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Thread Number: 92013
/ Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
Welcoming A Westy! |
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| Post# 1165688 12/5/2022 at 19:03 (500 days old) by drummerboy928 (Illinois) | ||
Today was a big day for me. I finally brought the avocado green Westinghouse home! I have not been able to do much looking at it underneath, but it seems in rather good condition, just very dirty from sitting. According to the seller they sat in his aunts basement for close to 30-40 years, so it is a rather lightly used machine. I’ve included some pictures of the Inside basket and agitator, Console and Data plate, to hopefully identify the year of this model since I’m not familiar with it. I also was given this early model A106 As well, but haven’t been able to do much looking at it either, and also can’t find the data tag yet. However I did find a sticker with the model on it and the original company that sold it. Is there any testing I can do on these machines without actually plugging them in, such as spinning the belt and stuff? It’s currently cold out, and I don’t have a heated shop, so I’d prefer to not put water in them just yet, but also don’t want to run the pumps dry. I will get some more pictures if needed this weekend and do any possibly testing this weekend as well. Any help and comments would be appreciated!
-Henry | ||
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| Post# 1165690 , Reply# 1 12/5/2022 at 19:12 (500 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806) | ||
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Post# 1165691 , Reply# 2 12/5/2022 at 19:15 (500 days old) by swestoyz  (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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1968/1969 J series Westy! | ||
| Post# 1165698 , Reply# 3 12/5/2022 at 19:53 (500 days old) by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas) | ||
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Post# 1165709 , Reply# 4 12/5/2022 at 20:24 (500 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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I"m surprised as late as 1969 the Wash'n'Wear label was stiull used for that cycle. Although the manufacture date is 1968/1969, the timer design reminds me of the first generation Westinghouse produced top loaders that were about the same time as their front loaders went from slant front and drop down door to the flat front laundromat design with side-swing door so it matched the dryers for their new top loaders. That would be about 1964 or 1965.
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Post# 1165711 , Reply# 5 12/5/2022 at 20:32 (500 days old) by LowEfficiency (Iowa) |
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On the Maytag, you should be able to just reach in and spin the inner tub by hand.
Underneath, you could pop the water pump belt off if you wanted, and spin the water pump by hand... but don't run the motor electrically without belts on, as the spring-loaded carriage will pull it until the shaft hits the side of the cabinet base plate or the motor carriage, so it would rub and probably make a horrible noise. | ||
| Post# 1165713 , Reply# 6 12/5/2022 at 20:46 (500 days old) by drummerboy928 (Illinois) | ||
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I'm Glad I was able to grab these two machines to give them a new home! I Haven't yet looked closely at the Maytag for the Serial number (I'm not with the machines anymore at the time of writing this, and it wasn't right under the lid), but this weekend I will take a closer look at both machines. Judging by the Westinghouse being a 1968/1969 Model (and rather rare at that, with the black agitator), I assume the A106 to also be somewhere around 1969 (would the Black Agitator and light gray trim indicate something like this?). The lid to the Maytag is loose on one side, so I believe its missing one of the lid hinge balls, so that will need to be replaced. Other than that, I'm hoping that these machines will be able to be revived fairly easily. Thank you guys for all the help and I hope to get these machines washing beautifully once again!
- Henry | ||
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Post# 1165720 , Reply# 7 12/5/2022 at 21:14 (500 days old) by LowEfficiency (Iowa) |
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The serial number plate started off on the back of the machine, then moved to its spot under the lid later in production. That's actually another clue which helps narrow down the date for your machine.
More info in my thread here: "Maytag serial number plate location?" www.automaticwasher.org/c... | ||
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Post# 1165744 , Reply# 8 12/6/2022 at 00:11 (500 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis) |
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Congratulations!
Now that Westinghouse is super cool!! I do happen to think it is the only one known to exist with a black agitator in anyone's collection, at least that I know of. Your machine has the 2nd generation style Westinghouse agitator.
Years ago in the late 90s I did take a picture of the agitator and tub of a 1965 early model with the very first Westinghouse made agitator... 
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| Post# 1165813 , Reply# 9 12/6/2022 at 14:44 (500 days old) by drummerboy928 (Illinois) | ||
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Wow, I really did not realize just what I was getting when I saw the ad, I just knew I had to try and get it and I’m so glad it worked out! I imagine this machine will stay in my collection for quite a while, and hopefully it will be a very simple job to get both of them cleaning clothes for the first time in at least 30 years.
I was able to find the data plate for the Maytag A106. “HM” so I believe that would be June of 1969. These machines were most likely bought at a similar point in time, presumably in 1969-1970, and were used up until the mid 80s early 90s where they were set off the the side to sit until I brought them home.
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| Post# 1165874 , Reply# 11 12/6/2022 at 21:40 (499 days old) by qsd-dan (West) | ||
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Post# 1165893 , Reply# 12 12/7/2022 at 00:00 (499 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.) |
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| Post# 1165925 , Reply# 13 12/7/2022 at 10:31 (499 days old) by WoodJack99 (Massachusetts/Virginia, USA) | ||
Henry, congratulations on both of your new additions! Your collection has just gotten even better (if that's even possible, because it was pretty great already). I'm a Maytag guy, so of course I personally love the 106; but the Westinghouse is definitely one of the coolest machines you have. Love the avocado. I can't wait to see both machines in action once it warms up. You really lucked out that it seems like both have been relatively lightly-used, and it's cool they're right around the same age too.
Jack | ||
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Post# 1165958 , Reply# 15 12/7/2022 at 17:27 (498 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!) |
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| Post# 1165994 , Reply# 16 12/8/2022 at 07:41 (498 days old) by lesto (Atlanta) | ||
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That's a cool Westy. Probably the last model with a black agitator before they switched to blue. The long spray rinse does a great job too. | ||
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Post# 1165997 , Reply# 17 12/8/2022 at 08:23 (498 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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Westinghouse top load Agitators
Scanning the '68 - '73 service manual, they talk about the agitator changes from the later 1967 H series machines through the 1973 P series machines, which does shed a bit of light on both Henry's washer and the one Robert saw in the late 90's.
Henry's LAJ is what Westinghouse called a dash 3 model, with the dash signifying the material change of the agitator from phenolic (or bakelite) to polyproline. Looking at the top of the agitator in Robert's photo, the difference between the two can be seen by the additional rib up near the top of the neck, and possibly even the diameter of the neck itself. Lastly, the Westy logo agitator cap is the dead giveaway for the early bakelite version, too. The service manual also talks quite a bit about the pre-pump motor arrangement for the late H and J series machines. By the 1970 L series machines, the pre-pump solenoid arrangement goes away and they move towards using a spring loaded idler pulley arrangement. Previous to the pre-pump solenoid it looks as though Westinghouse used a clutch when this platform was introduced in 64/65, similar to a Kelvinator, which can be seen in the LAH service manual on AE.org. Will be neat to see this one is able to run again so we all can see the neutral drain! Ben
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Post# 1166001 , Reply# 18 12/8/2022 at 10:48 (498 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Great information Ben
It will be neat if this Westinghouse actually works I’ve only ever seen one of those in my life and it was almost 50 years ago. It was taking it on trade for a new Maytag or whirlpool washer at the dealer I worked at in the early 70s I remember taking the back off and it had the pre-pump solenoid.
Westinghouse machines of course were not very durable. It’s likely that this one was not used longer I would never have been around. These were interesting machines. They did not have a Franklin transmission in them. Franklin and Westinghouse had not begun to merge yet. John | ||
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Post# 1166008 , Reply# 19 12/8/2022 at 12:36 (498 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA) |
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Wedtinghous
I believe this washer is the same model predecessor to my set which I believe is from around 1974. Like John said, these were not durable machines. Rather “affordable” is how I’d describe them. My set had very little use so they survived with the washer only needing a new belt. Unfortunately they are both inoperable now and not sure how fixable they will be. Dryer motor seized up and the washer sprung a leak causing the spin bearing to corrode. Hopefully I’ll be able to revive them one of these days. This washer does have the blue plastic ramp agitator and it actually does a pretty nice job washing and, of course, rinsing.
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Post# 1166012 , Reply# 20 12/8/2022 at 14:24 (498 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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| Post# 1166210 , Reply# 21 12/10/2022 at 18:15 (495 days old) by drummerboy928 (Illinois) | ||
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Finally getting to do some tests
So today I was able to dive into the Maytag a little bit. Despite being 9 years older than my crusty A408S, the inside looks almost BRAND NEW! The tub moves freely, and the motor and pump do not appear to be locked up. I was able to plug it in and test the fill valve, which energizes. I also tried spinning the drum on the Westinghouse, and it rotates easily. None of the buttons or timers are frozen either! Not going to water test them or spin test them yet, as It’s fairly chilly out, but so far everything seems to be going well!
I’ve also included some pictures of the inside of the Maytag | ||
| Post# 1166215 , Reply# 22 12/10/2022 at 18:57 (495 days old) by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas) | ||
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| Post# 1166226 , Reply# 23 12/10/2022 at 21:30 (495 days old) by drummerboy928 (Illinois) | ||
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Inspecting the Westinghouse
As someone who’s never owned any sort of vintage Westinghouse like this, How can I go apart inspecting the insides of it (transmission/motor, etc.). Does the whole back come off, or is there like an access panel on the back that I can look through? I have not yet looked very closely at it, nor have I tried doing anything other than spinning the tub by hand (which rotates freely). If there is an easy way to look at the insides, is there anything I should look for? Thank you all for the help!
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Post# 1166241 , Reply# 24 12/11/2022 at 01:44 (495 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis) |
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What I would probably do first is make sure the drain hose is attached and pour hot tap water down the hose to refresh the pump seals. You may have to hold the hose opening higher than the machine to do this. Then I'd put it into spin and see if it spins and pumps. If that works, I'd give it a try in fill and agitate. It may work just fine.
I believe to inspect that machine you have to remove the back panel. Since the pump sits on top of the motor I'd be sure that it isn't leaking water as it will run down into the motor. | ||
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