Thread Number: 26446
REBIRTH OF THE 1965 CUSTOM IMPERIAL
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Post# 405914   1/13/2010 at 23:37 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        

rollermatic's profile picture
this is what it looked like when i first saw it this summer!

a beautiful 1965 turquoise custom imperial rollermatic washer that my friend walt gave me. i drove to middleport new york just to get it!





Post# 405917 , Reply# 1   1/13/2010 at 23:39 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
it was my dream washer!

rollermatic's profile picture
my aunt had the same model in coppertone when i was a kid! i loved it then and i love it now!

Post# 405919 , Reply# 2   1/13/2010 at 23:40 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
this is what it looked like after i got

rollermatic's profile picture
done dropping it off the truck in erie pa. at about 2 a.m. in the morning!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post# 405920 , Reply# 3   1/13/2010 at 23:40 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
i was suicidal

rollermatic's profile picture
i think!!!!

Post# 405922 , Reply# 4   1/13/2010 at 23:42 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
i was sick over it!

rollermatic's profile picture
i remember i picked up all the peices i could find that nite and threw them in the truck! it was dark out and it had landed in a ditch!

Post# 405923 , Reply# 5   1/13/2010 at 23:44 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
i never thought i'd see that

rollermatic's profile picture
control panel again!

Post# 405924 , Reply# 6   1/13/2010 at 23:46 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
so i put all the peices away

rollermatic's profile picture
for abour 4 months and concentrated on the rest of the machine.

like priming and painting the outside of the inner tub.


Post# 405926 , Reply# 7   1/13/2010 at 23:48 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
priming and painting the outer tub

rollermatic's profile picture
and even putting in a second drain.

Post# 405927 , Reply# 8   1/13/2010 at 23:50 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
pulling out the mechanism

rollermatic's profile picture
and giving it a complete tear down and cleaning. assembling it back with new stainless bolts

Post# 405928 , Reply# 9   1/13/2010 at 23:52 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
here's a good "before"

rollermatic's profile picture
pic

Post# 405929 , Reply# 10   1/13/2010 at 23:53 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
all rollers were

rollermatic's profile picture
dissassembled and cleaned. the motor was oiled.

Post# 405930 , Reply# 11   1/13/2010 at 23:54 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
outer tub

rollermatic's profile picture
cleaned up and painted very well

Post# 405932 , Reply# 12   1/13/2010 at 23:55 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
as well as the

rollermatic's profile picture
inner tub

Post# 405933 , Reply# 13   1/13/2010 at 23:59 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
so after all that i got the

rollermatic's profile picture
desire to try and put the control panel back together. i really did not want the washer to lose it's original look. making a panel out of wood or plastic would just not do it!

so in november with marilyn looking on i began my work!


Post# 405934 , Reply# 14   1/14/2010 at 00:01 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
i dug out all my

rollermatic's profile picture
peices and prayed that i had enough to do it right!

i bought plastic cement and began!


Post# 405935 , Reply# 15   1/14/2010 at 00:04 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
i started gluing peices back together

rollermatic's profile picture
using plastic rulers for support braces on the inside surface.

Post# 405936 , Reply# 16   1/14/2010 at 00:05 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
a miracle started to happen!

rollermatic's profile picture
here's pics of it all coming together!

Post# 405938 , Reply# 17   1/14/2010 at 00:06 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
and

rollermatic's profile picture
control buttons were not destroyed

Post# 405939 , Reply# 18   1/14/2010 at 00:08 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
more

rollermatic's profile picture
gluing!

Post# 405940 , Reply# 19   1/14/2010 at 00:09 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
even this could

rollermatic's profile picture
be fixed

Post# 405941 , Reply# 20   1/14/2010 at 00:10 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
the timer

rollermatic's profile picture
was not hurt in the fall!

Post# 405942 , Reply# 21   1/14/2010 at 00:12 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
i even had enough

rollermatic's profile picture
of the timer dial gears and parts to get it working!

Post# 405943 , Reply# 22   1/14/2010 at 00:14 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
the control buttons

rollermatic's profile picture
were coming together again

Post# 405945 , Reply# 23   1/14/2010 at 00:15 (5,187 days old) by 70series ( Connecticut.)        

Good luck on your rebuild of that machine. May you bring it back to life completely.

Have a good one,
James


Post# 405946 , Reply# 24   1/14/2010 at 00:16 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
i wanted it to have it's

rollermatic's profile picture
lited control panel again so i bought a new bulb. all the other parts except the switch were still there! i did put in a new ballast.

Post# 405947 , Reply# 25   1/14/2010 at 00:17 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
starting to lok

rollermatic's profile picture
like a custom imperial again!

Post# 405948 , Reply# 26   1/14/2010 at 00:19 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
all switches but

rollermatic's profile picture
2 work perfectly!

i wired it up and all cycles runs perfectly!


Post# 405949 , Reply# 27   1/14/2010 at 00:22 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
the lid for the

rollermatic's profile picture
detergent/fabric softner is not damaged and is made of metal!
love that logo with the "rapidry" on it!


Post# 405950 , Reply# 28   1/14/2010 at 00:25 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
i did put on a new

rollermatic's profile picture
motor protector i got from mark michaels. the original was destroyed in the fall.

def startin to look good!


Post# 405951 , Reply# 29   1/14/2010 at 00:26 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
it was

rollermatic's profile picture
turning out much better than i expected!

Post# 405952 , Reply# 30   1/14/2010 at 00:28 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
i still have

rollermatic's profile picture
more work to do ofcourse

Post# 405954 , Reply# 31   1/14/2010 at 00:29 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
but peice

rollermatic's profile picture
by peice

Post# 405955 , Reply# 32   1/14/2010 at 00:31 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
i am

rollermatic's profile picture
getting it!

Post# 405957 , Reply# 33   1/14/2010 at 00:32 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
here's a good

rollermatic's profile picture
view of what it's looking like now

Post# 405958 , Reply# 34   1/14/2010 at 00:36 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
another

rollermatic's profile picture
view

Post# 405959 , Reply# 35   1/14/2010 at 00:37 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
still have

rollermatic's profile picture
some missing holes to fill in

Post# 405960 , Reply# 36   1/14/2010 at 00:40 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
and the lid

rollermatic's profile picture
has a slight dent in it

Post# 405962 , Reply# 37   1/14/2010 at 00:47 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
and in just a little

rollermatic's profile picture
more time this little pulsator will be jumping up and down again!

i'm going to begin another round of work in feb. it's been too cold to deal with it this month and i find i do better work when i take a break fior a few weeks!

BUT IT IS A MIRACLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NEVER THOUGHT I"D SEE IT LOOKIN THAT GOOD AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Post# 405966 , Reply# 38   1/14/2010 at 01:15 (5,187 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        
You Are The Man!!!

redcarpetdrew's profile picture
If there was ever a restoration born out of tragedy, determination and *just* a bit of hard work... I never dreamed that she'd look this good again. BRAVO!!! You have every reason to be proud!

Video! We demand video!

RCD


Post# 405967 , Reply# 39   1/14/2010 at 01:19 (5,187 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
"and ye shall receive it"

rollermatic's profile picture
as soon as i have time to figure out how to upload a video here!

thanks, i am kinda proud of it, not that i'm that great but that it came together so well and so many crucial peices i needed i found in that box where i had stashed everything! i really think i had divine help! and not the "divine" from "hairspray" either!


Post# 405972 , Reply# 40   1/14/2010 at 02:07 (5,187 days old) by volvoguy87 (Cincinnati, OH)        
WOW!

volvoguy87's profile picture
Now THAT'S dedication!

Good work!
Also, if you want to stop the light from coming through the cracks, line the back side of the control panel with aluminum foil. It's cheap and won't let any light through. Just don't let any bare wires touch it.

Dave


Post# 405975 , Reply# 41   1/14/2010 at 03:42 (5,187 days old) by mielabor ()        
That's a great job

I don't think that I would have the courage to do a restoration after such an accident.

Is this machine only for use with liquid detergents?


Post# 405977 , Reply# 42   1/14/2010 at 03:44 (5,187 days old) by peteski50 (New York)        
Rapid Dry!

peteski50's profile picture
Hi Pete,
This is absolutly awsome. I hope to chat soon.
Peter


Post# 405991 , Reply# 43   1/14/2010 at 04:52 (5,187 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod)        
Rapid Dry

toploader55's profile picture
Holy Crap !!!


You do have the Patients of a Saint. Eddie


Post# 406012 , Reply# 44   1/14/2010 at 07:23 (5,187 days old) by easyspindry (Winston-Salem, NC)        
You are truly a miracle worker.

That is a fantastic machine, and the job you've done on it is superb. You should be really proud!!!

Thanks for sharing the entire story.

Jerry Gay


Post# 406014 , Reply# 45   1/14/2010 at 08:29 (5,187 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut)        
Egad!

bajaespuma's profile picture
Lesser men would have thrown in the towel! Amazing job and thanks for all the photos! I have always wanted to see those dispensers up close and personal. That's a beautiful machine and even though your Bubbie's machine was coppertone(which I love!) turquoise will always be the iconic color of a Jet-Action Fridggie to me. I always appreciated how they coordinated the colors of the control panel to the cabinet. You'd never see that kind of expenditure on aesthetics again.

Now I can upgrade the illustration.


Post# 406017 , Reply# 46   1/14/2010 at 08:42 (5,187 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        
Fantastic Job!!

turquoisedude's profile picture
Pete, you deserve a medal! I can't wait to see the finished machine running (and it will, I have no doubt). What a great example of perseverance and ingenuity! Congratulations!!

Post# 406039 , Reply# 47   1/14/2010 at 11:07 (5,187 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
UNBELIEVABLE

mickeyd's profile picture
Pete, I would not believe this if I hadn't seen it with my own two eyes. You have the patience of Job. And I'm not even going to ask how it fell off the truck;->

What an amazing machine--had no idea Frigidaire had all those options and dispensers. Fabulous and miraculous: the machine and your work.

Thank you for a virtual feast of startling photos.


Post# 406041 , Reply# 48   1/14/2010 at 11:09 (5,187 days old) by bobbyderegis (Boston)        

What a wonderful job you are doing Pete! You have given me the inspiration to get the 1-18 going. That should be a cake walk compared to your turquoise labor of love. Congrats!
Bobby in Boston


Post# 406042 , Reply# 49   1/14/2010 at 11:10 (5,187 days old) by bobbyderegis (Boston)        

What a wonderful job you are doing Pete! You have given me the inspiration to get the 1-18 going. That should be a cake walk compared to your turquoise labor of love. Congrats!
Bobby in Boston


Post# 406054 , Reply# 50   1/14/2010 at 12:01 (5,187 days old) by joelippard (Hickory)        
Wow

joelippard's profile picture
I'm really surprised at how well it's going back together. You definetly do have a lot of patience. In the end it will be well worth it!

Post# 406061 , Reply# 51   1/14/2010 at 12:35 (5,187 days old) by circlew (NE Cincinnati OH area)        

Hey Pete, I'm really glad to see it coming back together so well. I know it's been a lot of work for you. That machine shows how well they were built then - I'd hate to see what a new one would look like after going thru what this one did.

Post# 406110 , Reply# 52   1/14/2010 at 17:28 (5,187 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
Peter----Awesome!! You are really bringing that gorgeous machine back to life. Many bonus points for not giving up in the face of adversity. Where do you get the patience for a project like this?!

Post# 406114 , Reply# 53   1/14/2010 at 17:56 (5,186 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture
Peter, I'm speechless and have tears coming down my face. I can't believe you've done such an outstanding job, I didn't think anyone could get this machine back together. My mom's childhood best friend and her husband (my Godfather) had this machine, but in white, that rplaced a dead WO65-2. So I have very special memories of this same machine. BTW, it was replaced with an avocado 1/18, but I"m not sure exactly when though.

Post# 406124 , Reply# 54   1/14/2010 at 18:44 (5,186 days old) by yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
Absoutely amazing......can't wait to see the video.....I love the action of that agitator

great job Pete

you have a talent with glue


Post# 406128 , Reply# 55   1/14/2010 at 18:52 (5,186 days old) by peteski50 (New York)        
Rapiddry!

peteski50's profile picture
Pete
I tried to call U again - still cant get through. Hope to chat soon.
Peter


Post# 406131 , Reply# 56   1/14/2010 at 18:57 (5,186 days old) by supremewhirlpol ()        

OOOOO!! Almost back together eh!?
A fine job Pete!


Post# 406159 , Reply# 57   1/14/2010 at 21:15 (5,186 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
What a labor of love! After all the surgeries are done, you'll have to christen her "Joan Rivers Rollermatic".

Post# 406174 , Reply# 58   1/15/2010 at 00:12 (5,186 days old) by mattl (Flushing, MI)        

Well done!

Post# 406192 , Reply# 59   1/15/2010 at 06:12 (5,186 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Restoration

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Wow Pete, what a transformation, your time & patience have certainly paid off!! also learned a few tips as well, like the way you used the plastic bottle to cover the agi whilst working on the tub...simple..but effective..and the plastic rulers for re=build support, thank you for taking us on your Frigidaire journey..Mike

Post# 407573 , Reply# 60   1/19/2010 at 23:08 (5,181 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
thanks for all the kind words!

rollermatic's profile picture
thanks for the tip on using aluminum foil to hide the lite.

no machine is not made for liquid detergent only. in fact my aunt never used her dispensors once on her frigidaire custom imperial. she wanted to keep them clean.

i have included a few pics of the dispensors since you mentioned seeing them close up. they were cracked in the fall but the solonoids and valves were not hurt.

i will be doing a video of this one sometime this year. have to add the software to my computer first. windows movie maker i believe?!

as for 1-18's i have one and it's completely torn down now. i have to admit the 1-18 seems to be a lot more work than a rollermatic, the rollermatic is a simpler overall design. good luck with your 1-18, i hope to tackle mine later this year.

one last thing, does anyone know where you can buy a small solonoid these days. the timer on this washer has a mini solonoid that pulls in and switches the timer escapement into a different mode. this cuts cycle time down and is used for small load fills and gentle cycle wash and spin times. the solonoid promply burnt up the first time i tried it! there has got to be some place to get one??!! any ideas?!

thanks


Post# 407574 , Reply# 61   1/19/2010 at 23:11 (5,181 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
view from the back side with

rollermatic's profile picture
control panel cover removed.

had to bolt in in place.


Post# 407575 , Reply# 62   1/19/2010 at 23:13 (5,181 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
view from

rollermatic's profile picture
the front with dispensor cover removed

Post# 407576 , Reply# 63   1/19/2010 at 23:16 (5,181 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
plastic insert

rollermatic's profile picture
with the "full" marks on it was pretty beat up after the fall. going to glue some plastic peices onto it.

overall the dispensors will work again as the main cups are not broken or cracked (anymore, had to glue them too))


Post# 407605 , Reply# 64   1/20/2010 at 06:56 (5,181 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        
Small solenoids

turquoisedude's profile picture
Pete, if you can't find an original Frigidaire part, try looking on eBay. I was about to do that for the Westinghouse Laundromat speed changer. How 'small' is the solenoid you are looking for? I have a couple of smaller-sized solenoids that I pulled from a Kelvinator dishwasher (drain and dispenser solenoids) that may possibly be 'small enough'. If you can post or send me the dimensions, I will check my parts stock down in Ogden on the weekend.

Post# 407620 , Reply# 65   1/20/2010 at 08:47 (5,181 days old) by davy1063 (Pennsylvania)        

this is truly a testament on how solid these machines were. You show me a modern machine that would withstand a fall like that and be able to be resurrected!

Post# 407663 , Reply# 66   1/20/2010 at 11:35 (5,181 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
mike, that solonoid

rollermatic's profile picture
looks just like the bigger one's you see on a westinghouse front loader, the one that shifts the pulley into spin speed.

but this little one is 1 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches for the body of the solonoid, not including plunger part. it attaches directly to the timer body.

any small solonoid that has an actual plunger mechanism will do. i don't have to mount it on the timer itself. all it has to do is pull a lever about 3/4 inch to change gears in the timer.

i used to buy them at radio shack but no more. i looked on the web for solonoids but so far no luck. if you have something i will be more than happy to buy it and pay shipping ofcourse.

if not i'm sure i'll run across something here. i may be able to buy something off a parts house on the web, you know a small solonoid used on a drain valve for a g.e. potscrubber of similiar. larry in parma may have something too, just thought of that!

davy1063, i agree 100%! it is amazing that after toppling over the side of the truck bed (the gate was closed) and landing on it's top in a ditch it came together as well as it did. and the motor, tub, water seal, rollermatic transmission was not affected in the least!


Post# 409288 , Reply# 67   1/25/2010 at 11:07 (5,176 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        
Solenoid located!

turquoisedude's profile picture
Pete, as promised, I dug out the solenoid from my old Kelvinator dishwasher. The measurements are about 1 1/2 X 1 1/2, so it just might work! Here's a picture of it, too. If you think it will work, please email me at the address on my profile and I will get it out to you.

Post# 409446 , Reply# 68   1/25/2010 at 20:10 (5,175 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
thanks paul

rollermatic's profile picture
it looks just like it. i know i can make it work. if you need anything for a kitchenaid or other dishwasher let me know, i just may have it, i'm gettin a pretty good parts supply built up here. this is my appliance room, a mess right now but chock full of goodies!

i will pay you for it plus shipping ofcourse. will e mail you my address.

thanks again


Post# 409507 , Reply# 69   1/25/2010 at 22:09 (5,175 days old) by danelto (State College, PA)        
Adrienne!!!!

This was nothing short of an Olympic feat.

I have looked at those pictures of the broken washer again and again.

Each time I saw them, my heart just broke for you!

And then when I saw your repair job, I swear I could hear the theme from Rocky playing in the background.

YOU GO, GUY!

Dan


Post# 409527 , Reply# 70   1/25/2010 at 22:39 (5,175 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
thanks

rollermatic's profile picture
you are too kind! but thanks! i still have some work left to do on it but i'm takin a break from it for a few weeks. i work better that way.


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