Thread Number: 21695
Yes it IS Maytag month... because I brought home ANOTHER ONE!
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Post# 341463   4/10/2009 at 22:18 (5,465 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        

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I keep saying Craig's List is evil... and it really is, but I guess it must be the preverbal porch light and I am the moth being drawn to it. I TRY not to look, but sometimes I just CANNOT help myself! ACK!!

Well anyway, here it is in the car waiting to be unloaded.






Post# 341464 , Reply# 1   4/10/2009 at 22:19 (5,465 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        
OOPS!

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Oh wait, that was the wrong photo (LOL) , HERE it is waiting to be unloaded! Surprise!

Post# 341465 , Reply# 2   4/10/2009 at 22:21 (5,465 days old) by supremewhirlpol ()        

I'm Surprised, Please tell us all about it!!

Post# 341466 , Reply# 3   4/10/2009 at 22:21 (5,465 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        

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Since my collection seems to have an ever-expanding "Maytag theme" going on here, so when I saw this on Craig's List, I thought, "What the heck, let's keep building on the theme"!

The A50 Porta washer was built in April, 1978 (Thank you, Geoff!!) According to the seller, had seen only occasional use in the family vacation cabin until about 15 years ago, when it was replaced by a larger automatic washer & dryer. This little A50 has been in storage eve since!

Here it is after cleaning all the dust off…



Post# 341467 , Reply# 4   4/10/2009 at 22:23 (5,465 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        

revvinkevin's profile picture


Post# 341469 , Reply# 5   4/10/2009 at 22:25 (5,465 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        

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Inside the machine was the owners manual (and the manual for the Porta Dryer too) as well as the original fill hose.


Post# 341470 , Reply# 6   4/10/2009 at 22:26 (5,465 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia)        
WOW!

ronhic's profile picture
That looks like new

Post# 341472 , Reply# 7   4/10/2009 at 22:28 (5,465 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        

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Oh... it even has the plastic stabilizer ring to support the spinner during shipping!
(this was before cleaning)


Post# 341473 , Reply# 8   4/10/2009 at 22:31 (5,465 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        

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Of course I had to play with it IMMEDIATELY, so here is the action shot!


Post# 341474 , Reply# 9   4/10/2009 at 22:34 (5,465 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        
Quite small!

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I forgot exactly how big, or small these really are until I saw it earlier today in the storage unit. So here it is in it's new home with the proud parents (grand parents?)!

Post# 341487 , Reply# 10   4/10/2009 at 22:59 (5,465 days old) by laundromat (Hilo, Hawaii)        
WoooHooo!

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My great aunt had the same one during her dorm years

Post# 341565 , Reply# 11   4/11/2009 at 11:15 (5,465 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        

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The neatest thing about those little A50's was the absolutely INSANE rpm's the spinner gets up to. They rival if not flat out beat alot of the new front loaders out on the market! I use mine occasionally for the fun of it and the wife has not been able to decide which washer she likes the best; the A50 or the E2LP. Ahhh, a woman after my own heart! Enjoy!

RCD


Post# 341568 , Reply# 12   4/11/2009 at 11:41 (5,464 days old) by golittlesport (California)        
wow!

golittlesport's profile picture
How cool Kevin! I like how the Maytags would reverse the pulsator direction. Can't wait to come over and do some wash in it. It's the perfect companion for my compact wringer you're babysitting.

Post# 341893 , Reply# 13   4/12/2009 at 18:04 (5,463 days old) by gadgetgary (Bristol,CT)        
Kevin

gadgetgary's profile picture
I am keeping the Maytag theme going too.
Here is the perfect match to your new Maytag.


Post# 341915 , Reply# 14   4/12/2009 at 19:08 (5,463 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)        

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Love these!

One of my early vintage finds was the avocado A50, hiding in this beautiful transport cover:


Post# 341916 , Reply# 15   4/12/2009 at 19:10 (5,463 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)        

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I don't think it had been used much, if at all. All it needed was a new wash belt.

Was just reading about the spinner tub block! My machine is an early one, from 1970, and has the original cardboard block. Yours has the revised plastic block - which they started using on both the portawashers and the standard automatics after the summer of '72.

Again, congrats!

Ben


Post# 341962 , Reply# 16   4/12/2009 at 23:10 (5,463 days old) by mistereric (New Jersey (Taylor Ham))        

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Wow!

Such lovely little machines. Congrats!


Post# 341975 , Reply# 17   4/13/2009 at 01:00 (5,463 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        
Ben...WOW!

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Wow, yours looks amazing and I LOVE the cover for it!! Do you happen to have another one?? LOL I see that mine has gray impellers and yours have black impellers, do you know when they made that change?

And thanks for the "kind congrats"! Congrats to you too!

I think it's pretty cool, small, but cool! Yesterday afternoon I was doing laundry in mine, had the spinner and impellers going too, then suddenly the impellers stopped. I looked at the timer and it was not at off. Hmmm...... I stopped the spinner and heard the motor still running. I thought "DAM, the belt broke!" So later last night I pulled the back panel off (actually, all the panels, I can post photos later if anyone is interested) and found the belt had only come off. Wow, I got lucky there!


Post# 342021 , Reply# 18   4/13/2009 at 09:07 (5,463 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)        
The A50 is all of the rage!

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I LOOOOOOOOOVE that avocado green!! and the cover is cool. Where do you all find these things!? My little A50 is doing just fine, I think you'll enjoy it, they're fun little machine and SOOOOO tiny. I thought the Hoovers were small, but the 23" ish wide A50 is a dwarf. The only thing my A50 needs are the wash pulley tightened somehow as there is play in them which causes a thumping sound when washing. My serial is 381732, but I'm unsure of it's age, black impellers. Originally she was white, but a very battered and dirty white so I painted it a gold color, which turned out pretty good, need to wax it. It didn't look to have much actual use though when I got last year. These things are built like a Maytag and deceptively heavy.


-Tim


CLICK HERE TO GO TO macboy91si's LINK


Post# 342026 , Reply# 19   4/13/2009 at 09:22 (5,463 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        
My serial is 381732......

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Hi Tim, Yes I remember seeing your photos when you painted it, I think it looks great, very fun!

What are the two letters at the end of the serial number? That is the production date code.

Kevin


Post# 342033 , Reply# 20   4/13/2009 at 09:48 (5,463 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)        
It looks like...

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KA, I attached a slightly fuzzy pic... also might be 331732, hard to tell.



Post# 342049 , Reply# 21   4/13/2009 at 10:43 (5,463 days old) by volvoguy87 (Cincinnati, OH)        
Motor.

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Looks like the same motor that i in my housemate's DE306.
Dave


Post# 342074 , Reply# 22   4/13/2009 at 12:38 (5,462 days old) by phamq ()        

I need these little machines. I don't have a lot of clothes to wash and don't want to either wait to wash or waste water. I wonder if they clean as good as the normal sized washers?

Post# 342077 , Reply# 23   4/13/2009 at 12:44 (5,462 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)        
YES...

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My A50 does better than my grandmothers Estate washer, actually by far. The A50 has a very strong wash action, and I haven't noticed any damage to garments.

Post# 342102 , Reply# 24   4/13/2009 at 14:54 (5,462 days old) by gocartwasher ()        
very nice find

I had one like that I found in the trash pick up,fixed it then traded it off for a mower to maytaglover Alan,and I knew a lady that had the same compact Maytag dryer like yours but in white, I replaced the belt on it for her in her lake cottage

Post# 342139 , Reply# 25   4/13/2009 at 19:43 (5,462 days old) by bpetersxx (laf in on the banks of the Wabash River)        

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How many of us have a50s

I got one and had to fix the diverter valve and the wash belt


Post# 342140 , Reply# 26   4/13/2009 at 19:49 (5,462 days old) by norfolksouthern ()        

I've had an A50 for several years, but seldom use it because I worry about the availability of parts. It's a fun machine.

NorfolkSouthern


Post# 342148 , Reply# 27   4/13/2009 at 20:35 (5,462 days old) by launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Maytag TT Parts

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Are about as rare as virgins at a prison rodeo.

Yes, obtaining Hoover TT parts can be difficult, but at least they are out there in decent enough numbers, if one knows where to look.

Did Maytag have a long run with the A50's? Were they a big selling item? Seems so odd that both Hoover and Maytag had similar products, right down to the dryers, yet Maytag parts and service for their TT seems to have vanished into thin air.

L.


Post# 342149 , Reply# 28   4/13/2009 at 20:39 (5,462 days old) by launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Great Collection!

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You are really on a roll there Kevin!

Launderess (making note to self about going to Iowa and "borrowing" that Maytag washer cover)! *LOL*

P.S.
(Might as well make a sweep of the place while one is there, what else ya got?)*LOL*

L


Post# 342263 , Reply# 29   4/14/2009 at 12:41 (5,461 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        

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Gadget Gary: That's pretty cool that you have the little Porta dryer, do you have the A50 washer too??

Tim (Macboy91si): It looks like your A50 is an early one, built in January 1970! (Thank you again Geoff!!)

Launderess: Thank you for the comments! Yes my "collection" is growing by leaps and bounds, especially THIS month!!! I'm bringing home another pair in a week and a half! I think after they arrive I REALLY NEED to put the brakes on!! I have too many again, so I'll have to do more thinning and fine tuning.

RedCarpetDrew: Yes the spinner speed (I'm told) is 2000 RPM, VERY fast! I was reading the owners manual (which came with it, YAY!) and it recommends spinning for 1 minute between the wash / rinse and then 2 minutes for the final spin! The final spin on the 2 year old Frigidaire Affinity FL washer I had (1000 RPM), once it started spinning, would last 8+ minutes!

My little A50 is in really good condition and so far doesn't need anything. Plus it's a FUN little machine! I was using it the other day and the impellers suddenly stopped turning. I thought "Uh oh, the belt broke!" but it had only come off. Also, I just called the seller again and asked if they happen to have the dryer too, since there was paperwork for it in the washer. SHE DOES! But she said they are still using it, but she will check on it for me. I'm not going to hold my breath, but if would be great if she decided to sell that to me also!

Just looking to the future here because I'm sure I will need one eventually…. Has anyone found a suitable replacement for the wash belt on these little A50's? I noticed the pulleys have a "V" groove and looks like it could use a narrower automotive type belt. Any thoughts?




Post# 342274 , Reply# 30   4/14/2009 at 14:07 (5,461 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

Kevin

Please measure it and take a picture of the grooves. I'll try to find in a store here in Iguassu specialized in rubber hoses and belts.

Usually they have the technical specifications printed.

If I find, I'll send you.


Post# 342277 , Reply# 31   4/14/2009 at 14:17 (5,461 days old) by toggleswitch2 ()        

So who is going to cmpare the spinning ability mathematically of a regualr-sized tub at various speeds versus that little spinner at uber-speed?

Post# 342279 , Reply# 32   4/14/2009 at 14:22 (5,461 days old) by volvoguy87 (Cincinnati, OH)        
Hang on a minute.

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Repair Clinic lists the A50 round clear belt as being in stock!

Go get em!
Dave


CLICK HERE TO GO TO volvoguy87's LINK


Post# 342298 , Reply# 33   4/14/2009 at 15:42 (5,461 days old) by bpetersxx (laf in on the banks of the Wabash River)        

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Post# 342337 , Reply# 34   4/14/2009 at 19:28 (5,461 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        

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Kevin, the wash belt is indeed like the belt on the beltdrive M/T D/W. Part# is 251021 and still shows available.

The Spin belt is Part# 251023 and also shows available from most parts distributors like ours...

I also have a spare set or two (I think)as does QSD-DAN if needed... Those clear round belts like the one driving your wash impellers commonly skip off as they get less plyable and stretched out. Time to replace!

RCD


Post# 342343 , Reply# 35   4/14/2009 at 19:53 (5,461 days old) by norfolksouthern ()        

I purchased one of the narrower automotive V belts for mine, and it works very well. I have not had a problem with it since. I'll have to take the back cover off in order to get a photo. It's also good to know that the spin belts are still available, but I hope I won't have to replace mine anytime soon. And yes, the spin speed is nothing short of breath taking on these little critters!

NorfolkSouthern


Post# 342353 , Reply# 36   4/14/2009 at 20:26 (5,461 days old) by gadgetgary (Bristol,CT)        
Kevin

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-Gadget Gary: That's pretty cool that you have the little Porta dryer, do you have the A50 washer too??



No matching washer, but, will be on the look out for one.


Post# 343894 , Reply# 37   4/21/2009 at 08:34 (5,455 days old) by harvestgold (Deland, Florida )        
maytag washer

Kevin another nice find really cool washer, a great washer to add to your collection

Post# 345570 , Reply# 38   4/29/2009 at 19:22 (5,446 days old) by qsd-dan (West)        
Set

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