Thread Number: 55284
50s westinghouse washers are a hard item to find
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Post# 776849   8/12/2014 at 05:45 (3,516 days old) by dryclean1 (Walton, NY)        

Can any of you folks educate me on why the 50s Westinghouse washers are so hard to find in working condition? I have only collected wringer machines until recently. I am interested in getting one in the future. Thanks Bill




Post# 776859 , Reply# 1   8/12/2014 at 07:22 (3,516 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        
Lots of factors...

turquoisedude's profile picture

I know what you mean - I never thought I'd ever find one, either!    Relative age and popularity of the machines has an influence.  For example, the last of the 'slant front' style Laundromats were produced in the early 1960s and that's getting on for 50 years now.  The machines were relatively popular, too, so I suspect that most owners used 'em till they were truly finished then scrapped them.  It was not unusual to seem them still in service in the late 60s and early 70s and I will bet that as soon as WCI gobbled up Westinghouse, repair parts were discontinued so the remaining ones could no longer be maintained.  

 

I know from a Canadian perspective that even into the early 60s, folks here tended toward the lower-priced and thriftier wringer washers.    My parents arrived in Canada in 1954, got their first wringer machine in 1955 but did not have an automatic until 1964!  Of course my father was pretty steamed that my mother went ahead and bought a brand-new washer and dryer without consulting him, but that's a whole other story...

 

But don't despair, they do turn up.  Be prepared to do some searching outside of your home area, though.   You may find a dream machine on the other side of the continent so you may have no option but to have it shipped (and this can get expensive).   But you never know what you'll find once you start searching...

 


Post# 776870 , Reply# 2   8/12/2014 at 08:19 (3,516 days old) by classiccaprice (Hampton, Virginia)        

classiccaprice's profile picture
I found mine here in the aw archives... Oddly enough, no one ever got it after someone posted it on here to sell, but it was in an out of the way area. It also took me 6 hours to figure out how to get it out of the basement it was stuck in. I have to do some repair work to it replacing hoses, etc., but it seems to work. They do turn up from time to time, just keep your eyes open. They seem to be among the more common 50s machines to show up. Now if someone will just start reproducing those door boots I can get my restoration started.

Post# 777709 , Reply# 3   8/17/2014 at 07:29 (3,511 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        
Check this out!

turquoisedude's profile picture

A set has come up for sale in the Memphis area.   They are not exactly cheap, but an asking price is just a starting point...   It's pretty rare to find the two machines together, too!  The link below is to the information shown in the Shoppers Square forum here:

 

www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/T...

 

Good luck!!


Post# 777718 , Reply# 4   8/17/2014 at 09:06 (3,511 days old) by chachp (North Little Rock, AR)        
This set is about 150 miles from me.

chachp's profile picture

I don't know if it's closer to anyone else.  But, if I can help by storing them let me know.  I don't have a truck or a way to get them to my house but I can offer a space in my garage and assistance with shipping if that helps anyone out.  This really is a nice matching set and they don't come up like this very often.


Post# 777723 , Reply# 5   8/17/2014 at 09:40 (3,511 days old) by moparwash (Pittsburgh,PA )        
Rust..

moparwash's profile picture
A lot of them met an early demise due to the nature of premature rust-out...here in Pittsburgh where you think it would be relatively simple to find one, given this was their HQ city, damp basements sent a lot of them to the scrap heap. My 1961 dryer must of been in a dry basement or first floor, as it has very few rust specks. Good luck in your search..im sure they will turn up soon!

Post# 777810 , Reply# 6   8/17/2014 at 15:47 (3,511 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Oh Those Westinghouse Units Come Up Now And Then

launderess's profile picture
You just have to keep your eyes peeled and be ready to pounce even if it requires shipping or driving a good distance to collect.

Do not limit your searches to fleaPay but prowl various online and local classified adverts. Also hit estate sales as well. Often those running such things merely note "washer and dryer" without going into detail which can work to your advantage. I mean at least you could have a leg up on the competition.

Put feelers out with real estate agents, local contractors and so forth. Often when a home is sold the new owners rip out and or throw away "old" appliances. Sometimes these are taken/offered to contractors, other times put up for sale/auction (by homeowner or said contractor), or *gasp* worse chucked to the curb for scrap.

Right now scrappers are the biggest enemy IMHO we collectors of vintage appliances can have. Often someone with "old" appliances just wants them gone and scrappers are out there daily scouring adverts and or renovation sites looking for pickings.

As a NYS resident oneself can say it is good to keep an open mind about range. You might try considering from MA to NC as "local" or even beyond.


Post# 780796 , Reply# 7   9/2/2014 at 00:32 (3,495 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        
They are here.... Mostly :-(

I picked up the Laundromat and dryer today. The washer has rust issues and "rubber rot". We had a mishap and the washers top panel including trim and the "Westinghouse" logo were destroyed before we could locate them. The top on the washer seemed quite secure when it was loaded into our truck. . The top for the dryer looks the same as the washer top, maybe I will luck out and find a dryer to get another top from some day. I am sick about this.
Classiccaprice, the house was an amazing time capsule the owner fell ill and was moved to live with family decades ago, the Lady is now deceased. There was a history of some type of hoarding behavior. The remaining relatives are elderly. The kitchen is pink GE Built in stove, oven, hood. Last but not least there is a pink Westinghouse rollout dishwasher in excellent condition. The seller tells me she recalls finding a box with what was believed to be a new or replacement top seal/gasket for the westy dishwasher. The dishwasher was photographed and I will post pictures later today. All in All, a good Labor Day field trip, we met very nice, honest people. Explored a house that had been locked up and left as it was for over 3 decades. I destroyed the top panel for a 60 year old Laundromat. Which was my fault I wanted to go a little faster to get the truck A/C cooled off, It was 100F. here today.
Tom you are correct, about the coffeemaster. It and the Sunbeam toaster were already sold on Ebay if I recall correctly. I will post photos of the dishwasher in a new thread. Photos of my shameful mishap here. alr


Post# 780828 , Reply# 8   9/2/2014 at 06:27 (3,495 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

turquoisedude's profile picture
OUCH!! Yes, the Laundromat top panel is a weak point on these washers... Keep looking - you may turn up a machine that is not salvageable but that still has an intact top cover. There are substitutes for the door boot - check the forum archives for Westinghouse laundromat restorations for hints. If someone has a 3-d printer and batch of that butyl rubber.... LOL If you need a pump, I am pretty sure that Larry at Modern Parts still has some 'aftermarket' ones - still brand new!

I've been lusting after a Westy roll-out dishwasher for some time now. Please do keep us posted about that also!!



Post# 780831 , Reply# 9   9/2/2014 at 06:40 (3,495 days old) by classiccaprice (Hampton, Virginia)        

classiccaprice's profile picture
:(

Painful lesson learned.

Thankfully I had the van when I got mine, but I remember someone doing the same thing on here loosing a trim piece on a 50s Westinghouse stove and someone I know personally accidentally loosing a pristine 1920s gas range due to a poor securing and a sharp turn. So if it helps, you are not alone. I think if I ever move anything like that in an open truck I am going to throw a tarp over it and tie it with at least 20 or 30 ropes. I know that doesn't help much, but if there is one thing I have learned, you can't change the past. So move forward and learn from the mistake.

You will surely pay for it, but what about this dryer recently posted in San Francisco? You may be able to talk the seller down?


CLICK HERE TO GO TO classiccaprice's LINK


Post# 780923 , Reply# 10   9/2/2014 at 17:04 (3,495 days old) by christfr (st louis mo)        

christfr's profile picture
oh they are out there just have to hunt them down but wont be showroom. ha ha that's for you to master.. or if your like me just give it your best shot

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Post# 780943 , Reply# 11   9/2/2014 at 17:58 (3,494 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        

Thank you all.  If someone finds a top panel.  Please let me know.  Yes I will be getting a cargo net soon. The dishwasher post is up.  Lesson was "well learned".   In hind sight I should of been bright enough to realize after years of rust, steam  and  vibration  more caution was required.  I have seen these dryers go by from time to time locally.  "It is what it is".  alr 


Post# 780961 , Reply# 12   9/2/2014 at 19:38 (3,494 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E)        
Rust:

danemodsandy's profile picture
Likely has to do with that famous one-atom-thick paint job the company put on their Laundromat machines.



Post# 780993 , Reply# 13   9/2/2014 at 21:10 (3,494 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Westinghouse [ One Atom Thick Paint Job ]

combo52's profile picture
Great observation Sandy, if you look at the paint inside a 50s through 60s WH appliance it looked like they just dipped the metal parts in a vat of used paint thinner, the resulting finish was so thin you could see the underlying metal through the finish.

John L.


Post# 780999 , Reply# 14   9/2/2014 at 21:50 (3,494 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        
Here are the pics of my "creation".

Thank You All !  I was absolutely stunned when we stopped for gas and I realized what had happened. 


Post# 781000 , Reply# 15   9/2/2014 at 21:51 (3,494 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        

x


Post# 781001 , Reply# 16   9/2/2014 at 21:52 (3,494 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        

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Post# 781002 , Reply# 17   9/2/2014 at 21:54 (3,494 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        

x


Post# 781005 , Reply# 18   9/2/2014 at 22:00 (3,494 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        

The seller had removed them from the house and they were under a carport.  I sprayed some raid on  paper towels and wrapped both in a drop cloth, just to be on the safe side. It is supposed to cool off here this weekend. So I plan on some sunshine treatments for both, next week.


Post# 781068 , Reply# 19   9/3/2014 at 06:08 (3,494 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
A valiant save !

jetcone's profile picture

Thats cosmetic and is a good restoration challenge.

 

 


Post# 781178 , Reply# 20   9/3/2014 at 17:38 (3,494 days old) by Circlew (NE Cincinnati OH area)        

That's a shame about the top coming loose and flying off. I've always used wide reinforced strapping tape to secure parts that may come off.

And Paul is right, the tops on these came off easily. I remember on our '55, the top came loose a couple times when it got out of balance while spinning.



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