Thread Number: 48840
Vintage Kelvinator questions
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Post# 707445   10/5/2013 at 19:58 (3,826 days old) by junkman ()        

I just recently acquired a vintage Kelvinator washing machine, automatic. I cannot find any info about this, not one single photo even close in the Google search. Sorry about the picture, will try to get a better one.




Post# 707447 , Reply# 1   10/5/2013 at 20:12 (3,826 days old) by marty (Central Point, Oregon)        
Kelvinator

Hi junkman, Just sent you an email.


Regards
Marty


Post# 707452 , Reply# 2   10/5/2013 at 20:36 (3,826 days old) by peteski50 (New York)        
Kelvinator!

peteski50's profile picture
That is some Great find - don't loose that one!
It is a awesome washer.
Peter


Post# 707453 , Reply# 3   10/5/2013 at 20:38 (3,826 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        
Wow great find!

unimatic1140's profile picture
That's a 1957 Kelvinator Do-All Dial Automatic Washer, its an absolutely wonderful machine. You can download the owners manual for this machine here:
www.automatice.org/cgi-bin/index....

The other Kelvinator items are here: www.automatice.org/cgi-bin/index....


And here is a video of that machine in operation by one of our members from British Columbia...





Post# 707456 , Reply# 4   10/5/2013 at 20:45 (3,826 days old) by peteski50 (New York)        
Kelvinator!

peteski50's profile picture
This Kelvinator is my favorite control panel - looks like a dashboard in a car!
Peter


Post# 707466 , Reply# 5   10/5/2013 at 21:20 (3,826 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod)        
OMG !!!

toploader55's profile picture
I'm Verklempt.

Post# 707477 , Reply# 6   10/5/2013 at 22:37 (3,826 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture

That's a very beautiful find, only have seen one and it was a goner. 


Post# 707487 , Reply# 7   10/6/2013 at 01:40 (3,826 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        

Wow, great find. Please do not give up on that machine. alr2903

Post# 707510 , Reply# 8   10/6/2013 at 07:47 (3,826 days old) by junkman ()        
thank you

Thanks everyone for the info, it is a beauty, heavy too, had to haul it out of a basement. It also came with what I am guessing is a mid 50's Ironrite, pretty much mint, even has the owners manual and warranty papers.It was a good day.

Post# 707542 , Reply# 9   10/6/2013 at 12:35 (3,825 days old) by christfr (st louis mo)        

christfr's profile picture
such a cool find congrats....

Post# 707545 , Reply# 10   10/6/2013 at 13:08 (3,825 days old) by christfr (st louis mo)        

christfr's profile picture
mine was easy to work on I think that body is set up like a wo65

Post# 707546 , Reply# 11   10/6/2013 at 13:09 (3,825 days old) by christfr (st louis mo)        

christfr's profile picture
I mean the body on the one you have there

Post# 707718 , Reply# 12   10/7/2013 at 11:04 (3,824 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

turquoisedude's profile picture
OOOH! Great find on the Kelvinator! Definitely a keeper - I hope that you'll be able to bring this one back to life. Please keep us posted!!

Post# 707729 , Reply# 13   10/7/2013 at 12:54 (3,824 days old) by DaveAmKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        

daveamkrayoguy's profile picture
Makes me kind'a wished my grandma went more up-line for her Kevy washer (my grandpa worked for the company in Grand Rapids, so that's how everything was that brand) and that it could have stuck around as long as her dryer (which was a BOL one)...

I really don't remember anything about her Kelvinator washer (or whatever one she may have had) that she had before her GE, other than it probably being in front of the house waiting for it to be picked-up to go to the dump! (And even that memory is very faint))


-- Dave


Post# 707730 , Reply# 14   10/7/2013 at 12:57 (3,824 days old) by Mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
Great find. Hope you bring it back to life.

mickeyd's profile picture
Trying to remember: Did the PP cycle on the later models, open the fill valves as soon as the wash spin started? Vivid memory, but don't know if it's real or I imagined it.

These machines are the epitome of washer drama queens, and universally beloved.

Chris, you've got a real doozie there. Could you snap a few close-ups of the control panel for today's eye candy? Thanks if you're able. Didn't know they made a timeline model. How cool!


Post# 707766 , Reply# 15   10/7/2013 at 16:09 (3,824 days old) by christfr (st louis mo)        

christfr's profile picture
the one I have here is just ok if you compare it to bens (swestoyz) his is like perfect you can you tube his machine its way cool

Post# 707768 , Reply# 16   10/7/2013 at 16:11 (3,824 days old) by christfr (st louis mo)        

christfr's profile picture
I think they are not only fun machines but easy to work on and they really do clean so go get em junkman

Post# 707773 , Reply# 17   10/7/2013 at 16:22 (3,824 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)        

swestoyz's profile picture
My '59 has a "Wash N Wear" switch.  IIRC, all it does is overfills the machine with cold water half way through the wash.  I don't believe it modifies the wash or spin speed, nor do I recall what it does during the rinse, but I suspect it is the same as the standard rinse, but cold.

Congrats on the finds Junkman! You've got yourself great jump start on a fun collection.




 


CLICK HERE TO GO TO swestoyz's LINK


Post# 707831 , Reply# 18   10/7/2013 at 20:44 (3,824 days old) by junkman ()        
added pics

got her home, cleaned a bit, and got some better photo's. Not sure what all works or doesn't work yet, only have 1 washer hook-up and my daily driver, Cabrio" is parked there now.

Post# 707832 , Reply# 19   10/7/2013 at 20:45 (3,824 days old) by junkman ()        
new pic

second pic

Post# 707834 , Reply# 20   10/7/2013 at 20:46 (3,824 days old) by junkman ()        
third pic

third pic

Post# 707872 , Reply# 21   10/8/2013 at 03:26 (3,824 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod)        
Oh My

toploader55's profile picture
What a Beauty.

No one has mentioned yet but before you fire her up, I believe the procedure is to pour about 3-4 gallons of Hot Water in the machine and some down the drain hose and let it soak for a half hour or so. This will expand and lubricate the seals to avoid any damage.

Good luck with the restoration.


Post# 707877 , Reply# 22   10/8/2013 at 04:50 (3,824 days old) by Easyspindry (Winston-Salem, NC)        
Great finds . . .

. . . both the Kelvi and the Ironrite.

I have two Ironrites and love them. I do all my shirts on the Ironrite. Once you learn a few tricks, they're a great way to iron.

Good luck and welcome to AutomaticWasher.org.

Jerry Gay


Post# 707895 , Reply# 23   10/8/2013 at 07:16 (3,824 days old) by Jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
WOW! My favorite dream kelvinator!

jetcone's profile picture

What a cool find Junkman! She seems in beautiful restorable condition! Can't wait to see her do her first load again! Do-All Dial so rare. Nice Save!

 

 


Post# 707897 , Reply# 24   10/8/2013 at 07:25 (3,824 days old) by oldskool (Kansas City, MO)        
So Cool!

Congratulations on the great find!

Looking forward to seeing the pictures when it's up and running!



Post# 707946 , Reply# 25   10/8/2013 at 11:56 (3,823 days old) by junkman ()        
added more pictures

added more in an album

CLICK HERE TO GO TO junkman's LINK


Post# 707957 , Reply# 26   10/8/2013 at 12:44 (3,823 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
Randy,

mickeyd's profile picture
Cleaned up so nice, and with those big photos of the workings, the gifted mechanics here might be able to spot any obvious problems for you.

Chris! Holy Crap--a suds Back! Wondering how Kelvi did the Suds Back with that minty solid tub. There are quite a few methods of returning suds. Would be cool to learn Kelvi's.

Thanks for the info on the WnW cycle, Ben.

Randy, these amazing machines were made by the American Motors Company, like Ford's Philcos, and General Motors' Frigidaires, all unusual and fabulous machines. Kelvi's were famous for the static rinse you can view in Ben's video. Few other machine did this. When the agitation stops for the overflow, lasting from 1 & 1/4 to 2 minutes depending on the model, up to one half of the water is replaced in the tub, a huge dilution. They're also famous for insane water chaos that you can see vividly in Ben's flick.

On the programmed model for 1965, there was a glass window--seems AMC loved its windshields--for viewing the programs as you turned the big handle, On the Wash N Wear cycle, after the pause at the end of the wash, this powerful aerated flush, just like the static rinse only in cold rather than warm, would begin as the tub spun out the soapy water. I remember my grandfather washing his "Dacron" or "Dectolene" or something shirts, and watching this interesting operation. Spent most of my spare time in front of that machine when I was at their house, captivated by it.


Post# 708102 , Reply# 27   10/9/2013 at 05:26 (3,823 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
Congratulations on finding such a rare machine in good condition! Hopefully there won't be anything too drastically wrong with it, mechanically speaking.

Post# 708115 , Reply# 28   10/9/2013 at 07:33 (3,823 days old) by ozzie908 (Lincoln UK)        
As a brit and never seeing these machines or anything

ozzie908's profile picture
like them can I ask are the AMC/Kelvinator and Ford/Philco based on a similar design as both have concentric agitators?

Please don't yell at me for being so dumb I can't help my heritage :o)

Austin


Post# 708134 , Reply# 29   10/9/2013 at 09:39 (3,822 days old) by Jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
ohh those

jetcone's profile picture

"Rubba-Scrubba's" are in nice shape, your clothes will get really clean! If there are no major leaks from the tub area all it looks it needs is a good belt hose change out and lubing of the bearings. On the main shaft are grease nipples you can lube without haveing to take the whole machine apart. These are one of the easiest washers to maintain and work on. 

 

Love that Do All Dial! 


Post# 708155 , Reply# 30   10/9/2013 at 11:27 (3,822 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
Austin-- I believe only the AMC/Kelvinator washers have concentric agitation. Agitation in the Philco machines comes from the flapping rubber disc at the base of the agitator post.

Post# 708301 , Reply# 31   10/10/2013 at 07:23 (3,822 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Lubing Up The Good Old Kelvinator

combo52's profile picture

Be very careful when greasing the grease fittings on the main bearings and water pump with a hand [ or power ] grease gun, if you apply the grease too fast or too much you can dislodge the main bearings and size the mechanism, don't ask me how I know, LOL.


Post# 708572 , Reply# 32   10/11/2013 at 09:58 (3,820 days old) by ovrphil (N.Atlanta / Georgia )        
Beautiful machine!

ovrphil's profile picture
That's a cool looking machine - I really like it, nice find!
And it came with a window - excellent!
And did I say it's handsome looking? Geez, some of the Kelvinators remind of the old cars, the Nash, etc.



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