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Thread Number: 55554
Wow !!! Check this out !!! O'Keefe & Merritt Pink Front Loading Washing Machine!!! |
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| Post# 779480 8/26/2014 at 08:45 (3,523 days old) by verizonbear (Glen Burnie ) | ||
 Came across this on Ebay, is this a combo? Very Rare ! CLICK HERE TO GO TO verizonbear's LINK on eBay | ||
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Post# 779481 , Reply# 1 8/26/2014 at 08:55 (3,523 days old) by swestoyz  (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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Post# 779483 , Reply# 3 8/26/2014 at 08:59 (3,523 days old) by akronman (Akron/Cleveland Ohio) |
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pics for archive
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Post# 779484 , Reply# 4 8/26/2014 at 09:04 (3,523 days old) by turquoisedude (.) |
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Post# 779486 , Reply# 5 8/26/2014 at 09:05 (3,523 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut) |
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Post# 779488 , Reply# 6 8/26/2014 at 09:18 (3,523 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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| Post# 779504 , Reply# 8 8/26/2014 at 11:00 (3,523 days old) by moparguy (Virginia) | ||
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Yikes, WOW! I don't think anyone had ever seen one!!! It's like the one in the Bob Hope/Lana Turner movie 'Bachelor in Paradise'!!! Speak up, one of us must have won the auction!!! Who won this amazing one of a kind combo!!! | ||
| Post# 779506 , Reply# 9 8/26/2014 at 11:01 (3,523 days old) by A440 () | ||
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What a great looking Combo! Is this one of the combo's with the 100,000 btu burner? I hope someone from the club got it! | ||
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Post# 779508 , Reply# 10 8/26/2014 at 11:32 (3,523 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land) |
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OH EM GEE and WOW!!!
I damn near fell off my chair when I saw this. I think I remember hearing mention of an O'Keefe & Merritt combo, but have never seen any photos of one, HOLY MOLY!
I live close to Costa Mesa and will be picking this up this rare combo for the buyer.... and no I'm not the buyer!
YAY another very rare machine saved!
Kevin | ||
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Post# 779539 , Reply# 11 8/26/2014 at 15:22 (3,523 days old) by ovrphil (N.Atlanta / Georgia ) |
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| Post# 779554 , Reply# 12 8/26/2014 at 16:11 (3,523 days old) by bluejay (Havre de Grace, MD) | ||
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Post# 779573 , Reply# 13 8/26/2014 at 18:29 (3,523 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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Post# 779576 , Reply# 14 8/26/2014 at 18:48 (3,523 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis) |
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| Post# 779587 , Reply# 15 8/26/2014 at 19:55 (3,523 days old) by cadman (Cedar Falls, IA) | ||
No Joke! | ||
| Post# 779591 , Reply# 16 8/26/2014 at 20:21 (3,523 days old) by firedome (Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT) | ||
OK... | ||
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Post# 779614 , Reply# 17 8/26/2014 at 23:17 (3,523 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay) |
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Post# 779618 , Reply# 18 8/26/2014 at 23:41 (3,523 days old) by kb0nes (Burnsville, MN) |
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Post# 779657 , Reply# 20 8/27/2014 at 07:20 (3,522 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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OKeefe & Merritt Gas Combo
Yes indeed it is coming to the combo collection in Maryland where it will be on display for any AW members to see and experance.
Sorry to keep everyone in suspense about us buying this combo, I was talking to Tom and he alerted me that this was for sale and we immediately decided to try to buy this combo. I was trying to get out the door to do 7 service calls on Capital Hill so I only attended to the purchasing details and didn't get back home and start dinner till after 8PM. The real Star in this transaction is Kevin in California, as soon as I had confirmed that the payment had gone through to the seller I was reaching for my address book to look for Kevin's # and before I even got the book in hand my CP started ringing and it was Kevin asking if I had purchased the combo and offering to pick it up, this is another great example of how we all help each other out at AW with each others appliances. YAY. This combo will get installed in the rear of building in the combo line-up, this way it can be vented directly through the rear wall and will not have to use the common vent system some of the other combos will use. I may have to contact the gas company about increasing the size of the supply line for this combo, LOL, but it will be fairly close to a commercial extractor that we are going to install in the rear of the museum. I figure if we stop the machine after the last rinse and spin the clothing in the extractor most loads should dry in 15 minutes or less @ 100,000 BTUs. John L. | ||
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Post# 779664 , Reply# 21 8/27/2014 at 07:54 (3,522 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD) |
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Dry in 15 minutes With nice crispy edges. | ||
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Post# 779674 , Reply# 23 8/27/2014 at 08:52 (3,522 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Wondering if the Gas Valve Modulated gas input | ||
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Post# 779680 , Reply# 24 8/27/2014 at 10:00 (3,522 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land) |
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Thank you for the kind words John!
I'm happy to help out friends here on AW if I can! If that means picking up a machine locally and storing it briefly until shipping can be arranged, I'm happy to do so!
Kevin | ||
| Post# 779730 , Reply# 25 8/27/2014 at 15:18 (3,522 days old) by hippiedoll ( arizona ) | ||
WOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!
CONGRATULATIONS combo52 for getting that okeefe & merritt. i don't know much about combos myself, but it is a neat looking machine!!! i LOVE the windowed doors on these combos!!!
and HATS OFF TO YOU revvinkevin, for helping combo52 out with getting this okeefe & merritt rarity. you my dear kevin are like an appliance angel in california, helping others get their vintage appliances if you can. and for that, thank you..... :o) | ||
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Post# 779733 , Reply# 26 8/27/2014 at 15:42 (3,522 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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When One Saw The Listing & How Fast It Went
Knew at once there was but a handful of appliance "high rollers" that could pull it off. Of them attention quickly focused upon one individual as the "usual suspect". *LOL*
Congrats Combo52, you know you are just what it needs! Kudos to Kevin for being an upstanding sort of guy and a general all around peach! | ||
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Post# 779735 , Reply# 27 8/27/2014 at 15:45 (3,522 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay) |
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Post# 779745 , Reply# 28 8/27/2014 at 16:25 (3,522 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land) |
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ALSO............. | ||
| Post# 779763 , Reply# 29 8/27/2014 at 18:04 (3,522 days old) by philcoford (Maryland) | ||
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Congrats What a great addition to the collection, looking forward to seeing it when it comes in. | ||
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Post# 779764 , Reply# 30 8/27/2014 at 18:06 (3,522 days old) by ovrphil (N.Atlanta / Georgia ) |
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Post# 779772 , Reply# 31 8/27/2014 at 18:44 (3,522 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD) |
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It was introduced in 1957. | ||
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Post# 779785 , Reply# 32 8/27/2014 at 20:16 (3,522 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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O"k & M Was Owned By Tappan
By the 1950's or so IIRC, they in turn became part of Frigidaire then WCI and now the brand resides with Electrolux. It therefore would be interesting to see whose combo this is under the bonnet.
IIRC there were only a handful of appliance makers who did combo units so it has to be one of theirs. There is nothing on the Internet about patents or anything else for an O&M washing machine and dryer much less combo unit aside from the few Consumer Reports ratings from the 1950's. This again tells me this was a private label job. | ||
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Post# 779787 , Reply# 33 8/27/2014 at 20:24 (3,522 days old) by jamiel (Detroit, Michigan and Palm Springs, CA) |
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Post# 779793 , Reply# 34 8/27/2014 at 20:54 (3,522 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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| Post# 779799 , Reply# 35 8/27/2014 at 21:41 (3,522 days old) by laundromat (Hilo, Hawaii) | ||
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Post# 779814 , Reply# 37 8/27/2014 at 22:56 (3,522 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Yay Kevin Just Picked Up The Combo | ||
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Post# 779815 , Reply# 38 8/27/2014 at 22:59 (3,522 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia) |
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Congrats John! | ||
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Post# 779817 , Reply# 39 8/27/2014 at 23:28 (3,522 days old) by ovrphil (N.Atlanta / Georgia ) |
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All porcelain! | ||
| Post# 779823 , Reply# 40 8/28/2014 at 00:17 (3,522 days old) by A440 () | ||
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All Porcelain! Amazing! This is the combo, or machine find of 2014! | ||
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Post# 779851 , Reply# 42 8/28/2014 at 05:29 (3,521 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie) |
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Post# 779862 , Reply# 43 8/28/2014 at 07:13 (3,521 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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OKeefe & Merritt Gas Combo
At this point I do not know a lot about this unusual combo, we do know that it was designed and built by the Automatic Washer Co. and this design first appeared around 1954 or 5, this design is said to be just the 2nd combo introduced to the US market after the Bendix combos. Automatic Washer also sold these and some department store brands were also used on them. They were always gas heated for drying and for this and probably many other reasons they certainly did not sell in large numbers, Automatic Washer did not have a big sales network.
I am guessing that between AW, the American Gas Association and Tappan and OKeefe & Merritt [ same company ] they figured out a way to sell this design and probably most were sold in Southern California where homes often did not have basements and where Natural Gas was being promoted in new homes. | ||
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Post# 779868 , Reply# 44 8/28/2014 at 08:32 (3,521 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD) |
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This combo was sold under a third name, One Minute which was another old wringer washer company that made a foray into the automatic washer market with a Beam machine, like Automatic, and this combo. I will try to locate more literature over the weekend. | ||
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Post# 779875 , Reply# 45 8/28/2014 at 08:57 (3,521 days old) by peteski50 (New York) |
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Combo! | ||
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Post# 779896 , Reply# 46 8/28/2014 at 11:16 (3,521 days old) by kb0nes (Burnsville, MN) |
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Post# 779917 , Reply# 47 8/28/2014 at 14:01 (3,521 days old) by polkanut (Wausau, WI ) |
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Kevin, | ||
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Post# 779919 , Reply# 48 8/28/2014 at 14:16 (3,521 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land) |
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Thank you for the kind words Tim!
Phil: I wasn't sure if John wanted to "be the first" to post more photos of this combo, but I just called him to ask and he gave his blessing. I will get more photos up in the next day or three.
Kevin This post was last edited 08/28/2014 at 14:37 | ||
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Post# 779965 , Reply# 49 8/28/2014 at 18:44 (3,521 days old) by ovrphil (N.Atlanta / Georgia ) |
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This post has been removed by the member who posted it. | ||
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Post# 779988 , Reply# 50 8/28/2014 at 20:01 (3,521 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land) |
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OK... revealing PHOTOS of the mystery machine!!!!!
Sorry Phil, I was referring to Phil, you know, the other Phil, not you Phil, you know which Phil, right Phil?? LOL (Sorry I meant John's brother)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
ANYWHO... I had time to snap a some pix (and post them) before heading out the door in a few.
You will see the sexy side view, the back and NEKKED back view, the interior view, the linty view and the best view for last... Plus a surprise "pretend" view!!!
I loaded larger photos so you can view them "full size"if you'd like.
Enjoy!
Kevin
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| Post# 779991 , Reply# 51 8/28/2014 at 20:21 (3,521 days old) by moparguy (Virginia) | ||
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Too awesome for words!!! | ||
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Post# 779992 , Reply# 52 8/28/2014 at 20:24 (3,521 days old) by ovrphil (N.Atlanta / Georgia ) |
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thanks Kevin - looking from afar...really surprised and nice find
This post was last edited 08/28/2014 at 21:24 | ||
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Post# 780016 , Reply# 53 8/28/2014 at 22:26 (3,521 days old) by ovrphil (N.Atlanta / Georgia ) |
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Bringing it up | ||
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Post# 780018 , Reply# 54 8/28/2014 at 22:53 (3,521 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!) |
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| Post# 780022 , Reply# 55 8/28/2014 at 22:59 (3,521 days old) by bluejay (Havre de Grace, MD) | ||
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Post# 780023 , Reply# 56 8/28/2014 at 22:59 (3,521 days old) by kb0nes (Burnsville, MN) |
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Post# 780096 , Reply# 58 8/29/2014 at 11:39 (3,520 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land) |
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A little more info on this rare W/D combo...........
~ It's still in the back of my truck up against the cab and there's not a lot of room to access the front. I will move it around later today and get more photos... and yes I'll find the model tag (I assume it's in the front somewhere).
~ The timer is a push off / pull on.
~ When I start/stop it I hear a baffle or air door opening/closing, sounds just like my '59 Lady Kenmore combo.
~ As has been noted, it doesn't spin, so no transmission, just the motor, belts and the interesting gear reduction drive for the tub.
~ It's very interesting to note the tub baffles inside are rather tall at the ends (like 3 inches), but SO short in between (only about 1 inch tall). It looks really strange.
~ Yes it's pretty heavy, but not as heavy as my '59 Lady K combo or '53 Bendix Duomatic (that one is H E A V Y). Less stuff inside. The seller and I were able to get it loaded in my truck.
~ It appears lint collects on the outside of the lint screen tube.
~ I didn't think about it while taking the photos, but yeah I didn't notice the gas connection either. It must have been obscured by the hoses. I will investigate after I'm home from work.
More later..... Kevin
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Post# 780120 , Reply# 60 8/29/2014 at 14:53 (3,520 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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If Anyone Deserves A Rest This "Labour Day" Weekend | ||
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Post# 780189 , Reply# 62 8/29/2014 at 22:00 (3,520 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land) |
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And now for even MORE photos!
1. The view of the OTHER sexy side. 2. The hair / button trap 3. The FULL FRONTAL naked view! 4. Lint trap box & air door solenoid 5. Door switch that works off the hinge 6. Auto pilot generator 7. Gas control valve/regulator and ELECTRIC drain pump 8. The gas burner 9. The strange baffle in the tub. Center is 1 inch high and the ends are 3 1/2 inches high! ALSO, interior dimensions of the drum are 15" deep and 26" across. 10. Wiring diagram (on the inside (back) of the front panel. ...... Well that's it folks, the full tour of the Uber rare O'Keefe & Merritt Washer / Dryer Combo. ...... Hmm... I feel like I've forgotten something.... ...... ...... ..... What could it be.... ...... ..... damn I wish I could remember....... ..... ..... Wait, I've got it! The one bit of information everyone has been anxiously waiting for! Photo #11. I'm sorry to disappoint everyone, but it's not rated at 100K BTU's.... I hope you've enjoyed my little tour! Kevin | ||
| Post# 780200 , Reply# 64 8/29/2014 at 23:53 (3,520 days old) by A440 () | ||
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And I must add.... I can't get over how clean this machine is! Either it did not have much use or the actual system was so efficient it was always this clean after each wash / dry. I love the drum and the wash / dry baffles. | ||
| Post# 780203 , Reply# 65 8/30/2014 at 00:16 (3,520 days old) by A440 () | ||
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Just shut me up now.... I am so curious about the UL Listing on the unit. I have never seen this listing as such. "Listed under Reexamination Service". Was this a test in progress? B | ||
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Post# 780213 , Reply# 66 8/30/2014 at 01:11 (3,519 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land) |
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Post# 780239 , Reply# 67 8/30/2014 at 08:31 (3,519 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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OKeefe & Merritt Gas Combo
WOW thanks for taking all these pictures and posting them Kevin.
Yes it is funny how we came to believe that the gas input was around 100,000 BTUs, I really do not have an explanation of how it got so high, I guess that because this machine does not spin at all we must have though it would need a really big burner to dry soaping wet towels. But at 29,000 BTUs this is probably another combo that would not be really fast with big loads of cotton towels etc. 29,000 BTUs would translate into about 9000 watts if you were comparing to an electric dryer, so I would imagine that this combo would dry loads of lightweight items fairly fast much like my GE combo does when you are washing light items, the GE spins just over 200 RPMs and has a 4000 watt heater. The electric ignition on this OKeefe & Merritt combo looks like a fairly common system that was used on most gas dryers of the 1950s. You have to remember that the majority of early gas dryers had electric ignition [ all MT gas dryers had EI till they came out with the HOH dryers and they eliminated EI to cut costs ] WP & KM dryers used this low voltage EI system through 1963 on almost all the clothes dryers and the KM combos continued to use it through the end of WP built KM combos in 1971. This low voltage system was deemed safer on combos where over sudsing could get burner parts wet if the machine was over sudsed, [ See the movie Bachelor In Paradise, LOL ]. John L. | ||
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Post# 780302 , Reply# 68 8/30/2014 at 18:47 (3,519 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land) |
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The most up-to-date update!!
Shipper Jackie came by to picked up the O'Keefe & Merritt Combo this afternoon and left 20 minutes ago. After a stop in Tempe, Arizona tonight she has one more stop in Missouri before heading to Maryland for delivery!
It's a good thing I had not unloaded it from my truck too! Even though her rented truck has a ramp, I cannot imagine trying to push that heavy beast UP the ramp WHILE trying to balance it! Getting it from the back of my little truck into the big truck, honestly was only as hard as loading it into my truck to begin with!
YAY, another appliance chapter closed!
Kevin | ||
| Post# 780316 , Reply# 69 8/30/2014 at 20:12 (3,519 days old) by A440 () | ||
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Safe Travels Keefie! | ||
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Post# 780330 , Reply# 70 8/30/2014 at 21:52 (3,519 days old) by ovrphil (N.Atlanta / Georgia ) |
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Post# 781343 , Reply# 71 9/4/2014 at 11:47 (3,514 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land) |
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A little bump to the top............ | ||
| Post# 781417 , Reply# 72 9/4/2014 at 17:22 (3,514 days old) by hippiedoll ( arizona ) | ||
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GREAT PICTURES KEVIN!!! | ||
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Post# 781432 , Reply# 73 9/4/2014 at 19:33 (3,514 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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OKeefe & Merritt Gas Combo | ||
| Post# 781531 , Reply# 74 9/5/2014 at 00:19 (3,514 days old) by A440 () | ||
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Fun! I am sure your load is ready for the test? Such a great find! Brent | ||
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Post# 781569 , Reply# 75 9/5/2014 at 04:19 (3,513 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK) |
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Combi Combo | ||
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Post# 782092 , Reply# 76 9/7/2014 at 08:49 (3,511 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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The OKeefe & Merritt Gas Combo
Arrived safely yesterday afternoon, Jackie has once again brought us a cool addition for the museum and is now heading north with a cool Mystery copper-tone pair for Jon in the Boston area.
The OK&M Combo is in really good condition for its age, thank goodness it lived its life in Southern California and not in a damp basement in the East somewhere. The cabinet being porclean is in beautiful shape, the back panel frame had just a little surface rust etc, we started examining the machine and removed panels cleaned and sanded them and Jason did an expert job of spray painting them with black paint again. The orignal paint on these panels was so thin that it made Westinghouse s paint look good and again I was envisioning the rusted mess this machine would have been if it had been in that damp basement, LOL. Overall I think that this should be a fairly easy restore. I am not going to do a from the ground up restoration for several reasons,1 The machine is not is bad shape, 2 almost nothing is available to replace parts, 3 the machine will only ever occasional and light use in the museum. I will take pictures and report back on progress. | ||
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Post# 782093 , Reply# 77 9/7/2014 at 09:05 (3,511 days old) by turquoisedude (.) |
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Year of the Combo | ||
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Post# 782179 , Reply# 78 9/7/2014 at 18:16 (3,511 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers) |
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That looks to be in  | ||
| Post# 782192 , Reply# 79 9/7/2014 at 19:11 (3,511 days old) by maytag63 (South Berwick, Maine) | ||
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