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Thread Number: 97678
/ Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
9-Millionth Maytag Washer - 16mm Film |
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Post# 1226074 3/7/2025 at 12:28 by cadman  (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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For the Maytag fans, I've just finished digitizing and uploading a short 16mm film that was shot by a local news station to commemorate the 9,000,000 MT Washer back in 1955.
It's a bit grainy, but I didn't want to get carried away over-correcting things. Anyway, neat stuff! CLICK HERE TO GO TO cadman's LINK | ||
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| Post# 1226076 , Reply# 1 3/7/2025 at 12:35 by qsd-dan (West) | ||
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Post# 1226077 , Reply# 2 3/7/2025 at 12:43 by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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| Post# 1226079 , Reply# 3 3/7/2025 at 13:26 by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas) | ||
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Post# 1226080 , Reply# 4 3/7/2025 at 13:28 by cadman (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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Post# 1226084 , Reply# 5 3/7/2025 at 14:42 by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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Wow, this clip turned out fantastic! Thank you for taking the time to discovering a way to take film and convert it to a digital format.
As for Maytag's claim of 9th millionth washer, this refers to their 9th millionth Newton-made washing machine, which includes everything starting from the Pastime, onward. Things got a bit muddy when they started making dryers - I'm not sure if the 9th million claim included dryers in 1955, but eventually the did include dryers in this tally. Ben | ||
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Post# 1226107 , Reply# 6 3/7/2025 at 18:39 by Mrstickball (Ohio, USA) |
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Dang that's awesome. Would I be allowed to use a clip or two from that for an upcoming project I'm working on regarding the history of Maytag? Awesome work. | ||
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Post# 1226122 , Reply# 7 3/8/2025 at 07:39 by Combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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9 million Maytag washing machine built
Very cool Corey I love stuff like this, I always think the sad part about watching videos like this as you realize everybody in the videos is long gone wonder where the nine millionth Maytag is today did that end up in the museum in Newton?
I had a friend in Baltimore who passed away who collected anything related to whirlpool or KitchenAid and I’ve been having a ball going through a lot of old literature. I found about the history of the 1900 corporation. Apparently the 1900 corporation now whirlpool started making washing machines and simultaneously sears started buying washing machines from them so the two companies grew together, which is why they grew as big the biggest washer maker quickly in the United States and in the world for a long time, fascinating stuff. I’ll get together with Robert and share a lot of the cool brochures and all that he can add to the picture of the day. Thanks, Cory, | ||
| Post# 1226123 , Reply# 8 3/8/2025 at 08:38 by Agiflow (Toms River) | ||
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According to Whirlpool they began as Upton machine company in 1911 and then later merged with 1900 corp. | ||
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Post# 1226147 , Reply# 9 3/8/2025 at 19:05 by cadman (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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| Post# 1226153 , Reply# 10 3/8/2025 at 23:18 by qsd-dan (West) | ||
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"I always think the sad part about watching videos like this as you realize everybody in the videos is long gone"
I was thinking the exact same thing while viewing. I bet some of those older people have been dead for 60+ years and didn't even live long enough to see the '06 generation of washers and dryers released. | ||
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Post# 1226156 , Reply# 11 3/9/2025 at 00:01 by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis) |
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I bet some of those older people have been dead for 60+ years and didn't even live long enough to see the '06 generation of washers and dryers released.
That's very true however they more than likely all got to see their grandmothers use a Maytag Pastime Washer and would be nostalgic about those. I absolutely love what you're doing Cory! | ||
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Post# 1226158 , Reply# 12 3/9/2025 at 00:20 by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Post# 1226168 , Reply# 13 3/9/2025 at 09:46 by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!) |
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| Post# 1226181 , Reply# 14 3/9/2025 at 15:50 by qsd-dan (West) | ||
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| Post# 1226182 , Reply# 15 3/9/2025 at 16:00 by Maytag85 (Sean A806) | ||
It’s interesting to know those people were born in the 1880’s and 1890’s, literally saw the US go from a farm based economy to a industrial behemoth by the 1920’s and 1930’s, to the beginning of the space race in the 1950’s, the moon landing in 1969. Even witnessed inventions like the automobile (though wasn’t invented by a single person or entity), the light bulb and electrify, many other innovations over the years.
Those people are probably Gen X’s grandparents (could be the Baby Boomers grandparents as well), Gen Z’s great grandparents. | ||
| Post# 1226185 , Reply# 16 3/9/2025 at 16:30 by qsd-dan (West) | ||
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I enjoyed hearing my great grandmothers stories about the ice man, outhouses, first automobile they saw, kerosene street lamps, and their first experience with electricity. My great grandmother on the other side of my family was in an extremely rural area and didn't get electricity and indoor plumbing until the early 1980's then ended up in a nursing home a year later. Probably used a gas wringer washer her entire life.
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Post# 1226201 , Reply# 17 3/9/2025 at 21:10 by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI) |
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 I'm surprised at a millionth in the '50's myself, which meant Maytag surely had little to no competition...
The sign of Maytag being a one and original, until the other brands like Whirlpool, GE and the Whirlpool-made Sears came along, not to mention Westinghouses' front-loaders...
I also liked the music, too...
-- Dave | ||
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Post# 1226211 , Reply# 18 3/10/2025 at 00:08 by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Maytag struck pay dirt with it's first gas engine powered washer. Their money and reputation was made with first "GyraFoam" washer that was an immediate hit.
Far as pre-WWII years when wringer washers dominated American domestic laundry market there was Maytag and everyone else. WP built Sears/Kenmore WWs had advantage of Sears catalog and nationwide retail locations which helped put them over. www.automaticwasher.org/c... www.gasenginemagazine.com/farm-l... | ||
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Post# 1226223 , Reply# 19 3/10/2025 at 07:06 by Combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Maytag had lots of competition
More than a half dozen companies beat them out with the automatic, including of course Bendix, Blackstone, whirlpool, General Electric, Westinghouse, and there’s probably a few others.
By 1955 whirlpool was probably building five or 10 times as many automatic washers per year as Maytag and that continued throughout history, Maytag never got close to catching up. They were not a hi volumecompany. They were selling a high priced quality product. Maytag washers and dryers hovered around the 10 to 15% of the market range just about where Speed Queen is getting to today. John L | ||
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Post# 1226240 , Reply# 20 3/10/2025 at 13:03 by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine) |
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I gave my old red trim, round Maytag wringer to a nice Amish man, who wanted to pay me but I said No, I know it will be going to a good home. His neighbor that transports him and does his social media ( I saw the ad on Craigslist looking for Maytag wringer washers). The neighbor did call me recently to say the washer was turned into a gas model and gifted to a young couple with a newborn. I just could not understand that Amish can use gasoline but not electricity, like the Mennonites can use all the modern conveniences.
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| Post# 1226263 , Reply# 22 3/10/2025 at 17:53 by qsd-dan (West) | ||
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"They never had to stamp "HEAVY DUTY" on their consoles before the '80s because you KNEW what you were getting with a Maytag."
Around the late 70's, Maytag printed stickers for dealers to put on non TOL consoles that stated "Heavy Duty" which was kind of an obvious tacky afterthought. I occasionally see them on machines from that time period on Craigslist/Facebook Marketplace. | ||
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Post# 1226267 , Reply# 23 3/10/2025 at 18:48 by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine) |
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My 1984 511 washer and 410 dryer had those tacky stickers which I promptly tore off. Yes, you knew if you bought a Heavy Duty Maytag it would last and you didnt need to brag with a stupid sticker. Mine still do about 1 load a week and have only had only a $28 part in all those 41 years. Too bad they dont do those magazine ads of someone that had a great Maytag.
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| Post# 1226273 , Reply# 25 3/10/2025 at 19:14 by Maytag85 (Sean A806) | ||
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Maytag didn’t sell nearly as many machines as Whirlpool/Sears, but would run and run for many years, still see them out there from time to time. If a company like Maytag only had 10% to 15% market share back in the day while Whirlpool had the largest market share but yet you still Maytags everywhere, just shows how much Maytag perfected the design and quality.
Maytags are like cockroaches, impossible to kill. They literally just keep on running and running forever. Literally the only repair my Maytag A606 needed was a new inlet valve, that was literally it after 50 years. Think that’s the first repair ever made to that particular machine in all of its existence so far. A Whirlpool or Kenmore on the other hand from that era would have had every component replaced at least once by this point. | ||
| Post# 1226279 , Reply# 27 3/10/2025 at 21:34 by Maytag85 (Sean A806) | ||
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Reply #26
The Maytag A606 appeared to have been sitting for a good 20 to 30 years since the timer was stiff. Was used on and off for about 4 years until the inlet valve gave up the ghost, got set off to the side until I could get the new inlet valve installed.
Don’t really know what the story was with my Maytag A606’s, but the guy I bought it from got it from a friend since he knew he was into older stuff from that era. Probably came from a storage unit by my guess, or came out of a garage. More than likely the original owners bought them new in 1973, used them for a number of years, moved into a townhouse or duplex that already came with a washer dryer set, got set off to the side. | ||
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Post# 1226284 , Reply# 28 3/10/2025 at 23:45 by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Post# 1226303 , Reply# 29 3/11/2025 at 09:59 by cadman (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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There's a neat article out there (Business Week?) where Fred II explains the Maytag philosophy on how they avoid 'change for the sake of change', and that they only introduce new features when it's truly warranted and thoroughly evaluated.
Now I do love those late 50's annual styling changes from the other guys...great for short term sales, but long term the MT approach made more sense. Reduced inventory and tooling, a consistent brand image, reduced warranty risk of 'gimmicks' that didn't work. And a reasonable assurance your appliances would match if you had to replace one...or were holding out to add a dryer. In the 70's, MT capitalized on this in dealer training to 'mix-and-match' their offerings since BOL was similar in style to near TOL, so you could tailor a pair to the customer's needs. Whereas the competition went to serious lengths to distinguish their model tiers. | ||
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Post# 1226344 , Reply# 30 3/11/2025 at 17:05 by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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"Unfortunately Maytag followed the herd and failed."
WP gained market dominance in other areas besides laundry or dishwashers by making strategic investments or outright taking over other companies. Maytag either sadly bought garbage brands it didn't need (and shouldn't have touched) and or didn't know what to do with what they had. Maytag got their mitts on Caloric and Amana which properly managed could have done wonders. Jenn-Air could have been a high end brand to reach other segments of market Maytag otherwise would be punching above it's weight. assets.whirlpoolcorp.com/wp-conte... On another note increasingly post WWII appliance market was going with brands who offered a complete range of kitchen appliances. Dealers eager to capture sales potentially lost when Mrs. Average American Housewife wanted all her major appliances to "match" needed to have a full range to offer. Developers and others in RE market increasingly went with one company for entire major appliance range. Look at General Electric, they had everything from HVAC to major and small kitchen appliances. Maytag never would have survived doing just domestic laundry appliances (with perhaps dishwashers) alone. SQ manages but they also have a strong commercial/industrial/OPL/laundromat market. Maytag long has had an commercial side for laundry market, but they're not up there with Dexter nor SQ for vended/OPL and not a major player in industrial laundry equipment. | ||
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Post# 1226345 , Reply# 31 3/11/2025 at 17:20 by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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| Post# 1226362 , Reply# 32 3/11/2025 at 21:09 by Maytag85 (Sean A806) | ||
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I think another reason why Maytag avoided charging things just for the sake of doing so is it made for parts that could be interchangeable. If you look at the Maytag HOH’s produced from 1966 to 1975, was easy to interchange timers and other parts. For example, if someone in 1966 bought a Maytag DE306, 10 years later the timer gave up the ghost, could easily installed a 407 timer if that’s all the tech had on hand at the time. Washers were similar as well, timers were interchangeable.
If it was any other dryer from that era, good luck trying to install a different timer since other models in other companies lineup’s were built around that particular price point, timers were only specific to that particular model. Whirlpool on the other hand couldn’t keep a model around from one year, makes finding replacement parts impossible, I know, it’s been absolute hell trying to find a replacement timer for my Whirlpool. Even the appliance junkyard in Arizona doesn’t have it, even after looking for one high and low. A Maytag on the other hand, you can just install one from a model below and it will work. | ||
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Post# 1226367 , Reply# 34 3/11/2025 at 23:03 by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA (considering moving to Temple, Texas)) |
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Whirlpool/Maytag Didn't Whirlpool outsell Maytag with the direct drives later on? I also thought that Whirlpool was bigger than GE and even Maytag as far as I'm concerned. | ||
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Post# 1226369 , Reply# 35 3/11/2025 at 23:22 by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA (considering moving to Temple, Texas)) |
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to chetlaham I completely agree with you. I'd like to see real washers brought back from the filter-flo to the direct drives to the orbitals. | ||
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Post# 1226372 , Reply# 36 3/11/2025 at 23:48 by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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"Does anyone need every bell and whistle just to wash clothes ?"
No, but if you're in business of manufacturing consumer appliances or other goods you need to get people to purchase new things, this regardless of want. Appliance manufacturers took a page from automobile makers coming out with new and improved lines every year or so. Once pent up demand for automatic washing machines post WWII began to wane appliance makers only had basically new home purchases to drive sales. Other markets including Madame redecorating her home or otherwise deciding to have new appliances. Another market took advantage of rapid changes and developments in major appliances that did often make "old" appliances seem out of date. Keep in mind back in day there was a very healthy trade-in/resale market for major appliances. One could trade in a not so old fridge or washing machine and receive credit towards new modern version. Dealers fixed up old appliances and sold them as "second hand" which was another big market. | ||
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Post# 1226373 , Reply# 37 3/11/2025 at 23:56 by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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"Dependable Care"
I'll say no more....
Problem was darn things often outlasted their original owners. *LOL* This post was last edited 03/12/2025 at 02:38 | ||
| Post# 1226378 , Reply# 38 3/12/2025 at 01:46 by qsd-dan (West) | ||
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Problem was darn things often outlasted their original owner | ||
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Post# 1226379 , Reply# 39 3/12/2025 at 02:42 by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Heavy Duty! | ||
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Post# 1226385 , Reply# 40 3/12/2025 at 07:06 by Combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Maytag and whirlpool timer availability
Reply number 32 hi Sean, timers are one of the most difficult things to find for vintage machines in many cases because there was not that much in interchangeability however, whirlpool kept the same dryer timer from 1963 through 1986 in one of their popular dryers, you have a very unusual top-of-the-line whirlpool washer, which only use that timer for a year or so best, but it’s no easier to find a Maytag timer for 340 W or an a 900 S Maytag had some unusual timers also.
Maytag halo of heat DE407 timer was not Interchangeable with any previous Maytag halo of heat dryer. Yes, you could rewire and adapt it but you could do that with most any dryer dryers are pretty simple compared to washer timers. John L | ||
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Post# 1226386 , Reply# 41 3/12/2025 at 07:36 by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA (considering moving to Temple, Texas)) |
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whirlpool and maytag I always thought Whirlpool was much bigger than Maytag as far as manufacturing is concerned, and maybe even GE. | ||
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Post# 1226399 , Reply# 43 3/12/2025 at 11:12 by cadman (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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Re Maytag & WP...
Two very different business approaches. MT was built on old fashioned, conservative growth, with almost total vertical integration. That translated well to maintaining high quality standards and rapid design changes, but limited flexibility. When MT offered the Dutch Oven, it was contracted out. But having facilities for casting aluminum and making rubber parts meant they did have private contracts not visible to the public. Expansion was paid out of company funds, not floated debt. Fred II basically set the company up for success long after his passing, and MT rode that well into the 1970's. But those were big shoes to fill, and IMO, incompatible leadership and lack of new product in the pipeline killed MT, it just took 20 years for the head to realize the body was dead. WP took the opposite approach and aligned with the prevailing conglomerate philosophy of the 1950’s (which ended up killing most too-big-to-fail companies later on). Expand as rapidly as you can into as many things as you can and see what sticks (see also Singer TVs, SMC percolators, General Mills computers, etc). Some they got right (Seeger), some they got wrong (Thomas Organs), but three things kept them afloat. Steady government contracts, the Servel Icemaker, and the golden goose: the Sears/Upton contract that filled the coffers. When things got bad, they were large enough to consolidate production at their more modern plants. Unfortunately, that meant permanent layoffs and plant closures. Horizontal integration slowed development, but lessened financial risk. For many years they didn’t make their own agitators, but provided capital for improvements for their supplier across town. This is how most large corps operate today. A good example of this corporate dichotomy: Both MT and WP had gov't contracts during the Korea Conflict. When their duties were fulfilled, MT went back to making washing machines. WP saw the opportunity, started a Defense Division, developed a weapons testing range, and their R&D created one of the scariest Vietnam-era weapons I’ve ever read about. | ||
| Post# 1226403 , Reply# 44 3/12/2025 at 13:07 by Maytag85 (Sean A806) | ||
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Reply #40
You are correct, John. Just have been searching persistently for over the past 2 years, so far have turned up with nothing. I could try to make more repair attempts to the timer, but have spent quite a bit of time and haven’t gotten anywhere with it. Probably have invested 30+ hours into it, tweaking the contacts, trying to see if things worked as intended (sometimes things would work, other times it wouldn’t on certain parts of the cycle), making various adjustments and such.
If there’s a timer for a Imperial model which was below my Mark XII, could just make it a Imperial model but would also involve the mounting hardware along with the graphics on the bushed aluminum background behind the timer, also would need a dial face and knob. I am in no way trying to take this off the tracks on trying to steal the spotlight, just replying to John. | ||
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Post# 1226404 , Reply# 45 3/12/2025 at 13:41 by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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"The thing is, did any other manufacturer really innovate to make our lives better than Maytag did concerning laundry care?"
Maytag, General Electric and Whirlpool all were busy with R&D to bring innovations to laundry and other major appliance lines. Who did what first and or better is and has long been a topic of debate. www.automaticwasher.org/c... www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/... www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/... www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/... | ||
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Post# 1226406 , Reply# 46 3/12/2025 at 13:51 by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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"...and the golden goose: the Sears/Upton contract that filled the coffers."
Sears via their catalog/mail order and nationwide store presence was well placed to sell tons of all sorts of major appliances, and they did. Coupled with "Sears Credit", layaway or other payment plans and you can see why by 1970's Sears could boast something like "one in three American homes has Kenmore appliances" If one examined manufacturer codes WP was often at top. 106.######## 110.######## 562.######## 665.######## 198.######## Sears moved more WP appliances via their Kenmore brand than actual company did IIRC. | ||
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Post# 1226407 , Reply# 47 3/12/2025 at 14:03 by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI) |
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This was also a time for the underdog brands, too...
Frigidaire, Kelvinator, Gibson, Westinghouse, Hamilton, Franklin, Norge, Montgomery Ward Signature, Hotpoint, JC Penney and all the rest, no matter how over time became fledging, also got busy in the laundry wars making the best washers and dryers in the world!!!!
-- Dave | ||
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Post# 1226408 , Reply# 48 3/12/2025 at 14:22 by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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As with so many other things major appliances go through a life cycle. Early on you have numerous entrants into market and tons of innovation. As cycle progresses however market becomes saturated and or demand peaks for many reasons including everyone who wants "X" product largely already owns. Gradually number of players in market decreases either via M&A or places simply go out of existence.
General Motors and Ford saw handwriting on wall early on and got out of major appliance market. What you see from about 1970's or so onward is a steady shrinking of major appliance market on both sides of pond if not worldwide. Only about a handful of players dominate major appliance market worldwide. WCI-Electrolux and Whirlpool between them own dozens of major appliance brands, some now long since defunct. Bringing up the rear and fast gaining are Asian concerns such as LG, Samsung, Haier. What Asian appliance makers don't produce under their own brand names comes in scores of private label (and often cheaply made) things such laundry appliance offerings by Black and Decker. Same with everything from sewing machines to motor vehicles to railroad locomotives and more. That WP gobbled up Maytag (largely because no one else but Asians wanted it) speaks volumes about then and current state of major appliance market. This post was last edited 03/12/2025 at 20:28 | ||
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Post# 1226431 , Reply# 49 3/12/2025 at 22:36 by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Some may not realize Maytag's commercial line-up of laundry appliances goes back to 1958. Company brought several new innovations to commercial/vend laundry market such as using plastic tickets instead of coins. Maytag pioneered stacking dual dryers which saved space. In 1987 Maytag introduced their first commercial front load washing machines. This was about a full decade before Maytag brought out Neptune line of washers so am thinking they sourced such machines from someone else.
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Post# 1226509 , Reply# 50 3/14/2025 at 11:21 by Chetlaham (United States) |
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Timer Interchangeability  If everyone were like me machines would be built around the concept of repair. Most every model would have a molex connector splitting the wiring harness in two with a standardized color sequence and pin order above and below. That way many different model control panels of various features would be able to connect to nearly any model's harness. This would also allow for a diagnostic tool to be connected via the molex connector to test the health of various parts and their functions during service.
Many different models of timers would also have the same molex or spade order such that a litany of timers would fit electrically in any single washer without modifications. Universal drop in timers would be available with replacement fascia decals to match the new timing and cycle sequence. None of that timer NLA nonsense that occurs with so many vintage models. Transplants would be common where a good control panel would fit a still good cabinet.
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