Which Eluxes match which Maytag washer the best?

[woodj99]

Here we have my Model L, Super J, Diamond Jubilee, Ultralux/Grand Marquise, and Ambassador 3 (all of which were formerly my grandparents’). As well as Maytag washers from the 70s, 80s, and 90s respectively. Which ‘Tag do you think matches which Luxes best?

 

[mjhoshaw]

Tough call

Probably the L with the 70s washer, and if the Diamond J is white and chrome like mine, then it with the 90s washer. I can't decide on the one in the middle. Maytag sure did change their look over the years, but then so did everyone else. I was a teen in the 70s so I can relate to the oldest washer. I have to admit I really like the minimalist look of the 90s washer.


 


This is a fun thread! Thanks for posting.


 


Joel

 

[woodj99]

Joel,

I’m with you about the L and the 70s Tag, with not being the oldest of their kinds here. Same for the SJ. I’d personally put the DJ with the 80s Tag, as they are both from right around the same time. Probably the same for the GM/Ultralux. As for the Ambassador, I’d probably put it with the 90s Tag, as both are the newest here and both from the 90s. You are definitely right about Maytag changing their design overtime. I agree too that they were aiming to make it more and more minimalist; having gone from the center dial to the brown right dial panel to the all white one. When they ditched the center dial for the brown panel in the early 80s, many people found it sad. I personally saw it as just a modernization for the start of the new decade. The Tags and Luxes definitely go well together, I’d say both were the best quality products of their time. I’d say the Luxes modernized a bit more seamlessly than the Tags did; probably the 2 biggest changes would have been the 1205 in 1968 and the 2100 in 1984. You’re welcome, it is definitely a fun topic!

Jack

 

[jo]

I would

Pair the Golden Jubilee/super J and model L with the 70s Maytag. The Diamond Jubilee with that 85 Maytag and so on matching years made as closely as possible.

I know so many relatives and people that had the center dial Maytags and model L’s, 1205s or Golden Jubilees together.

Sad both are not what they once we’re in my opinion. Maytags now are Just rebadged Whirlpools purposely designed to fail to keep people buying and Aerus has outsourced motors and moved production to China and gone lexan but at least Lexan is one of the highest quality plastics so not so bad.

Jon

 

[woodj99]

Jon,

I like your perspective. The GM/Ultralux could be with either the 80s or 90s Tag, and the Ambassador with the 90s one.

That would be my grandparents! They had the L, SJ, and center dial Tag! There definitely is correlation here - I think it was a quality thing!

You hit the nail on the head there - neither are what they used to be. The 90s Dependable Care Maytags like the one pictured here were the last true Tags. And the last version of the Ambassador 3 was the last true Lux. Though neither were quite what they used to be either. The metal body Luxes and the Pitman helical drive Tags were the best!

 

[jo]

Yes

I have one of the last pittman trans Maytags from 1985 still going strong and my Mother has her Mother’s 1979 Maytag at her second home…though I think it needs new springs which are no longer available as it tends to go out of balance too easily but I might be able to tighten them as an only option fix at this point. Several dependable care models in the family as well along with Electrolux’s. With a little TLC these days…these machines just keep on going! UNFORTUNATELY…Electrolux is discontinuing most parts for the metal body machines and Whirlpool is phasing out parts for the older model Maytags that don’t cross over to the latest dependable care models. They just insist we buy their new products and with many people choosing to not fix these 30 plus year old machines foolishly there is less and less demand for the parts.

I remember seeing the Dependable Care machines on display at Lowes in the early 2000’s. They had a display of all of the quality parts versus the lesser quality ones of their competitor…whirlpool. Also had a clear front on the machine showing the simple inner workings.

Love the Electrolux commercials for the Olympia and Silverado from the 80’s outing the Electrolux was designed to last 20 years. Well…those machines are at around double that age now and many still going.

There is simply NO substitute for quality.
Jon

 

[woodj99]

Jon,

What model is your 85 Tag? My 506 was built in March of 85, meaning it just celebrated its 37th "buildday." I don't think the Pitman trans were discontinued until 88 or 89, so anything before that is the best I'd say. They have such a smooth and relaxing sound compared to the loud one of the orbital. Not to mention, I think the helical agitators are much easier on the eyes as well, than the orbital ones.

20 years seems pretty short compared to how long many Luxes have lasted! My oldest one (Model L) is 50+. Sadly, I can't say my newest (Ambassador) is built to last the same way is its earlier, metal cousins. Those motors were notorious for failure I think.

I'm so sad to learn that both Lux and Whirlpool/Maytag are discontinuing parts for these wonderful, quality machines! They are definitely NOT built to last anymore, and the only thing that seems to matter now is people buying new ones often for the money.

Even the late 90s/early 00s Dependable Care 'Tags weren't quite the real thing, I'd say. I think when the square panel went away, that marked the end of the quality.

Jack

 

[jo]

Jack…

My 85 Maytag is an A490. It was given to me by a friend who bought it new in 85 and I received it in 97 when they moved away to Florida and left it with the house but the buyers didn’t want the set. I was watching the house for them as they had already moved out for a job out of state. I had asked about them but he said they were goi g to leave them with the house along with a GE fridge and then at the end once the deal came along he said I could have them but I needed to arrange getting them out which was no problem. I had the matching dryer but sold it many years ago because it was squeaky when it started up for a while and we had also received a nice GE set that was much nicer at a later date and I needed room in the garage.

The A490 wouldn’t be my choice if I was buying. It’s not very well equipped. One speed only so that means the delicates cycle is a soak and agitate and a short spin. Also that means the tub is grey instead of the nice white. It is the extra large capacity though with 4 water levels so that was ok with me as it was replacing a regular capacity Kenmore which irritated me capacity wise. It does at least have the delicate cycle which we do use at times for various things and my Brother in law who worked for P&G on Tide for many years said really the soaking is where the dirt release occurs so it hasn’t bothered me too much that I don’t have a slow continuous delicate cycle like my Mom’s A608.

I would have bought the model that has the presoak built in to the regular cycle. This way I could have that wonderful soaking followed by the full wash for everything. But I just usually hang around until the washer fills and agitates for a few minutes then stop it so it soaks for a while then come back and turn it in a while later.

I also love the full minute spinning spray pre rinse of the older models. It really rinses away the detergent and dirty water residue from the wash before filling with the deep rinse. The newer models once they changed the tranny have only a 15 second one at both spins.

I do have an LAT6914 also. It has the short strike orbital transmission with the straight fin agitator and doesn’t circulate a large load like the A490 at all. I see why they upgraded eventually to the auger style agitator that has the unit directional post. It does help but still isn’t great. I have put the wider base agitator from my A490 in the LAT6914 and that does a perfect job of circulation….almost even better than the A490. I’m not sure why they downsized the agitator on the orbital tranny machines maybe they felt that large agitator was going to be too rough on clothes but at least my LAT6914 has a speed selection switch with its two speed motor. The LAT6914 is a very nice one..it has almost every option with the automatic personal I like, second rinse option, the infinite water level slider, an energy saver switch for the water temp that adds some cold to the hot and warm settings which I use more to tweak my temperature than anything else and a hot wash warm rinse option. It has only the regular fast speed or delicate low speed options while I have a fancier model that also has the 4 speed combination options and swaps the quick wash cycle for a “fine wash” cycle. The quick wash is short times for everything with constant agitation on the wash whereas the fine wash is an intermittent wash soak with short times for everything. Couple that cycle with the delicate slow speed and really it becomes a hand washables cycle.

I Found my Sister a 99 model that has even more options than my 6914. While the energy saver water temp is deleted she does have an options column of buttons where she can select an extra rinse for any cycle and or adding an extra spin for any cycle. Basically, I think I’d you choose the extra spin but NOT the extra rinse the timer continues past the regular spin and instead of faripoing and filling for the second rinse just pauses until the timer reaches the spin for the second rinse and then starts spinning again. I’m not certain this is the case because I’ve never monitored it in action during that portion. I don’t think the later machines were that much less quality overall. Still a lot of heavy metal for the bases and tubs and the mechanical workings are quite good. Yes once they went to the wider tub openings they substituted plastic in for the top of the outer tub and tub rim which I’m not crazy about but it is a lot easier to load and unload the machine and the tub looks bigger but it actually is not! I don’t like that they eliminated the lint filter on the newer orbital models and I have managed to save the turquoise agitator lint filters and softener cups and put those into the orbital tranny models with the straight fin agitators. Although I know they have the self cleaning lint filters under the agitator but those do gunk up over time with minerals and dirt and detergent and most people have no clue they chocks be cleaned let alone know how to access them. Once they are ineffective tho use automatic lint filters become useless as they are now clogged. I just like also seeing how much they trap on the manual in agitator ones. It will be packed after I wash a load of my cleaning rags!! And I’d rather not have that lint going down my household plumbing pipes possibly snagging somewhere!!!! A plumber told me it’s notorious peoples washer drain lines slowly clog from lint buildup over the years and a friend of mine had it happen to her and it flooded her upstairs and leaked into her master closet downstairs all over her expensive work suits. It was a mess.

My LAT6914 washer does have a matching dryer with 3 temps and a press care option which I like. The washer however is very loud. The motor has always had a loud droning vibrational hum to it and that annoys me as other Maytag washer I have so not have that at all. I don’t know why it does this and thought something was loose but cannot find anything wrong anywhere. I got the set at an estate sale from the original owner around the corner from where I live and it seems it was lightly used by an older person/couple and well cared for it was a steal for $100 back in 2009 when I got it and I got it for my friend who was renting my house as her Whirlpool washer was on the fritz having had the lid switch taped together and the timer was stopping and restarting periodically and the dryer was stopping before things were completely dry. She used the machines for just her until 2015 when she died and since then I’ve mostly been storing the washer as a backup with a few occasional needs but lately I haven’t needed it at all. I’m scared to delete it because I feel like the A490 could crap out on me and I don’t want to end up having to replace it with todays junk. I do get a bit of a rotational sound sometimes on the A490 when it finishes spinning and wondering if the bearing is beginning it’s decent but other times…most of the time it’s quiet. I have had to replace the agitator shaft rubber bushing and the water inlet solenoid valve on my A490 about 3-4 years ago. But since those repairs it’s actually been fine and I have a spare used timer and co trim panel switch set. I actually have spares of control panels for both of the washers and the dryer from others that have come along or been found on the curb.

Yes the older Electrolux motors were better quality. When the Diamond Jubilee run started they switched to plastic for the back motor bracket which holds the brushes and rear bearing. Mistake. Motors don’t like heat and the metal in the older motors for that area helped to dissipate heat as heat travels through metal and the air blowing on that bracket helps to cool the metal. So those motors after the Silverado will never be as good. A model L lasts so long because it has an efficient air flow design which keeps it as cool as possible and also the sheer simplicity and metal build quality of the machine means less things to go wrong and no plastic pats to break! Blue and Gold L’a had the plastic bag compartment but breakage of those is rare and it’s an easy fix. Cords are easily replaced, just unplug the old and plug in the new. Anyone can do it in seconds on the models without cordwinders. I think they really built it for commercial user sales more than the luxury housewife. I just think they did err by not including answiveling front wheel and perhaps some side bumpers like the G has. I glued G bumpers to my Moms L because I hated the side getting white paint marks all over it from it inadvertently hitting and being dragged along door frames.

I chose an AF for a work vacuum as I remodel homes. No cordwinder. The cord plugs in to replace under the switch top trim. The handle is sturdier than an L and doesn’t rip…the weight is pretty light with no cordwinder and it has the convenience of the automatic control so I don’t run it under too much stress if I don’t realize the bag is almost full and should really be advised to replace it. Oh and it has the swiveling front wheel. When I was considering which one to get I really put some thought into it as I was just going to get an L but the F seemed like a better option and I’ve been very pleased with that choice. I think it has the same motor as an L…sounds the same. I had an E previously for the purpose but a friend really liked it so I decided to give it to him for fun…though come to find out he later threw it away…so annoying he could have donated it at least or asked me if I wanted it back. Whatever. He won’t be getting any more vacuums from me.

Jon

 

[panasonicvac]

Wouldn't the Maytags match better with their own vacuums? Especially Hoover? Since there was a time when Maytag owned Hoover until they went bankrupt. And wouldn't the Electrolux vacuums fit better with Frigidaire washers? Cause Electrolux and Frigidaire definitely had some connections before.

 

[rugsucker]

Electrolux motors

When Elux went from the Golden J to the Super J the motor was longer with more suction.Also more vibration that led to armature failures.I have seen Super Js that required at least 3 armatures.The motor warranty was increased from 2 to 5 years so repairs were at no cost to customers.Vibration was eliminated and this became a very good motor for Olympia & Silverado.Then the Diamond Jubilee & very last Silverados had the new motor with metal end/sleeve bearing.After many failures the plastic end/ball bearing was the fix that let this also become a very good motor.I use an Olympia under the bench as I can easily kick the front mounted switch on/off.Otherwise mostly Gs or L and after plugging into an outlet as the old salesman song says-"you step on the button and move your arm,away away the dirt will go!"-.