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Thread Number: 60824
/ Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
What is the real story regarding GM/Frigidaire Washers? |
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Post# 834552 7/30/2015 at 22:49 (3,185 days old) by Launderess  (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Do not think there is or was a washer more hated by Consumer Reports than the "thumper" or Jet Action washing machines by GM/Frigidaire. Almost every report one has read form the 1950's and 1960's CR trashes the units for one particular fault or another. Tangling is the biggest beef, but there were other niggles as well.
From the way some go on here about the units I thought they were the best thing since sliced white bread in a plastic bag. *LOL* | ||
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Post# 834554 , Reply# 1 7/30/2015 at 23:23 (3,185 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie) |
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Post# 834556 , Reply# 2 7/30/2015 at 23:24 (3,185 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Mr. Frigilux, you is bad.
*LOL*
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Post# 834557 , Reply# 3 7/30/2015 at 23:47 (3,185 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie) |
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Tangling was a problem with the Unimatics. The Olsons, two doors down from us, had a TOL '58 pair and both husband and wife absolutely hated the washer for that reason. I explained that it needed to be loaded in quadrants to minimize tangling, but they refused to do that. I even tried to talk my parents into trading our '60 Kenmore Model 80 pair for the Olsons' Frigidaires, but there was no convincing them.
Actually, I believe the 58's were top-rated by CR, weren't they? Before and after that, not so much. | ||
| Post# 834565 , Reply# 4 7/31/2015 at 01:09 (3,185 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada) | ||
 I use my Frigidaire washers daily and I never had tangling issues but I have seen some people load them incorrectly, get no turnover and unbalanced spin...
Earlier this week, I replaced the spider, seals and bearings in my parent's 2006 LG WM2077 front load washer and even if I am bored with these machines, I have to admit they are almost fool proof! They are also easier to service than many old machines. As long as you don't overload them or put too much or the wrong type of detergent you'll get constant results. They don't need to be monitored
Their machine doesn't have a water heater or very high spin speed but when I did a test load after the repairs were done, I had to appreciate how a mechanically simple machine, with a direct drive DC motor and very few moving parts just with the help of sensors and electronics could balance it's load so effectively and achieve the same 1000 RPM speed as my Rollermatics. It's just more boring to see the load-balancing process...
I don't care much about my clothes, I never wear fancy clothes and never iron them so I really don't need a machine that's very delicate on clothes and I won't complain if I get wrinkles on my $15 jeans or my $5-$10 T-shirts! As long as stains are mostly gone and the clothes smell clean, I'm fine! I never use the Wash-N-Wear, Delicate or Permanent Press cycles other than to test them, everything needs to spin fast. I do like the extra-rinse and soak/pre-wash cycles but I mostly use the Regular Colorfast or non Colorfast cycles and sometimes use the "special" cycle.
So I am more concerned about the action from the machine than with the results on clothes but I think the results are OK with old Frigidaire thumpers!
My only other concern is the capacity, I never need a big capacity to wash my clothes but for some things like bedspreads, the 12 pounds or less solid-tub machines don't do too well. And even in a 1-18, loading some kinds of bedspreads all around the agitator isn't very effective... These machines work best with towels
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Post# 834585 , Reply# 7 7/31/2015 at 05:32 (3,185 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Actually, I believe the 58's were top-rated by CR...
Couldn't find anything in my 1958 buying guide about washing machines. However in the 1956 issue such appliances were covered and no, Frigidaire's washers didn't get a "red check" rating.
CR tested the WO-65-2 and rated it average in cleaning ability but tangled clothing "horribly". They did give it high marks (better than average) for extraction ability. | ||
| Post# 834592 , Reply# 8 7/31/2015 at 06:13 (3,185 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea)) | ||
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Post# 834599 , Reply# 10 7/31/2015 at 07:35 (3,185 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie) |
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Once upon a time there were some vintage CR articles here. I'm sure that one year Frigidaire was on top. Maybe it wasn't '58, but it was before the Deep Action space capsule agitators, so pre-1964. The tangling issue was eased with the introduction of the Deep Action agitator, which turned the load over at a more moderate pace.
I had a 1-18 for awhile back in the early 90's (a behind-the-appliance-store rescue that came from my physician's house) and I don't recall any serious tangling issues with its Jet Cone agitator.
My sister and brother-in-law lived in an apt. building in 1967-69 with one of the early Frigidaire coin-ops. It had a Deep Action agitator but no cap. Thought someone had misplaced it; found out later that the coin-ops didn't have caps. Always felt the agitator had to be losing some of the 'lint-away' power since water was shooting out the top of the agitator instead of pushing outward from the holes that were supposed to chase lint over the top of the tub. (Note: An incorrect assumption looking at Photo 1.) I stayed with them during the summer and may have stolen a cap from a dealership's washer to use whenever I did laundry with the coin-op. Two dimes bought 20 minutes of viewing pleasure!
Photo 1: A repost of something PhilR put up a couple of years ago, showing how water entered/exited the Deep Action Agitator. Interestingly, it's called a Jet Cone on the page, which I assume was designed for dealers. Was that the terminology used in Canada? The classic space-capsule agitator caps said "Deep Action Agitator" in the US. I thought Jet Cones were on the 1-18's---or is this a case of interchangeable names?
Photo 2: Deep Action, courtesy of joelippard.
Photo 3: Cap of a 1-18 agitator. If you pull out your magnifying glass, you'll see it says Jet Cone.
Link: Robert's thread about his coin-op washer. Notice that it is pointed out the original agitator on Unimatic coin-ops was one of the rubber ring pulsators. The machine I used was definitely a Unimatic but it had a Deep Action; must have been changed out, as well. Also noticed I mistakenly posted it was two quarters per wash; I'm sure that's wrong, as I recall hoarding dimes for weeks before going to my sister's for the summer.
A Collective Pat On The Back To Our Members: It's amazing how photos from AW dominate any Google search about American washing machines. We rock! CLICK HERE TO GO TO Frigilux's LINK This post was last edited 07/31/2015 at 09:22 | ||
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Post# 834601 , Reply# 11 7/31/2015 at 07:54 (3,185 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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This is a WO-65-2? | ||
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Post# 834602 , Reply# 12 7/31/2015 at 08:01 (3,185 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Just for giggles and leffs.... A Snorge | ||
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Post# 834606 , Reply# 13 7/31/2015 at 08:45 (3,185 days old) by cuffs054 (MONTICELLO, GA) |
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I didn't know the Norge thru that much water and that forcefully through the agvavator. I would think the lint filter would have been very effective, certainly equal to the GE. I have always loved the thumpers. My "aunt" always had them and I would beg her to let me play with them, facinating design. | ||
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Post# 834616 , Reply# 14 7/31/2015 at 09:19 (3,185 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie) |
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(This post was me freaking out due to some glitch that occurred while I was correcting usage in the three-volume novel-length post above. The entire thing crunched into one huge text block. I tried again a few minutes later and was able to divide everything back into paragraphs. Smelling salts not required after all, LOL.)
While I'm here...thanks for the videos, Launderess. Love that spitting' Montgomerynorge. Awesome.
And... Couldn't find an emoji of a horse head in a bed, but here's something for the tree next Christmas! 
This post was last edited 07/31/2015 at 09:47 | ||
| Post# 834653 , Reply# 17 7/31/2015 at 14:08 (3,184 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada) | ||
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Eugene, I think the document showing the "Jet Cone" agitator is from 1964-65 and shows 1965 models. Frigidaire did call their agitators Jet Cone before they had it written on the 1-18 agitator caps. I think the image I previously posted and the image below were originally posted by Ken (Bajaespuma).
Barry, If I recall correctly, I got one of my fabric softener dispensers from you and it's in very good shape. I guess you had bought a spare for your machine!
For traditional top-loading machines, I think they are also more water-efficient than many as they work great with low water levels. The 1-18 models even better as you can set the level much lower on these.
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Post# 835007 , Reply# 19 8/3/2015 at 20:12 (3,181 days old) by washerlover (The Big Island, Hawai’i) |
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"Snorge..." I don't think I like that. I find Frigidaire, Montgomery Norge and GE Filter-Flo's the most interesting machines. And yes, I believe the Wards/Norge burpalator agitator is second best to GE's filter-flo. I have both and they are excellent at lint removal. My GE has the straight-vane agitator and even large loads have great turnover. And my Wards Signature and Norge machines both have good turnover. My 1-18 can have issues if overloaded.
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| Post# 835110 , Reply# 20 8/4/2015 at 18:55 (3,180 days old) by Realvanman (Southern California) | ||
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Wow! That Frigidaire Unimatic drains the tub WAY FAST! WOW! One must have to have very free flowing drains :) Keith | ||
| Post# 835113 , Reply# 21 8/4/2015 at 19:17 (3,180 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada) | ||
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| Post# 835132 , Reply# 22 8/5/2015 at 02:15 (3,180 days old) by Realvanman (Southern California) | ||
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Thank you for the clarification That's a pretty neat design. I'm still trying to learn about the all the various ways in which the different machines operate. Until coming to this site, my only real experience has been with a mid '80's Whirlpool. Keith | ||
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Post# 835143 , Reply# 23 8/5/2015 at 06:26 (3,180 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers) |
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Love my sliced white bread in a plastic bag | ||
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Post# 1172088 , Reply# 27 2/12/2023 at 22:30 (431 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI) |
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Post# 1172097 , Reply# 28 2/13/2023 at 06:41 (431 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Love my Frigidaire one to 18 washer
After Jason and I added insulation to it, the machine is actually about the quietest machine I own.
There was no emphasis on quiet washing machines when these were made GM could’ve easily done what we did to the machine to make it quieter Overall it was a great piece of engineering and a darn good performer. I seldom use it anymore because of the amount of water it uses however, i use the front load washers and I use my whirlpool resource saver when I do use a Toploader. John | ||
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