Thread Number: 19439
America's Favorite Laundry Twins - SAVED! |
[Down to Last] |
Post# 312837   11/2/2008 at 22:24 (5,625 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Woo - what a day! A few weeks ago Estatesale Gary posted a link to an estate sale in a Chicago suburb that had a Westinghouse washer included in the sale. I shot the estate sale company a message asking if they would sell the set. She shot me back an offer that I couldn't refuse, and scheduled this Sunday to drive over to a town just east of Aurora, IL in I-88. Boy, this was a washer from hell to get out of the basement. Certainly doesn't look pretty, but it is all there. It is an L-5 Laundromat (guessing 1950/1951), with Weigh-to-Save! This house was unbelieveable. I've been through houses like this - just full of trash and junk, but each time I'm still amazed that people could live like this. The Estate Lady Leslie said the house was 10 times worse the weekend before during the sale. I had a hard time believing such a bold statement from the way the basement looked. Also the neighbors up the road helped out, along with my kid brother, and gave some history. Said the previous owner, Mary-Ellen and her husband built the house 45 years ago, but brought the Westinghouse set from their previous house. I really don't know how they got just the washer in the basement. I wish I would have taken a picture of the stairs, but I'm sure you've all been there before. Sharp 90 degree turn and no space there for an appliance truck. Yep, this was carried up by brute force. Half way up the stairs, a call was put out by Estate Lady Leslie to push, with my foot still on the step. This equaled the Westinghouse to immediately crush my ankle. Besides the massive head injury from running into the garage door on the way out, all body parts are in tact! |
|
Post# 312838 , Reply# 1   11/2/2008 at 22:25 (5,625 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 312840 , Reply# 2   11/2/2008 at 22:29 (5,625 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Also take note of the sweat dripping down my forehead. I did mention that this was carried up by brute force. Estate Lady Leslie found a pair of jumper cables. Ran the cables under the front legs, and pulled the machine up the stairs - with my 15 y/o brother, and a 50 something neighbor below. I certainly didn't want either to get hurt. Somebody in Appliance Heaven were looking out for us. In the meantime, once it got up the stairs, the Laundromat fell on her side. I'm not sure why I'm smiling in this picture. |
Post# 312842 , Reply# 3   11/2/2008 at 22:31 (5,625 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Fast forward to this evening... And both machines are reunited for the first time in probably 4 decades. The dryer was stored out in the garage. I suspect that Mary-Ellen used the Laundromat as a second washer. On the main floor she had a half bath and laundry room, with ah 1967 Lady Kenmore dryer, and a mid 80's Maytag. |
Post# 312843 , Reply# 4   11/2/2008 at 22:33 (5,625 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 312844 , Reply# 5   11/2/2008 at 22:34 (5,625 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 312845 , Reply# 6   11/2/2008 at 22:35 (5,625 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 312846 , Reply# 7   11/2/2008 at 22:35 (5,625 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 312848 , Reply# 8   11/2/2008 at 22:37 (5,625 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 312849 , Reply# 9   11/2/2008 at 22:38 (5,625 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 312850 , Reply# 10   11/2/2008 at 22:39 (5,625 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Rear shots. Last mistake made. there was a lint screen that fit over the vent hole. You can see the slots that it would slide into. I kept thinking about it before I left. The head injury must have done something, because it was left behind. Also, the original service panel was behind the washer when found. Couldn't believe it! |
Post# 312851 , Reply# 11   11/2/2008 at 22:42 (5,625 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
While in the house, there were some other goodies too. The neighbors and Estate Lady Leslie were kind enough to donate for the efforts. I've never seen a 78 picture disc before - was found in the catalogs of records that I snagged. A model 30 Electrolux with attachments came home, some Saran Wrap from the 60's, Sunbean model 20 coffee maker (with a good gasket!), iron, milk bottle, telephone line testers, to make a few.
|
Post# 312852 , Reply# 12   11/2/2008 at 22:43 (5,625 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 312853 , Reply# 13   11/2/2008 at 22:43 (5,625 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 312856 , Reply# 14   11/2/2008 at 22:45 (5,625 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 312857 , Reply# 15   11/2/2008 at 22:46 (5,625 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 312859 , Reply# 16   11/2/2008 at 22:47 (5,625 days old) by tuthill ()   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Nice score Ben! Good luck on getting them up and running. |
Post# 312863 , Reply# 19   11/2/2008 at 23:22 (5,625 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
A 115 dryer! Can you imagine taking clothes that finished a blistering 475 rpm spin and putting them in there? Don't throw out your wringer washer! Does the washer drum have three mini-baffles around the opening? I wonder if a machine shop could bend and weld some new metal for the tub-band? As long as it's held tightly together, there should be a solution not too far out of reach. Every appliance transfer is a learning lesson, I burned a bridge with a friend with my 55 Kelvinator and most horribly, smashed a hollow-core door moving a Speed Queen out of a house for sale. Oops. Oh, and Robert dropped a Maytag washer out of my van once. (he's gonna slap me for that!) Congrats on the new twins, they are a lot of fun. |
Post# 312883 , Reply# 20   11/3/2008 at 03:16 (5,625 days old) by appnut (TX)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 312885 , Reply# 21   11/3/2008 at 03:20 (5,625 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 312890 , Reply# 22   11/3/2008 at 06:07 (5,625 days old) by christfr (st louis mo)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 312965 , Reply# 23   11/3/2008 at 15:49 (5,624 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Way to go, Ben! Nice save! Don't you love those rescues from down in the basement? The last roundtop GE 'fridge I picked up was down a flight of stairs, with a turn in the middle, and a low ceiling. It was me on the top, pulling on the handtruck, and trying to guide it, owner on the bottom pushing and lifting, and his BIL standing by, with "encouraging words" (BIL "You're hitting the ceiling....Me "NO SH#T"!) |
Post# 312966 , Reply# 24   11/3/2008 at 15:51 (5,624 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 312971 , Reply# 25   11/3/2008 at 16:07 (5,624 days old) by fredfred9633 ()   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
? do you know what year they are...o_0 god what i would do for a pair like that congrats!!!! :) |
Post# 313003 , Reply# 26   11/3/2008 at 20:52 (5,624 days old) by jetaction (Minneapolis)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 313005 , Reply# 27   11/3/2008 at 21:05 (5,624 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Update photos - Hey Gang, took a moment this evening while doing some wash to clean up and inspect the Laundromat some more. The cast iron weights have a casted date of 9-50, so I'm going to take a stab that the washer was built in late 1950. You can barely make out the water injection system on the top of the outer tub. It is in pretty poor shape, but I think I have some ideas stewing about in my head that involve copper pipe. We'll see what happens when I retore the machine. That won't be anytime soon though. |
Post# 313006 , Reply# 28   11/3/2008 at 21:07 (5,624 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
I also took a look at the dryer this evening as well. Not in the greatest of mechanical shape. I'm not sure I a plan to save it or not, so in the mean time I 'borrowed' the top panel and the bottom inspection panel to make the washer esthetically pleasing until the Laundromat is stripped and painted.
|
Post# 313007 , Reply# 29   11/3/2008 at 21:08 (5,624 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 313008 , Reply# 30   11/3/2008 at 21:10 (5,624 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 313009 , Reply# 31   11/3/2008 at 21:17 (5,624 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Door close-up. Not quite desktop image material, but close. Mechanically the machine seems to be in very good shape. The speed changer is working flawlessly (and is spinning the tub in this picture), which I am grateful for. It will need the usual's - hoses, pump, door seal; which are to be expected on any 58 year old Westinghouse. It appears that the tub band is a two piece job, with one side pretty rusted through. I might be able to repair it since it is just painted stamped steel. Kenny - if the Tahoe was 1 inch wider in the wheel wells, I would have been able to arrange the set such that the radio would have sat by the back doors. The radio is up for grabs in the western Chicago area if someone is interested. Neighbors said it would be there for a few more weeks. I have two other machines in front of this one to restore this winter - the 1953 Maytag 101P, and the 350 Blackstone. Once those are done I can shift efforts to the L-5. Thanks for the kind comments guys - you all are the best! Ben |
Post# 313022 , Reply# 33   11/3/2008 at 22:04 (5,624 days old) by rickr (.)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 313067 , Reply# 34   11/4/2008 at 12:13 (5,623 days old) by polkanut (Wausau, WI )   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 313545 , Reply# 36   11/6/2008 at 20:52 (5,621 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Nice pictures!! We've all been there with difficult move outs! I have had a few in my desire to save a new treasure. Isn't it fun though; the exhaustion/exhilaration when you finally see that machine sitting on your truck and its pointed home? That looks like a good project machine for sure, if it has a good boot you're in business. That tub clamp looks like the rust was generated from a leak around the door. Is there a hole in the outer tub? If not I'd leave it alone and clean the rust up and find the leak around the door. If the fill flume was leaking that would cause that rust pattern. Note: Those machines had Cork gaskets that dried out without use and if you start using them again they will leak like a sieve for a month as they rehydrate and then they will seal up really good again work beautifully. Otherwise a little and polish and you're there with Westinghouse clean!! Enjoy! Jon |