A Frigidaire Unimatic only a fool would love

There are many, many videos on YouTube of Frigidaire Unimatic washing machines (including some from myself), but this one tells a story.

This Unimatic came from the Dallas/Ft.Worth area to Iowa back in the fall of 2008. Before she arrived in Waterloo, I already knew it had a hole in the tub, but the machine looked especially minty otherwise. Upon arrival I quickly learned that the minty state of the machine was more than likely due to a broken torque spring, which would have caused the machine to be shoved into a corner early in life.

With a little help from some great friends (unimatic1140, gansky1, and roto204), a trip to Omaha in November of 2008 cured most of the mechanical issues, but we discovered that the pump seal wasn't up to snuff after 50 years of sitting dormant in Texas. Due to an on-going home renovation I put the '56 project off for a rainy day, which just happened to come along last week. I changed out the pump seal on the old lady. She finally has a new lease on life.

This video was a first for many things, including different lighting and camera techniques. While not perfected, I'm trying with each project. I'm not sure when the next one will come, but it will someday.

Until then, enjoy the film. It was certainly one of the more fun projects I've been able to piece together.

For more automatic washer fun, please visit http://www.automaticwasher.org

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• 1956
• Unimatic
• GM
• Frigidaire
• washer
• automatic
• vintage
• retro

[Blackout558]

How many kilos she tolerates?

[swestoyz]

@Blackout558 A little more than 3.5kg

[HooverWD1100]

how many rpm did she spin ?

[swestoyz]

@HooverWD1100  1140 RPM

[Kievest]

Only a male could get sentimental about a machine!!!???? Cute narrative, nice saucy music,

sensuous and amusing to watch...a surprise hit! Bravo! Thank you for posting and to

Doug@CurzonRoad for sharing!

[StrongEnough78]

Such a beautiful machine!! I'm so glad you were able to save her. The more I watch the Frigidaire Unimatics the more I want one. I'd love a 58 set like Roberts turquoise set. But I'm picturing a pretty dark emerald green to go with all the chrome. Great job Swestoyz!

[tamiasthechipmunk]

Looks like a very well built washer. I'm amazed that an old washer like that is designed to spin at 1140 RPM. That's one hell of a spin cycle even by today's standards.

[shenue]

LOVE IT! Thanks for the great video of a great old machine. Today's top loading HEs should have such good action.

[EdmundStAustell]

I assume you purposely disabled the lid-up cut-off, in order to be able to make a video of the inside. If there is no cut-off, I sure would install one;l otherwise that looks like a broken arm waiting to happen!  Great machine, though!

[AncaBoieru]

Awesome !

[MyDan58]

best washing machine

[MyDan58]

best washing machine

[CurzonRoad]

Nice, good, fond, pleasant fun. THANK YOU!

[CBJAMPA]

God bless America for its ingenuity ! Great video!

Greetings from Brazil!

[MrFreddy2189]

What a beautiful she is! How did you fix the hole then?