Thread Number: 78538  /  Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
1960 Malleys Automatic 12 		[Down to Last]

automaticwasher.org's exclusive eBay Watch:
scroll >>> for more items --- [As an eBay Partner, eBay may compensate automaticwasher.org if you make a purchase using any link to eBay on this page]
Post# 1025471   2/24/2019 at 03:47 (1,881 days old) by brisnat81 (Brisbane Australia)        

For those that have been around a while, you might remember that 18 months ago, I found two of these machines. I've been working on restoring one of them, but it has been a slow process as they'd been stored on a farm for the last 50 years. This is a Horizontal Axis machine that holds 12 pounds of laundry. its a bolt down and has an inbuilt heater. Its cold fill only which for 1960 is pretty unusual.

Just before Christmas, Leon found another one online still in its original house, bolted down in the Laundry in Sydney. I went back and forth on getting it, and then decided it was worth it for the Blue sections, rather than getting the control panel on my existing one recoated.

The machine arrived a couple of weeks ago, and when I took the front off, we were amazed at how clean it was underneath. Other than lots of dust and some oil, the machine was totally clean. More surprisingly, after a quick once over, I hooked it up, plugged it in and it was running. When it started to suds up, it started to leak, but not too much. Then in the last week when I've been running it, there was a puddle appearing underneath.

Today I took the front and the back off and was determined to figure out where it was leaking from and had my fingers crossed it wasnt from the main seals.

It turns out that the rubber grommet the inlet valve pushes through was perished and that explained the leaking when it was sudsy. The second leak is from the drain valve on the pump. I managed to easily replace the grommet for the inlet, and with some work got the drain valve out of the other machine I have. It wasnt as badly perished, so now it just drips rather than gushes, the original valve was a pile of crushed rubber.

What makes this suprising, is that other than some rust spots along the top edges of the panels, the paint has cleaned right up, inside and out, with just some Dawn and Elbow grease. Its not quite brand new looking, but not too bad for nearly 60 years old.

I've attached some pics with the covers on and I'll work back through the process.

All going to plan, I'll look to bolt the machine down next weekend and then we can try a maiden wash. There wont be too much to see, but the machine is pretty quiet, other than the pump grunting away as it drains and spins.

  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 8         View Full Size


This post was last edited 02/24/2019 at 04:07



Post# 1025472 , Reply# 1   2/24/2019 at 03:54 (1,881 days old) by brisnat81 (Brisbane Australia)        
Under the Hood

 You can see the factory fitted Cork, its where a fitting can go to manually fill the machine with Hotwater.

You can see the pump on the back, it looks a lot like a Bendix/Dexter pump to me, does anyone have a repair diaphram repair kit for one of these, they might be prepared to sell? You can also see the oiling tubes, the three bronze bushes have a wick and an oiling tube, the manual advises to fill the tubes every 6 months. Depending on which literature you read, it recomends SAE 20, 30 or 40. Getting a monograde mineral oil these days is hard, I ended up with Vintage Motorcycle Shock absorber oil, with is SAE30.

From the front side, the left hand motor is the wash motor, the right hand motor is the Spin motor. The Wash tumble speed is 60rpm, spin is 380rpm. The large pulley on the right, is an overdrive clutch. The Spin motor idles until it switches on and then it disconnects the wash motor from the drive while it spins

The earlier model had a float chamber, this one luckily has a pressure switch, its much easier to work on and repair.

  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 6         View Full Size
Post# 1025473 , Reply# 2   2/24/2019 at 03:59 (1,881 days old) by brisnat81 (Brisbane Australia)        

Heres a copy of the user manual. Not much changed since my earlier 1956 models.

  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 12         View Full Size
Post# 1025488 , Reply# 3   2/24/2019 at 09:11 (1,881 days old) by ozzie908 (Lincoln UK)        
Bolt down Malleys washer

 ozzie908's profile picture
Does this reverse or is it unidirectional?
Loved reading the instruction booklet thank you so much for sharing with us :)
Happy washing and a video sometime please
Austin

Post# 1025491 , Reply# 4   2/24/2019 at 09:24 (1,881 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

turquoisedude's profile picture

Wow Nathan, that is quite the find!!  It really looks great.  Congratulations on saving this one!
Post# 1025495 , Reply# 5   2/24/2019 at 10:58 (1,880 days old) by bellalaundry (St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada)        
I love

 bellalaundry's profile picture
the blue accent metal!

Post# 1025519 , Reply# 6   2/24/2019 at 16:56 (1,880 days old) by brisnat81 (Brisbane Australia)        

Hi Austin,

It tumbles clockwise only. The Wash Motor runs from start to end, so it tumbles at 60RPM from the initial fill through until the loosen cycle after the final spin.

The only time it doesnt tumble is during the heating phase. You let it finish filling and then tumble for a bit, then when you press the white button on the thermostat, the wash stops and you get a soak period until the thermostat is satisfied and then the wash continues as per normal.

Cheers

Nathan

Post# 1025614 , Reply# 7   2/25/2019 at 15:59 (1,879 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

unimatic1140's profile picture
Beautiful machine Nathan! Very vintage looking, super cool.

The knobs, blue panel and nameplate also look very much like a Bendix Economat of the same time period. I wonder how Bendix was involved in this Malleys? It sure does appear like it was.

Post# 1025615 , Reply# 8   2/25/2019 at 16:02 (1,879 days old) by ozzie908 (Lincoln UK)        

ozzie908's profile picture
Nathan

Thank you :)



Post# 1025718 , Reply# 9   2/26/2019 at 13:20 (1,878 days old) by Slowspin66 (lincoln uk)        
Pump valve spares

 slowspin66's profile picture
Dear Nathan love the machine and such good condition !!Mike King and myself were chatting on the phone and admiring the machine
I’ve just done up a Bendix Lt washer dryer and in the past I’ve done a Bendix semi auto with the bolt down fixings . The pumps are a pain to restore but I . Managed to get (from China no less) the similar valves. That worked for the LT model !!! Also they were as cheap as chips !!!
The problem I had is that the pumps are prone to corrode up time and time again unless you constantly use them !!If you search rubber drain valve seal on eBay (worldwide )it will bring them up . Message me
If you need any other help best wishes Darren

Post# 1025726 , Reply# 10   2/26/2019 at 14:03 (1,878 days old) by Slowspin66 (lincoln uk)        
Valves

slowspin66's profile picture
These are what I used for the LT they are larger than the bolt down Bendix but they come in plenty of different sizes . Hope this is of some help Darren

  View Full Size

Forum Index:       Other Forums:                      


Comes to the Rescue!

The Discuss-o-Mat has stopped, buzzer is sounding!!!
If you would like to reply to this thread please log-in...

Discuss-O-MAT Log-In



New Members Click Here To Sign Up.



                     

automaticwasher.org home
Discuss-o-Mat Forums
Vintage Brochures, Service and Owners Manuals
Fun Vintage Washer Ephemera
See It Wash!
Video Downloads
 Audio Downloads
Picture of the Day
Patent of the Day
Photos of our Collections
The Old Aberdeen Farm
Vintage Service Manuals 		Vintage washer/dryer/dishwasher to sell?
Technical/service questions?
Looking for Parts?
Website related questions?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy
Our Privacy Policy