Back in May 2010 I answered a call for help and did a repair on the beautiful Whirlpool washer this very nice couple had.   They were really please it was working again and really loved this beautiful set.   (link to the original thread - below)

Now today, Natalie & Pej have a quickly growing family with 2 year old twins and a 5 month old.  Needless to say, the amount of laundry they were doing on a (daily) basis increased dramatically.   

The washer started leaking again and the dryer was making noise.  They didn't have time to deal with repairs, so as much as they really hated to do it, they decided to replace them with something new.

They put them on Craigslist but weren't willing to sell them to just anyone, they were looking for a loving home.   I made contact and agreed to wait until they found a dryer... and I brought them home yesterday.

So this, ladies & gentleman, is Harold and Madge (named by the previous owners)! 

A Top of the line, 1976 Whirlpool Mark 18 set.

The control panels for the washer & dryer.

Note that each is a 2 Speed!

Interior of the washer.

Interior of the dryer.

The obligatory lit control panel shot.

After getting them home Saturday, I unloaded them and decided to check them out.   The water leak is the pump and I discovered another problem, once the motor came on to start agitating, the tub also started to spin.   Hmm, that's not good.  I reset the timer to a drain position and same thing.   OK, time to check the wig wag and cam bars.  I remove the access panel and sure enough, the pin in the plunger (which moves the cam bar to engage or disengage agitation and spin) was broken.   Not big problem though as I have replaced plungers before.

The dryer desperately needs new rollers and makes a helluva racket.  But again, not a big problem.

So there you have it... the latest additions to my ever expanding collection!

Kevin

The label on the dryer says 49 RPM for larger loads, 45 for normal loads, not much differene. This looks like a pretty unique model for sure, very nice.

And the washer has separate buttons for hi versus low speed agitation and spin, but also has a gentle cycle. I wonder which know overrode which selector buttons?

Nice equipment!

Inside shots would tell more-----with the speed lever in that corner, and the motor and belt pulley straight down below that same corner on the base of the cabinet interior, I'm guessing it's a mechanical shift lever on the console, not an electric switch? Pictures please. Sorry to bug you, but this set is fully TOL and cool, we don't see this too often.

I have heard of, but have no knowledge of, other multi-speed tumblers from the fifties. Was it a worthwhile feature? Big difference in speed or pretty minor variations, like this?

Great pair Kevin glad you were able to save them. Whirlpool TOL models were fairly rare machines as WP was usually sold by independent dealers so almost no dealer anywhere in the country ever displayed WP TOL laundry, where as Sears had a pair of LKMs in every major store and they promoted them as well. In the 70s when I worked at the MT-WP appliance dealer I think I sold one pair of this cool washer and dryer to someone that ordered them. Usually the WP distributor did stock these TOL models and in fact when I would go out on a service call and see a TOL WP laundry product I would ask the customer how they got these machines and they usually had a story that they knew someone that worked at the WP distributor or some other similar connection.

But on to these great machines, as Bob already mentioned this was WPs last dryer with the variable tumble speed control. With a clothes dryer even 1 or 2 RPM difference in tumble speed can make a HUGE difference in drying performance, too slow and clothing will just ball up and roll in the drum, a little too fast and the clothing clings to the drum and as you can imagine neither one  of these conditions promotes fast wrinkle free drying.

This feature really worked well but there were a few minor issues which is probably why it never appeared on KM dryers. You had to carefully change the tumble speed control when the dryer was running as it was a mechanical system that pulled the belt on a cone shaped grooved pulley with a shifter fork. These dryers tended to go through more belts than the regular WP built dryers because of this and the fact these dryers used the narrower 4 rib belt the the regular capacity dryers used instead of the HD 5 rib belt that all other Super Capacity WP built dryers used.

The other really cool thing about this dryer is that because it is a Gas Model it has a 30,000 BUT burner when you use a high heat selection. This would IMEO make this one if not the fastest drying clothes dryer for home use EVER, great save Kevin we will all be waiting to see performance test results, this should become your favorite everyday dryer.

And don't worry about actually using this dryer everyday it uses the most poplar belt ever used on a clothes dryer, 341241 and the motor, rear rollers, blower wheel are still in production about the only two or three parts that would ever cause you any problems and are hard to find are the timer and timer dial-knob and maybe the over sized idler pulley.

That's a beautiful pair; and how fitting for California...Edged Harvest Gold! I do love the 'Pools with buttons.

Is that an Extra Large Capacity Washer? You'd think they would have made a big deal about that on the sticker. The tub looks like it but not the Surgilator (although it is unique).

Also, what does the orange pointer on the Dryer Cycle Dial do? I know it has something to do with the Automatic Cycle, but what does it control?

Lighted controls, lots of buttons, chrome, dispensers, matching set.....

Must be a Kevin set!  Congrats, man!

Ben

Beautiful set, Kevin, nice save!

I really needed another washer & dryer like I need another hole in my head, but it's like that whole "Moth to a porch light" syndrome... I just couldn't resist. Plus, except for the current minor mechanical issues, they are in exceptional condition!

I REALLY need to firmly adopt that "one in - one out" rule! 

Mark (akonman): The high/low speed adjustments are selectable on the "Normal" & Perm-press" cycles.   The "Gentle" cycle (and I assume "Knits") is set to slow via the timer.   Also, the dryer speed is a mechanical cable control, not electric.

Chestermikeuk: The washer does 4 short spray rinses during the first spin AND the final spin.

Phil: They replaced this WP set with the largest capacity, TOL steam FL - LG set.

W. Keith: As this is a TOL washer, it has a self cleaning filter, not a waterfall (but I really like those too). 

I never knew there were any dryers other then WP with the variable tumble control.   I have had 2 other WP multi-tumble speed dryers, but I ended up parting them out because I didn't have the matching washer for either one.

27.2 gallons to fill?   WOW!   So this is probably right at 60 gallons per cycle when you include the spray rinses!  

Thanks again!

Kevin

Boy I'm sure glad I don't wash anything on the perm-press cycle!

Kevin

Maybe now that you have Harold & Madge you'd be willing to let me have your avocado Whirlpool set w/ "ye olde fake woodgrain panels"?