debate: Frigidaire or kevinator

Hum - my two cents: (1958/59 Kelvinator vs. 1958 Unimatic)

1. Appearance: TOL both machines are quite stunning - the Kelvinator bearing the window lid, and the Frigidaire available in multiple colors in a full porcelin cabinet - very cool. The timeline timer of the Kelvintator sure is beautiful, but the ratchet mechanism is not as easy to use as the standard knob timer of the Frigidaire. Both machines have a full panel with light - Frigidaire with all knob control and the Kelvinator with the ratchet control for timer and push button controls for the temperature and speed. WINNER: TIE

2. Tub: I think both machines have an 8 pound tub. The Kelvinator by nature has the huge agitator (in black by 1958), and the Frigidaire boasts a colorful 3 ring pulsator. Loading clothes in the Frigidaire seems to be easier than the Kelvinator, but this is trivial. WINNER: FRIGIDAIRE

3. Wash Action: both machines have the most unique washing action of ANY post War automatic washer produced. The Frigidiare can wash with the lid open, without the fear of having a monsoon spill all over the floor in comparison to the Kelvinator. But having a window lid is also a very cool feature of the Kelvinator - especially during a full tub wash. I've always felt the Magic Minute was more a marketing gimmick than useful - but so was the colorful 3 ring pulsator. The Kelvinator may have a slightly more aggressive wash action than the gentle action of the live-water washing Frigidaire, but is no where near as aggressive as a DD Whirlpool. WINNER: FRIGIDAIRE

4. Rinse: BOTH machines have a great overflow rinse. In theory the Kelvinator uses much more water than the Frigidaire duing the rinse cycle. Both machines will produce a nice clean rinse. WINNER: TIE

5. Spin: Sorry AMC fans - hands down on the Frigidaire for this one - 1140 is a whirlwind in comparison to the Kelvinator, with a similar spin speed of a Kenmore/Whirlpool in the 500 RPM range. Even if I comparied a 1959 Multi-Matic Frigidaire to the Kelvinator - the Multi-Matic would slap the AMC around all night long. WINNER: FRIGIDAIRE

6. RARITY: hands down to the Kelvinator. How many working Kelvinators are out there in the hands of club members vs. the large number of Unimatics? WINNER: KELVINATOR

7. ABSOLUTE FUN: This is a tough one. I am a GM guy at heart, but when I show off the Kelvinator and the Unimatic - folks are always in shock when they see the Kelvinator washing with a full tub of water. Sorry GM guys: WINNER: KELVINATOR.

So - who is the winner? Sorry - there isn't a clear winner. They are both wonderful washers, and I think we all cherish them as much as the thousands of other Maytags, Whirlpools, Kenmores, Westy's, Bendii, and the such that we all care about and love.

Ben


Forum Topics & Rules Manuals & Literature	New users Click-here to sign-up

Post# 292301 7/23/2008 at 12:28 (5,755 days old) by goblue ()
Checkrate/Likes on agitation. Ill take the kevinator Magic minute over Frigidaire weird pulsating agitation. ive heard the magic minute is the king.

Post# 292305 , Reply# 1 7/23/2008 at 13:05 (5,755 days old) by tuthill ()
Checkrate/Likes I'd rather have a unimatic thumping away any day. So simple yet so effective!

Post# 292316 , Reply# 2 7/23/2008 at 14:34 (5,755 days old) by goblue ()
Checkrate/Likes jed im taking my kevinator. nothing aganist the 'fridge but you can find them about anywhere. kelvs are hard to come buy. like a blogger in here told me 'the magic minute when you loading it on the truck'

Post# 292318 , Reply# 3 7/23/2008 at 14:51 (5,755 days old) by laundromat (Hilo, Hawaii)
Checkrate/Likes *GM vs AM* I'd take a Chevrolet over a Rambler anyday!!! LOL

Post# 292319 , Reply# 4 7/23/2008 at 15:13 (5,755 days old) by christfr (st louis mo)
Checkrate/Likes hum if i run mine side by side the frigidaire and compare the results the frigi will win every time so much better.. but that is just my vote ha ha

Post# 292320 , Reply# 5 7/23/2008 at 15:18 (5,755 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)
Checkrate/Likes Frigidaire made the best REFRIGERATOR, bar none. Their washers left a little bit to be desired.....

Post# 292322 , Reply# 6 7/23/2008 at 15:34 (5,755 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)
Checkrate/Likes Hum - my two cents: (1958/59 Kelvinator vs. 1958 Unimatic) 1. Appearance: TOL both machines are quite stunning - the Kelvinator bearing the window lid, and the Frigidaire available in multiple colors in a full porcelin cabinet - very cool. The timeline timer of the Kelvintator sure is beautiful, but the ratchet mechanism is not as easy to use as the standard knob timer of the Frigidaire. Both machines have a full panel with light - Frigidaire with all knob control and the Kelvinator with the ratchet control for timer and push button controls for the temperature and speed. WINNER: TIE 2. Tub: I think both machines have an 8 pound tub. The Kelvinator by nature has the huge agitator (in black by 1958), and the Frigidaire boasts a colorful 3 ring pulsator. Loading clothes in the Frigidaire seems to be easier than the Kelvinator, but this is trivial. WINNER: FRIGIDAIRE 3. Wash Action: both machines have the most unique washing action of ANY post War automatic washer produced. The Frigidiare can wash with the lid open, without the fear of having a monsoon spill all over the floor in comparison to the Kelvinator. But having a window lid is also a very cool feature of the Kelvinator - especially during a full tub wash. I've always felt the Magic Minute was more a marketing gimmick than useful - but so was the colorful 3 ring pulsator. The Kelvinator may have a slightly more aggressive wash action than the gentle action of the live-water washing Frigidaire, but is no where near as aggressive as a DD Whirlpool. WINNER: FRIGIDAIRE 4. Rinse: BOTH machines have a great overflow rinse. In theory the Kelvinator uses much more water than the Frigidaire duing the rinse cycle. Both machines will produce a nice clean rinse. WINNER: TIE 5. Spin: Sorry AMC fans - hands down on the Frigidaire for this one - 1140 is a whirlwind in comparison to the Kelvinator, with a similar spin speed of a Kenmore/Whirlpool in the 500 RPM range. Even if I comparied a 1959 Multi-Matic Frigidaire to the Kelvinator - the Multi-Matic would slap the AMC around all night long. WINNER: FRIGIDAIRE 6. RARITY: hands down to the Kelvinator. How many working Kelvinators are out there in the hands of club members vs. the large number of Unimatics? WINNER: KELVINATOR 7. ABSOLUTE FUN: This is a tough one. I am a GM guy at heart, but when I show off the Kelvinator and the Unimatic - folks are always in shock when they see the Kelvinator washing with a full tub of water. Sorry GM guys: WINNER: KELVINATOR. So - who is the winner? Sorry - there isn't a clear winner. They are both wonderful washers, and I think we all cherish them as much as the thousands of other Maytags, Whirlpools, Kenmores, Westy's, Bendii, and the such that we all care about and love. Ben

Post# 292336 , Reply# 7 7/23/2008 at 18:36 (5,755 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod)
Checkrate/Likes *Nice Ben* I have a 1-18. I truely love that machine. I wish I had a Kelvy just to see that splash action. But it is truely a tie. If I had a choice, I would choose the 1-18. I also have always wanted a Unimatic. I would pay top dollar for a pristine Uni. Eddie.

Post# 292337 , Reply# 8 7/23/2008 at 18:42 (5,755 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)
Checkrate/Likes Boy Howdy, that is a tough one. If it was a choice between Frigidaire and anything else, I'd say Frigidaire; But if the other choice is a vintage Kelvinator, then Kelvy wins, simply on its being such a rare find.

Post# 292349 , Reply# 9 7/23/2008 at 21:43 (5,755 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)
Checkrate/Likes In the 1958 Consumer Reports ratings of washing machines, the WCI-58 washer was rated number one and the Kelvinator was second to last... That is all meaningless when talking about drama-value of a particular washer. In that category, it's probably a tie. CLICK HERE TO GO TO gansky1's LINK

Post# 292350 , Reply# 10 7/23/2008 at 21:44 (5,755 days old) by mayken4now (Panama City, Florida)
Checkrate/Likes I have nothing to compare it to. I do have two Frigidaire machines, no Kelvinator. I do infact know that as far as the two company's are/were concerned, AMC, bye bye and GM, still there. Long before the take overs and bye out's. Dunno.