3 washers, 2 dryers, one Micro/convection oven, 1 four-element cook top unit, one refrigerator. Details below.
What are your dream machines yet to be found?
I doubt I will be collecting major appliances in any meaningful way but when it comes to vintage counter top appliances and vacuums, etc., I am unstoppable. :-)
What are your earliest and favorite appliance memories?
in 1958 when I was around 5-6 years old we moved out of Grandmothers 4 story Queen Anne Grotesque pile of bricks to our own 1930s bungalow. This center hallway 3 bedroom full basement house has forever memories. Well, it came with a wringer washer in the unfinished basement and a clothesline. Mom tells us now that she was in tears over that washer as thats what poor people used. I loved it with all its cranking gears. She was ever so happy when Dad bought her a new Maytag top loader and dryer in the early 1960s.
What is the history of appliances you have owned?
When I bought my first house in 1986 it came with a jaundice Yellow pair of Kenmore machines set up in the pantry off the kitchen. Within a year they both failed and I replaced them with a pair of unmatched and used GE units. mid 1990s I replaced the Washer with a brand spankin new HotPoint (GE) Heavy Duty X-large capacity that hangs the tub assembly and motor from four sprung corner rods. a year later the dryer was replaced with a spankin new GE with stainless steel drum. Both of these are working superbly for me and the weekly two load wash.
I am no cook but am a bachelor and when I bought the house I quickly turfed the range unit and Fridge, turned the vacated space into another cupboard and mounted a mid-1970s Tappan stainless steel 4 burner electric cooktop unit (from a garage sale) in a counter top cutout. For re-heating and cooking I bought the biggest SEARS Kenmore Microwave/Convection oven they had - Model 86761 with temperature probe - and it worked extremely well until 2008. I did whole bird turkeys and roasts in that beast. In 20 years I had to replace one interior lightbulb, and the drive belt & shaft bearing for the overhead wave deflector fan once.
I was able to find the current GE stainless steel version Model PEB159CDN1BB w the same footprint but much larger capacity micro/onvection (15"x16"x11"H cavity) at a local dealer. I love it as it has the heating element and fan at the back and has a turntable, which the Kenmore didnt - The Micro-Go-Round windup still works and I kept that and the large white ceramic bottom tray.
I will never have a range in this house as it takes up too much space for its use. But I am considering replacing the Tappan cooktop with something newer. I replaced the used 1950s GE fridge with a Jenn-Aire 29" deep wide Fridge in 1989. I would like someday to find a used chest freezer of compact dimensions, preferably upright and narrow.
2014 update: Following my return home after the 12 month medical adventure
[ http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?55153 ]
I redid the entire kitchen. Replaced the 6 foot sink counter with a 10 foot slab and a deep stainless 22" x 15" sink, new taps set and a 4 burner smooth glass cook-top. changed the location of the fridge to the other end with a new discounted floor model 30" w Whirlpool double door/bottom freezer in black. Placed the Micro/Convect on top for that Monolith-in-the-Corner look, re-faced the old drawer fronts and extended more cabinets in a plain Maple finish giving me a 10 swath of useful storage and work surface.
Now I have counter space for the Toast-a-lator and Sunbeam Radiant, Hoover Can Opener, GE Lowboy Blender and whichever Stand Mixer or Coffee Percolator of the month I choose from the Towering Shelves of Small Appliances on display.
Cooking aint such a boring chore with the daily drivers right at hand. Woo-hoo!
Have you ever worked on, repaired and/or restored any major appliances?
Yes, I will tackle anything mechanical/electrical. Ive been disassembling and reassembling things since the family famous story about a Christmas present toy helicopter on the end of a long cranked cable - the gears wouldnt mesh properly but by dinnertime they did...I was almost 7 years old. The following Christmas I had my brand new Lionel engine in pieces by lunchtime - there wasnt much there that needed improving. :-)
My principal collecting fever is over small vintage appliances such as mixers, toasters, blenders, coffee percolators, sewing machines, typewriters, watches & clocks, phonographs, telephones...and vacuum cleaners - now closing in on 250 vacuum sweepers.
The link below refers to another hobby I am passionate about - player pianos and pipe organs.
