Thread Number: 28738
The Fargo '61 Kelvinator
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Post# 438563   5/31/2010 at 00:05 (5,051 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

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So about three years I ago I stopped at Sheyenne Appliance on the very west end of Fargo, practically on the edge of the prairie. I asked the owner about old parts and machines. He said he had two Rubber Tub Bendix machines and a early 60s Kelvinator. He said the stuff was sort of buried in his warehouse and he would contact me when he can get to it. Well three years later he contacted me and told me they were available.




Post# 438564 , Reply# 1   5/31/2010 at 00:07 (5,051 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

unimatic1140's profile picture
So he wanted me to pick them up early on Saturday, so I got up at 5 am and drove the 3.5 hours to Fargo. Loaded up the truck, stopped downtown for brunch and headed back home.

Post# 438566 , Reply# 2   5/31/2010 at 00:08 (5,051 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

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This machine is in amazing shape cosmetically, it is a 1961 lower end model. The black panel is hard to photograph, but it just shines.


Post# 438567 , Reply# 3   5/31/2010 at 00:09 (5,051 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

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Love the early 60's styling...

Post# 438568 , Reply# 4   5/31/2010 at 00:11 (5,051 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

unimatic1140's profile picture
The boot had ripped in the machine, so I spent six hours today ripping the machine completely apart, sanding out any rust and re-greasing. The mechanism was pretty much seized up from the water that leaked down into it. The ABC/Kelvinator design is super simple to work on, I wish all vintage machines were this easy to work on.


Post# 438569 , Reply# 5   5/31/2010 at 00:14 (5,051 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

unimatic1140's profile picture
Everything looks good, it now runs super silent and the rubber guard needs a good cleaning yet but its soft and supple.

Post# 438572 , Reply# 6   5/31/2010 at 00:16 (5,051 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

unimatic1140's profile picture
This machine runs so much smoother than my '66 Kelvinator. I think this new one is going to go in its place.

Post# 438574 , Reply# 7   5/31/2010 at 00:20 (5,051 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
Very nice Robert!

mayfan69's profile picture
That's a pretty gorgeaus machine there Robert!

All good things to those who wait. It was great that he remembered you.

Cheers
Leon


Post# 438575 , Reply# 8   5/31/2010 at 00:29 (5,051 days old) by peteski50 (New York)        
Kelvinator!

peteski50's profile picture
Robert,
Real nice Kelvinator I thought the early 60's models had the black adjator. Hopefully you can obtain a window lid.
Peter


Post# 438576 , Reply# 9   5/31/2010 at 00:29 (5,051 days old) by PeterH770 (Marietta, GA)        

peterh770's profile picture
And the agitator is just mint! Congrats!

Post# 438579 , Reply# 10   5/31/2010 at 00:42 (5,051 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        
WOW, Congrats Robert!

revvinkevin's profile picture

Congrats on your new acquisitions!! The Kelvy looks awesome and I look forward to hearing more about the rubber tub machines!

Kevin


Post# 438580 , Reply# 11   5/31/2010 at 00:54 (5,051 days old) by A440 ()        

Fantastic Finds!
You are a Magnet!
Brent


Post# 438582 , Reply# 12   5/31/2010 at 01:17 (5,051 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture
Awesome and outstanding. Simple, but stylish. congrats!!

Post# 438589 , Reply# 13   5/31/2010 at 04:09 (5,051 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)        

goatfarmer's profile picture
Beautiful machine!

Post# 438604 , Reply# 14   5/31/2010 at 06:25 (5,051 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

Kelvinator Time Capsule-really NICE machine.

Post# 438612 , Reply# 15   5/31/2010 at 07:09 (5,050 days old) by Gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA)        

Beautiful find!
I am curious as to what variations your '61 machine does for a "spray rinse" as opposed to the older machines. What does the '66 do?

Greg's goes into a hot spray rinse the moment the timer advances into the first spin. What a great spray rinse!

My 1960 does not do that. Instead it overfills on the initial rinse-fill until it overflows nearly a whole tub full of water!
it would make a lot more sense to me if it filled, agitated and then paused to do a long overflow. Oh well. Just curious as to the differences.



Post# 438621 , Reply# 16   5/31/2010 at 08:01 (5,050 days old) by tlee618 ()        

Robert, that machine is just beautiful! It looks to be in amazing condition! And YAY it has the magic minute!!!

Post# 438622 , Reply# 17   5/31/2010 at 08:07 (5,050 days old) by dishwashercrazy (West Peoria, IL)        
Cool Kelvinator

dishwashercrazy's profile picture

It is wonderful to know that one more successor to the Peoria built ABC washer has been saved.

Mike


Post# 438627 , Reply# 18   5/31/2010 at 08:34 (5,050 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

unimatic1140's profile picture
Hi Steve,

Its interesting you ask about the rinsing because I was surprised to see how different the cycle is than my '66.

Here is the sequence in the '61:

No spray rinse during the first spin,
Fills the tub just to nearly full (but not overflowing),
Agitates for 1 minute without any water flow,
Overflow rinses with agitation for 3 minutes,
Agitates for another minute without water flow,
Final Spin (no spray).

BUT if you select Warm/Cold Wash-Wear on the temp dial the machine will do an overflow wash with cold water for three minutes to cool the warm clothes down before the first spin. No water flow if a warm rinse is selected.


My '66 Kelvinator:

Spray rinse during the first spin increment (warm or cold),
Fills the tub halfway and starts to agitate continues filling and agitating for two minutes,
Non-agitated overflow three minutes,
Agitation without water flow for one minute.


Post# 438637 , Reply# 19   5/31/2010 at 09:05 (5,050 days old) by joelippard (Hickory)        
Beautiful machine

joelippard's profile picture
Love that panel design! So unique. I'd love to see a Kelvy in person one day. I'm curious about the non-agitated overflow on the '66. I assume that means nothing is running to pump the water out that is overflowing -- obviously it's going into the outer tub. If that's the case it certainly must hold a lot of water.

Post# 438639 , Reply# 20   5/31/2010 at 09:39 (5,050 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
Okay, but then what magic have you captured in the stunning

mickeyd's profile picture
if it's not a spray rinse?

The ring of suds looks so nice above the swirling water.

When seeing the large Fargo sign, I thought, thank God it's a washer he brought home, and not a wood chipper:-) Remember that scene in "Fargo" starring the fabulous pregnant Francis Mac Dormand, where they threw the guy into the chipper. Talk about a Shredmore~YIKES!


Post# 438641 , Reply# 21   5/31/2010 at 09:53 (5,050 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

unimatic1140's profile picture
if it's not a spray rinse?

That's the start of the rinse fill Mike, with the tub coasting down to a stop. Even with water getting into the mechanism, the bearings restored to perfect shape.


Post# 438643 , Reply# 22   5/31/2010 at 10:22 (5,050 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)        

swestoyz's profile picture
Robert, very very nice! Cosmetically, it appears to be almost perfect. Love the control panel. You are right about these being very simple and easy to work on machines. I agree whole heartily!

The cycle differences are interesting too. My '59 matches your '66 almost perfectly. Strange they didn't have the '61 continue to fill during the initial rinse fill all the way through to the overflow pause. I wonder if lower end models differ vs. TOL? I've never used the Perm Press button but I do know that it will overflow with cold during the wash for the cool down.

Joe - the outer tubs on Kelvinators are HUGE. 3 minutes of overflow during the rinse with a pause is a drop in the bucket for these machines.

Ben



Post# 438645 , Reply# 23   5/31/2010 at 10:33 (5,050 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA)        
Robert

jons1077's profile picture
Beautiful machine! Congrats!

Jon


Post# 438689 , Reply# 24   5/31/2010 at 12:42 (5,050 days old) by Gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA)        

Isn't that interesting. It seems the engineering department couldn't make up their mind about how to rinse!

I like the immediate hot spray-rinse as soon as the first spin begins. Oh well, irregardless, the machines do give a GREAT rinse!


Post# 438696 , Reply# 25   5/31/2010 at 13:04 (5,050 days old) by dnastrau (Lords Valley, PA)        
Nice Kelvinator Robert!

Glad to hear it is running well. I wonder how long it was out of service and why it wasn't repaired earlier?

I am also curious - did that dealer have the new boot that you needed or did you have one? That part must be pretty rare by now; maybe that is why the machine was shelved.

Andrew S.


Post# 438699 , Reply# 26   5/31/2010 at 13:17 (5,050 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        

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Great looking Kelvinator Robert. I love the control panel. Very simple but stylish. Looking forward to a "splashing" video of it.

Post# 438704 , Reply# 27   5/31/2010 at 13:23 (5,050 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
That's just beautiful, that washer was either retired early in it's life or a well-worn wringer washer took most of the laundry. Incredible finds all!


Post# 438705 , Reply# 28   5/31/2010 at 13:23 (5,050 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)        

rp2813's profile picture
A very handsome and masculine machine. And it looks like it could work up a serious froth too!

Definitely worth the drive.


Post# 438758 , Reply# 29   5/31/2010 at 19:11 (5,050 days old) by SRSwirl ()        
Those Holes on the Kelvy Turquoise Agitator!

Robert:

I've always wondered about the purpose of the holes in the "steps" between the vanes and on the agitator column. Is there a lint/sand trapping and ejecting mechanism/filter under the agitator...or are they there to assist the agitator in creating stronger and more effective water currents?

Michael


Post# 438760 , Reply# 30   5/31/2010 at 19:16 (5,050 days old) by SRSwirl ()        
Effectiveness of Concentric Agitation

Robert:

How would you compare the effectiveness of concentric agitation to Frigidaire's pulsation and most other's oscillation? From a wear standpoint, I would assume pulsation would be the most gentle on fabrics, with concentric action being next most gentle and oscillation being the roughest (just based on how they work). But what about washing effectiveness?


Post# 438767 , Reply# 31   5/31/2010 at 19:55 (5,050 days old) by jaxsunst ()        

That is identical to the one I had that I was storing in my parents barn and a tornado destroyed it. It had belonged to my Great Grandmother. It and my Mom's Kenmore started my love of washers.

Post# 438775 , Reply# 32   5/31/2010 at 20:50 (5,050 days old) by SRSwirl ()        
Kelvy Agitator Holes

OK...I used the Fabulous! Super Searchalator...and found that the holes create "water-jets" to help the wash action since the water is under the agitator and the concentric action would force the water through the holes as it moves around its axis. The clothes closest to the agitator would be getting scrubbed by the vanes and at the same time water would be forced by these "jets" through the fabric.

How cool! Does this really work? Can you feel the water jet out of these holes as the agitator moves?


Post# 438781 , Reply# 33   5/31/2010 at 21:30 (5,050 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        
Congratulations!!

turquoisedude's profile picture
Wow - another cool find!! It looks awesome!! How long before you find the matching dryer??

Post# 438784 , Reply# 34   5/31/2010 at 21:47 (5,050 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

unimatic1140's profile picture
did that dealer have the new boot that you needed or did you have one? Andrew I had an extra boot in my parts collection.

How cool! Does this really work? Can you feel the water jet out of these holes as the agitator moves?
Hi Michael, yes it does but its waaaaaayy to splashy to be able to feel the water jets. Its a very gentle machine on par with a three ring agitator Frigidaire. I would say their cleaning ability is about the same too.


Post# 438802 , Reply# 35   5/31/2010 at 23:32 (5,050 days old) by cfz2882 (Belle Fourche,SD)        

wow,that thing is in great shape-a real"surviver"example
I have only seen one early kelvinator in person-or at least
i think it was a kelvinator;found at the dump in 1982,missing
the top,it had a large chrome agitator cap with a single
ridge across the top,and the pump was much like that of a
solid tub speed queen with a two blade rubber impeller but
had the intake opposite the shaft end.The pump was dated 1964.
does this sound like it was kelvinator,probably from 1964?


Post# 438986 , Reply# 36   6/1/2010 at 22:12 (5,049 days old) by rickr (.)        

rickr's profile picture
Great looking Kelvinator! Glad you finally got it and now have it up and running!

Post# 438995 , Reply# 37   6/1/2010 at 22:56 (5,049 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)        
love that kelvinator!

rollermatic's profile picture
what a unique looking agitator it has! and it's a solid tub ofcourse, i guess in 1961 almost all were.

last time in was in fargo was in 1980 in january! 90 below wind chill factor i remember! at least he didn't call you in that kind of weather!

beautiful, and i love that console with the little wiggle marks all across it!


Post# 439018 , Reply# 38   6/2/2010 at 04:19 (5,049 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Oohhh

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Another great classic Robert, looks straight out of the showroom, controls look similar to the early Hotpoint classic machines here,

Just goes to show what is out there still...

Happy hunting, Mike


Post# 439023 , Reply# 39   6/2/2010 at 05:37 (5,049 days old) by Easyspindry (Winston-Salem, NC)        
Great find, Robert.

Thanks for sharing. The Kelvinator looks wonderful.

How about the two Bendix machines??? I'd love to see pictures of them. Do they work? Are the rubber tubs still in good shape?

I've seen only one of those machines that actually worked like it was supposed to.

Jerry Gay


Post# 439038 , Reply# 40   6/2/2010 at 06:51 (5,049 days old) by cadman (Cedar Falls, IA)        

cadman's profile picture
Sharp Kelvy!

Post# 439044 , Reply# 41   6/2/2010 at 07:14 (5,048 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        
Thanks Guys, glad you like it!

unimatic1140's profile picture
How about the two Bendix machines??? I'd love to see pictures of them. Do they work? Are the rubber tubs still in good shape?

In a few weeks I'll get to those, no time right now but I'll posts plenty of pictures when I do.



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