Thread Number: 29634
todays pod 7/20/10 |
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Post# 450650 , Reply# 2   7/20/2010 at 06:29 (4,999 days old) by retro-man (- boston,ma)   |   | |
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thank you for the information. you learn something new every day. interesting set up for the time period. thanks Jon |
Post# 450663 , Reply# 3   7/20/2010 at 07:58 (4,999 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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Post# 450685 , Reply# 5   7/20/2010 at 10:49 (4,999 days old) by twintubdexter (Palm Springs)   |   | |
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I remember these old "mercury switch" Maytags coming in as trade-ins. They'd sit there out in the back parking lot at Western Appliance in San Jose just waiting to be picked up by the scrap guy...newer Maytags were fine for the resale floor but not these. I would bust open the lid, cut out the mercury switches (they looked like small radio tubes) and then break the glass and "play" with the mercury. My friends though this was so very cool...who knew?
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Post# 450689 , Reply# 6   7/20/2010 at 11:35 (4,999 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
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Joe - very cool story. I've read through a few Maytag Merchandisers from the early 60's which were reporting dealers who were still refurbishing AMP style Maytags by promoting a fresh coat of paint on the cabinet, as well as new seals and a rebuilt pump. I imagine they also turned the brake shoes over for the next 20 years of service.
By the late 60's though - I'm sure they were more of a nuisance than anything which explains why most AMP-style Maytags became scrap fodder. Great POD! Ben |
Post# 450701 , Reply# 7   7/20/2010 at 12:10 (4,999 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)   |   | |
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John said that with time, the insulation on the wiring in the lids got brittle, not allowing the switches to function properly which was another factor in their upkeep and restoration. |
Post# 450704 , Reply# 8   7/20/2010 at 12:23 (4,999 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
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That's quite true, Tom. I've seem a few where the insulation on the wire has completely deterioated, which would have made for quite a dangerous combination of water and 120v.
I suspect the rubber cap on the end of the bulb could be cut off with new wires being solidered to the switch these days for those who aren't able to procure replacements, but back in the late 60's - even replacing the switch with NOS wouldn't have been worth the effort. Sell that prospective customer a new A206! Ben |
Post# 450707 , Reply# 9   7/20/2010 at 12:33 (4,999 days old) by duet83 ()   |   | |
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Wow, what liability. I don't think I've ever seen any other washers with wires going through a hinged opening. I suppose, these were the early days. live and learn. |
Post# 450721 , Reply# 10   7/20/2010 at 13:57 (4,999 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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On Murray Hill Road, in Little Italy of Cleveland Ohio, the land lady walked us through a lower flat of our home for our senior year. Entering the last room which was the kitchen, my eyes became saucers as I saw today's arresting, stunning POD, and I hooted, but Mrs. M, said, "Sorry, it doesn't work." My three room mates just grinned.
The Mighty Maytag would not fill. I removed the hoses from the back and we filled manually, lodging each hose in the crooks on either side of the lid. The machine worked with the lid open. (Can't remember exactly what I did...flicking the flapper.) Everybody loved that machine, captivated by the mercury rising and falling. The spray rinsing from both hoses open and flowing into the tub was awesome. And the turnover was fabulous, so steady and powerful. The backyard was a nice-sized cement patio full of clotheslines. It was pure bliss. So glad Andy will have one. What a movie we'll get! Robert, thank you for a smile and a warm memory that should last all day!.....unless I get stung on the butt by a bee on my bike ride...OWWWWWWWWWWWWW... HORRORS This post was last edited 07/20/2010 at 18:03 |
Post# 450725 , Reply# 11   7/20/2010 at 14:18 (4,999 days old) by duet83 ()   |   | |
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cool memory. |
Post# 450729 , Reply# 12   7/20/2010 at 14:43 (4,999 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)   |   | |
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The float switch also allows for ensuring the water level desired is always reached regardless of pressure. This was a rather simple (and later electrifying way) of offering multiple water leves, which was not offered on the earliest version of the Maytag automatic.
This is the A3MP machine I just got from John in MD - you can see some of the taped and exposed wires on the mercury switches. Also visible is the rusted lid hinge and subsequent chipping and rusting of the top of the machine, a very common problem with these. This can all be overcome, but with some work and patience. Perhaps this is why my dealer hasn't called to schedule the obligatory Maytag Home Demonstration yet! |
Post# 450796 , Reply# 14   7/20/2010 at 22:40 (4,999 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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So help me reconstruct the memory, those of you who know the machine so well. We all really enjoyed the mercury, oh so liquidy, floating in the vial. I always had the lid up. I can not remember what I did. If I removed the bottom of the lid, or if someone else had done so, exposing the vial. It was just the coolest thing, and not easily forgotten.
Maybe it will come to me overnight. I can clearly see myself manipulating the lid, but I can't see the manipulations. I think I see a small non-threatening spark when the mercury connects. It did not take me a long time to get her going. Everybody is so happy that we have a working washing machine. And I remember the unusual water throw, as it slanted gradually away to the unseen outer tub where it was hurled over. What a wonderful washing machine! I may yet morph into a Mayhag ; > |
Post# 450852 , Reply# 15   7/21/2010 at 05:30 (4,998 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)   |   | |
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Duet83, Dishwashers have wires that have to pass from the door to the motor and other components under the tank and have to flex each time the door is opened. |
Post# 450912 , Reply# 17   7/21/2010 at 13:17 (4,998 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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"Great story, Jer--ah the days of spankings and more. That helps a lot.
When I saw the huge black agitator, the white perf tub (although ours did not radiate blue light--hate it when that happens!;->....and the nuts around the tub I knew the machine at once, but the white dial for the water level was not present on ours, and the merc vial was still attached to the lid. Maybe our machine was a a little older, and someone else had "rigged" the lid switch, or else I did. I just can't remember. Ain't it aweful. I just remember the fun and the joy of making it work. I'm going to ask my old friends, but they'll just laugh, roll their eyes and say, "You still have your washer fixation...? ;'D Here's a little conventional Maytag /Mayhem for the day with an EasySpindry in the back for you Jerry, and thanks. The RIP 906 SUDS is getting restored at the wonderful Maryland Restoration Factory and Museum by Engineers-in-chief John and Jason. I can hardly wait: my first automatic Maytag since the mercury bombadier. |
Post# 450918 , Reply# 18   7/21/2010 at 13:35 (4,998 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)   |   | |
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Post# 450930 , Reply# 20   7/21/2010 at 14:04 (4,998 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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Post# 450936 , Reply# 21   7/21/2010 at 14:29 (4,998 days old) by tlee618 ()   |   | |
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No Tom, we only have the very first model AMP and of course we have that Avocado beast, ooops damn typos I mean beauty 806. Oh Robert, someone is going to have some splain to do!!! LOL |
Post# 450941 , Reply# 22   7/21/2010 at 15:12 (4,998 days old) by polkanut (Wausau, WI )   |   | |
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Post# 450945 , Reply# 23   7/21/2010 at 15:29 (4,998 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)   |   | |
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Post# 450991 , Reply# 24   7/21/2010 at 18:57 (4,998 days old) by mathewhebailey0 (port arthur tx)   |   | |
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I wonder if you could replace the mercury switches with ball bearing switches. What it is,it's a plastic tube with contacts & a ball bearing inside. |