Thread Number: 2345
Finally - An Estate Sale Worthy of It's Name
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Post# 69908   6/11/2005 at 18:14 (6,864 days old) by angus (Fairfield, CT.)        

Well, today was an interesting and profitable estate sale day. There was only one in the area today and I hesitated going. It started out cloudy and foggy so I thought - "no beach today and after the early morning errands, I settled to washing all the blinds and window frames. Suddenly in the middle of all that, the sun is out and it's beautiful. So I rushed to finish and at 1:15 set out for the beach. But something kept pulling me in the opposite direction to that estate sale. So I went.

The usual - 90 something lady now in nursing home - lots of avocado carpet and a gold Westinghouse side by side along with a great GE pushbutton range - unfortunately already sold.. Next stop..... basement, thinking of course - 90's Maytag or Whirlpool.

The basement is kind of dark and at first difficult to see the laundry area except for the four "Bold" detergent measuring cups. Then I looked ahead and there it was, sitting up on a raised slab in all its copper brown glory. A Frigidaire 1-18, model W-3 with window lid. Next to it sits the copper brown dryer- model DN-5 - obviously not a match - I am guessing mid 60's. Both are in very decent cosmetic shape - need a good cleaning and waxing, though.

I know the woman running the sale so she let me run the machine through a test cycle. Cabinet is rust free, tub looks great, the agitator has no nicks or chips missing and it runs like a champ - no leaks or banging - except for the usual Frigidaire thumping.

Now to get a friend with a truck to help me hoist it up the cellar stairs. I don't really need the dryer, but how could I let it go???

So who would have thought - not only a 1-18, but a copper brown one at that? I am figuring it for a '76 - '77. I am pretty sure it isn't earlier since it has the circle fill, the Frigidaire letters are closer together and more compacted. On the '73 I originally found the letters were more spread out and flattened. Well, any insight would be appreciated.

Can't wait to get it out and cleaned up. I do have a few questions. Any ideas what year it actually is? And how do I lift the top off to clean? I am sure it isn't difficult but I don't want to screw this up!!





Post# 69909 , Reply# 1   6/11/2005 at 18:21 (6,864 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Well Done!

launderess's profile picture
Isn't it a great feeling when something finally goes your way?

Congrats on your new "toy"!

Launderess


Post# 69910 , Reply# 2   6/11/2005 at 19:00 (6,864 days old) by SactoTeddyBear ()        
Re: Removing Washer Top:

Hi! Congratulations on the findings. There are a couple of Spring-Clips on the under-front sides between the Top part of the Top and Cabinet. Use a Putty Knife to push in on them to open the Front. Next pull the Top forward about 1 to 2 inches, to free the Hook-Latches on the Rear of the Cabinet. It should then be able to be raised up and back. You can also take the Console apart from the Top first as well and unplug the Wire Connector, so you can totally take the Top off the Cabinet.

In case you haven't found out yet, the Front has 2-Screws on either side, almost at ground level, to remove and the Cabinet Front can then be carefully pulled away from some Clips, after pulling up or down slightly to release the Front from the Cabinet.

Good Luck with cleaning and checking these out and getting them operating great again. When possible, please post some Pix's.

Peace and Happy Frigidaire Washing and Drying, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...


Post# 69925 , Reply# 3   6/11/2005 at 21:12 (6,864 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
Who has time for the beach when there's wash to be done?! Excellent work Angus - your intuition was right! Congrats on the new appliances, you'll love them both. I think you're about right on the date for the washer, the dryer sounds like a '68 model. Those dryers are wonderful - you'll be hooked.

Post# 69937 , Reply# 4   6/11/2005 at 21:48 (6,864 days old) by angus (Fairfield, CT.)        

Thanks - Greg. I am so sorry I won't be able to attend the Omaha wash-in later this month. As things go I have a wedding in Florida that weekend.. I am sure you all will have a great time. But I will come to the next one - - I can't continue to miss all the fun.......

Amazing how intuition works. I actually started heading north on the highway toward the estate sale, then decided to get off and head to the beach, then changed my mind again and thought - "This would be the one time there is something spectacular and I will miss it" - so north I went! I was particularly lucky because the sales here start on Friday, so by Saturday afternoon, there isn't much left. But it is customary here that on the second day, everything is half price.......


Post# 69939 , Reply# 5   6/11/2005 at 21:56 (6,864 days old) by drmitch ()        
1-18 finder!

Yaay, Angus! I wish I was there to help you pick them up!

Post# 69945 , Reply# 6   6/11/2005 at 22:58 (6,864 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture
ANTHONY, YOU FINALLY BAGGED A VINTAGE WASHER AND DRYER!!!! Can everyone say YAY!!! I'm so happy for ya. Hang onto the dryer too.

Post# 69950 , Reply# 7   6/11/2005 at 23:38 (6,864 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
WhooHOOOO!!!!!

Post# 69962 , Reply# 8   6/12/2005 at 01:09 (6,864 days old) by westytoploader ()        
Great find!

WOOHOO!!! My biggest congratulations to you on the 1-18!!! All that waiting finally paid off--and no crazy lady to chase you out of the basement either (LOL)!!!

You'll definitely grow attached to your 1-18...I did with my '78 WC!! Don't be surprised if you find yourself using this machine often...


Post# 69972 , Reply# 9   6/12/2005 at 04:52 (6,863 days old) by angus (Fairfield, CT.)        

Thanks to all for the good wishes. I still cannot believe that I nabbed them and that they are in such good cosmetic shape. Most times anything that sits for years in a damp Northeast basement is riddled with rust. It is rare here that people actually care for their appliances. But since these sat on a platform, they stayed nice and dry . Even more uncommon here are colored laundry appliances. Since most laundry equipment was stored in the cellar here, most folks never opted for color - since it cost extra.

A little scrubbing, a fresh coat of Jubilee Wax and they should look new again. I still can't get over the sound!!

I thought of another question. I did notice that the water coming through the filter wasn't a solid gushing stream like a GE Filter Flo. It was surely more than a trickle, but is that something that is common to those machines? I checked the filter itself and it was completely clean.


Post# 69974 , Reply# 10   6/12/2005 at 04:58 (6,863 days old) by FilterFlo (Chicago Area)        

Angus, best wishes to you with your new set. Yes, the filter does not really flow as much water thru it as a GE FilterFlo would, but it could be there is some sediment build up in the hose from the pump. Sometimes using them for a while will clear it out.........

Post# 69981 , Reply# 11   6/12/2005 at 07:51 (6,863 days old) by Goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)        

goatfarmer's profile picture
Check the fill valve,where the hoses hook up.There might be plugged screens.Great finds!
BTW,the first number in the serial number "should" be model year.

kennyGF


Post# 69989 , Reply# 12   6/12/2005 at 09:54 (6,863 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        
YAY for 1-18's

unimatic1140's profile picture
Its wonderful to see your persistence pay off Anthony! Congratulations on the wonderful find. Welcome back to up and down agitation! Like Greg said that a wonderful dryer too, the lower than average air flow makes for some really nice soft clothes. Please keep us posted.

Post# 70225 , Reply# 13   6/14/2005 at 05:10 (6,861 days old) by angus (Fairfield, CT.)        

Thanks Robert, Jimmy, Greg and all for your encouragement. This might even warrant borrowing someone's digital camera to post pics..... One question I forgot to ask. As the spin cycle started and the water was pumping out, it started slowly as expected. Then when the tub was nearly empty, there was a noticeable shift in sound and the speed picked up - almost like shifting from third to fourth in a car. Question, is that sound and noticeable shift normal - or should it be less obvious and is indicative of something that needs attention? I don't want to be paranoid, but just want to be sure....

I will also talk with my local appliance repair acquaintance who actually still repairs Frigidaire washers. But I trust you folks implicitly, so it helps me to be able to ask questions and challenge him where I think necessary. He's good but a bit eccentric and sometimes cantankerous. Apparently - there were a few appliance dealers around here who over time went out of business. Two of them sold lots of Frigidaire so he bought out their parts inventories. His propensity to repair Frigidaire depends on his mood of the week......


Post# 70236 , Reply# 14   6/14/2005 at 07:29 (6,861 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture
Anthony, yes that is very normal for 1/18 washers. It starts out on gentle spin speed and then shifts to regular spin speet at about the point you described. Bob

Post# 70652 , Reply# 15   6/17/2005 at 12:55 (6,858 days old) by pulsator-power (connecticut)        

It shifts into high about the time the spray rinse begins
Jerry



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