28 gallons isn't that much! Early frontloaders in Europe used about 50! per wash. They only spun at around 350 rpm. I know that the capacity is measred in cubic feet in the states, but how much does it hold in pound aproximately? German washers (and there was only one available since 1951) held about 6-9 pound.
the machiene is my age, born in 52. My parents had one then and many since. We had a couple of 59 custom imperials and I inharited their 64 jet action rollermatic which I stupiidly gave away in 80 when I got a new Speed Queen set because I couldn't get a GM Frigidaire as GM had just stopped making them as well as McGraw Edison stopped making Speed Queen the same year. I also wonder why both companies stopped making the overflow rinse. I thought it rinsed the clothes much better.
Repair men often refered to the Unimatic as Bouncin' Betty! We had one just like this one. 3 pairs of jeans and a few shirts was about it for capacity. Extreme high speed spin gained excellant water extraction!
No electrical components are exposed to water as the mechanism is situated beneath the sealed cabinet. The timer, on the other hand, is mounted in the one-piece porcelain top panel (firmly secured and sealed to the cabinet) far away from the washwater but precariously close to the overspray from the vacuum breaker. Adjusting the incoming water flow through the in-line ball valve reduces this overspray.
I wonder why this type of washer isn't brought back. The rapid-dry alone is still way-ahead of any of the current top loaders (and some front loaders).
@kennyt1230 I often wonder the same thing, except this 1952 US-made quality cannot be replicated overseas in this day and age. With the exception of Speed Queen, all that concerns most manufacturers are profits. Greed, greed, greed. At least we appliance obsessors will one day occupy a place in the sky filled with rows and rows of these babies brand new and ready to go, next to their equally new Blackstone and Altorfer Bros. counterparts.
Not Whirlpool but White Consolidated. They purchased Frigidaire from GM in late 1979 or early 1980. I heard that the Dayton factory closed and the tooling for GM appliances was sold off not long after the acquisition, but I could be wrong. WCI was later purchased by AB Electrolux in 1986, where it remains today.
While I'll admit they're not as cool as the GM washers, as a Westinghouse fan I tend to disagree ;)
The early WCI Frigidaires (rebadged Westy TLs) were cool, it's just when they switched to the cheap Franklin mechanism did they go to shit. There was also a rebadged Westy front-loader at one point in the early-80's called the Frigidaire Gemini. Not to be confused with the G-Mini, the GM-made 24" Agitub washer.
If there's any footage or pics of an Agitub on there it's of the Skinny-Mini stacked washer/dryer. As far as I know no one has ever found the standalone side-by-side units.
Very nice! I saw a few versions of Greg's unimatics, they were really neat. I even got to see the inside of an opened up transmission/motor mechanism, very interesting!!!
I haven't yet seen the inner workings of a Unimatic in person, just from pictures and repair diagrams. Perhaps if I ever find a WI-57 or something I will find out, though for some reason that doesn't seem too likely to happen ;)
These old Frigidaire washers amaze me. Until recently I didn't know they had the up and down wash motion. I'm not knocking the machine but I'll admit I didn't think they would wash that good. But I've read many forums of people who say these are the best cleaning machines made. So I guess I was wrong lol. I'd like to find one someday for myself. It's too bad they don't make them like this anymore. Pretty stupid move on GM's part.
I use all of them but the Maytags get the most use. If you're wondering what's in the main laundry room, it's a 2003 Maytag Dependable Care. Helical-drive so it's a REAL Maytag, not a Norgetag or Amanatag, yuk!
Yes, that's definitely staying. 2 machines will be going to new homes, one as a trade for something I've been wanting. I'm working on my 1963 GE Washer/Dryer right now and when I get that running I'll probably sell the A408 and just have the A710, I only have space for 6 machines to be connected in there.
Laundry by day, women by night!!
Kg277 7 months ago
28 gallons isn't that much! Early frontloaders in Europe used about 50! per wash. They only spun at around 350 rpm. I know that the capacity is measred in cubic feet in the states, but how much does it hold in pound aproximately? German washers (and there was only one available since 1951) held about 6-9 pound.
Muhlineks 9 months ago
the machiene is my age, born in 52. My parents had one then and many since. We had a couple of 59 custom imperials and I inharited their 64 jet action rollermatic which I stupiidly gave away in 80 when I got a new Speed Queen set because I couldn't get a GM Frigidaire as GM had just stopped making them as well as McGraw Edison stopped making Speed Queen the same year. I also wonder why both companies stopped making the overflow rinse. I thought it rinsed the clothes much better.
youthnotlost 1 year ago
Repair men often refered to the Unimatic as Bouncin' Betty! We had one just like this one. 3 pairs of jeans and a few shirts was about it for capacity. Extreme high speed spin gained excellant water extraction!
lakecarlosfun 1 year ago
Nothing beats a Frigidaire
eddy75471 1 year ago
the best top loader ever made! The top spiral (useless) and bottom pedals which are on most models and brands today are crap
MyDan58 1 year ago
This washer has excellent turn over. I really think that this design should be brought back.
jrankine91 1 year ago
how did the company keep the electronics from getting wet if the cabinet was filled with water during the spin.
lexmarks567 2 years ago
No electrical components are exposed to water as the mechanism is situated beneath the sealed cabinet. The timer, on the other hand, is mounted in the one-piece porcelain top panel (firmly secured and sealed to the cabinet) far away from the washwater but precariously close to the overspray from the vacuum breaker. Adjusting the incoming water flow through the in-line ball valve reduces this overspray.
westytoploader 2 years ago
I wonder why this type of washer isn't brought back. The rapid-dry alone is still way-ahead of any of the current top loaders (and some front loaders).
kennyt1230 2 years ago
@kennyt1230 They were a nightmare to repair and make.
Conner526 2 years ago
@kennyt1230 I often wonder the same thing, except this 1952 US-made quality cannot be replicated overseas in this day and age. With the exception of Speed Queen, all that concerns most manufacturers are profits. Greed, greed, greed. At least we appliance obsessors will one day occupy a place in the sky filled with rows and rows of these babies brand new and ready to go, next to their equally new Blackstone and Altorfer Bros. counterparts.
westytoploader 2 years ago
how much capicity did these machines have? were there any at that time compareable to today?
jrt19772000 2 years ago
Generally, most top-load washers back then handled about 8lbs of dry wash. It's hard to imagine this beautiful machine is as old as I am!
JSneaker 2 years ago
This is such a beautiful washer! I wish I had one. My 1977 1-18 WC wasn't quite the same, but I loved that one dearly.
JSneaker 2 years ago
i'm amazed at how it keeps going even when the lid is open. that was entertaining. the suds actually look dirty.
hayjoka 2 years ago
I wonder why they dont use this type of "up/down" agitation anymore?
ryguy214 2 years ago
In my opinion these washers weren't very easy to manufactor nor repair.
Ilovewashers 2 years ago
because general motors used to own frigidaire and when whirlpool bought the company, they wrecked EVERYTHING about them.
BailenbergMedia 2 years ago
Not Whirlpool but White Consolidated. They purchased Frigidaire from GM in late 1979 or early 1980. I heard that the Dayton factory closed and the tooling for GM appliances was sold off not long after the acquisition, but I could be wrong. WCI was later purchased by AB Electrolux in 1986, where it remains today.
westytoploader 2 years ago
well either way, some dumb company purchased frigidaire and made the washers suck.
BailenbergMedia 2 years ago
While I'll admit they're not as cool as the GM washers, as a Westinghouse fan I tend to disagree ;)
The early WCI Frigidaires (rebadged Westy TLs) were cool, it's just when they switched to the cheap Franklin mechanism did they go to shit. There was also a rebadged Westy front-loader at one point in the early-80's called the Frigidaire Gemini. Not to be confused with the G-Mini, the GM-made 24" Agitub washer.
westytoploader 2 years ago
ive seen that on the automatic washer website. whoever owns it should put up a full video!
BailenbergMedia 2 years ago
If there's any footage or pics of an Agitub on there it's of the Skinny-Mini stacked washer/dryer. As far as I know no one has ever found the standalone side-by-side units.
westytoploader 2 years ago
How long had you had this machine?
NVHSChadSheppard1 2 years ago
Since August of '05.
westytoploader 2 years ago
Excellent video! I love the suds.
NVHSChadSheppard1 2 years ago
Very nice! I saw a few versions of Greg's unimatics, they were really neat. I even got to see the inside of an opened up transmission/motor mechanism, very interesting!!!
amleeling 2 years ago
I haven't yet seen the inner workings of a Unimatic in person, just from pictures and repair diagrams. Perhaps if I ever find a WI-57 or something I will find out, though for some reason that doesn't seem too likely to happen ;)
westytoploader 2 years ago
Oh I forgot to add, I love the rollover they produce. You don't see too much of that anymore.
StrongEnough78 2 years ago
These old Frigidaire washers amaze me. Until recently I didn't know they had the up and down wash motion. I'm not knocking the machine but I'll admit I didn't think they would wash that good. But I've read many forums of people who say these are the best cleaning machines made. So I guess I was wrong lol. I'd like to find one someday for myself. It's too bad they don't make them like this anymore. Pretty stupid move on GM's part.
StrongEnough78 2 years ago
Our first frigidaire didn't have the overflow rinse with running water. It had 2 speprate rinse cycles.
hollycare 3 years ago
make sure to use lots of lock-tite on the cooling fan!
Tuthill99 3 years ago
Thanks for the tip, I'll remember that when I get a chance to disassemble it and see what happens.
westytoploader 3 years ago
I use all of them but the Maytags get the most use. If you're wondering what's in the main laundry room, it's a 2003 Maytag Dependable Care. Helical-drive so it's a REAL Maytag, not a Norgetag or Amanatag, yuk!
westytoploader 3 years ago
wats thi hissin noise
pbenna 3 years ago
Pump cavitation.
westytoploader 3 years ago
Great video Austin!
Glad to see that it is running so well!
It is like showroom condition.
What a great washer!
Thanks for the video!
Brent
BrentAudi 3 years ago
Thanks :)
westytoploader 3 years ago
ur washer is weird and u always use tide
pbenna 3 years ago
Yes it is. And I'm using Gain at the moment, but I thought Cheer Color Guard would be perfect for this washload, which it was.
westytoploader 3 years ago
It was perfect especially how sudsy it was.
Ilovewashers 3 years ago
how many washers do u have
pbenna 3 years ago
13 "washing appliances" of various sizes from tabletops to full-size, but I will be thinning out a bit this year to make room.
westytoploader 3 years ago
Have you decided if the 1977 white westinghouse is going to stay yet?
Ilovewashers 3 years ago
Yes, that's definitely staying. 2 machines will be going to new homes, one as a trade for something I've been wanting. I'm working on my 1963 GE Washer/Dryer right now and when I get that running I'll probably sell the A408 and just have the A710, I only have space for 6 machines to be connected in there.
westytoploader 3 years ago
Speaking of GE washers didn't you once have a GE portable washer with the small pulsator at the bottom of the tub?
Ilovewashers 2 years ago
Yes, I still have the GE, it's a great little washer. I should put a video of it up one of these days.
westytoploader 2 years ago
Very cool!
bestcleaningwasher 3 years ago
love it!
rghfghf 3 years ago
good in its day but poor wash action its why that type of drive went out of production
itscool1968 3 years ago
Poor wash action? In a Unimatic? You're kidding, right?!
westytoploader 3 years ago
no ill take my 75 sears whurpool with the super surgalator any day
itscool1968 3 years ago
the actual wash action is the best that's ever been and ever will be.
economics forced gm (and their own stupidity) to stop making them
shut the fuck up because you obviously have no idea what you're talking about
Tuthill99 3 years ago
that has got a very odd agitation
Silverwolfstarz 3 years ago