Thread Number: 8373
Favorite vintage agitator
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Post# 158918   10/5/2006 at 12:07 (6,413 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut)        

bajaespuma's profile picture
Well, it would have to the the spiral Hotpoint design. Look's almost organic. Can't decide whether black or turquoise is my favorite:




Post# 158922 , Reply# 1   10/5/2006 at 13:34 (6,413 days old) by jasonl (Cookeville, TN)        

Kenmore Super Rotoswirl of course.

Post# 158926 , Reply# 2   10/5/2006 at 14:11 (6,413 days old) by pulsator (Saint Joseph, MI)        

pulsator's profile picture
Probably a tie between the Frigidaire Three Ring agitators and the Kenmore Roto Swirls...

Post# 158927 , Reply# 3   10/5/2006 at 14:11 (6,413 days old) by rickr (.)        
the real deal for Jason

rickr's profile picture
it's all good under the hood

Post# 158928 , Reply# 4   10/5/2006 at 14:16 (6,413 days old) by jaxsunst ()        

Blue with black top Kelvinator

Post# 158934 , Reply# 5   10/5/2006 at 15:11 (6,413 days old) by peterh770 (Marietta, GA)        

peterh770's profile picture
Speed Queen... A no-nonsense agitator with good drama and excellent washability.

I like the Hotpoint Silouette for LOOKS. When I saw it in action, I was disappointed.


Post# 158941 , Reply# 6   10/5/2006 at 15:54 (6,413 days old) by maytagbear (N.E. Ohio)        
Tie-

Between the Maytag Power Fin (but only in Turquoise! --not replacement white;) and the Whirlpool Super Surgilator.


Lawrence/Maytagbear


Post# 158943 , Reply# 7   10/5/2006 at 15:59 (6,413 days old) by westytoploader ()        
Favorite agitator?

Now that is a TOUGH question for me to answer! All of the agitators I've seen have their pros and cons. I'd have to say, though, the Westinghouse 2-piece ramp is the best.

As to the Hotpoint spiralator, I agree 100%...beautiful looking, but doesn't have beautiful performance, LOL! The long-neck won hands down for turnover/capacity.


Post# 158946 , Reply# 8   10/5/2006 at 16:11 (6,413 days old) by seeitrun2006 (Commerce, GA)        
1966 Westinghouse heavy duty 18 black agitator

When I was a kid many centuries ago my Grandmother had this machine. Man at the time the inside looked like it had the biggest agitator I'd ever seen. But man could it clean! On the small load setting with the lid open it would spash and splatter water every where. My Grandmother got unto me numberous times having the lid open making a mess as she never understood my love for washers! Never saw it spin as it had a locking lid which I hated!

Peace!


Post# 158948 , Reply# 9   10/5/2006 at 16:37 (6,413 days old) by dadoes (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
For uniqueness, I'd have to say vintage Kelvinator and the Philco flapper. Choosing just one, Philco.

Post# 158959 , Reply# 10   10/5/2006 at 17:50 (6,413 days old) by surgilator ()        
Favorite Agitator

I have no choice, but to go with the Surgilator, it my ID.

Post# 158960 , Reply# 11   10/5/2006 at 17:50 (6,413 days old) by gmmcnair (Portland, OR)        

gmmcnair's profile picture
1st Place: Wards/Norge 20lb machines
2nd Place: Frigidaire Deep Action with Jet Away Lint Removal
3rd Place: Kenmore Super Roto-Swirl
Honorable Mention: Maytag Wringer Gyrator

:-)


Post# 158963 , Reply# 12   10/5/2006 at 17:57 (6,413 days old) by mcmodern ()        
The fun is in the mystery

When you look inside and can't figure out how it works, then it's a cool agitator. As a kid, I did know how Frigidaires worked, but Philcos and Kelvinators? Until you see one in action...
Thanks to this bunch, I've finally seen it and now I know!
My all-time favorite though ... the tri-color three ring.


Post# 158965 , Reply# 13   10/5/2006 at 18:02 (6,413 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
I'll have to go with Frigidaire... The Three-Ring with colored rings is by far the prettiest of the bunch.


Post# 158966 , Reply# 14   10/5/2006 at 18:03 (6,413 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
Now the close second would be the Frigidaire from the early 50's. Scoff if you will, but look how much time you save unloading. Grab a corner of one item in the load and head for the dryer/clothesline!

Post# 158969 , Reply# 15   10/5/2006 at 18:10 (6,413 days old) by rickr (.)        
My personal favourite

rickr's profile picture
Darth Surgilator...And he means business!!

Post# 158970 , Reply# 16   10/5/2006 at 18:34 (6,412 days old) by sheerlookhomes (U.K.)        

wow that's nice, with aeronautical styling

Post# 158973 , Reply# 17   10/5/2006 at 19:06 (6,412 days old) by sudsman ()        
my vote

The early whirpool metal agitators

And the Roto Swirl


Post# 158975 , Reply# 18   10/5/2006 at 19:24 (6,412 days old) by golittlesport (California)        

golittlesport's profile picture
an Easy spiralator from a twin tub in a vintage Speed Queen solid tub automatic

Post# 158984 , Reply# 19   10/5/2006 at 20:46 (6,412 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
Thanks for that 'under-the-hood' shot of your beautiful '65 KM, Rick! That brings back a lot of memories of the '60 KM I grew up with. Loved those timed dispensers. Thanks to the tub light, I could peer in the crack between the top and the front panel to watch the plungers lift when it came time to dispense the bleach and/or fabric softener.

Post# 158994 , Reply# 20   10/5/2006 at 21:16 (6,412 days old) by rickr (.)        
.

rickr's profile picture
thx Eugene! better shot of the dispenser for you.

Post# 158996 , Reply# 21   10/5/2006 at 21:18 (6,412 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
Yay! Thanks, Rick.

Post# 159009 , Reply# 22   10/6/2006 at 01:30 (6,412 days old) by powerfin64 (Yakima, Washington)        
my 3 favorites are..

powerfin64's profile picture
1. Whirlpool Surgilator(black bakelite)
2. Kenmore Vari-Flex
3. Maytag Gyrator

Rich


Post# 159013 , Reply# 23   10/6/2006 at 03:11 (6,412 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

Whirlpool Surgilator,Norge "Burpilator",black "Pregnant"Roto Swirl.

Post# 159019 , Reply# 24   10/6/2006 at 05:01 (6,412 days old) by lederstiefel1 ()        
my favourite agitator is....

HOTPOINT SPIRA-CLEAN with Filter-Clean-Tray on top!
Stunning thoroughness combined with utmost gentleness and never ever tangling in 17 years of use!
It can cope as well with overloaded capacities as with handwashable woollens and silks!
Cheers, have a nice week-end!
Ralf


Post# 159032 , Reply# 25   10/6/2006 at 07:03 (6,412 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        

foraloysius's profile picture
I'm with Jason, I was very impressed with the Super Rotoswirl when I used it. Which doesn't particularly mean that Kenmore is my favourite washer. LOL

Post# 159035 , Reply# 26   10/6/2006 at 07:19 (6,412 days old) by lesto (Atlanta)        

My top three favs:
58 Unimatic three ring
"big red" Coronado
59 pregnant roto swirl w/ scrubber cap


Post# 159050 , Reply# 27   10/6/2006 at 08:50 (6,412 days old) by lovewahsers ()        
favorite agitator

HEY! THIS IS LOVE TO WASH AND I HAVE A FEW PICKS OF MY OWN
1.FIRGIDARE JET ACTION (FROM THE 70')
2.KENMORE DUAL ACTION AGITATOR (FABRIC SOFTENER DISPENSER W/BLUE RING LOCK)
3.MAYTAG (BLACK AGITATOR)


Post# 159097 , Reply# 28   10/6/2006 at 11:46 (6,412 days old) by partscounterman (Cortez, Colorado)        
Norge Slant fin

Some time around 1967, all the Norge and Wards washers had a slant fin agitator. They only used that design for about a year.

I know Greg had one in the "Agitator Garden" at the convention. I don't remember who ended up with that one-I would have taken it myself, but didn't want to have to haul a huge agitator on the airplane back to Maui. Austin-did you end up with that one? Memory fails me...

I suspect that it was a short lived design because the slanted fins probably caused some additional stress on the drive train than a straight fin would. I sure would like to see that design in action-Powerful Norge wash action with a spiral type agitator. Wheeeee!

Can some one post a picture of this wonder?


Post# 159107 , Reply# 29   10/6/2006 at 12:52 (6,412 days old) by abcomatic (Bradford, Illinois)        

ABC O Matic- Wow, what a finned monster that was.
Wringer machines: Maytag and Dexter


Post# 159123 , Reply# 30   10/6/2006 at 15:30 (6,412 days old) by westytoploader ()        

Hi David,

I'm glad I'm not the only one who remembers the Wards spiral agitator at the Convention! Someone else got it though...I WISH I had taken it with me! But the Westinghouse ramp definitely falls under the "behemoth" category as well, LOL.

If the person who grabbed that agitator is reading this, please step forward! :)

Here's a Norge Thread where a picture of that agitator was posted. The Burpalator looks taller, but that's just because the spiral agitator doesn't have the cap on, and the Burpalator's skirt is thicker to accomodate the water channels. In person, it is simply HUGE.

Needless to say I can only imagine the water action this thing made, and would LOVE to find the mid-60's Wards that was equipped with this agitator.

--Austin


Post# 159135 , Reply# 31   10/6/2006 at 16:57 (6,412 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        
The Wards Spiral is still here...

gansky1's profile picture
Here is the picture of Robert's, we tried to get this to work in the Gobbling Green Monster (see westy's link) but it wouldn't work and we were afraid of breaking it trying to make it stay on the shaft. I'll bet this agitator "gave some splash" but I think there was a scrubber cap on this agitator that protruded out enough to keep the water in the tub.

Post# 159331 , Reply# 32   10/7/2006 at 21:36 (6,410 days old) by bestcleaning ()        
Fantastic ROTO-FLEX

My favourite agitator Kenmore ROTO-FLEX

--Rodrigo



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