1970s speed queen washer

[queeny77]

thanks for posting these pics.i remember these machines with the round status lights,this panel was the last of the solid tub,and the first of the perforated tub.well i went to the laundrymat again today and used another solid tub machine.wow the spin on this one was fast! not slow like the other one.more vids to come.

 

[tolivac]

These machines are exactly what the apartment laundramat had where I used to live-Oakrest Towers Apartments in Forestville Md,Outside of Wash DC.Was in 1973-1976.These were replaced by Whirlpools in 1976.those old Speed Queens were very nice.

 

[alr2903]

I always like the orange too. Sometimes when you pushed the quarter in (yes, 1 quarter), the SQ would begin to fill, but it would spin a few turns, very amusing to a 9 year old. SQ's AERATED water was just the best ever.

 

[macboy91si]

Oh the Colors! Oh the memories!

When I was younger there was a laundromat down the street (an old seedy one) that my mom and I used to frequent until it closed. It had Speed Queen washers, yellow same look but metal agitators (3 vane). I'm guessing they were a tad older than this one, but the same control panel, most of the print was long faded and replaced with magic marker on masking tape. There were around 15 in the place and at least 5 would have standing water in them at any given time. They were neat though, made a lot of noise and you never knew what you were getting out of them. When the laundromat closed, they gutted the building and the SQ's sat out back for months, I wanted one bad but that was a long time ago. There were also, as I would come to learn from this place, 4 or 5 Frigidaire Control Tower machines that I had not seen in service there, I'm unsure if they were commercial models or not.

I love that Apple Green though, great find on the ad, I wish machines had character like this still. Honestly I hate new appliances for this very reason mainly. Would a little color hurt!?

Speaking of color, I'm finally adding some color to the A50, the white was pretty dire when I got it, so I decided to add some color since the cabinet was in such good shape. Color is going to be "Bauhaus Gold", an orange-yellow, I'll start a new post when it's finished.

-Tim

 

[djmjlcst]

Wow! - Just like yesteryear!

Nice pics and videos of the SQ's Keith! I remember going to the laundromat (in Joliet, Ill.) back in the 60's when our SQ was on the fritz. Just seeing rows upon rows of the SQ's machines just bring back so many memories. The clanking of the solenoids was a sound to behold when several were in operation. That same laundromat had blue Westinghouse top loaders with the locking lid feature during the spin. It was the first time I ever saw that feature on a top loader. I think I remember the SQ's - the lid could be opened during the spin and it didn't stop just like our '64 model. We knew the owners of that laundromat and I remember as a kid going to the shed on the vacant lot where they stored the non-working SQ machines. If I knew then what I know now I would've got a few if I could!

Also nice brochure of the commercial SQ's Robert! I don't ever remember the sundown orange color - it's neat and does make a statement! - Mike