Thread Number: 72841  /  Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
Dreaming of NORGE WASHER are any around?
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Post# 962419   10/14/2017 at 08:09 (2,357 days old) by Paulwash (Niagara Falls New York)        

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Years ago in the early 1980's I went to my best friends house and of course I had to know what kind of washing machine was in his basement. Well his Aunt came over with four big bags of dirty clothes and I noticed his mom and aunt went downstairs in the basement.. They asked us to run to the corner store for to buy a box of Rinso detergent and clorox bleach. Well I ran lol. We returned an I heard this loud washer running making a burp noise and washing hard!! The closer I got I noticed it was this exact machine and the matching dryer was on the other side of the basement. His mom thanked us and took the Rinso out of my hand opened it up and poured some in the Norge!! Well they went upstairs while we rode bikes in partially finished basement but I heard that washer go through all the phases and the LOUD CLANK at the end. I never operated one of these but would love one I have used MANY washers in my life but NORGE is one of the last ones I need to use, have, and watch!! in person. Many more days I went to my buddys house who thought it was strange about me and the washer obsession but still loved me! That washer did not last too long.. His mother had the dryer fixed several times and the washer once.. she did use it a lot washing her sisters clothes who had two kids and her family of three. I remember his father and his friend put them out to the trash out in the front of his house after they broke down! His mom bought a Hotpoint set in harvest gold 1986 model and had them put in her kitchen this time. She must have liked washers with loud breaks LOL. I asked her years later about that washer because she knows I like to wash clothes and surprisingly she said she had that washer and dryer after getting married in 1974 at her first apartment which had four sets of washers and dryers in the basement due to being a four family apartment building. She was pregnant with my best friend and was afraid to go three flights down to the basement in the apartment building unless her husband was home she said the basement creeped her out lol Later they bought a house and took them with her Anyone now how I can get one of these let me know. I will take Montgomery Ward, Magic Chef, NORGE. Thanks.

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Post# 962423 , Reply# 1   10/14/2017 at 08:22 (2,357 days old) by akronman (Akron/Cleveland Ohio)        
I know that machine!

akronman's profile picture
You borrowed my picture, thank you, real fun to see. Keep your eyes on Craigslist, have patience, check out ReStore's in your area. One of these LOUD fun washers will show up. Patience.


Post# 962428 , Reply# 2   10/14/2017 at 08:28 (2,357 days old) by Paulwash (Niagara Falls New York)        
Yes I did !!! :-)

paulwash's profile picture
I saw this exact machine and I thank you for having it posted.. I never understood the words 50 years Norge 25 on the label is it an anniversary machine ? Thank you Akronman.

Post# 962440 , Reply# 3   10/14/2017 at 09:07 (2,357 days old) by akronman (Akron/Cleveland Ohio)        
It's 50, and NORGE 20

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50 yr anniversary of Norge, which I believe makes it a 1978 model, and 20 is POUNDS of dirty clothes. It may have oversold the weight a bit, not much. I still have it, all torn apart for a DIFFICULT slow bearing repair, it will be a loud fun machine again!

Post# 962470 , Reply# 4   10/14/2017 at 11:08 (2,357 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)        

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Maytag Performa's are based kinda loosely on the Norge platform. Not a dyed in the wool Norge, but a cousin.


Post# 962474 , Reply# 5   10/14/2017 at 11:56 (2,357 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

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an Atlantis pair would be a nice find....

Post# 962477 , Reply# 6   10/14/2017 at 12:27 (2,357 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)        
Paging Allan Sherman . . .

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All I could think of when I read the title of this thread was Bing Crosby, and then I started laughing.  I think it's best to leave the lyrics up to Nate, who could whip them out in a jiffy.

 

Paul, good luck in your search.  And if you find one, enjoy it while it lasts -- which won't be long at all.


Post# 962594 , Reply# 7   10/14/2017 at 20:41 (2,357 days old) by Losangeles (Muscle Shoals, AL 35661)        
Dreaming of Norge

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A good friend of my mothers had a Norge Automatic with a timeline timer control.  She was the only person that indulged my deep interest in washing machines.  She would let me watch it thru a complete cycle anytime I was at her house.   What a good time and memories.  Are there any Norge Timeline machines out there.  I would love to have one.  Anybody selling?


Post# 962595 , Reply# 8   10/14/2017 at 20:42 (2,357 days old) by Paulwash (Niagara Falls New York)        
You guys are awesome !!!

paulwash's profile picture
Thanks for the laughs and tips!! Martin! No Maytag Atlantis.. I want Norge!!

Post# 962600 , Reply# 9   10/14/2017 at 20:58 (2,357 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c )        
The BEST washer

EVER MADE..NORGE!

Post# 962663 , Reply# 10   10/15/2017 at 08:34 (2,356 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        

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Think something like this would be fun to have!

Surely when I'd visited my then-local Montgomery Ward, (before it, & that mall it was in, had been long-torn down) among the GE's, Maytags and Firgidaires, I had to have considered the MW-branded machines, when I was contemplating my first house & appliance purchase, though only at the tender age of Nine-Teen!

I was put off by the tremendous water-usage, and the unbalanced load-ratings cited in CONSUMER REPORTS, and somehow leaned on a dislike towards them, preferring the WCI brands, which to me, seemed more worthy (though Gibson & Kelvinator, seemed better rated vs. Frigidaire & White-Westinghouse, with their high water consumption & other frailties, outweighing the other two that were mainly rated Average) even stacked up against the better Whirlpool, Kenmore, GE, Hotpoint, and Maytag...

Looking back, the Norge (or its Ward's clone) surely would have been the one I'd chosen, in washer--and dryer--form, for my 1st laundry...



-- Dave


Post# 962667 , Reply# 11   10/15/2017 at 08:42 (2,356 days old) by agiflow2 ()        

I appreciate them more now than I did when my mother had one in the seventies and early eighties. Thanks to that huge white "burpolator" they could really wash a small two pound load at a truly "ex low" water level. No nonsense tough washers.

Post# 962696 , Reply# 12   10/15/2017 at 12:41 (2,356 days old) by Losangeles (Muscle Shoals, AL 35661)        
Norge washer

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What is a WCI brand.  I am unfamiliar with several of the abbreviations used here.


Post# 962699 , Reply# 13   10/15/2017 at 12:54 (2,356 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)        
WCI

is White Consolidated Industries. Owned by AB Electrolux today of Sweden.
First Westinghouse, then aquired brands as they became defunct or under their unmbrella. Frigidaire in 1976, Admiral, then Gibson, Kelvinator, Tappan.


Post# 962711 , Reply# 14   10/15/2017 at 13:59 (2,356 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)        

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WCI = White Consolidated Industries = bad. 

 

A true Norge would have been produced by Borg Warner. 


Post# 962715 , Reply# 15   10/15/2017 at 14:09 (2,356 days old) by agiflow2 ()        

Fedders did a pretty good job with Norge. The washer we had was a tank.

Post# 962722 , Reply# 16   10/15/2017 at 15:30 (2,356 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)        

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WCI never owned Admiral.


Post# 962724 , Reply# 17   10/15/2017 at 15:47 (2,356 days old) by nmassman44 (Brooksville Florida)        

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And Frigidaire wasn’t acquired by WCI until late 1979 early 1980.

Post# 962726 , Reply# 18   10/15/2017 at 16:12 (2,356 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)        

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Post# 962731 , Reply# 19   10/15/2017 at 17:01 (2,356 days old) by brucelucenta ()        
Losangeles

The Norge timeline washers were only made up through 1958. So the chances of finding one other than one in someone's collection is slim. However, they do turn up from time to time. A matching set actually turned up over a year ago that looked like it was practically new. So keep watching in here and on craigs list and ebay. Anything is possible. The Norge solid tub machines just didn't seem to last very long in comparison to many other brands. They had "issues" with pumps and various things. Most NEVER lasted as long as the matching dryers and were replaced a few years after they were new usually. They really were quite excellent at washing, rinsing and spinning the clothes. They were just very small capacity in comparison to other machines and had to be serviced a lot. Consumer reports really helped Norge along in the beginning with rating them as the best machine. But they were going on performance and not durability. To this very day, I have NEVER seen a TOL 1958 model other than in videos, but have had more than one of the matching dryers. The perforated tub machines were much better as far as durability, but were kind of noisy. They sure did wash, rinse and spin out very well and had the largest capacity for a while after they came out in the mid 60's. The quality didn't go down until the late 70's and 80's. They were cheapened like everything else.

Post# 962828 , Reply# 20   10/16/2017 at 07:43 (2,355 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)        
What about?

The late 70's, and 80's Admiral top freezer refrigerators that were identical to Frigidaire's by WCI? They had identical bottom grilles and faux wood grain handles.
Also the sag space between the doors. Think the "Rosanne" tv show fridge.

It's been 40 years already, and got quite confusing.
By 1988, Tappan was building GE gas ranges, or the other way 'round?
Roper was sold and closed up shop too. A Modern Maid slide in gas range was identical to a Whirlpool. Maytag acquired Magic Chef, and sold Admiral ranges.


Post# 962836 , Reply# 21   10/16/2017 at 08:59 (2,355 days old) by Losangeles (Muscle Shoals, AL 35661)        
Thanks guys

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Thank you for the lesson in used abbreviations.  I will continue my search for the Norge of my dreams.  I am also looking for Unimatics built by GM or any washing machine that has a non-neutral drain/spin.  I really like the drama of a spin taking off with a full load of water and detergent/rinse water.  The faster the better.  Thanks again, Tommy


Post# 962906 , Reply# 22   10/16/2017 at 17:08 (2,355 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)        

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WCI may have built some Admiral badged refrigerators, but they were never owned by WCI.. GE built some Frigidaire dryers, but there was no other connection. Admiral also built some GE badged refrigerators.


Post# 962923 , Reply# 23   10/16/2017 at 18:47 (2,355 days old) by agiflow2 ()        

Vacerator

It's funny you should bring up Tappan making GE gas ranges in 1988 because I was just thinking about that article in consumer reports in 1987 or 88 and was trying to find photos of that GE gas range.

My mom purchased a Tappan centennial 30" gas range right around that time in 87 or 88. Can't remember now as the receipt is long gone.I won't get rid of it because it has a cooktop light and still performs well.

Money can't buy those little niceties anymore.


Post# 962977 , Reply# 24   10/17/2017 at 07:35 (2,354 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)        
True Patrick,

seems the cook top range lighting has been displaced by vent hood lights or microwave/vent lighting.
My neighbor at my first house had that GE gas range by Tappan. It had a rolling mechanical digital clock, also a work light, square burner pans, and beefier grates than a Magic Chef. Also a larger burner than Magic Chef, which had all 4 small.
This range was Tappan's grand finale before they closed the factory in Mansfield.
A few of the final Tappan models had electronic digital clocks, but the GE model was standard with self cleaning, and more deluxe.
Afterward, Tappan ranges became Frigidaire knock off's, except for the very low end model with production moving to Canada or Mexico.
GE became Sears main range supplier after Roper closed, followed by Frigidaire.


Post# 963017 , Reply# 25   10/17/2017 at 14:25 (2,354 days old) by Washerlover (The Big Island, Hawai’i)        
They Are Still Out There

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Just picked this up a couple months ago -- pristine condition. Circa 1975ish. And that's a newer Wards model in the upper left...probably 1985ish..? Still makes the same great sounds and comes complete with burp-a-lator agitator! Am planning to get my washroom set up this Winter so I can hook them up.

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Post# 963025 , Reply# 26   10/17/2017 at 15:29 (2,354 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

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I've always been fascinated by Wards machines.  They were not common around here, except via catalog pictures.


Post# 963056 , Reply# 27   10/17/2017 at 18:25 (2,354 days old) by agiflow2 ()        

I think my model Tappan was around since the late seventies or early eighties because I remeber seeing it in older magazines and it is gold in color. Smallish oven and has the rolling mechanical clock. I remember seeing the WCI made ge units around 1988 or89. I think 1990 was the first year of the new XL44 ovens.


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