A Detroit gentleman posted a few weeks ago that his 1978 1-18 started to leak at age 34, he wasn't sure he could or wanted to fix it. I emailed him, made a deal, and got his MATCHED SET. He and his bride bought in May 78, he's done minor repairs and kept them in darn fine shape for 34 years.

Both are now running in my basement! WIB and DGCIB, Almond (couldn't quite be picky about that)

Gas dryer, DGCIB, Serial begins in 8, all seems very accurate. He said he replaced the rollers about every 18 months???And the igniter once and the gas valve solenoids.  The 240 line above this dryer is for the Kenmore Galaxy next to it.

More dryer shots

3 temps plus No Heat, and both timed and automatic dry cycles. I haven't looked at the schematic very well, but I'm assuming this is a standard heat versus timer deal on the automatic cycles, no moisture sensing. My one modern moisture sensing dryer doesn't do a damn bit better than the heat v. timer ones, frankly.

The "PRESS GUARD" operates when PermPress heat is chosen, whereas for Delicate and Regular, it just rings a loud buzzer and shuts off.

get a load of this

and this, installation instructions for both

The Detroit fellow kept everything, and was very helpful and polite. His wife said these machines haven't been apart in 34 years, I better install them next to each other. But all my drains and water are in the center of the basement, and the outside walls are best for dryer vents, so don't rat me out, they were too nice.

I also have a 1975 model, not pictured here and currently needing work, but there's almost no changes, even the faux wood dashboard has the exact same tree rings! The 75 has a bed of nails filter, this 1978 has the strainer basket instead. Also the lid switch has moved from left edge to center from 75 to 78.  Both have exactly the same cycles and include a spray after the final rinse in at least PermPress and regular, why I'll never know. One difference, and the 78 does claim Energy Saving Settings, this model gives a cold-cold choice, whereas the 75 did not. Which I'll never use.

I know I always fall for my "newest" acquisition, but these 1-18's are fantastic washers, excellent rinsing, great turnover even on slow, and they handle large oversize loads. When I started this ridiculous hobby, one of the first machines I wanted was Mom's long lost 73 GM Frigidaire, and now I own 2 replicas!  My 75 nodel is tempermental and requires something erpaired every 3 months, so this one will be treated with extra gentle use and care.

Yes, still leaking, but it's only been downstairs since 6pm, 2 loads of clothes. routine 1-18 leak from the little plastic tray they came up with, not quite a cup of water per load, and all kept away from the mechanics.

I'll give it a week of work before deciding what to do for repairs.

Mr Detroit Roy was exact and polite and thorough and a good one-owner couple to buy from!

He wrote down belt replacement

more writing on the washer schematic

are these dryers known for bad rollers? I have PN's and they are Ebay cheap

This I couldn't believe----the newspaper ads that he and his wife used to deciide what set to buy!

Not bad for 34 years. Also, the Jet Action Cone doesn't have any chunks missing, all in one piece.

about 3 weeks ago I found a Craigslist local 1962 GM Frigidaire electric dryer, model DIA-62, now installed and running mostly quietly.

I'll run all 3 machines for about 5-10 loads before tearing inside for clean and delint and lube,. all 3 were installed and running just before my purchase. My boyfriend tells me I'm nuts, but I notice he doesn't say it as loud when he throws his clothes down the laundry chute knowing he doesn't have to do another damn thing.

The 62 dryer doesn't have a push to start button,but I got used to that lack on my Hamilton, oh well. This 62 model is very noticeably smaller inside than the 1-18, but still larger than my 1975 DE606. This DIA-62 has Hi and LO heat and none, (named Sturdy and Delicate) timed and AutoDry cycles, no drum light and no buzzer and no wrinkle prevention. But works well, quite hot on Hi

Mark congratulations.  You landed a special pair that aws lovingly cared for.  these will last a long time with proper attention.  The BF should appreciate the perk of having a man in his life who will get his laundry done and have fun while doing it. 

Nice set!

What's the model of your 1975 washer? I didn't think there were still models without cold wash / cold rinse then. About the final spray rinse during the final spin, I think is cold in some cycles even if the rinse water is warm to cool down the clothes. My 1-18 washer has a "fabrics" selector instead of temp/speed selector but I think it does that on the regular cycle with the "fabrics" selector to "delicate", on "premanant press" the rinse water can't be warm with "fabrics" on delicate...

 I'd be curious to see a closer shot at your 1-18 dryer's timer dial. I think this model has a "press saver" feature that's turned on when you select "knits & permanent press" or something like that. Does the buzzer sounds a few times while in the "press saver" mode?

On my 1977 DECI dryer, the press saver is turned off by a separate control which can also turn off the buzzer (good thing!). And I find the buzzer a bit annoying on this model so I usually turn it off! The last Elite models had an adjustable volume for the buzzer like some Whirlpool models. I think it wouldn't have been a luxury to add that on Frigidaire 1-18 dryers before 1979 as their buzzer is very loud and it doesn't stop after just a few seconds! On the Press Saver mode, it's even more annoying at it comes on at a few occasions!

1975 #WCD doesn't say Energy Saving Options on the console, doesn't have ColdCold, here's a pic. Also doesn't have a water level diagram of the agitator on the level switch. Other than that, exact same controls and cycles.

I've only done one load of clothes, but the owner's manual says it goes into Press Saver only if the Knit-PP heat is chosen on the Automatic cycle. 1978 DGCIB. I know the upper models had on or off buzzer. This one has no choices and is an aggravating long loud buzz.

Your set, with the console lights, is TOL or next to it. I know there's been a thread here about a rare all pushbutton model ELITE, I think it was not offered every year. So yours are the most common TOL models, both my 75 and new 78 are the dead center of the line up. On a variety of other washers---Maytag and WP come to mind, I'd really like an extra rinse option. But the 1-18's do an excellent spray rinse that works well for me, better than many other machines I use.

Everything you said about the buzzer is right, I think I'd prefer wrinkles to hearing it. All it takes is neutering the wires.

Very nice. I love these machines.

I thought Frigidaire deserved big kudos from the ratings magazines in the early Seventies when they overhauled their designs, but I guess GM didn't have enough baksheesh at that time to  kick in to their hoppers.

In the history of US home appliances that I am aware of, I've never seen a company respond so proactively to criticisms as did Frigidaire. Although I have to say I think the rollermatics were wonderful; I think they were a little too retro for the times that they were slammed.

Ken, your illustrations are awesome! I don't know how you achieve that but they are really nice!

Mark,

Frigidaire downgraded it's model lines at the end of the seventies and model numbers used in the late seventies are quite confusing! Not speaking about the 3 other "parallel" series which had about the same features as the MOL models of the regular line: the Crown (with control panel design very similar to the ones of the regular series with woodgrain/black panels but the black parts being replaced by silver trim and the addition of window lids), the Custom (with different-looking controls and more woodgrain/ less black trim than the regular models) or WS series (with another different design of brown-(not woodgrain!)/silver panels and window lids like the Crown).

So about the regular series (with the woodgrain/large area of black controls from 1975-79): 

The 3speed WCI was discontinued at the end of 1976 calendar year and replaced by the WIC and WIC-A. The WIC was exactly the same as the previous WCI but the lid switch was moved from the hinge to above the (still bed of nails) lint filter. I think the WIC was discontinued soon after it's introduction and the WIC-A with the same features less the 3 speed motor replaced it.

The 1978 documentation I have recently downloaded from this site doesn't mention your exact model  but 4 models for 1978, the WD-A 16lbs model, the WC which has the same features as your WIB and the later (1979) WIG, the WID which has a "fabrics" selector just like the previous WIA and like the later WCIB and (1979)WCIG and the WIC-A which is almost unchanged from 1977 (changes during production were I think, the switch from shaded to non shaded colors and maybe the lint and filter and fabric softener dispenser styles).  Somewhere between 1978 and 1979, they replaced the WIC-A by the Elite, the WID was renamed WCIB and WCIG and the WC was renamed WIB and WIG.  So it seems they changed model numbers more than once a year but changes between some models are hard to tell. Custom Deluxe models became Imperials, Imperial models became Custom Imperials and Custom Imperials became Elite...  

Mark,

Your 1962 dryer should have a drum light. This model lacks the ozone lamp but it still has a drum light. Look through the holes at the back of the drum with a flashlight, you should see the lens. The light can be replaced from the back of the dryer. 

Phil---Yes I found the drum light, caked in lint. I am beginning a disassembly of the 1962 dryer and will post pics of its construction in a few days. The amount of lint inside looks pretty bad at age 50, I can't blame it, so I'm definitely cleaning it out before another load of clothes. It looks like very solid construction, you remove the bolts for the spindle from inside the drum and then remove the front round door assembly, not any entire back or front of the machine, then lift the drum up and out. So the cabinet is almost one entire square solid piece(sort of). And I'll bet the motor hasn't been delinted or oiled in 50 years either.

Pdub----I'm gonna live with the leak probably until after Labor Day, then I'll have more time for a 1-18 rebuild. Not easy, but well worth it, this machine has been properly maintained and cared for all of its life, and I totally enjoy 1-18's. I like and enjoy all my washers in various ways for various reasons, but 1-18's top the list.

Pretty messy inside, but ran fine

an 1/8 inch of lint perfectly covering 2 of 3 thermostats, I was close to a fire I think

Oh Crap. One note----the motor mount has off-center holes, caution as to mounting it 1/2 inch forward or rearward, it could have saved me 2 hours had I known or looked before disassembly. The motor cleaned up well, runs quietly, I lubed all bearings.

exactly like on my 53 Hamilton. I sanded the contacts and got all lint out of everywhere. After 50 years, it was needed.

ready for re-assembly.

success, since it was working when I bought it anyhows. And the light is fun as hell. But so far, with a DE606, a Hamilton electric, a gas GE 1982, a gas 1978 1-18,  and then 3 KM/WP from TOL to BOL, nothing beats a Whirlpool for size of drum and ease of repairs. This 1962 GM Frigidaire is pretty comparable in size to my 83 GE, thankfully larger than the darn 606, but nothing like a full drum Whirlpool.