 RPM and new ones fall apart, literally, if they come anywhere near that speed, is this: Quality of design, quality of the materials used in making the machine, quality, care, and pride in the workmanship. These values are on life support, near-dead in today's manufacturing processes.
One comment I would make about spin speed... higher speeds are maybe fine if you will use a mechanical dryer, but pose issues if you hang dry items unlexs you plan to iron everythinng.
I had a Frigidare-GM microwave. It had a timer knob and a locking lever for the door. When locked, a large red light proclaimed it was COOKING. No light, no turntable, just the aluminum fan inside to distribute the microwaves. It still worked as intended. While technically a cabinet mount microwave, I had it standing on a 2x4 frame and just put a cordcap on its MC whip. It was lost in a breakup in 2008 and I have never been able to find any information on it or even photos of a similar model on the Internet. I liked that microwave.
My grandmother and grandfather grew up during the depression. As a result, if you found discarded machines, fans, lawnmowers, etc, you took them home to see if anything could be done with them, or fix them. Grandpa found a 1958 Sears and Roebuck top loader '20' on the side of the road in the early 70s. He took it and replaced the drive belt and fixed the timer by carefully filing the mechanical contacts by hand with an emery board ( nail file) . They used that thing until his death in 1996. It was never serviced beyond what he initially did. Thing was, the machine needed a 20 amp circuit (110V) to run it.. and it did use a ton of water but he piped the drain hose into the yard to water the grass lol. So we had 'suddsy' grass every wednesday but the lawn didn't seem to mind. Here's the thing. For whatever reason, that machine never had a soap scum build up problem nor mold issue, both of which my much newer Amana has despite my best efforts. Once a year, I have to take my machine apart and clean everything by hand, as well as run a 50-50 water/bleach cycle through it to keep mold from forming, once a month. His machine was in a damp basement, same as mine, yet he never had an issue. We sold the machine in 1997. Probably should've kept it! Love the shirt logos BTW ;)
Older timers had nearly solid silver contacts, newer ones went brass with a thin coating. The older machines had a much larger air gap at the top that let them dry out, soap scum dries and flakes off as well as keeping mildew from growing as much. To get that on a newer model you'd have to leave the lid open between uses.
Laundry detergent back then had phosphates in it, which helped fight buildup and mold. New detergents have enzymes that replaced phosphates, but it then requires you remove your warm and cold water washes immediately, or they would soon mildew.
The 1950s, back when things were build to last a lifetime as long you take care of it well. Hell, I have a modern day washing machine that can barely wash clothes in a full cycle.
Cheap Chinese build quality. Dishonest business practices nowadays will be our demise. Republicans have sold out to corporate criminals. Where our consumer protections?
My Grandparents owned one of these machines. It was enthroned on the “back of the house” built in the 50’s when they added indoor plumbing and the room for the pantry and this washing machine. They lived in the housing village of a cotton mill, and were called lint heads from the cotton dust in their hair. When my Grandmother died in 1995 that same washing machine went to her church to wash tablecloths and kitchen linens a job it still does to this day. We were always fascinated by the agitator whipping up and down which you could watch by simply lifting the lid without hitting the little switch on the control panel. And by the way, your shirts must have been relatively clean, the laundry my Grandmother ran of her grandsons clothes turned the water a nice river mud brown even after she made us hose them off!
As someone else already commented here: Would I pay $1500 for a new washer? YES, if it would last 70 years! It would be the one and only washer I'd ever have to buy. We throw our money away these days on cheap crap that, once broken, is cheaper to simply replace (with another piece of crap) than repair.
My washers and dryers I've bought in the last 15 years: My brother gave me a broken 1996 Kenmore dryer in 2005. I put a belt on it, then a motor and it's worked fine since. 1980's Kenmore washer I bought for $35 at an estate sale. Worked perfect until 3 years ago. It was a little rusty and beat up from a few moves and a damp basement so I threw it out. Should've fixed it and kept it. It washed so well and had plenty of room. 1990's Maytag I got for free from craigslist (along with a matching electric dryer that worked perfect that I sold for $50). The washer needed a bearing but worked, didn't want to fix the bearing so I found a 2012 Maytag for sale for $25 from someone that just bought a house with them in and didn't need. Works great. Then I bought a house 6 months ago that came with a washer and dryer already hooked up, so I'm storing my 96' Dryer, and my 12' washer in my basement. Lol Free dryer: that I still have $35 washer: broken. Free Maytag washer and dryer: gave away washer and sold dryer for $50. Bought house with washer and dryer. $35+$25=$60 - $50= $10 that I've paid for washers and dryers in my life and I have a back up of each. Lol. Sorry for all the unasked for info. I'm just cheap I guess. It doesn't make any sense for me to buy appliances new when people are giving them away or selling them cheap. Especially when everyone I know that buys new ones says they break constantly.
You can buy Speed Queens. They are meant to run 25 years before requiring repair, which according to some sources is easier and more doable than most others. They are expensive, but I think you would enjoy them. speedqueen.com/
i had a chance to buy a 54 GE but the self sealing Freon didn't stay sealed to long but what do you expect i did buy a 1963 air conditioner that's in my window but its getting harder and harder to find the refrigerant so i had them add to the guts to step down the pressure that the new stuff requires to something a little colder and last longer my room stays at 62 all day n night if i turn it lower like i did one night i left a unopened root beer glass bottle on the night stand and it was cold the next morning 50-70s (some 80s) America Rules!!
John ... still have a 1952 Frigidaire holding my beer. About 50 years ago it needed a new door gasket and latch. 30 years ago I replaced the motor capacitor. This was the first fridge advertised to hold ice cream frozen, as it had a separate freezer compartment. Oh, I put a watt meter on it and electric use is less than $5 per month, compared to my kitchen fridge at $25 per month.
Got a kirby vacuum cleaner that my dad bought in 1984. I own it now and it still runs like new. In between the years 2004 till last year when my father gave me the vacuum i couldn't tell you how many cheap vacuums i had that where 95% plastic I've gone through..
1967 Kirby vacuum, ‘96 emerson VCR, ‘88 wall clock (not battery operated), ‘02 or ‘03 Nintendo GameCube and gameboy, ‘96 Cadillac Club Car golf cart (was my grandpa’s along with the clock), ‘40s sunbeam toaster, ‘90something hurricane lamp, the list goes on. Some of this stuff ain’t even made in America, and it’s lasted a lifetime! I think if you actually design AND build it right, you’ll have it last forever.
I’ll take an old school washer like this any day. Old school front loaders are appealing and satisfying to watch because they used a lot of water and all the suds, water and clothes slopping around in there actually seemed like it was doing something.
Yep. I was absolutely enthralled watching the front loading washers and dryers at the laundromat when washing my old fashioned thick comforters. Can’t stuff them in around the agitator of my 1997 Maytag washer that still works for everything else. Matching dryer still works like a charm as well.
We were still using our 1980's National washing machine up to this time. We just painted it's rusted body but the motor still works, and even the plastic in the washer is unbelievably long lasting. As a matter of fact it is way better than what is designed now. Thank you to the engineers of first order in our parent's time..
Quality American engineering, American steel and American bearings??!!! Yeah right! We're still laughing our arses off at Yank "compact" cars since the demise of the monsters from the late 70s onwards. Kindly remove from your cranium the all-too-prevalent notion that if it's not American then it can't measure up.
@@peteacher52 America has become The Land of the Landfill. Cheap, disposable plastibling rubbish. Americans can't get enough of it. That's why China loves our consumers.
Any of the stuff made in the US before the China imports was well made and meant to last a lifetime. I'm hanging onto any of the older stuff I have bc of that unsurpassed quality. My aunt's house is powered by free natural gas from her farm. The light fixtures, the appliances, everything. It's all vintage/antiques but everything works very well. Appliances are all in aqua, that tells you how old the stuff is!
@@765respect It's not the China Imports that killed quality, it's the intentional corporate tactic to make inferior products designed to be replaced or fixed to keep sales high, revenues streaming in and stakeholders fat and happy. You can thank corporate minds like Brooks Stevens and his statements like "Instilling in the buyer the desire to own something a little newer, a little better, a little sooner than is necessary", that spawned a new age of product design and manufacturing back in the mid-50's. The country loved it to, because it meant more products, more manufacturing, and more jobs, but eventually there comes a ceiling to it all when people don't want to spend $1500 on a new washer every 5 years and China simply was able to make these chintzy products even cheaper than American corporations with bigger payrolls and fat executive overhead to support. Before this became the tactic, companies took pride in making products that would last because they figured that was what it took to get people to buy their things...quality and reputation.
I work as an appliance technician on warranty calls, and most of the times I see are Samsungs. They are normally cheap component-wise, and thats the reason why they fail. Frigidaires are pretty rare in my job, but they pop up here and there and normally for some rust issues because they are being abused.
Zoft275 what you say about Samsung is so true. My brother made the horrible mistake of buying Samsung appliances for his kitchen remodel. In the first 3 years, The refrigerator French door mechanism needed replacement 2x; the ice maker leaked and the dishwasher electronic control board failed. The stove is the only thing that so far has been trouble free.
Replacing a Samsung tub spider on Wednesday, yay. Can attest to abuse, I put an old Whirlpool next to the leaky basement wall in my own home and it now looks just like the rusty pile that went out 15 years ago :p
thats true Samsung are crap, 2 of our neighbors have Samsung fridges, constant issues with the ice makers, also have seen several Samsung front load washer sitting outside waiting to be picked up on recycling day....just crap
@@SuperBooboo02 it has nothing to do with the Samsung Co. They sold their name. They did that with Duracell car batteries. I bought one of the largest ones They make for. V8 Challenger. Cost 160.00. Lasted 6 months. Failed. In AUGUST!! I threw a fit until I got my money back. And I'll never buy Duracell again.
I would be curious to see the lab test results of 70 year old Tide vs. Tide made today. I am sure the ingredients have change alot. That washing machine is amazing. I think your answer to why a new machine can run at high RPMs when a new one blows up at that speed comes down to the lack of quality and metal used in today’s machines. You can’t expect thin aluminum and plastic to withstand that kind of force. With a new machine costing $1,000.00 plus, $2,500 for a machine that lasts over half a century doesn’t sound like a bad investment to me! My mother purchased a new washer recently and was told by the salesman that if your able to get more than 7 years out of a new machine, your doing something very right! Thats pathetic!
My 83 year old aunt has and still uses a 1950s-60s GM Kenmore range. It has six electric burners and two oven chambers. It also has an analog timer that rings a bell when its done.
Amazing with this overload that this washer was able to have such turnover with no issues. These were workhorse washers built like tanks and top rated for there washing performance.
Same 1/2 hp motor as the later models that did twice the capacity. The key to not shaking on overload is the clothes basket is literally porcelained cast iron with the top ring filled with concrete, the thing weighs like 80lbs by itself.
@@captainamericaamerica8090 lot more water to volume of clothes and the agitation is usually more violent, there were more complaints of older machines ripping, stretching clothes and removing buttons
My Grandma had an early 1960s Frigidaire Imperial Frost Proof refrigerator and that thing lasted until about 2005 before it finally broke down for good. Over 40 years of service.
3 machines in 17 years. Wow. I work in a line quarry and thet powdery dust shot gets absolutely everywhere then turns to concrete when it gets wet. New washing machine every 7 months for our house. Missus loves it. But hates it. She just works all these new fancy settings them boom, the dog things fucked and time to get a new one, and of course she wants a different make and model.
washers in the 50's were made with actual metal drums, washers today tend to have plastic drums, high RPM centrifugal force on a weaker plastic drum can cause the drum to come apart in interesting ways.
And EVERY time you get oil on your clean sheets from a busted (or in the process of breaking) transmission. And stoves you have to fix at least twice, at which point, it cost more than the cheap a**ed Magic Chef was new!!
One of these came with the trailer my Hubbie and I bought in the early 1980’s. It was pink. Worked like a charm, and was still working when we sold it years later...Now I have a new front loader I would like to throw out the front door.
I am 61 and occasionally I heard some old-timers say "put it in the fridgidaire." Some called the vacuum cleaner, "the Hoover." I also remember my grandmother referring to the "parlor" which we now call the "living room." Also, some old-timers called what I call a "couch" either a "davenport" or a "divan." I think they are often called "sofas" now.
Most new washers aren't $400....unless on sale avg price is between $550-700 for just the top load washer and the way things fall apart these days you probably won't get decades out of them either...I like the way that one agitates and the super fast spin cycle..that was awesome :)
Most likely built by Frigidaire in Dayton Ohio. The old Frigidaire plant is still there being operated by a glass manufacturer making automobile windshields. It also was an automobile assembly line for a few decades too after Frigidaire was spun off from GM in 1980. But those old machines are incredible. That Unimatic mechanism is built like an old three speed automobile transmission.
You ARE different, but in a very good way. Loved seeing this. Neat to see an old box of Tide as well. I had to quit using Tide because the added scents were getting to my lungs. Thanks for the video---very interesting
It’s so nice to know there is at least one person restoring these old machines. I’d love to buy one. It’s so satisfying seeing a machine fill up properly with water instead of the ‘eco’ modern machines which need an extra two rinses each time.
People do not realize what an incredible improvement fully automatic washers are. And not just over washing everything by hand, but over washing machines that you had to fill and then drain by hand with a hose from the laundry sink, and which did not spin to remove water. Those fully-saturated clothes then had to be hand-fed through a roller wringer to squeeze water out. Then you put them on the clothesline. Automatic washers didn’t exist till about 1940 but they took years to become common.
Wanna bet? Come to NZ and see if you can find an old F&P top loader. There was one that could equal but not exceed the F&P and that was the American commercial Maytags as used in public laundromats because of their size. Price-wise, these were way outside the reach of the family budget. Even in 5-kid families, where the kids were fussy teen-aged girls the faithful old F&P handled 2 - 3 loads per day Mon - Fri and 5 loads each Saturday and Sunday , right up until the kids left home. This was by no means unusual.
@@peteacher52 Fisher & Paykel looks to be very good washing machines, but the GM Frigidaire Washer was unique in the fact that the agitator went up and down instead of rotating like all the others at the time, which made it unique. And they cleaned very well!
@@peteacher52 my mum had a 1978 f&p top loader that only just gave up the ghost last year. Good solid machine those. Unfortunately Fisher and Paykel has turned into junk now that Haier has bought into them.
I just love the effortlessness of the agitator. Extremely effective. The leaking of the seals on a 70 YEAR OLD machine is to be expected. Aside from that, this machine was built like a literal tank. That being said, the business model has changed from product reliability to extended warranty plans on products that will fail within 5 days of the manufacturer warranties. That's where they make their money, sad to say.
7:15 If a top loader washing machine blows up at that speeds then how come does European front loader washing machines can spin up to 1600rpm and sometime more with some other washing machines
Reminds me of my Nan's washing machine. You had to connect two hoses to the hot/cold taps on the sink and a waste water hose into the sink. Best bit was it had an integral wringer that was hinged on one corner, you turned the wringer 90° so the clean wash was squeezed dry out of the drum. There was a chute the clothes went down and the water was expelled underneath into the sink at the same time. It's no wonder Nan only washed once a week, setting it up took forever. She got out her washboard any other time.
When everything is made of plastic it's no wonder 1100 rpm blows up modern washers. That Frigidaire I'm sure has all metal parts in the suspension, outer tub, inner tub etc. The only plastic I see is the agitator itself so as long as the spinning parts are reasonably balanced you can spin it as fast as you want because the parts aren't going to bend out of shape under the stress and if the load is a bit out of balance it's not going to shake itself apart.
Looks like just the right amount of vintage Tide! Mom taught me to look in the machine after it started. A little bits of suds and feel the water. If the water feels slippery, then you don’t need any more soap. Just replaced my 20 y.o. Frigidaire washer/dryer. Now I need to pull out my old Sears catalog look up prices, run it through an inflation calculator and see if my $900 Electrolux machine was a bargain or not. Sure didn’t seem like it!
My Dad worked for Speed Queen as a manager in the 50's and brought several front loaders home to try to find out why the seals leaked so bad. Flooded our basement over and over.... Not a pretty sight and if I remember, their capacity was less than a top loader as well.
Just no, I got a 60s model that washed and dried, after half a dozen failures I went through and replaces all the hoses, seals and electricals straightened out. It ran for maybe 3 loads and the main basket drive grenaded. I'd rather do a frame off car restoration.
I still have a 38 year old Litton Generation II MultiWave microwave oven. It is huge and sits on my counter with DAILY USE for almost 40 yrs. Never misses a beat and has a removable some sort of non-conductive metal shelf/rack for cooking shelves of food at once. Also has an interior plug for inserting a wired meat thermometer (which I never used) for cooking roasts. This is NOT a convection oven either. They don't make them anymore...probably bc they're STILL HERE. Litton is known for making industrial/govt microwave techno and apparently manufactured microwave ovens for a short time. I'm happy to have one. Well now that's obvious why they don't make home microwaves anymore....govt intervention.
When you were talking with your hand starting at 06:39, it reminded me of the Addams Family. The hand that came out of a small box. I think the name was "Thing." LOL!
The old Frigidaire washers with the Jet Cone (up and down action) agitators were terrible about twisting the clothes all up in large wads. I had to spend more time untying the clothes before I could put them in the dryer compared to a front loader or a rotating agitator washer. I was glad when the damn thing went to the dump!
My parents had the same washer in the fifties and my mother hated it for that very reason--it would tangle the clothes better than any other washer on the block!
I would love to find one of these, I HATE the new ones. A washer that lasts 70 yrs and still works that good is worth every cent of 1400.00$ to me. The efficiency of the new ones is BS. I sometimes have to run mine 2-3 times to get clothes clean and that with 2-3 pair of pants (not close to over filled). There is nothing energy or water efficient about running a machine 2-3 times and the darn thing takes about 90 minutes to run one cycle. It locks me out even when the load is unbalanced and if I try to stop it or add water with a bucket the damn thing kills the cycle dumps all the water and starts over. The company says this is normal because I am not allowed to try to outsmart it because it has sensors. I want an old one that worked and doesn't give me back chat! Where can I find one of these?!
Same type of BS I hate about new appliances. Mine would lock me out, would not balance, shit like that. I finally had enough and went to a used appliance store and told the salesman I wanted the oldest one they had. I got an 20 year old Whirlpool for $195 and it's so nice if I forget a shirt I open the lid and throw it in while it is running. That was 5 years ago and still works great.
@@joshsnyder4119 I got a used Whirlpool washer for $25 30 yrs ago and that baby cleans like the day I got it. Starting to smell musty though, I'm not sure how to clean it.
Yep just like the water-saving toilets. it didn't take them long to figure out they had to put a second mode to help flush things down. Otherwise you were flushing two to three times just to clean the toilet out. How was flushing 3 times saving any water? Remember the black market for used toilets?
Saturday's Child buy a German high end machine like Bosch or Miele if you want a quality HE front load washer. When you take proper care of it, it can easily last 20-30 years. Here in Europe we only use these types and these brands are the most popular machines for people who want their machine to last. My parent’s machine lasted 27 years having only one repair: the drum belt. Mine is now 2 years old and runs like the day I got it. . Some stains need to be treated in a special way for any washer, and maintenance like cleaning the drum with a hot wash is always mandatory for any washer. But other than that, it’s super reliable and silent. Hope you have better luck with your next washer.
I miss these old machines. Total wash time was 20-25 minutes and done. The new ones wash cycle time is less and the spin time is double. I'd gladly buy one from them that was totally refurbished.
The fastest spin on today's washer is 710 RPM for the top loading GE model (I have one). But you better balance the load in the tub evenly or the machine will dance across the floor on spin.
My Maytag Centennial spins at 900. Back in around 1977 I bought a Sears Kenmore washer and dryer. I wish I would have kept those machines. My Maytag Centennial is getting old enough that I wonder when it will fail and if it does will I be able to get parts for it.
I'm not surprised...GM is awesome. Of course that old washer still works. My father had a Fridgidaire refrigerator from about the same era in his basement until about a year ago. It still worked fine but he decided it needed to spend its next 70 years somewhere else. Honestly it moved to a relative with many teenagers for basement food storage.
My Maytag washer is over 30 years old, and other than a few repairs over the years that I've done myself, it still works fine. Same with my matching Maytag dryer. And my water heater (propane) is also at least as old. Appliances today just aren't made as sturdy. Cheaper parts to keep the costs down. I've even heard an appliance repair guy say that.
Our Wedgewood range is close to 70 years old. Oven is evenly heated, burners have 30K BTU if needed. Rebuilt it fifteen years ago and it works like a dream. Washer and NG dryer are both between 15 & 20 years old. Needed to replace worn parts on each. While in there found a few things which I corrected and each will probably work for another fifteen years before I need to work on them again. Went through our refrigerator just because. Upgraded some items, holding 18℉ and 35℉ steadily. I checked with my pyrometer memory mode recorded. In my garage I have a 60s apartment size refrigerator. Freezer is 10℉ and frig is 34℉. Never has needed work. It runs in freezing and hot temperatures. Something the new units cannot do. I greatly dislike having to replace an appliance because the manufacturer either did poor engineering, work or planned obsolescence. My wife and I have better uses for our money and retirement times.
I definitely see the logic in paying more upfront for a better quality product. You really do get what you pay for! I paid around $1200-$1500 for my front loader, and it spins at 1800rpm without issue.
I just spent $1000 on a Wash machine. They took $300 off. I live above the Arctic Circle, so you have to take shipping into account, but I did buy a high quality machine. It wasn't my first choice, but, I would've had to have that shipped in on a jet, and that would've been an extra expense. My grandmother bought a used Speed Queen in the 60s, and she had it for 40 years. That would've been my first choice, but I got a Whirlpool, and I do love it.
Miele makes the highest quality appliances on the planet. One of their finest washers is in the $4,000 range & will last for decades. Unfortunately most people have modest incomes & would rather purchase a $300-$800 machine & replace it every decade or so.
Back around the time of this washer there were "extractors" available at laundromat and they spun the clothes nearly dry so it didn't take so much money to dry them. Dryers haven't changed much, but washers just don't spin out the same.
As someone states on an earlier comment, the rated spin speed on this machine is 1,140 RPM, which is the same as the motor RPM. It's a direct-drive mechanism. There's no belt (or coupler), the motor mounts directly into the transmission (the pump is on the bottom of the motor). The motor does not reverse or pause between agitate and spin. There's a sort of shift mechanism that instantly locks the agitate and spin parts inside the transmission together so the entire internal mechanism rotates as a unit. GE's first automatic toploader also spun at 1,140 RPM
Adam Novák higher torque motors were just more expensive, so using a belt pulley to reduce speed and increase torque was most commonly used. But in modern day, direct drive washing machine design is coming back as it’s more energy efficient, reliable, and quieter.
Incidentally, my wedding gift was a coppertone pair of Frigidaire 1-18 Jet action, and Flowing Heat gas dryer. Built in 74, gifted in 83, and lasted me 30 years!!! Back then GM built some great stuff
The shirts are funny! I just bought 2! I have ‘57 Frigidaires that need some restoration that is beyond my capacity to accomplish. If that’s something you can do, let’s talk!
My last beer fridge was a "Frigidaire, made by General Motors". It was built like a tank, and weighed as much as one. Rounded front, something like 14 gauge steel. A bitch to drill a tapper handle through. Probably 50 years old, and worked great.
When talking about the quality you are missing an important aspect, the cost. These washing machines all cost over $1000 in today's equivalent dollars when new. If I bought a modern washing machine today for over $1000 I would expect it to have pretty high build quality. You literally had no option other than buying very expensive goods back then because that's all that was available for most people. I remember my grandparents rented their TV because owning it outright would have been almost as much as buying a car, that was pretty common.
That's incredible, and idk if you made the audio quite but if not that machine is incredibly quite. Older appliances are amazing, they work for decades and are repairable.
I really like the older ones much older than this. I like the ones that have the separate wringer, the ones that really look like a tub and you can see the big motor under it. When were those made, what years did they make those? This one actually looks much more modern, almost like today's machines. Did the wringer washers spin and agitate with more force, did they get clothes cleaner than todays washers? I want to get one I like the style, but I need to know if they clean better.
"Do you really want to spend $1500 to $2000 for a washer?"
If it lasts 70 years, then YES!
lets remember this washer has not been used on a regular basis, but yest still very impressive.
I doubt anything built today will last anything close to 70 years.
Why not just buy a Miele?
I have a Whirlpool washer that’s 16 years old, heavily used all during this time, and has never needed a repair or any service. It was $400 new in 2004. No, I would not pay $1500 for a new washer. It was never mentioned in this video how much usage this old machine has actually endured.
@@ThatGingerBrandon I have a 1971 whirlpool fullsize with lots of settings. It is my age :lol:. Runs perfect. A few years ago I changed out the pump. It may outlive me, assuming parts are around. It is very simple.
i just watched a man wash his clothes in a 70 year old washing machine damn it youtube
With 70 yr old soap lol
good thing he's not 70 with a 70 year old washer :D
Oliver Eastman Lol 😂
there must be 70yo clothes :D
Relaxing, isn't it?
Yes, I’d gladly pay $2,000 for a washer that will still be working 70 years later.
I would too. The problem is... not enough of us would. Society moves, remodels and divorces MUCH more than it did 70 yeatlrs ago. When I go to a newlywed couple to fix something I love to say "why do you need a 20 year appliance with a 2 year marriage?" It IS in jest.. and they know it. There is more than a trace of truth in it though.
You definitely sound like you’re from Wisconsin or Minnesota, but most likely Wisconsin.
New Speed Queen home top load washers are advertised to last for 25 years. They cost around $1000
@@chas717 I work on those machines. There are really 3 top load SQ washers. Some are electronic with no transmission. Some are belt drive and some are a sort of both. The basic structure is the Amana of 20 years ago. I believe they are probably the best top load right now. I dont think they will last that long. Take a look at Staber washers. I have one and service them also. I DO believe they will last 25+ years.
@@420dportkid Yes, the way he pronounced "years" is a dead giveaway.
"How, in 1952, were we able to produce a washing machine that spun at 1136 RPM, for a final spin speed, yet somehow in 2020 a washer that spins that fast tends to blow up?" Answer: Because everything made today is cheap garbage.
Other than being garbage, it costs an arm and a leg.
It's made in China or by a company with no pride in workmanship.
Please give me that washer
Yeah but if I can't afford the machine than it doesn't matter how good it is. More affordable is objectively better.
Made in ametica can be just as shit
This is back when they actually made quality items that would last.
Bc they were made in the US back then.
is speed queen the only decent berand lefT?
They make things to break down now after 5 to 10 years so they can sell you new. Just enough time so you don't think that the product is garbage so you buy the same brand again. This includes all products. Including Automobiles
@@marka6187 what about toyotas and hondas
@@randomrazr Toyotas and Hondas have taken that route lately.
People are freaking out about the coronavirus and I’m here watching a dude with a 70 year old washing machine do laundry
Lmao
Anything is better than nothing until then
Better than doing a load of 70-year laundry GACK
grizzbizz same! 😆
Same here 6 29 2020
I bet this 70-year-old washer cleans better than today's washers. I'd happily pay for a washer that cleaned this well.
Plenty of machines clean this well. You just can't go to Lowes and find one that cleans well for $500, you need to go to a specialty store and buy a more expensive and higher quality one. Miele and Speed Queen are good, like the other commenter mentioned. That applies for all sorts of household appliances. Ovens, vacuums, etc. They all used to be really expensive, now for the most part they're cheap to buy and cheaply built to meet consumer demand.
Me too, and I disagree with the other commenters, especially on Miele washers. There's a reason they aren't popular in the U.S., and it's not the price. Plenty of people buy overpriced "vanity" appliances.
@@bklynp718 People buy overpriced vanity appliances that look flashy, like Dyson vacuum cleaners. They're a status symbol. Many Americans haven't even heard of Miele and their machines look bland enough that people can't show them off. Miele makes great products in terms of effectiveness, but if durability is what you want then I'd go for a Speed Queen.
Miele is unpopular here because people can't go out to the local hardware store and buy one. We've become so used to being able to buy everything we need from just one store that many consumers are unwilling to visit specialty stores even when they provide better products and services.
@Jeff Webb Yes, A old Miele from the late 80ies or 90ies are still great
1953 we were still using wringer style washers..1956 we got our first black and white tv...
“More women use Tide in automatic washers than any other washing product.” Try putting that on a box today.😂😂😂
Terrance Banks so hilarious 😒
Judge Judith Sheindlin he’s just pointing out how the times have changed. No need to be rude
TheSimulatorGuy it’s low hanging fruit
@@staticbeans just as low as your IQ
The Lone Wanderer ok sweaty 😌
This sold with its dryer pair in 1953 for $494.90. What cost $494.90 in 1953 would cost $4796.10 in 2020.
Michael Davis : Jesus. Lol
Michael Davis who cares if it probably would outlast its user
Yup, but you will probably never need to buy another one again. Nowadays, you'll be forking over $1500 for a pair that will need replacement every 5 or 6 years. Even as late as the 80s it was not uncommon for a low end machine to last 20 years. I think the replacement cycle on all of this china made garbage are way too short. The last dishwasher I bought began having problems after onky 2 years but it still cost $700!
@@equid0x is* way too short
@hawkturkey Yeah I've heard a lot about failing electronics in modern machines... "knock on wood" I haven't had any board failures myself. Being an electronics tech, my guess is a lot of the problems probably stem from inferior quality capacitors. This has been an ongoing theme with Chinese made electronics since the early 2000s.
The great days of watching your laundry with the lid up!
I do it now on a modern top loader from Daewoo. Find where the safety switch is and jam something in there to keep it pushed. Keep dumb children away.
just tear of the lid locker. Got fed up with having to stop it just to open the lid and tore it off.
I don’t understand why washers lock
I’m always finding other things to throw in there oh well
Before planned obsolescence was the norm....😯
This Old Man Exactly
Nowadays, it’s as if the companies who make them don’t want them to last. Why are they even doing this in the first place? Is it for greater profit margins?
@@joshbacon8241 No profit in anything that lasts a lifetime...
Very well said, I can remember back in 06 when I moved into the house I'm now to take care of my now late grandmother, we still had the top loading GE washing machine my grandfather bought her in 1980, as she use to work for GE, and would not own something in any other brand if she had the option, and it only died a few years later in 2010, but the GE HE top loader that replaced it, HOLLY HELL what a difference in build quality, I've had to replace every knob, and stalk on both the washer, and matching dryer, as the plastics crack, I'll be surprised if my units last another 5 - 10 years before a part becomes to costly, or hard to find, and I just have to junk them for new ones.
@Robby Dey Since this is a '52 washer, your timing is off....🧐
That washer, regardless of the suds problem, looks like it does an incredible job cleaning clothes.
Remember back in 1970s company would sell "suds free" soap. People didn't put 2+2 together and find out they were using too much soap. Companies took advantage of it to sell suds free soap.
Back in the era when this washer was made, it was one of the very BEST. Period. The simple answer as to why a washer such as this can spin at 1130 RPM and new ones fall apart, literally, if they come anywhere near that speed, is this: Quality of design, quality of the materials used in making the machine, quality, care, and pride in the workmanship. These values are on life support, near-dead in today's manufacturing processes.
Many of today's washers spin faster than that. My 6 year old front-loader spins without issue at 1600 RPM.
This was also the period of time when GM was pretty much the best corporation in the world for product design.
One comment I would make about spin speed... higher speeds are maybe fine if you will use a mechanical dryer, but pose issues if you hang dry items unlexs you plan to iron everythinng.
Our washer has a 2000 rpm setting. Handles it fine. Don’t use it often becuse it shakes the whole house and sounds like a jet engine revving up 😂.
@@DiamondLightning-qi8yl lol
I had a Frigidare-GM microwave. It had a timer knob and a locking lever for the door. When locked, a large red light proclaimed it was COOKING. No light, no turntable, just the aluminum fan inside to distribute the microwaves. It still worked as intended. While technically a cabinet mount microwave, I had it standing on a 2x4 frame and just put a cordcap on its MC whip. It was lost in a breakup in 2008 and I have never been able to find any information on it or even photos of a similar model on the Internet. I liked that microwave.
My grandmother and grandfather grew up during the depression. As a result, if you found discarded machines, fans, lawnmowers, etc, you took them home to see if anything could be done with them, or fix them. Grandpa found a 1958 Sears and Roebuck top loader '20' on the side of the road in the early 70s. He took it and replaced the drive belt and fixed the timer by carefully filing the mechanical contacts by hand with an emery board ( nail file) . They used that thing until his death in 1996. It was never serviced beyond what he initially did. Thing was, the machine needed a 20 amp circuit (110V) to run it.. and it did use a ton of water but he piped the drain hose into the yard to water the grass lol. So we had 'suddsy' grass every wednesday but the lawn didn't seem to mind. Here's the thing. For whatever reason, that machine never had a soap scum build up problem nor mold issue, both of which my much newer Amana has despite my best efforts. Once a year, I have to take my machine apart and clean everything by hand, as well as run a 50-50 water/bleach cycle through it to keep mold from forming, once a month. His machine was in a damp basement, same as mine, yet he never had an issue. We sold the machine in 1997. Probably should've kept it! Love the shirt logos BTW ;)
Older timers had nearly solid silver contacts, newer ones went brass with a thin coating. The older machines had a much larger air gap at the top that let them dry out, soap scum dries and flakes off as well as keeping mildew from growing as much. To get that on a newer model you'd have to leave the lid open between uses.
You don't use the Affresh tablets?
@@ty2010 most owner manuals nowadays tell you to leave the lid up between uses
I'm sure whoever bought it from you is still very happy with it!
Laundry detergent back then had phosphates in it, which helped fight buildup and mold. New detergents have enzymes that replaced phosphates, but it then requires you remove your warm and cold water washes immediately, or they would soon mildew.
The 1950s, back when things were build to last a lifetime as long you take care of it well. Hell, I have a modern day washing machine that can barely wash clothes in a full cycle.
Cheap Chinese build quality. Dishonest business practices nowadays will be our demise. Republicans have sold out to corporate criminals. Where our consumer protections?
It's gladly pay $2000 for a washer that lasts.
When this machine was new in 1952 there were still steam locomotives operating on Americas railroads!
And no jetliners. Or computers. Or colour television. Some places didn't even have dial phones.
And racial segregation...
There's always one that simply must turn any random topic racial.
@@Miniver765 not trying to pull anything here just saying
@@MrCarguy2 On a video about a vintage washing machine. Got it. That makes total sense.
My Grandparents owned one of these machines. It was enthroned on the “back of the house” built in the 50’s when they added indoor plumbing and the room for the pantry and this washing machine. They lived in the housing village of a cotton mill, and were called lint heads from the cotton dust in their hair. When my Grandmother died in 1995 that same washing machine went to her church to wash tablecloths and kitchen linens a job it still does to this day. We were always fascinated by the agitator whipping up and down which you could watch by simply lifting the lid without hitting the little switch on the control panel.
And by the way, your shirts must have been relatively clean, the laundry my Grandmother ran of her grandsons clothes turned the water a nice river mud brown even after she made us hose them off!
As someone else already commented here: Would I pay $1500 for a new washer? YES, if it would last 70 years! It would be the one and only washer I'd ever have to buy. We throw our money away these days on cheap crap that, once broken, is cheaper to simply replace (with another piece of crap) than repair.
David Minton you can say that again, so sad but true!
I'm paying that for a washing machine today!
America culture replacing junk. And hording
My washers and dryers I've bought in the last 15 years:
My brother gave me a broken 1996 Kenmore dryer in 2005. I put a belt on it, then a motor and it's worked fine since.
1980's Kenmore washer I bought for $35 at an estate sale. Worked perfect until 3 years ago. It was a little rusty and beat up from a few moves and a damp basement so I threw it out. Should've fixed it and kept it. It washed so well and had plenty of room.
1990's Maytag I got for free from craigslist (along with a matching electric dryer that worked perfect that I sold for $50).
The washer needed a bearing but worked, didn't want to fix the bearing so I found a 2012 Maytag for sale for $25 from someone that just bought a house with them in and didn't need. Works great.
Then I bought a house 6 months ago that came with a washer and dryer already hooked up, so I'm storing my 96' Dryer, and my 12' washer in my basement. Lol
Free dryer: that I still have
$35 washer: broken.
Free Maytag washer and dryer: gave away washer and sold dryer for $50.
Bought house with washer and dryer.
$35+$25=$60 - $50= $10 that I've paid for washers and dryers in my life and I have a back up of each. Lol.
Sorry for all the unasked for info.
I'm just cheap I guess. It doesn't make any sense for me to buy appliances new when people are giving them away or selling them cheap. Especially when everyone I know that buys new ones says they break constantly.
You can buy Speed Queens. They are meant to run 25 years before requiring repair, which according to some sources is easier and more doable than most others. They are expensive, but I think you would enjoy them.
speedqueen.com/
The way that bad boy agitated the clothes was awesome
If I trust a 70 year old fridge to hold my beer,, I damn sure would trust that washer to clean my blue jeans
Yup! Gotta 1948 gibsn refrigerator for the beer in my basement
Got a Gm early 50s in basement Loaded with Beer and kimchi
i had a chance to buy a 54 GE but the self sealing Freon didn't stay sealed to long but what do you expect i did buy a 1963 air conditioner that's in my window but its getting harder and harder to find the refrigerant so i had them add to the guts to step down the pressure that the new stuff requires to something a little colder and last longer my room stays at 62 all day n night if i turn it lower like i did one night i left a unopened root beer glass bottle on the night stand and it was cold the next morning 50-70s (some 80s) America Rules!!
Amen
John ... still have a 1952 Frigidaire holding my beer. About 50 years ago it needed a new door gasket and latch. 30 years ago I replaced the motor capacitor. This was the first fridge advertised to hold ice cream frozen, as it had a separate freezer compartment. Oh, I put a watt meter on it and electric use is less than $5 per month, compared to my kitchen fridge at $25 per month.
I have a 55 year old General Electric dryer, just had a drum belt put on it ! The old stuff was built !
I have a blender from 1977. Still works. Made in china means everything breaks in 3 years.
BK Lulu year I wa born
Got a kirby vacuum cleaner that my dad bought in 1984. I own it now and it still runs like new. In between the years 2004 till last year when my father gave me the vacuum i couldn't tell you how many cheap vacuums i had that where 95% plastic I've gone through..
1967 Kirby vacuum, ‘96 emerson VCR, ‘88 wall clock (not battery operated), ‘02 or ‘03 Nintendo GameCube and gameboy, ‘96 Cadillac Club Car golf cart (was my grandpa’s along with the clock), ‘40s sunbeam toaster, ‘90something hurricane lamp, the list goes on. Some of this stuff ain’t even made in America, and it’s lasted a lifetime! I think if you actually design AND build it right, you’ll have it last forever.
We have the same toaster model as the family on family ties and it still works pretty well lmfao. We got it second hand.
Products made in America are also disposable garbage. Spare us your xenocentrism.
Those machines were awesome. Wish they still made them!
I’ll take an old school washer like this any day. Old school front loaders are appealing and satisfying to watch because they used a lot of water and all the suds, water and clothes slopping around in there actually seemed like it was doing something.
Yep. I was absolutely enthralled watching the front loading washers and dryers at the laundromat when washing my old fashioned thick comforters. Can’t stuff them in around the agitator of my 1997 Maytag washer that still works for everything else. Matching dryer still works like a charm as well.
We were still using our 1980's National washing machine up to this time. We just painted it's rusted body but the motor still works, and even the plastic in the washer is unbelievably long lasting. As a matter of fact it is way better than what is designed now. Thank you to the engineers of first order in our parent's time..
Quality American engineering, American steel and American bearings.
THE BEST!!!!
Quality American engineering, American steel and American bearings??!!! Yeah right! We're still laughing our arses off at Yank "compact" cars since the demise of the monsters from the late 70s onwards. Kindly remove from your cranium the all-too-prevalent notion that if it's not American then it can't measure up.
@@peteacher52 America has become The Land of the Landfill.
Cheap, disposable plastibling rubbish.
Americans can't get enough of it.
That's why China loves our consumers.
Any of the stuff made in the US before the China imports was well made and meant to last a lifetime. I'm hanging onto any of the older stuff I have bc of that unsurpassed quality. My aunt's house is powered by free natural gas from her farm. The light fixtures, the appliances, everything. It's all vintage/antiques but everything works very well. Appliances are all in aqua, that tells you how old the stuff is!
@@765respect It's not the China Imports that killed quality, it's the intentional corporate tactic to make inferior products designed to be replaced or fixed to keep sales high, revenues streaming in and stakeholders fat and happy. You can thank corporate minds like Brooks Stevens and his statements like "Instilling in the buyer the desire to own something a little newer, a little better, a little sooner than is necessary", that spawned a new age of product design and manufacturing back in the mid-50's. The country loved it to, because it meant more products, more manufacturing, and more jobs, but eventually there comes a ceiling to it all when people don't want to spend $1500 on a new washer every 5 years and China simply was able to make these chintzy products even cheaper than American corporations with bigger payrolls and fat executive overhead to support. Before this became the tactic, companies took pride in making products that would last because they figured that was what it took to get people to buy their things...quality and reputation.
On the old game shows, a washer and drier combo was often the grand prize and everyone was just so excited.
I work as an appliance technician on warranty calls, and most of the times I see are Samsungs. They are normally cheap component-wise, and thats the reason why they fail. Frigidaires are pretty rare in my job, but they pop up here and there and normally for some rust issues because they are being abused.
Zoft275 what you say about Samsung is so true. My brother made the horrible mistake of buying Samsung appliances for his kitchen remodel. In the first 3 years, The refrigerator French door mechanism needed replacement 2x; the ice maker leaked and the dishwasher electronic control board failed. The stove is the only thing that so far has been trouble free.
I personally use LGs i haven’t managed to kill it yet
Replacing a Samsung tub spider on Wednesday, yay. Can attest to abuse, I put an old Whirlpool next to the leaky basement wall in my own home and it now looks just like the rusty pile that went out 15 years ago :p
thats true Samsung are crap, 2 of our neighbors have Samsung fridges, constant issues with the ice makers, also have seen several Samsung front load washer sitting outside waiting to be picked up on recycling day....just crap
@@SuperBooboo02 it has nothing to do with the Samsung Co. They sold their name.
They did that with Duracell car batteries. I bought one of the largest ones They make for. V8 Challenger. Cost 160.00. Lasted 6 months.
Failed. In AUGUST!!
I threw a fit until I got my money back. And I'll never buy Duracell again.
I would be curious to see the lab test results of 70 year old Tide vs. Tide made today. I am sure the ingredients have change alot. That washing machine is amazing. I think your answer to why a new machine can run at high RPMs when a new one blows up at that speed comes down to the lack of quality and metal used in today’s machines. You can’t expect thin aluminum and plastic to withstand that kind of force. With a new machine costing $1,000.00 plus, $2,500 for a machine that lasts over half a century doesn’t sound like a bad investment to me! My mother purchased a new washer recently and was told by the salesman that if your able to get more than 7 years out of a new machine, your doing something very right! Thats pathetic!
My mother has a Frigidaire freezer that still works to this day and has never had a service call on it, it was bought in 1950
She had a General Motors freezer, lol.
My 83 year old aunt has and still uses a 1950s-60s GM Kenmore range. It has six electric burners and two oven chambers. It also has an analog timer that rings a bell when its done.
Amazing with this overload that this washer was able to have such turnover with no issues. These were workhorse washers built like tanks and top rated for there washing performance.
**THEIR.
Same 1/2 hp motor as the later models that did twice the capacity. The key to not shaking on overload is the clothes basket is literally porcelained cast iron with the top ring filled with concrete, the thing weighs like 80lbs by itself.
@@captainamericaamerica8090 thanks
@@ty2010 Me great granny still uses her old old washer! The clothes come out Cleaner than the newer machines.
@@captainamericaamerica8090 lot more water to volume of clothes and the agitation is usually more violent, there were more complaints of older machines ripping, stretching clothes and removing buttons
My Grandma had an early 1960s Frigidaire Imperial Frost Proof refrigerator and that thing lasted until about 2005 before it finally broke down for good. Over 40 years of service.
After 3 machines in 17 yrs I spent the extra money on a speed queen I have my fingers crossed hoping it lasts over 10 yrs
I'm sure a speed queen will.
Let us know how it's holding up
My Speed Queen lasted 32 years. Had to throw it out. Can't find spares to repair anymore.
I always wanted one of those enormous 50 pound things like at a hotel.
That'd hold me and I could do all the quilts and stuff at home.
3 machines in 17 years. Wow.
I work in a line quarry and thet powdery dust shot gets absolutely everywhere then turns to concrete when it gets wet. New washing machine every 7 months for our house. Missus loves it. But hates it. She just works all these new fancy settings them boom, the dog things fucked and time to get a new one, and of course she wants a different make and model.
washers in the 50's were made with actual metal drums, washers today tend to have plastic drums, high RPM centrifugal force on a weaker plastic drum can cause the drum to come apart in interesting ways.
And EVERY time you get oil on your clean sheets from a busted (or in the process of breaking) transmission.
And stoves you have to fix at least twice, at which point, it cost more than the cheap a**ed Magic Chef was new!!
I love seeing older stuff still working and in use.
I can not believe I'm sitting here watching a video on a 70 year old washer..how did this come to me?? Oh well I did kind of enjoy it tho
Man, you gotta turn those graphic tees INSIDE-OUT before you put them through a wash/dry cycle! YOU'RE GONNA ERODE THE GRAPHIC! GAHH
Turn everything inside out too. It prevents fading.
You could just buy another tee shirt if the graphic erodes
@@lintonfr Concert tees can't really be replaced
@@lintonfr That's kind of a waste of money when you could just make what you have last longer simply by turning it inside out.
One of these came with the trailer my Hubbie and I bought in the early 1980’s. It was pink. Worked like a charm, and was still working when we sold it years later...Now I have a new front loader I would like to throw out the front door.
"Front loaders we're never good," my mother would say.
Should’ve used a decibel meter. I wonder how loud it was compared to a newer model with a direct drive.
Frigidaire also produced refrigerators. Every grandma and great grandma would call the fridge “fridgidaire” in my country
I am 61 and occasionally I heard some old-timers say "put it in the fridgidaire." Some called the vacuum cleaner, "the Hoover." I also remember my grandmother referring to the "parlor" which we now call the "living room." Also, some old-timers called what I call a "couch" either a "davenport" or a "divan." I think they are often called "sofas" now.
Now they are making appliances to work only a few years and after that, repairs and parts are so expensive...
That washing machine is in INCREDIBLE! mint condition, like it's come from a time capsule 😍
Most new washers aren't $400....unless on sale avg price is between $550-700 for just the top load washer and the way things fall apart these days you probably won't get decades out of them either...I like the way that one agitates and the super fast spin cycle..that was awesome :)
The box shows a wringer washer! My grandma actually used one. Would break buttons wholesale
Love these machines. They ran forever
Most likely built by Frigidaire in Dayton Ohio. The old Frigidaire plant is still there being operated by a glass manufacturer making automobile windshields. It also was an automobile assembly line for a few decades too after Frigidaire was spun off from GM in 1980.
But those old machines are incredible. That Unimatic mechanism is built like an old three speed automobile transmission.
You ARE different, but in a very good way. Loved seeing this. Neat to see an old box of Tide as well.
I had to quit using Tide because the added scents were getting to my lungs.
Thanks for the video---very interesting
I agree Susan I'm from.australia and I'm sure we had tide detergent in the 60s
It’s so nice to know there is at least one person restoring these old machines. I’d love to buy one. It’s so satisfying seeing a machine fill up properly with water instead of the ‘eco’ modern machines which need an extra two rinses each time.
These were the days. And it is crazy that it still works perfectly after 70 years.
People do not realize what an incredible improvement fully automatic washers are. And not just over washing everything by hand, but over washing machines that you had to fill and then drain by hand with a hose from the laundry sink, and which did not spin to remove water. Those fully-saturated clothes then had to be hand-fed through a roller wringer to squeeze water out. Then you put them on the clothesline. Automatic washers didn’t exist till about 1940 but they took years to become common.
Nothing washes like a GM Frigidaire, NOTHING.
Wanna bet? Come to NZ and see if you can find an old F&P top loader. There was one that could equal but not exceed the F&P and that was the American commercial Maytags as used in public laundromats because of their size. Price-wise, these were way outside the reach of the family budget. Even in 5-kid families, where the kids were fussy teen-aged girls the faithful old F&P handled 2 - 3 loads per day Mon - Fri and 5 loads each Saturday and Sunday , right up until the kids left home. This was by no means unusual.
@@peteacher52 Fisher & Paykel looks to be very good washing machines, but the GM Frigidaire Washer was unique in the fact that the agitator went up and down instead of rotating like all the others at the time, which made it unique. And they cleaned very well!
@@peteacher52 OH, and we were a five kid family, first suburban, than rural, starting 1973.
@@peteacher52 my mum had a 1978 f&p top loader that only just gave up the ghost last year. Good solid machine those. Unfortunately Fisher and Paykel has turned into junk now that Haier has bought into them.
@@peteacher52 ...except maybe a Kenmore Whirlpool Norge Maytag..etc...etc.
I just love the effortlessness of the agitator. Extremely effective. The leaking of the seals on a 70 YEAR OLD machine is to be expected. Aside from that, this machine was built like a literal tank. That being said, the business model has changed from product reliability to extended warranty plans on products that will fail within 5 days of the manufacturer warranties. That's where they make their money, sad to say.
It's fraudulent business practices. The repair people are hard to contact, late to arrive and do a piss poor job of temporarily repairing it.
Given the tears in your arm sleeve I have to ask the question. Is the top you’re wearing 70 years old? Haha! maybe just your “it’s wash day top” 😂
Yes I noticed that later in the video, I thought his sleeve had been through too many old washing machines!
Wow🤯what a beautiful machine Im speechless!!
7:15 If a top loader washing machine blows up at that speeds then how come does European front loader washing machines can spin up to 1600rpm and sometime more with some other washing machines
In Europe they have responsive consumer protections. Mitch McConnell and friends sold out to Citizens United/ Corporate criminals
Reminds me of my Nan's washing machine. You had to connect two hoses to the hot/cold taps on the sink and a waste water hose into the sink. Best bit was it had an integral wringer that was hinged on one corner, you turned the wringer 90° so the clean wash was squeezed dry out of the drum. There was a chute the clothes went down and the water was expelled underneath into the sink at the same time. It's no wonder Nan only washed once a week, setting it up took forever. She got out her washboard any other time.
When everything is made of plastic it's no wonder 1100 rpm blows up modern washers. That Frigidaire I'm sure has all metal parts in the suspension, outer tub, inner tub etc. The only plastic I see is the agitator itself so as long as the spinning parts are reasonably balanced you can spin it as fast as you want because the parts aren't going to bend out of shape under the stress and if the load is a bit out of balance it's not going to shake itself apart.
Looks like just the right amount of vintage Tide! Mom taught me to look in the machine after it started. A little bits of suds and feel the water. If the water feels slippery, then you don’t need any more soap. Just replaced my 20 y.o. Frigidaire washer/dryer. Now I need to pull out my old Sears catalog look up prices, run it through an inflation calculator and see if my $900 Electrolux machine was a bargain or not. Sure didn’t seem like it!
I want to see an old front loader in action
I have a Bendix Duomatic on my channel. Also have other machines as well, all vintage.
The old wascomat commercial ones did a nice job
My Dad worked for Speed Queen as a manager in the 50's and brought several front loaders home to try to find out why the seals leaked so bad. Flooded our basement over and over.... Not a pretty sight and if I remember, their capacity was less than a top loader as well.
Just no, I got a 60s model that washed and dried, after half a dozen failures I went through and replaces all the hoses, seals and electricals straightened out. It ran for maybe 3 loads and the main basket drive grenaded. I'd rather do a frame off car restoration.
I still have a 38 year old Litton Generation II MultiWave microwave oven. It is huge and sits on my counter with DAILY USE for almost 40 yrs. Never misses a beat and has a removable some sort of non-conductive metal shelf/rack for cooking shelves of food at once. Also has an interior plug for inserting a wired meat thermometer (which I never used) for cooking roasts. This is NOT a convection oven either. They don't make them anymore...probably bc they're STILL HERE. Litton is known for making industrial/govt microwave techno and apparently manufactured microwave ovens for a short time. I'm happy to have one. Well now that's obvious why they don't make home microwaves anymore....govt intervention.
When you were talking with your hand starting at 06:39, it reminded me of the Addams Family. The hand that came out of a small box. I think the name was "Thing." LOL!
I watched that whole series on youtube during the pandemic. Loved it.
The old Frigidaire washers with the Jet Cone (up and down action) agitators were terrible about twisting the clothes all up in large wads. I had to spend more time untying the clothes before I could put them in the dryer compared to a front loader or a rotating agitator washer. I was glad when the damn thing went to the dump!
My parents had the same washer in the fifties and my mother hated it for that very reason--it would tangle the clothes better than any other washer on the block!
I would love to find one of these, I HATE the new ones. A washer that lasts 70 yrs and still works that good is worth every cent of 1400.00$ to me. The efficiency of the new ones is BS. I sometimes have to run mine 2-3 times to get clothes clean and that with 2-3 pair of pants (not close to over filled). There is nothing energy or water efficient about running a machine 2-3 times and the darn thing takes about 90 minutes to run one cycle. It locks me out even when the load is unbalanced and if I try to stop it or add water with a bucket the damn thing kills the cycle dumps all the water and starts over. The company says this is normal because I am not allowed to try to outsmart it because it has sensors. I want an old one that worked and doesn't give me back chat! Where can I find one of these?!
Same type of BS I hate about new appliances. Mine would lock me out, would not balance, shit like that. I finally had enough and went to a used appliance store and told the salesman I wanted the oldest one they had. I got an 20 year old Whirlpool for $195 and it's so nice if I forget a shirt I open the lid and throw it in while it is running. That was 5 years ago and still works great.
@@joshsnyder4119 I got a used Whirlpool washer for $25 30 yrs ago and that baby cleans like the day I got it. Starting to smell musty though, I'm not sure how to clean it.
Yep just like the water-saving toilets. it didn't take them long to figure out they had to put a second mode to help flush things down. Otherwise you were flushing two to three times just to clean the toilet out. How was flushing 3 times saving any water? Remember the black market for used toilets?
@@765respect Leave the lid open between uses, lets the scum dry and flake off the tub. Also, fabric softener will cause stuff to collect inside.
Saturday's Child buy a German high end machine like Bosch or Miele if you want a quality HE front load washer. When you take proper care of it, it can easily last 20-30 years.
Here in Europe we only use these types and these brands are the most popular machines for people who want their machine to last. My parent’s machine lasted 27 years having only one repair: the drum belt.
Mine is now 2 years old and runs like the day I got it. . Some stains need to be treated in a special way for any washer, and maintenance like cleaning the drum with a hot wash is always mandatory for any washer. But other than that, it’s super reliable and silent. Hope you have better luck with your next washer.
I miss these old machines. Total wash time was 20-25 minutes and done. The new ones wash cycle time is less and the spin time is double. I'd gladly buy one from them that was totally refurbished.
It's true, they dont make them like they use to.
I make coffee everyday with mom's 1960's Faberware percolator.
A 60 year old coffee machine? That is amazing.
Percolators make shit coffee. Try V60.
@@Fridelain That's your opinion, opinions are like ------es, everybody's got one.
The fastest spin on today's washer is 710 RPM for the top loading GE model (I have one). But you better balance the load in the tub evenly or the machine will dance across the floor on spin.
His sleeve is older than the washing machine
My Maytag Centennial spins at 900. Back in around 1977 I bought a Sears Kenmore washer and dryer. I wish I would have kept those machines. My Maytag Centennial is getting old enough that I wonder when it will fail and if it does will I be able to get parts for it.
The good old times when things lasted as long as you did.
I'm not surprised...GM is awesome. Of course that old washer still works.
My father had a Fridgidaire refrigerator from about the same era in his basement until about a year ago. It still worked fine but he decided it needed to spend its next 70 years somewhere else. Honestly it moved to a relative with many teenagers for basement food storage.
You can still buy detergent like this new, it’s like $55 for a bucket. Called Bubble Bandit.
My Maytag washer is over 30 years old, and other than a few repairs over the years that I've done myself, it still works fine. Same with my matching Maytag dryer. And my water heater (propane) is also at least as old. Appliances today just aren't made as sturdy. Cheaper parts to keep the costs down. I've even heard an appliance repair guy say that.
This seriously, looks as if it cleans much better than the latest advance washers.
Our Wedgewood range is close to 70 years old. Oven is evenly heated, burners have 30K BTU if needed. Rebuilt it fifteen years ago and it works like a dream.
Washer and NG dryer are both between 15 & 20 years old. Needed to replace worn parts on each. While in there found a few things which I corrected and each will probably work for another fifteen years before I need to work on them again.
Went through our refrigerator just because. Upgraded some items, holding 18℉ and 35℉ steadily. I checked with my pyrometer memory mode recorded. In my garage I have a 60s apartment size refrigerator. Freezer is 10℉ and frig is 34℉. Never has needed work. It runs in freezing and hot temperatures. Something the new units cannot do.
I greatly dislike having to replace an appliance because the manufacturer either did poor engineering, work or planned obsolescence. My wife and I have better uses for our money and retirement times.
I want the washing machine that was on Lost in Space.
I definitely see the logic in paying more upfront for a better quality product. You really do get what you pay for! I paid around $1200-$1500 for my front loader, and it spins at 1800rpm without issue.
Wow that laundry detergent still going after all those years also that’s insane that it spins incredibley fast for its time best of its time 😎👍🤩
I just spent $1000 on a Wash machine. They took $300 off. I live above the Arctic Circle, so you have to take shipping into account, but I did buy a high quality machine. It wasn't my first choice, but, I would've had to have that shipped in on a jet, and that would've been an extra expense. My grandmother bought a used Speed Queen in the 60s, and she had it for 40 years. That would've been my first choice, but I got a Whirlpool, and I do love it.
I'll trade you my 2018 agitator equipped Speed Queen for this straight up.
Miele makes the highest quality appliances on the planet. One of their finest washers is in the $4,000 range & will last for decades. Unfortunately most people have modest incomes & would rather purchase a $300-$800 machine & replace it every decade or so.
I'm amazed that this machine still looks brand new after this many years.
Back around the time of this washer there were "extractors" available at laundromat and they spun the clothes nearly dry so it didn't take so much money to dry them. Dryers haven't changed much, but washers just don't spin out the same.
This video really agitated me.
Did it agitate your "relaxation glands?" Ahhh, so nice.
We have this exact same washer at the hunting camp in Kentucky. Its been sitting in a laundry shed the last 50 years.... still runs like a top!
As someone states on an earlier comment, the rated spin speed on this machine is 1,140 RPM, which is the same as the motor RPM. It's a direct-drive mechanism. There's no belt (or coupler), the motor mounts directly into the transmission (the pump is on the bottom of the motor). The motor does not reverse or pause between agitate and spin. There's a sort of shift mechanism that instantly locks the agitate and spin parts inside the transmission together so the entire internal mechanism rotates as a unit.
GE's first automatic toploader also spun at 1,140 RPM
That's clever for this old technology
Why was even belt drive invented at washing machines?
Adam Novák higher torque motors were just more expensive, so using a belt pulley to reduce speed and increase torque was most commonly used.
But in modern day, direct drive washing machine design is coming back as it’s more energy efficient, reliable, and quieter.
Incidentally, my wedding gift was a coppertone pair of Frigidaire 1-18 Jet action, and Flowing Heat gas dryer. Built in 74, gifted in 83, and lasted me 30 years!!! Back then GM built some great stuff
We owned a pair of the new “almond” color back in 1979!
The shirts are funny! I just bought 2!
I have ‘57 Frigidaires that need some restoration that is beyond my capacity to accomplish. If that’s something you can do, let’s talk!
My last beer fridge was a "Frigidaire, made by General Motors". It was built like a tank, and weighed as much as one. Rounded front, something like 14 gauge steel. A bitch to drill a tapper handle through. Probably 50 years old, and worked great.
This is the washer that will make sure that all the laundry is clean without you having to rewash them.
Beautiful machine
When talking about the quality you are missing an important aspect, the cost. These washing machines all cost over $1000 in today's equivalent dollars when new. If I bought a modern washing machine today for over $1000 I would expect it to have pretty high build quality. You literally had no option other than buying very expensive goods back then because that's all that was available for most people. I remember my grandparents rented their TV because owning it outright would have been almost as much as buying a car, that was pretty common.
I purchased a GE about 1973 & it stopped working about 4 or f years ago. You can not beat that.
Lucy probably used this very same washing machine to wash Ricky's clothes. You get rid of it what ever you do don't sell it to Fred and Ethel.
That's incredible, and idk if you made the audio quite but if not that machine is incredibly quite. Older appliances are amazing, they work for decades and are repairable.
When Stuff was Made to Be repaired.. my gm fridge is Still Kicking. Its a 46
I really like the older ones much older than this. I like the ones that have the separate wringer, the ones that really look like a tub and you can see the big motor under it. When were those made, what years did they make those? This one actually looks much more modern, almost like today's machines. Did the wringer washers spin and agitate with more force, did they get clothes cleaner than todays washers? I want to get one I like the style, but I need to know if they clean better.
Finally, the washing machines from Tom & Jerry is a real thing!
Those old washers were Lean Mean Cleaning Machines. Would love to have one you could use all the water you wanted.