The big dogs:
1978 Maytag A-208 (Emerson motor)
1978 Maytag DE-408 (Westinghouse motor)
1970’s G.M. Frigidaire Imperial 43 mini fridge (Zanussi built)
1946 G.E. LBX-7-B refrigerator (FCA-2-F16 "refrigerating machine")
1938 Maytag Model 32 wringer washer (Delco motor)
1984 BOL G.E. Mark 27 electric range
1991 Sub Zero 550 refrigerator
1985 Hobart KitchenAid KDS-21 dishwasher
1998 WCI Frigidaire 5050 BTU window AC (on long term loan to my aunt)
Mixers:
Early 60’s Westinghouse SM19P-2 stand/hand mixer hybrid in pink
Mid-70’s G.E. M24 in harvest gold
Circa 1980 Sunbeam Mixmaster hand mixer in coffee/almond
1970’s G.E. M24 in coffee/almond
1990’s Suntone battery powered Mini Mixer
Late 90’s-early 2000’s Black & Decker ERGO hand mixer
~1957 Sunbeam Mixmaster model 12 in white
Granny’s ~1979 Hamilton Beach model 110 in coffee/almond (faded to harvest)
Early 60’s Westinghouse hand mixer in turquoise
Early 60’s Westinghouse hand mixer in white (Found NOS on EBay)
Late 50’s-early 60’s G.E. M47 in sunny yellow
Vacuums:
1961 Electrolux model G
1968 Electrolux model 1205
1977 Electrolux model 1401 super J
1999 Eureka mega boss victory
1999 Beam classic clean central vac unit (in storage with the 1978 maytags)
1985 Montgomery Ward model 703 (rebranded Hoover helpmate)
1987 Hoover model U-4423 convertible
~1984 Hoover model S1083 brush vac
1977 Hoover PortaPower
1979 Hoover Celebrity 4 Deluxe Powermatic
1975 Eureka model 613 A
1978 Kirby Classic III
2020 Numatic Henry Xtra model HVX-200
2022 SEBO G4
2000 shop-vac all around model QAS60
~1993 Dirt devil model 103
1989 Eureka upright
1971 Eureka 2070D upright
~1986 Hoover uptight
Late 90’s Windsor versamatic
Granny’s 1997 Oreck XL9700 upright
Granny’s 1997 Oreck XL canister
Other small appliances:
1970’s Sunbeam vista food processor
1940’s Sunbeam T-9 toaster (the toaster that the brave little toaster was based on)
1970’s Toastmaster electric knife
2020 Lasko commercial max force fan
Early 60’s Westinghouse mobile aire stand fan in turquoise.
Late 50’s Westinghouse desk fan
1976 West Bend Lazy Day slow cooker in coppertone
1960’s Sunbeam shot of steam iron
Mid-late 80’s Sears travel hair dryer
Late 50’s Chic Electric hair dryer
1991 Black & Decker Campbell’s can opener (Found NOS on EBay)
Parts machines:
Sunbeam T-9 toaster
2003 Maytag MDBTT79AWS dishwasher
1990’s Chefmaster Hand mixer
Blenders:
1976 Osterizer 16 speed in chrome and almond
1970s Osterizer 7 speed in coffee/almond (faded to harvest)
1970s waring 7 speed with timer in avocado
1960’s osterizer 7 speed in avocado
1989 Osterizer 14 speed in chrome and almond (nearly identical to the ‘76)
What are your dream machines yet to be found?
1976 Maytag A-108 (G.E. motor)
1976 Maytag DE-406 Halo Of Heat (G.E. Motor)
Any GM Frigidaire with vertical agitation
Sears Kenmore 700 series belt drive (1972)
Sears Kenmore 800 series belt drive (1972)
GE filter flo
Solid Tub Speed Queen
any 1966-1980 “new generation” Maytag- Found April 2021!
Whirlpool direct drive 3 speed
Wearing futura series blender in avocado with timer- Found April 2020!
G.E. M24 in harvest -Found May 2020!
Westinghouse hand mixer in pink- Found December 2023!
Eureka victory upright vacuum- Found March 2020!
1989 BOL kenmore direct drive
Westinghouse/wards top loader
Norge/wards top loader
Westinghouse front loader
Solid tub Speed Queen
Something with a Sud saver (preferably a new generation Maytag)
1981-1986 Central dial kenmore 80 series belt drive set
Any vintage latching door refrigerator- Found September 2022!
Hobart built KitchenAid KDS-21- Found May 2025!
G.E. 40 inch electric range in avocado green
Tappan Deluxe range (electric or gas)
1961 (newer-style) Frigidaire RBGB-94 wall oven in coppertone
1961 Frigidaire RBB-100 cooktop in coppertone
Maytag LAT set
1989 WCI kenmore laundry center with back light
Whirlpool convertible set (Belt drive and direct drive)
Any vintage window AC using R22 Refrigerant- Found February 2025!
Any vintage refrigerator using R12 refrigerant- Found April 2022!
Pre-Whirlpool Maytag Tall tub dishwasher
Maytag reverse rack dishwasher
Maytag jetclean dishwasher
GM Frigidaire super surge dishwasher
1970’s Vintage Westinghouse front loader
What are your earliest and favorite appliance memories?
I’ve been fascinated with automatic washers for as long as I can remember. This only deepened after viewing the 1987 animated classic The Brave Little Toaster. I used to watch my parent’s 1976 Maytag A-108. I really liked the grinding sound that it made when it would go into agitation. I also just loved the woo, woo sound that it made for the whole agitation cycle. I blame a combination of the movie and the sheer beauty of the old maytags for my being so emotional about my machines. When I was about 4 years old, I figured out how to defeat the lid switch on my granny’s 1989 BOL Kenmore single cycle direct drive washer. I spent hours sitting on top of the matching dryer staring into the open lid of the washer as it ran its cycle. (It was this machine that gave Kenmore and direct drives a special place in my heart). The back porch that the washer and dryer were on was also home to a 90’s crown Freeport oil boiler, (I can still hear the Beckett AFG burner whirring away while the oil hissed through the nozzle and into the fire box), a dead avocado green sears cold spot upright deep freezer, and a working 60’s white sears coldspot chest freezer (I can still hear the old reciprocating compressor buzzing away). That same house had a 1961 (Newer Style) G.M. Frigidaire RBGB-94 deluxe wall oven (with the glass door) and RBB-100 cooktop in coppertone in the kitchen. There was also an old whirlpool side-by-side. I’ve never had so much fun cooking as I did with those beasts! I have only found one picture online of a wall oven just like it. There was also two vintage Whirlpool window air conditioners. One looked to be late 90’s-early 2000’s, and the other looked late 80’s early 90’s. For the longest time, there was also a dead window A/C on the front porch. I don’t remember the brand (sears cold spot, maybe?), but I do remember it had no thermostat; just two switches: one for on/off, and one for fan/cool. I think it finally got scrapped a few years before she moved, unfortunately. I still kick myself for not getting the model and serial numbers off the appliances when she moved out of the house a few years ago. (From what I’ve heard, the couple that bought the house ripped out everything. I still get sick when I think about what probably happened to the kitchen.). Another fun memory was when I was in that house, I found a small plastic desk fan on the back porch. Me being me, I decided it would be a good idea to plug it in and try it out. It worked for a few minutes, then quit. When I tried to get it to turn back on, a spark flew out of the motor. I still laugh at the speed at which my granny threw it in the trash after that, not to mention the scream she let out when it sparked. My other grandma had a 1981-1986 central-Dial kenmore 80 series dryer that I used to play with every time I went over there. I just wish she’d still had the matching belt drive washer. She also had a 90’s whirlpool direct drive untill it started leaking transmission oil, so my aunt gave it to a friend (that washer was still running several years later when her friend passed away, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s still running today). She replaced it with a Maytag centennial VMW with a wash plate, at a time when direct drive centennials were still available. My aunt picked this one out. (I don’t know why ANYONE would have bought a VMW at a time when direct drives were still produced, but whatever) She also had an old Maytag side-by-side refrigerator, and a convection wall oven from the 80’s (WCI Frigidaire, I believe. All of them were still running when she passed away in 2014). My 2nd favorite memory was when we bought our Speed Queen 8 Series about 2 years ago. Her name is Queenie. This was only made sweeter due to the fact that this also meant getting an absolutely terrible 2013 Maytag Bravos XL out of my life for good. (I now hate most of today’s appliances (especially whirlpool products) and just about any high efficiency washer because of how bad it was.)
What is the history of appliances you have owned?
The first washer we had was a Maytag A-108 from 1976. Man, I loved that thing. We also had the matching dryer, a DE-406 Halo of Heat. When the transmission went out on the washer, the dryer was not shutting off the heating element. After that, we decided on a Maytag Bravos XL washer and dryer set. BIG MISTAKE. The first washer broke in 3 weeks, and the second one broke in 4 years. (It took Whirlpool THREE WEEKS to even pick up the phone for the warranty claim on the first one. Is it any wonder I now buy strictly vintage?). I now hate H.E. washers and modern appliances in general because of that thing. The moral of the story here is never buy a modern whirlpool product (or any other H.E. TL Washer, for that matter) if you value your money, or if you want clothes that are clean and a product that lasts longer than 24 hours after the warranty runs out. You wouldn’t wish this washer on you’re worst enemy. We recently (2021) replaced our 2003 Maytag Quiet Series 300 Dishwasher with a Bosch Ascenta SHE3AR76UC because the control board was failing, and the racks were rusting out pretty bad. I loved that dishwasher, but I must say, the Bosch has earned my respect. (Keep in mind, this is coming from someone who hates most modern appliances). Our old refrigerator (I believe a Whirlpool side by side from the late 90’s) was replaced with a modern stainless steel whirlpool in 2012 after leaking out all of the refrigerant. This refrigerator is yet another reason why I hate modern whirlpool products (not to mention stainless steel. It’s gray, bland, ugly, and sucks all the energy and happy out of a room). When you try to use the machine’s in-door water dispenser, you only get water about half the time, especially in cold weather. As if that wasn’t bad enough, it has gone through at least 3 damper doors ($100 a piece) in the time we have owned it. When it goes bad, it ruins all the food in the refrigerator section by freezing it. Between that and a damper door design that won’t allow you to keep the refrigerator as cold as our old one, this thing has wasted at least twice as much food as our old one did when it stopped cooling. Between this refrigerator and the Bravos XL washers (the dryer is ok), it wouldn’t be hard to see why I hate most of today’s appliances (and Whirlpool). Don’t make the same mistake we did. Save your 3 grand and keep your old refrigerator. Edit: since writing about the whirlpool refrigerator, it has had several more breakdowns. First, the control board blew after taking the covers off and putting them back on to clean the condenser. One of the screws was hitting a wire, causing a dead short. It had been just loose enough to go undetected for 10 years. When we put the new board in, it didn’t even last a day. As soon as we put the cover on, it blew again. For once, WP stood behind their warranty, and we got a THIRD board for free. After the second one blew, we checked continuity to ground for all the screws, and sure enough, one of them was creating a dead short. Needless to say, that one didn’t go back in, and the hole got marked with a giant X. More recently, the ice maker has started acting up. The thermostat is not closing as fast as it should, leading to low ice production. Sometimes, it doesn’t close at all, leading to me having to jump start the ice maker. After a cycle of that, it starts working again. I have a theory as to what’s going on. I believe that when the heaters come on, the warm the thermostat up enough to get unstuck, and to start working again. This fridge is a nightmare. Don’t buy one. Update May 2025: after a few years of no more issues, the isemaker finally started acting up again. It was replaced with a new IM assembly and has had no further trouble. We recently (2022) bought a Frigidaire wall oven to compliment our 2006 Frigidaire range. I haven’t used it yet, but am hopeful for how it will work. We have needed two ovens for years, and are finally making it happen. It’s not vintage, sadly, but at least I was able to pick one that I could live with. Time will tell about the durability.
Have you ever worked on, repaired and/or restored any major appliances?
Yes;
2005 Estate direct drive (Still going strong @ wolf Run wildlife refuge center)
1993 Kenmore 80 series direct drive (still working hard for my great aunt)
1998 Whirlpool Supreme direct drive (Still going in my aunt’s garage)
Whirlpool thin twin (2001) (Still going strong @ Hooves of Hope equestrian center)
1988 Hotpoint rimflo (sold for $150)
My Central Dial Maytags (1978 A-208/DE-408 mechanical restoration complete)
2003 Amana commercial grade dryer (sold for $200)
2012 BOL Amana top filtering dryer (sold for $80)
2010 BOL Roper top filtering dryer (Still going strong @Wolf Run wildlife refuge center)
2003 Estate direct drive (Still going strong in my granny’s laundry room)
2000 Estate top filtering dryer (Still going strong in my aunt’s garage)
2001 Kenmore (WCI/Frigidaire) electric range (Still cooking in my grandmother-in-law’s kitchen)
My 2013 Maytag Bravos XL dryer (heating element @ 8.5 YO; not bad for a daily driver, drying clothes as I type)
My 2006 Frigidaire electric range (Still going strong)
2017 Maytag centennial top filtering dryer (sold for $100)
2010 Samsung front loader (donated it as I couldn’t in good conscience sell it as the spider arm was failing, likely in the scrap heap by now)
1999 Kenmore 90 series Direct Drive washer (Still running great for my mom’s friend)
1987 Jenn-Air S160 drop-in range (Still going strong for the same friend as owns the ‘99 kenmore 90)
My 1970’s G.M. Frigidaire Imperial 43 mini fridge (needs refrigerant)
2017 Whirlpool Cabrio washer (water valve job for a customer)
2008 Samsung FL set (washer was scrapped, dryer was donated)
2014 G.E. Hydro wave (scrapped)
2010 G.E.laundry center (scrapped)
2014 hotpoint hydrowave (still working)
1992 RCA D-ring dryer (still working)
2003 Estate dryer (still working)
2001 BOL whirlpool dryer (as far as I know, still working)
1946 G.E. LBX-7-B refrigerator
2017 Maytag dryer (still running)
2017 Broan pop up downdraft hood (sold for $150)
1997 Maytag Jetclean dishwasher (donated)
2003 whirlpool (lg) countertop microwave (still running)
2008 G.E. Countertop Microwave (scrapped)
My 2006 Frigidaire over-the-range microwave (still running)
2019 Maytag dryer (scrapped)
2005 Bosch Nexxt Front Load Washer (as far as I know, still running).
1993 Amana Refrigerator (fixed for a neighbor across the street)
1988 Kenmore washer (fully refurbished for a customer)
2006 Whirlpool washer (sold for $175)
2013 Samsung dryer (heating element job for a customer)
2016 Samsung dryer (sold for $150)
2009 Kenmore washer (soon to be for sale)
2009 Samsung dryer (soon to be for sale)
2020 Whirlpool duet washer (water valve job for a customer)
2009 LG dryer (scrapped)
1985 KitchenAid KDS-21
