Thread Number: 1413
Kelvinator POD 3/1
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Post# 58592   3/1/2005 at 10:12 (6,967 days old) by jaxsunst ()        

I love those machines!!!

Does anyone have any more information on them, such as a closeup of the control panel, or information on the "fountain" lint filter?





Post# 58604 , Reply# 1   3/1/2005 at 11:16 (6,967 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
Do we know what year this washer hails from? I don't think I've ever seen a Kelvinator with a lint filter atop the agitator before. Is it newer than the '57 model from the other POD? Either way, an interesting, lever-filled control panel!



Post# 58608 , Reply# 2   3/1/2005 at 12:13 (6,967 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
OK. Dudes and dudettes.

THIS is within a couple inches of being the machine my grandmother had.

I don't remember the "suds back" switch. Was the machine available both with or without it? Either that, or it also didn't work and thus was not used / forgotten, or hers was a later-year model that didn't have it at all.

I could be wrong, but I think the rinse temp and speed selections were also pushbuttons instead of slide switches.

I do recall that the agitator cap was different. It's difficult to describe, so I won't attempt to do so.

The fountain filter didn't work. We had the filter pan but it didn't "fountain."

YAY!!

If I may ask, who/what is the source of the ad?


Post# 58622 , Reply# 3   3/1/2005 at 14:57 (6,966 days old) by PeterH770 (Marietta, GA)        

peterh770's profile picture
So if this ad is a TOL machine, then the lower end models are the ones with the dial on the right instead of the lever/timeline?

Post# 58627 , Reply# 4   3/1/2005 at 15:35 (6,966 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

unimatic1140's profile picture
First of all today’s POD is from 1958 because it screams 1958 in the first banner line of text.

Second of all Ms.Jetcone was kind enough to donate yesterdays, today’s, tomorrow’s and Thursday’s POD, thank you Karen, these ads are just BEAUTIFUL!

Today’s Picture of the Day produces some interesting observations and questions:

It appears that 1958 was the first year that Kelvinator & ABC introduced their new Square corner cabinet design. All the model years before had the rounded corner cabinets.

Since this obviously is the Top of the Line Kelvinator washer, where is the window lid???? Did they make a window lid washer in 1958??? Is this because of the new cabinet design??? I believe the ’58 ABC-o-Matic models had a window lid (ABC’s last year in existence).

You can see the wash tub in the first picture on the upper left. It’s the original ABC wash tub design that had a tendency to loose about ¼ of its water level by the end of the wash period. This happened due to all the water being splashed over the top of the tub. They later redesigned the wash tub to hold all of its water no matter how much splashing was going on. I’m not sure if they introduced the new wash tub in 1959 or 1960.

Notice that the lever controls are a time-line like timer dial display in the center of the control panel on both the washer and the dryer, how cool is that!

I love the gray lower panels to offset their new “smart” sunny yellow cabinets.
And most of all now I WANT ONE!


Post# 58641 , Reply# 5   3/1/2005 at 17:20 (6,966 days old) by jetaway ()        
Is this the Kelvinator of Kelvinators?

Interesting Controls!!! But no window? What gives? I love that filter, but I can imagine how dizzy it would make you to watch this baby!!! Splash City!!! Lots of "magic minutes" to enjoy here......this one is a gem.

Neal


Post# 58642 , Reply# 6   3/1/2005 at 17:28 (6,966 days old) by PeterH770 (Marietta, GA)        

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Mr. Big Banana, I have a 1953 Kelvinator parts book that shows a metal band that goes around the outside of the inner tub to block the drain holes and prevent the "drain over" during wash and rinse. Seems to me that in another conversation with another club member in Boston who is a big ABC/Kelvi fan who shall remain nameless I was told that Kelvinator had this design change that ABC didn't incorporate into their machines.

Post# 58647 , Reply# 7   3/1/2005 at 17:53 (6,966 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
My 55 Kelvinator has a rubber band around the spin tub to prevent water from being splashed out during agitation, it helps a little...

Post# 58659 , Reply# 8   3/1/2005 at 19:21 (6,966 days old) by peteski50 (New York)        
Kelvinator POD 3/1

peteski50's profile picture
I never saw this model Kelvinator before. Sad it doesn't have a window! Can you actually see the progress of the cycle on the left side?
Peter


Post# 58682 , Reply# 9   3/1/2005 at 22:19 (6,966 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture
I'M IN LOVE!!!!! I think this is an even sexier washer than the 58 Unimatic that Robert & Greg both have.

Post# 58687 , Reply# 10   3/1/2005 at 22:33 (6,966 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
Peter, yes, it's a time-line kind of dial. The larger lever on the right cranks it around for setting. Then the lever handle is turned for the dial on/off switch. I don't recall which way, left or right.

The smaller lever is for water level, regular or small.

The whole console is fluorescent back-lit. VERY nice!


Post# 58694 , Reply# 11   3/1/2005 at 23:10 (6,966 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

unimatic1140's profile picture
Yes my '49 ABC also has that big rubber band, but as Greg says it only helps a little. Most of the water goes over the top, above the rubber band level. I bet Jon was referring to the redesigned Kelvinator tub which happened after ABC was out of business.

Post# 58698 , Reply# 12   3/2/2005 at 00:00 (6,966 days old) by david (CA)        

These kelvinators are rreally beautiful. Boy, I bet this pair would next to impossible to find-esp. in yellow which is really pretty. Thanks for the picture, karen. Now a question for you Robert unimatic-if no gears, how does it work?

Post# 58701 , Reply# 13   3/2/2005 at 01:41 (6,966 days old) by kenmore1978 ()        
Kelvinator/ABC

I keep seeing Kelvinator and ABC talked about as if they were the same, what is the actual relationship between the two?

Also, Maytag goes way back, but I see AMP talked about as if it's some realtion to Maytag, what's that story?


Post# 58704 , Reply# 14   3/2/2005 at 02:15 (6,966 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
ABC (Altorfer Brothers Company) was the originator of the orbital agitation design. Kelvinator contracted with ABC to manufacture their washers when laundry was added to their product line.

I believe AMP is the model designation of an early Maytag topload automatic. It had a different mechanical design than what became Maytag's well-known automatic washer.


Post# 58710 , Reply# 15   3/2/2005 at 05:03 (6,966 days old) by kenmore1978 ()        
ABC

So I assume Kelvinator bought/kept ABC's design after ABC left the business?

Post# 58716 , Reply# 16   3/2/2005 at 08:04 (6,966 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
Apparantly I need to clean my glasses---I can't believe I missed the 1958 cue in the text of the ad. I think this would be a convenient time for me to use my "I'm a feeble old man!!" defense....

What a cool machine!---even without a window. I'm guessing you take your own life in your hands opening a windowless Kelvinator to watch it. My raincoat and hat, please, James!


Post# 58720 , Reply# 17   3/2/2005 at 08:37 (6,966 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

unimatic1140's profile picture
Robert unimatic-if no gears, how does it work

It uses pulleys, rods and clutch springs instead of gears. Plenty of other things to go wrong, but what a fun machine none-the-less.


Post# 58726 , Reply# 18   3/2/2005 at 09:19 (6,966 days old) by pulsator-power (connecticut)        

Guess they were going after a modern look without the round window. (A square one would have worked!)
Anyone know the origination of the Kelvinator name? Was it a family name or something? Plus parent co. American Motors came from a conglomeration of a bunch of different car companies.
Jerry


Post# 58743 , Reply# 19   3/2/2005 at 13:58 (6,966 days old) by mulls ()        
Kelvinator lint filter

Folks had a Kelvinator-guessing about a 65 model-that had the smaller blue agitator-had a tiny lint filter molded into the top of the agitator right below the cap.No provision to get water to it-I guess the splashing was supposed to supply it!Washing a big load of towels might produce a tiny ball of lint-totally ineffective.Great machine though-lasted for a family of 6 till late 70s and was bought used for $25!
Tom


Post# 58759 , Reply# 20   3/2/2005 at 16:00 (6,965 days old) by kenmore1978 ()        
American Motors conglomeration

The original corporation was the Nash car company. It merged with Kelvinator to become Nash-Kelvinator Corp. George Mason, the President, saw the handwriting on the wall and realized that the independents had to get together to have any chance against the Big 3. The plan was to merge Nash-Kelvinator and Hudson Motor Car together, then for Packard and Studebaker to merge, than for those companies to merge into what would be American Motors. Those 2 mergers did occur, but George Mason would die before the whole scheme could be completed. He was the driving force behind the plan, and without him, James Nance,(who, ironically, came from Hotpoint) head of Studebaker-Packard, balked at the final stage of the merger. Interesting to think how things would've been different if the whole thing had gone through.


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