Magic Chef--Stove/Dishwasher

about the space efficiency of appliances in general. There used to be (in the not so distant past either) a lot of variety in the appliance area. LOTS of selection in them (ex. Frigidaire's pulsator, GE's Filter-Flo, etc.) and now everything's consolidated white-box boring. This could turn into a rant, and it may still but it's almost depressing. It's one of the things that attracts me to the old Hoover and Maytag portable washers-- they're neat and small and do exactly what they're supposed to. They're also very space/water efficient. I'm also starting to take a strong liking to the Whirlpool/Kenmore portables (BD) the more I see them.

The build quality of anything past the early 90's also leaves a LOT to be desired. For example: I now have 2 Maytag A50's (YAY!) and while neither are shoddily built, there are significant differences between new and old. The yellow one is a 1970 model and has all kinds of metal flashing around the motors and lower pump area. The newer unit (grey impellers) has nothing down there, just a weird aluminum lining on the tub bottom. It's lighter, but certainly no less durable. The new Haier HLP23E that I have is less than 1 year old and while it does seem to work fine, the build quality is non-existant. The membrane button panel is already separating and the tub brake is getting looser with every wash. The matching HLP140E dryer is the same way, it has a PLASTIC door with no structural support. I've also had to shim the drum bearing because there is already 1/2" of front-rear movement in the drum causing it to scrape the metal of the heating element housing. It also makes a lot of noise when it does this. The Maytag DE-50 dryer I just needs a lot of work, but it's still a brute, you can just tell by feeling it that it's solid. It also has a serviceable.. well everything is serviceable on it. I had to shim the bearing on the Haier dryer because it's NOT removable, it's pressed into the non-removable support brace in the rear. GREAT design. The DE-50 btw only needs a fan belt (on order) to be operational. It could also use a new rear felt support but in die time. It's near silent when the drum is rotating, only the hum of the motor and the bearing.

I'm off topic now, but I'm all about space efficient, compact appliances. A few months ago they tore down the house next to where I work and we watched the demolition. I noticed there was one of these in the kitchen, I though it was an odd bird, actually I wasn't SURE it was a dishwasher until seeing the pic above.

-Tim


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Post# 355840 6/9/2009 at 17:12 (5,435 days old) by washmeup (scottsdale)
Checkrate/Likes I remember staying with friends at Grand Lake back in the late 70's and their cabin had a Magic Chef Stove with a oven above and a dishwasher below where the other oven would have been. Does anyone else remember this? I have not seen one since! Washmeup

Post# 355842 , Reply# 1 6/9/2009 at 17:20 (5,435 days old) by appnut (TX)
Checkrate/Likes Yep, I remember them, though only saw them in magazine ads.

Post# 355848 , Reply# 2 6/9/2009 at 18:17 (5,435 days old) by animasinsulinpu ()
Checkrate/Likes *Western Auto* I remember seeing one of those machines at a Western Auto in the 70's. Never knew anyone that had one....Bill....

Post# 355857 , Reply# 3 6/9/2009 at 18:54 (5,434 days old) by stainfighter (Columbia, SC)
Checkrate/Likes *Magic Chef...Modern Maid* when we had our condo in Olde Towne Alexandria we had a combo unit like you describe, called a Modern Maid. The diswasher was a D&M design IIRC and it cleaned very well...LOUD but very good, fast performer

Post# 355860 , Reply# 4 6/9/2009 at 19:01 (5,434 days old) by washmeup (scottsdale)
Checkrate/Likes *That is right!* I was wrong, it was a Modern Maid! As I remeber they were not a very high end brand!

Post# 355879 , Reply# 5 6/9/2009 at 21:28 (5,434 days old) by yogitunes (New Jersey)
Checkrate/Likes i have seen many of these in mobile homes...great for small kitchens, you have everything in one space

Post# 355892 , Reply# 6 6/9/2009 at 21:50 (5,434 days old) by gadgetgary (Bristol,CT)
Checkrate/Likes *Speed Queen* Kitchen

Post# 355894 , Reply# 7 6/9/2009 at 21:58 (5,434 days old) by soberleaf ()
Checkrate/Likes *oh my God!* i remember that ad! i remember looking at that unit at my favorite appliance store! it was modern maid, at least the one i saw! i loved modern maid! next to kitchenaid ofcourse.

Post# 355897 , Reply# 8 6/9/2009 at 22:02 (5,434 days old) by peteski50 (New York)
Checkrate/Likes *Modern Maid / Speed Queen!* Yes these were really Great units. It is a sin they don't make things like this anymore. Peter

Post# 355898 , Reply# 9 6/9/2009 at 22:08 (5,434 days old) by laundromat (Hilo, Hawaii)
Checkrate/Likes *Speed QAueen/Modern Maid* Both of these manufacturers were McGraw/Edison Company divisions at one time.The dishwasher portion was D&M and a lot like the later Kenmores w/out the RotoRack upper level.Very noisy but very good in getting real dirty dishes real clean.The cooktop was basic and was available in gas or electric. Thne oven however was small and not well insolated. Continuous cleaning inner cavity walls and pilotless ignition(gas models only),clock and timer w/automatic oven setting to automaticaly come on and shut off by itself.I sold many of them but mouse,rat and roach infestations were a common problem and they were not very dependable.I would have rather seen a manufacturer like KitchenAid or Whirlpool design and make one of them.Even FRIGIDAIRE with their Flair Range and a Super Surge dishwasher beneath would have been not only more impressive,but also better made.

Post# 355904 , Reply# 10 6/9/2009 at 22:36 (5,434 days old) by toggleswitch2 ()
Checkrate/Likes *It is a sin they don't make things like this anymore.* uhm... put a 30" wide micro-convection oven over a 30" wide cooktop over a 24" wide dishwasher. You may have to raise the coutertop an inch or two to clear the depth of the cooktop over a standard 36" height, but this is do-able and I have seen it done. Of course, all will have to be built-in rather than free-standing.. still, lots of fun! I have heard that these units can be salvaged if the DW dies by simply replacing the whole DW. Can't use a plastic-tub model though.

Post# 355932 , Reply# 12 6/10/2009 at 03:22 (5,434 days old) by dj-gabriele ()
Checkrate/Likes There is a modern cunterpart to that: the Candy Trio that has a dishwasher, oven and hobs all in a single unit. Also the Duo that is only oven and dishwasher to be built in. CLICK HERE TO GO TO dj-gabriele's LINK

Post# 356337 , Reply# 13 6/11/2009 at 20:17 (5,432 days old) by everythingold (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Checkrate/Likes What a great thread. I too fail to understand why appliances are not made more space efficient. For instance, A 30" stack range/microwave/vent is perfect. But the wierd thing is that they don't sell. I have had a number of 30" stack ovens, I have ever only sold one. The others didn't move. Eventually I scrapped them (but not before stripping some nice parts) and don't even bother grabbing them anymore. I recently passed on a mint GE range/micro/vent for free. They don't sell. (Tangent coming) I think piston washers met a similar fate. In my experience women don't like them (admittedly the sample size is small). My wife won't use one. She's not stupid and I have really questioned her about it. She doesn't know. But if just 40% of women don't like pistons, then that's it. No more pistons. Is it true that GM never made money on Frigidaire? matt

Post# 355931 , Reply# 11 6/10/2009 at 02:24 (5,434 days old) by alr2903 (TN)
Checkrate/Likes In the French Quarter in New Orleans they were a renovators machine of choice. I remember many of them in the late 70's early 80's.

Post# 356340 , Reply# 14 6/11/2009 at 20:20 (5,432 days old) by everythingold (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Checkrate/Likes Oh, and I'd like to know more about the Flair/dishwasher pair. Never heard of it and am thinking my "Hotpoint Flair" might have something besides storage in the base i build for it!!!!!!!!!!

Post# 356347 , Reply# 15 6/11/2009 at 20:34 (5,432 days old) by peteski50 (New York)
Checkrate/Likes *Speed Queen / modern maid!!* I would love to see more specs on these types of units. Anyone willing to download. Thanks much, Peter

Post# 356370 , Reply# 16 6/11/2009 at 21:34 (5,432 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)
Checkrate/Likes *I agree...* about the space efficiency of appliances in general. There used to be (in the not so distant past either) a lot of variety in the appliance area. LOTS of selection in them (ex. Frigidaire's pulsator, GE's Filter-Flo, etc.) and now everything's consolidated white-box boring. This could turn into a rant, and it may still but it's almost depressing. It's one of the things that attracts me to the old Hoover and Maytag portable washers-- they're neat and small and do exactly what they're supposed to. They're also very space/water efficient. I'm also starting to take a strong liking to the Whirlpool/Kenmore portables (BD) the more I see them. The build quality of anything past the early 90's also leaves a LOT to be desired. For example: I now have 2 Maytag A50's (YAY!) and while neither are shoddily built, there are significant differences between new and old. The yellow one is a 1970 model and has all kinds of metal flashing around the motors and lower pump area. The newer unit (grey impellers) has nothing down there, just a weird aluminum lining on the tub bottom. It's lighter, but certainly no less durable. The new Haier HLP23E that I have is less than 1 year old and while it does seem to work fine, the build quality is non-existant. The membrane button panel is already separating and the tub brake is getting looser with every wash. The matching HLP140E dryer is the same way, it has a PLASTIC door with no structural support. I've also had to shim the drum bearing because there is already 1/2" of front-rear movement in the drum causing it to scrape the metal of the heating element housing. It also makes a lot of noise when it does this. The Maytag DE-50 dryer I just needs a lot of work, but it's still a brute, you can just tell by feeling it that it's solid. It also has a serviceable.. well everything is serviceable on it. I had to shim the bearing on the Haier dryer because it's NOT removable, it's pressed into the non-removable support brace in the rear. GREAT design. The DE-50 btw only needs a fan belt (on order) to be operational. It could also use a new rear felt support but in die time. It's near silent when the drum is rotating, only the hum of the motor and the bearing. I'm off topic now, but I'm all about space efficient, compact appliances. A few months ago they tore down the house next to where I work and we watched the demolition. I noticed there was one of these in the kitchen, I though it was an odd bird, actually I wasn't SURE it was a dishwasher until seeing the pic above. -Tim

Post# 356905 , Reply# 17 6/14/2009 at 09:19 (5,430 days old) by syndets2000 (Nanjemoy, MD)
Checkrate/Likes *A Melt down-* I have been in several places where the owner replaced the D & M DW with a plastic tub DW- On the gas range models it is somewhat ok, but with the electric models, the top half of the DW melted- NOT a good replacement idea, though I do recall seeing a couple of old DW door panels used as some kind of shield on the top of the DW- My niece had use of one of these things- she hated it, & said the DW was horrible!

Post# 357020 , Reply# 18 6/14/2009 at 15:00 (5,430 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)
Checkrate/Likes I don't know if I'd like 220V for the stovetop sitting right on top of a dishwasher, but that's just me..... Yeah, Matt, those double ovens are nice, but like you, I don't pick 'em up anymore. They are VERY heavy, for one thing, and people don't seem to care for them. I think it was in the later years that GM lost money on Frigidaire.

Post# 357067 , Reply# 19 6/14/2009 at 20:22 (5,429 days old) by bugsyjones ()
Checkrate/Likes *Interesting!* My grandparents still have a similar range. It's a harvest gold Signature (Montgomery Ward). It doesn't have a dishwasher below, but a full-size oven. Then it has the upper oven too. These days, grandma rarely uses the lower oven. It can be difficult to bend down to get something out. The upper is much more convenient, so the lower usually becomes pot and pan storage. I'm pretty sure they used to have a harvest gold Signature fridge too, but that's been long since replaced with the 1980's almond Signature side by side they still use. ~Tim