Full Cycle- 1958 RCA Whirlpool Imperial timeline washer, washing a load of shorts

I finally have fixed the timer issues with the '58 Whirlpool. Here is the machine washing a load of shorts. Many thanks to Steve for selling me this machine and believing that I could get it going again. It will need the front lid switch fixed and a coat of paint before it goes into regular service. Only warm rinses on this machine, hot wash selected, and Tide with Oxi as the detergent.

[@petermaz701]

The cap of that agitator kills me. I can't believe the details they had in these vintage machines. They were just fabulous.

[@MrEcm51]

A lot of thought and craftsmanship went into these old machines. I’m ashamed of the junk they’re setting out on showroom floors today. 😫

[@petermaz701]

@@MrEcm51 Agree 100%

[@CBF1]

@@MrEcm51 STYLE. ARCHITECTURE. BEAUTY. Old machines were made with those in mind. Now it's all about function and profit over everything else. Almost nothing modern is nice, and it's all overly complicated, crappily built, and crappily styled. Modernity has no style or architecture at all.

[@chaskelljr2]

Is that agitator cap lighted as well? -Charles-

[@Jerry-dq4om]

Today's stuff is Garbage, !!!!!!!

[@jeanlucdrion1152]

That recirculating waterfall lint filter is a gem.

[@UQRXD]

Best era for washers. Never to be made this good again.

[@lesto59]

That lighted timeline control panel is absolutely stunning! The germicidal lamp is a nice touch too.

[@jamespolcyn8441]

It’s beautiful

[@bright4608]

The fact that this machine is quieter than all the new ones today speaks volumes. Things were built to last and people took pride in quality back then. It’s such a shame of the direction we’ve taken with modern production methods.

[@andrewclarke3622]

I love the way control panel looks.

[@pjmanze814]

This is a beautiful machine! 🤩 It's a shame they don't make them like this anymore. 😒

[@jeanlucdrion1152]

A recirculating lint filter for me is always an appreciated feature on a washing machine.

[@dualactionsurgilator]

I'm beyond impressed. Absolutely beautiful. Great job Tyler.

[@Michael-uu9nv]

This washing machine was made with a style that it beautiful. You knew what you were buying

[@DennisDaugherty-pq1ib]

What a beautiful machine! That chrome agitator cap sets it off. I knew they had the uv light in those models, but i didn't know they had a tub light as well. What a nice addition to your collection.

[@pleasecho2]

Legendary belt drive, they made their reputation on this one

[@user-ss1uv1lh5r]

Boy this is a good machine.

[@Makesdonsdonsoney]

Yes finally been waiting for so long , I like old whirlpool surgilators and DD

[@gabriel.954]

Excellent machine! Thanks for sharing this!

[@Gsohoover]

Thanks for watching!

[@patcola7335]

Oh my !!!!! Tyler, it was worth the wait !!!

[@wyzemann]

That, sir, is a mighty elegant and well-designed 20th-century craft. I usually overlook vintage Whirlpool, but this one deserves more attention 🙂.

[@maryrobert80]

These Whirlpool washers were built like Sherman Tanks back then, My Mother had hers for 20 years and the only thing that ever had to be replaced on it was the pump!!! Too bad that Whirlpool took such a nose dive with their washers today, They are absolutely the pits!!! Thanks for the video Gso and when you get a chance, Could you please do another video with the Hotpoint??? Thanks again.... Bob

[@Gsohoover]

Bob, I will be doing more videos with the Hotpoint and other machines. I'm trying to run different stuff each video.

[@maryrobert80]

@@Gsohoover Thanks Gso, Looking forward to seeing more of your videos...💖💖💖

[@DADoESofTX]

As a reference of comparison, our 1962 Whirlpool had many repairs in 15 years of use. Pump. Wigwag. Belt. The mounting bracket for the mercury capsule lid switch rusted off the lid hinge, fell down and bumped against the tub when it oscillated during spin, causing the wigwag to rapidly shift in/out of spin mode. The centerpost bearings and basket drive were replaced, aka an "overhaul" job (then needed to be done again at which point the machine was replaced). The chrome agitator cap was replaced by a pyramid stack of washers and a bolt for some reason I didn't understand. I recall the service guy said that only way to fix that would require pulling and opening the transmission to replace the agitator drive shaft. The black bakelite Surgilator later cracked and had to be replaced. The centrifugal start switch in the motor went to sticking and sometimes wouldn't release for a couple/few minutes to re-engage the start winding after the motor stopped from low speed, so the motor sometimes didn't immediately start for rinse agitation in the Gentle cycle.

[@martinbirdwell7986]

It's So Quiet, Love It

[@peters4219]

Tyler this is a work of art. I knew people that had almost the same washer except it had the black adj cap. I forgot it used to buzz at the end of cycle. Thanks for posting Best of Luck Peter

[@jeanlucdrion1152]

The Cadillac of top loading washing machines other than the Queen Bee front loading Elegant Lady Kenmore Wash 'n' Dryer Combination with Rotospray wash.

[@fredWaxBeans11111]

Made like a Juke box. Beautiful. Ok Ok, you sold me, where can I buy one.

[@CBF1]

That chrome cap and chrome in general alone is enough to make this washing machine a Palace machine. But that's what 1940's, 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, and to some extent 1980's American washing machines are. Washing machines made for Palaces, and I am desperate, SERIOUSLY desperate, to own the finest American washing machines. And oh golly that lit control panel in the dark, and the light in the drum?! It all makes it look like it is a VE day party accessory or something like that. It belongs in a night-club of that time, as do all the decades of American washing machines in which I described. They were made with architecture and beauty in mind.

[@spmj1251]

I miss using these old school machines. Our apt has wifi connected ones. When wifi goes down once every 3 weeks every other machine is unusable until tech arrives next day😞

[@Gsohoover]

That sounds a bit overly complicated.

[@spmj1251]

@@Gsohoover it is. Plus i hate doing laundry, cheers bro😉

[@CBF1]

@@Gsohoover That's modernity. Make everything simple complicated, make everything cheaply, and take everything else nice away. Old machines had architectural style and spectacular material construction choices, modern ones normally don't remotely have a single of what I mentioned. It's like that with nearly everything modern to be completely honest.

[@santafetrucker1596]

You should do a vid on how the control panel work...curious to know more about that as I've never seen one like this before.

[@pc1122]

The slower spin speeds were compensated by wider diameter washtub. When they replaced this drive system with direct drive and narrowed the tub, they increased the normal spin speed fron 5xx rpm to 6xx rpm. I forget the exact spin speeds.

[@patcola7335]

515 & 630-40

[@pjmanze814]

An excellent machine! 🥳If you know how to keep it going never sell it!!😉

[@fredwiley3731]

Thanks for this but I wish you would describe the features of these beautiful machines.

[@Jerry-dq4om]

Absolutely, !!!

[@theamerican7080]

Looks like and old console stereo!

[@jeromedavis8575]

Welcome back!

[@Gsohoover]

Thanks!

[@jeromedavis8575]

@@Gsohoover You're welcome!

[@Jerry-dq4om]

Oh, wow, Absolutely great, !!!!!!!

[@PWC67]

I’d have that Whirlpool over any of the rubbish they make nowadays !!

[@chadsheppard3576]

You can really hear the wig wag in the spin cycles

[@chaskelljr2]

So, that was the TOL Whirlpool for 1958?

[@Gsohoover]

2nd from TOL. The TOL was Imperial Mark XII

[@ToyKingWonder]

Which was the Whirlpool model that would buzz loud and flip the lid open when it was done? We had the model, it was made in the late 50s, but cannot figure out which one it was.

[@georgiannmaloney6594]

I want one

[@johnalbanese30]

It's not supposed to make that grinding sound when it is spinning. I would check the tub break, belt, or clutch. It looks like its spinning a little slow.

[@DrummerboysWashersAndMore]

Based on the rhythm of it, and that it’s only during spin,I would say the spin solenoid and plunger slide on the wig wag just needs greased.

[@seana806]

@@DrummerboysWashersAndMoremine makes the same sound when it’s spinning, just how these older Whirlpools are. They changed the design around 1964/1965 to quiet them down significantly, though the later control magnet assemblies had a tendency of burning out and failing compared to the 1947 to 1964 control magnet assemblies aka wig wags.

[@Gsohoover]

It was also a bit overloaded as well. It did better on the final spin. Still getting broken in.

[@seana806]

@@Gsohoover I usually load mine loosely, just want everything to get cleaned and operate at it’s fullest potential.

[@DADoESofTX]

@@Gsohoover The load size is perfect IMO.

[@patcola7335]

Tyler does this have the same pump as the 64 Whirlpool ?

[@Gsohoover]

Yes it does

[@patcola7335]

@@Gsohoover oh wow! I thought that might have changed by 58

[@Gsohoover]

@@patcola7335 The 54 Whirlpool has a completely different pump. The 62 Whirlpool has the same as this machine.

[@patcola7335]

@@Gsohoover Sorry about that. I meant to type 54 instead of 64. Helps if I proofread. I thought so. It sounded like the more common pumps that we hear in belt drives

[@apm_laundry]

É possível encontrar em seu país uma bomba d'água nova, para uma whrilpool vintage? Aqui no Brasil só raríssimas peças e algumas de péssima qualidade.

[@Gsohoover]

Hello, yes it is. They are on ebay.

[@raymondbrown2368]

That's the one thing I've never liked about Whirlpool washers, my mother had them when I was a kid, they have the slowest spin speed, I think of all washers!! I think the speed is only 300 rpms. Which makes them boring to me. Nice video though.

[@818Dimples]

500 rom

[@patcola7335]

​​The drain holes in Whirlpool wash tubs looked a little larger than others so maybe that was the reason for the slower spin speed.Yet their portable belt drives they made to spin at I believe 800 RPMs.​@@818Dimples

[@tonywestvirginia]

I think it was more like 1250 rpm.

[@patcola7335]

​No. The fastest spinning domestic U.S. washer ever was Frigidaire Unimatics with an 1140 RPM spin speed 1947-1958.​@@tonywestvirginia

[@mcdadee2]

Too many clothes, the turnover is almost non-existant!

[@jeanlucdrion1152]

What are you talking about ? Open your eyes or play the video double speed.