ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS - Please Read This...

[foraloysius]

My bad, I apologise, I misinterpreted Sean’s message.

But my I still think accusations should come with evidence.

Now please back to the topic of this thread.

 

[blackstone]

This website has been, and continues to be, an invaluable resource, especially for me. Back in 2006, after my parents had died, and I had to close up the family business (Acme Electronic Co., Springfield, Mass.), I was faced with the quandary of how to dispose of decades worth of appliances, parts, and manuals. Especially Blackstone products.

I am not the type to just throw stuff into a dumpster, if it could be avoided. Then I discovered AW. It has been a mutual benefit to both myself, and to all the members with an interest in Blackstone. And to the members who had never heard of Blackstone. I have shipped Blackstone products and parts all over the country. I have shared manuals and advice freely. Just trying to keep the name of Blackstone alive, and making many good friends.

It is always sad to see a family business, 65 years old, come to an end. I feel much better, knowing that it sort of lives on, thanks to AW, and to all who have made it work.

Fred (aka Blackstone)

 

[mikael3]

Thank you for this site. Thank you for the work you've done. I can honestly say my life is a little bit better because of this place.

 

[maytag85]

My bad, I apologise, I misinterpreted Sean’s message.

But my I still think accusations should come with evidence.

Now please back to the topic of this thread.

No worries, it happens to us from time to time on the forum, various groups.

Should have some form of evidence, but would be like trying to squeeze blood from a stone since one’s information is always changing hands about every hour of every single day.

At that rate, would have a better chance of finding a ‘58 Whirlpool Imperial Mark XII than I would finding what entity is selling one’s information.

 

[vacerator]

Yes Sean, and a few members wouldn't benefit from paying for as the tub turns or the dirty laundry sections. I see the recent posts each morning before logging on. I aggree with most as of the last week though. You know that from our online dialogue elsewhere.

 

[launderess]

Is it just me but with these new changes does it seem as if more SPAM thread/posts pop up?

There's another new one in some sort of Arabic script in Super forum.

 

[ea56]

No it’s not just you Launderess, I’ve noticed this too. Also lots of member names that I don’t recognize that have been members for years according to their profiles?

Eddie

 

[Chetlaham]

I hope these hiccups are not used as an excuse to implement strict moderation or AI moderation. Such has no place on AW.org.

 

[vacerator]

Yes the world has become a scary one in several ways.

 

[Alan]

Is it just me but with these new changes does it seem as if more SPAM thread/posts pop up?

There's another new one in some sort of Arabic script in Super forum.

There is. I have a filter in place. I will continue to tighten it till it stops.

I really appreciate the support. I know change is difficult, but if you'll bear with me I'll get it all taken care of.

 

[mattl]

On an other topic, one thing I miss - other than the colorful format - is the header with a complete list of forums. I am used to simply clicking on those now I have to go back and scroll down a list to get where I want to be. I understand this is frequently done to increase page view numbers but I find it cumbersome.

 

[launderess]

We're all sure you're doing your best.

Bots are like vermin, you think you've gotten rid of them and tightened things up so won't return, then up pops another.

 

[DADoES]

On an other topic, one thing I miss - other than the colorful format - is the header with a complete list of forums. I am used to simply clicking on those now I have to go back and scroll down a list to get where I want to be. I understand this is frequently done to increase page view numbers but I find it cumbersome.

Can you perhaps post a screenshot of what you're seeing that isn't what you want?

 

[donprohel]

On an other topic, one thing I miss - other than the colorful format - is the header with a complete list of forums. I am used to simply clicking on those now I have to go back and scroll down a list to get where I want to be. I understand this is frequently done to increase page view numbers but I find it cumbersome.

I miss that too, but I have found a "solution": I open the list the forum in one tab and from there I open the forum I want to see on a new tab, so that the first tab always shows the lists of the forums.

I hope this is understandable and maybe it also helps a bit

 

[foraloysius]

I assume Matt is missing the row with forums at the top.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

Hi everyone, so about a year and a half ago I had mentioned in thread postings on both aw and Vacuumland that I was thinking about retiring from running the websites. I first launched Automaticwasher in 2001 (originally as classicappliances.com, renamed to automaticwasher.org in 2004). Vacuumland followed in 2007, and Automatic Ephemera in 2012.

Now, after nearly 25 amazing years, the time has come for me to pass the torch. After considering several options, I was approached by Groupbuilder—a company that specializes in managing forum-based websites. They bring the tools, infrastructure, technical knowledge and team needed to support and grow the sites well beyond what I could do on my own. GroupBuilder has been so very nice and have impressed me every step of the way, and I have full confidence they can carry our washer and vacuum communities forward for many years to come. Frankly, if something terrible had happened to me, the sites would have gone offline within a couple of months—but now, their future is secure, and believe me they’re in very good hands. It’s very important to me that all the work I have done over the last 25 years to share the history of automatic washers, other appliances and vacuum cleaners, etc. not die out with me.

But I want to assure everyone that this isn’t a goodbye from me. It’s been a true joy being your webmaster, and I’m not going anywhere. I’ll still be active here just as I always have and on other social media appliance groups, making washer videos from my collection, producing new reproduction rubber parts, and diving into new creative ideas to enhance our shared passion for vintage washers, dryers, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, and other appliances.

If you’ve enjoyed our websites over the years, I hope you’ll keep supporting them just like you always have. So, with that, I’m now officially retired. Please join me in giving a warm welcome to Alan—I couldn’t be more excited about our new administrator. Thank you all again—a big hug to everyone here!

Welcome! I finally figured out to update my location, by the way. I hope all goes well with this website.

 

[mattl]

Thanks you Louis, exactly. I was going to dig up a screen shot i took from just before the change over but you beat me to it.

 

[DADoES]

Thanks you Louis, exactly. I was going to dig up a screen shot i took from just before the change over but you beat me to it.

If you browse via Windows* computer, it's easy enough to go down the main Forum index page this way, which is what I've done for years. It becomes second-nature. Note that I switch between keyboard and mouse for the various navigation steps, which also becomes intuitive. I browse several forums this way.

1) Click the first Forum that has new replies (bold text).

2) Ctrl-click on each thread of interest, which opens them in new tabs within the current browser window.

3) If any that aren't of interest, scroll back up (if necessary) and click the Mark Read function and acknowledge it so the next visit to the site begins afresh.

4) Alt-leftarrow (keyboard) to go back to the Forum index page. Can press F5 (keyboard) to refresh the page which should change the processed Forum to regular text (instead of bold) for a visual that it's done. There are more new posts or replies if it remains bold, so repeat from step 1 if you wish, or ignore for the next visit.

5) Repeat for the remaining Forums.

*Apple desktops/browsers should reasonably have the same navigation functions.

 

[foraloysius]

I just noticed that totally at the bottom of a thread is a link back to the same forum. I took a screenshot from this thread, on the left at the bottom you can see a link back to the super forum. Is that of any help for you?

 

[rinso]

Congratulations, Robert! I liked the old site, but this new one is working just fine. It's not quite as nice looking, but it's super easy to navigate. Enjoy your retirement.