Thread Number: 4496
Most dependable
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Post# 101891   1/5/2006 at 19:27 (6,685 days old) by timborow (Georgia)        

I read the thread on the old Frigidaire machines. I have never seen one work, so I wouldn't know about it's dependability. In your opinions, what was the most dependable washing machine ever made? Was it Kenmore? Tim




Post# 101892 , Reply# 1   1/5/2006 at 19:30 (6,685 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)        

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Maytag,"the dependability people"

kennyGF


Post# 101925 , Reply# 2   1/5/2006 at 21:12 (6,685 days old) by powerfin64 (Yakima, Washington)        
Most Dependable

powerfin64's profile picture
Maytag, without a question.

Rich


Post# 101936 , Reply# 3   1/5/2006 at 21:56 (6,685 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)        
Maytag

swestoyz's profile picture
The didn't name a street in Newton, "Dependability Square" for nothing! ;)

Ben


Post# 101940 , Reply# 4   1/5/2006 at 22:25 (6,685 days old) by maytagbear (N.E. Ohio)        
That is, the OLD Maytag

Maytag since 1999 (or so) hasn't been nearly as reliable, but from 1955 to around 1999, Maytag was darn near indestructable!


I'm going on 8 years with my Maytag Dependable Care, and no repairs. The first three and a half years I ran big loads several times a day.

Lawrence/Maytagbear


Post# 101943 , Reply# 5   1/5/2006 at 22:30 (6,685 days old) by rinso (Meridian Idaho)        

Maytag. Not my favorite, but have to admit that nothing lasts like the helical drive mechanism. My ex-wife still has the 1969 A806 machine we purchased when we were married. Has had some switchbank replacements and a couple of belts. That's it. The machine looks almost new. The matching gas dryer is in the same condition.

Post# 101945 , Reply# 6   1/5/2006 at 22:36 (6,685 days old) by westytoploader ()        

Definitely Maytag, even the Orbital machines like my 2003 Dependable Care are built well. At least compared to the Norgetags! But those older Helical Drive machines never cease to amaze me; they take age in stride and work just as smoothly as they did 20-30 years ago!

Post# 101959 , Reply# 7   1/6/2006 at 01:42 (6,685 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

In june 0f 1972-my father bought a new Maytag washer for my stepmom-a week later the washer was involved in the Great Rapid City Flood of 1972.The washer was found and recovered-(our house was just downstream of the dam that burst)Our home and most of what was in it was destroyed.The Maytag dealer in Rapid City rebuilt the machine--and it was used until 1992.So after its rebuild-it lasted another 20 years.the cabinet was scratched and dented-looked like hell but the machine worked.They bought another Maytag in '92 and it still works OK.My stepmom wanted to by another Maytag at present-I told her to keep the one she has --their new ones are no good.Esp with the Merging with WP-would be interesting to see how the "WhirlTag" machines hold up.

Post# 101960 , Reply# 8   1/6/2006 at 02:01 (6,685 days old) by mrcleanjeans (milwaukee wi)        
helical drive is always alive

Agreed,absolutely the old Maytags are the very most reliable washers of all time.

Post# 101961 , Reply# 9   1/6/2006 at 02:13 (6,685 days old) by sactoteddybear ()        
Re: Definately:

Maytag, "hands-down, or up" I agree with everyone else. I know that a lot of us have had many Brands and Models of Washers and Dryers, but it seems too me, that Maytag seems the most popular, besides mainly the best and easiest to take apart and work on and having so much fun watching them Wash, Rinse and Spin-Drain.

Peace and keep Dependable's going as long as possibly, even if they've got the newer "Oribital" Drive Transmissions, Steve, SactoTeddyBear...


Post# 101976 , Reply# 10   1/6/2006 at 06:45 (6,685 days old) by jasonl (Cookeville, TN)        
RIP mom's Maytag 1991-2005

My mom had her 1991 Orbital transmission 'tag until Hurricane Katrina came. Very few repairs done to it, mainly a leaky fill flume and the plastic drain hose connector. Otherwise it was a workhorse.

Post# 101984 , Reply# 11   1/6/2006 at 07:23 (6,685 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

toggleswitch's profile picture
MAYTAG.

My mother's set lasted over 25 years.
No drama, no fun features- so simple it's comical.

I STILL dont see how WP washers made it and MT died. Those WPs were ridiculously complicated at first, and maybe even still!

To quote Cher- IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME.
I never would have allowed it to be tossed away.


Post# 101988 , Reply# 12   1/6/2006 at 07:55 (6,685 days old) by hoover1060 ()        
Maytags all the way

My mom has always had Maytags, first a 1964 model, then a 1977 A-608 set, and now a 1996 set. She loves them, and with the way she futzes with them they stand up to her abuse(it finally occured to me just recently, my mom knew only wringer washers until she was 41 and got her first automatic. She did laundry in that first Maytag Automatic like it was a wringer, and even still today does the same things.)
My faves were the 1977 set, they were around for 19 years, and were replaced mainly because they were harvest gold and not because of a breakdown. How I wish those were still around!
Growing up I knew people who had Maytags, Kenmores, Hotpoint, and Frigidaires. Our one neighbor always had Hotpoint, and went thru 2 washers to mom's one 1964 maytag.
I agree with Toggle, if we could turn back time...
Of course I'd buy a 1-18 with a window lid!!!


Post# 101994 , Reply# 13   1/6/2006 at 08:54 (6,685 days old) by mayken4now (Panama City, Florida)        
You are going to ask me that?????????? LOL

mayken4now's profile picture
Guess for me.

Steve


Post# 102108 , Reply# 14   1/6/2006 at 20:08 (6,684 days old) by bobbyderegis (Boston)        

The new kid on the block has to add his 2 cents. My grandmother's 1961 Maytag is still kicking, doing nonstop duty for seven kids and one grandchild (me!). A motor carriage spring popped off, and a pump belt went, but those were the only problems. Last year the poly pump froze up, not bad after all those years of washing. How nice the pump was still available, but for how long???
Bobby in Boston


Post# 102124 , Reply# 15   1/6/2006 at 21:37 (6,684 days old) by drmitch ()        

Me too!

Post# 102128 , Reply# 16   1/6/2006 at 22:22 (6,684 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

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I just love that closet!!

Post# 102138 , Reply# 17   1/6/2006 at 22:38 (6,684 days old) by rickr (.)        
Nice stuff Donnie!!

rickr's profile picture
Don, if I had a closet like that one,I may never have come out!! (:

Post# 102139 , Reply# 18   1/6/2006 at 22:45 (6,684 days old) by rickr (.)        
My 58 Maytag

rickr's profile picture
I love them,they are very well built!

Post# 102140 , Reply# 19   1/6/2006 at 22:50 (6,684 days old) by rickr (.)        
however I must confess....

rickr's profile picture
I like this better,and it can wash a much larger load. (ducking and running!!) (:

Post# 102143 , Reply# 20   1/6/2006 at 22:54 (6,684 days old) by tlee618 ()        

Without a doubt it would be Maytag. You could be blindfolded and walk into a room with several machines and just by touch you could pick out the older Maytags not to mention if you were to hear one running. If I could turn back time I would of course want a Custom Imperial Frigidaire!! Terry

Post# 102144 , Reply# 21   1/6/2006 at 22:56 (6,684 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
But Rick, all your clothes end up in the lint filter after using that Whirlpool long enough...

Ahhhhhhhhhh! Stop slapping!!


Post# 102147 , Reply# 22   1/6/2006 at 23:02 (6,684 days old) by rickr (.)        

rickr's profile picture
REEAALLY Greg......Then I will just have to buy new clothes in the meantime,then get a vintage Frigidaire!! LOL!!

Post# 102159 , Reply# 23   1/6/2006 at 23:45 (6,684 days old) by tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

Many of y'all are too young to remember much about them, but the old Bendix bolt down machines gave many, busy years of service, often replaced while still working to have the features offered in modern washers. I saw them in one laundry working still in the late 60s. However, because they would not do anything to hurt themselves, I would have to say that the Helical Drive Maytags were, generally, the most dependable.

Post# 102170 , Reply# 24   1/7/2006 at 00:19 (6,684 days old) by hoover1060 ()        
Funny...

I gotta admit if I had to choose it would not be good. I want an A806, but also a Frigidaire of some sort...
I couldn't choose just one


Post# 102191 , Reply# 25   1/7/2006 at 01:56 (6,684 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
rickr--- wow, that's a beautiful Maytag set!

As for longevity, our 1960 Kenmore was still being used by my folks in 1984. After my Mom passed away, stepfather moved to AZ and I moved back to the house, I replaced the KM with a new Whirlpool set. Now I wish I had that '60 pair back!


Post# 102490 , Reply# 26   1/8/2006 at 14:29 (6,682 days old) by super32 (Blackstone Massachusetts)        

super32's profile picture
Even though I grew up with KM I still would have to say hands down maytag was the most dependable. I didnt have much real experience with maytag til my adult and service years, but some of these old tags still purr like they were still on the show room floor. The KM I grew up with should have went to the curb at 5 yrs.


Scott


Post# 102599 , Reply# 27   1/9/2006 at 07:20 (6,682 days old) by bobbyderegis (Boston)        

As much as I'm a Maytag man, I've seen a lot of old KM and WP still kicking!
Bobby in Boston


Post# 102748 , Reply# 28   1/9/2006 at 20:41 (6,681 days old) by chaskelljr2 (Washington, D. C.)        

For the MOST dependable washing machine of all time, my vote also goes to Maytag. We never owned one, but my neighbor from a long time ago had an avacado A706 (I believe) in her kitchen. I don't know if that was the exact model or not. It had the four sets of push buttons on both sides of the cycle-timer, but the backguard of the panel didn't light up. So, it wasn't a "top-of-the-line" model, but it was definitely an "upper echelon" model. Instead, a red dot above the cycle-timer lighted up everytime the machine was on. And it purred like a kitten when it was running.

Again, I don't know exactly which Maytag model she has owned, but it either had a Helical Drive mechanism or an Orbital Drive mechanism. Could someone explain the difference to me in relation to what kinds of mechanisms were on which vintage of machines.

For the record, my neighbor's avacado Maytag was a late 1960's/early 1970's model, if that could be of any help.

So...... for the MOST dependable washing machine EVER made, I would also have to say Maytag hands down. And this is coming from someone who has grown up with Kenmores and is a Kenmore expert.

--Charles--



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