Here's the basement wash rooms - before. what is the current wash studio had this wall built to divide the room. It was poorly constructed and did not go with the long term plans. Out it went, during maternity leave.
A 20 year old dream turns into reality
- Thread starter swestoyz
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And last but not least. When I started in this hobby I was in my early 20's, and had a TON of blond hair. Funny how things change. And yes, that is the '59 Kelvinator, just found that afternoon on NYE, 2005!
Photo credit - cadman (Cory)
Ben
Photo credit - cadman (Cory)
Ben
BEAUTIFUL!!! Jaw dropping!
Stunning Ben! What a showcase for all your efforts and wonderful collection!
I love seeing these sorts of projects for my own inspiration. Thank you for sharing!
I love seeing these sorts of projects for my own inspiration. Thank you for sharing!
Very well done!
That's one of the nicest I've seen. I've always said if you're going to do it, you may as well do it right, and you certainly did. I really like the house, too.
That's one of the nicest I've seen. I've always said if you're going to do it, you may as well do it right, and you certainly did. I really like the house, too.
I’ve visited Ben’s home and collection a couple of times over the past few years, and they are both absolutely amazing. But the real gem is Ben himself.
I first met Ben when he drove from Cedar Falls to Des Moines to pick up some Maytag posters I had collected from my short time working there. At the time I was only collecting vintage bikes and typewriters, but Ben encouraged me to give appliance restoration a try. He then helped me locate my first Maytag 806 pair and guided me through their restoration.
That eventually led to my collection of over 30 washers and dryers, 4 dishwashers, 5 GE ranges, and an Amana Radarange. That in addition to my dozens of blenders, mixers, toasters and other small appliances. Along the way, Ben was always there to help me with any question I had and supplied me with many parts, ephemera, and tips on machines to add to my collection – never asking for anything in return.
This new hobby then inspired me to retire from my uninspiring 30-year career in IT and jump into the appliance repair and parts industry, which I have found very rewarding. For the first time in many years, I look forward to going to work every day.
All because I met Ben. I’m sure many others here on this website can tell similar stories about Ben’s generosity, knowledge and friendliness. Congratulations, Ben on your beautiful collection and the space you created for it! And thank you for changing my life in such a positive way!
I first met Ben when he drove from Cedar Falls to Des Moines to pick up some Maytag posters I had collected from my short time working there. At the time I was only collecting vintage bikes and typewriters, but Ben encouraged me to give appliance restoration a try. He then helped me locate my first Maytag 806 pair and guided me through their restoration.
That eventually led to my collection of over 30 washers and dryers, 4 dishwashers, 5 GE ranges, and an Amana Radarange. That in addition to my dozens of blenders, mixers, toasters and other small appliances. Along the way, Ben was always there to help me with any question I had and supplied me with many parts, ephemera, and tips on machines to add to my collection – never asking for anything in return.
This new hobby then inspired me to retire from my uninspiring 30-year career in IT and jump into the appliance repair and parts industry, which I have found very rewarding. For the first time in many years, I look forward to going to work every day.
All because I met Ben. I’m sure many others here on this website can tell similar stories about Ben’s generosity, knowledge and friendliness. Congratulations, Ben on your beautiful collection and the space you created for it! And thank you for changing my life in such a positive way!
Ben-------
So good to see your collection coming together! That looks fantastic! You have a true "showroom".
So good to see your collection coming together! That looks fantastic! You have a true "showroom".
This has come together just as you'd imagined and explained it. What a road it has been over the years, you shoud be very proud of your efforts and commitment to this, congratulations and thank you for sharing your hobby, expertise and diligent researching ability and above all, your friendship with all of us.
Absolutely stunning! What a wonderful and beautiful collection. That '55 Norge kinda looks familiar..?!
I love living here in Hawai'i, but lately I've been trying to talk my husband into moving back to the mainland (looking at Illinois and Alabama) so I can access vintage machines and a basement!
I love living here in Hawai'i, but lately I've been trying to talk my husband into moving back to the mainland (looking at Illinois and Alabama) so I can access vintage machines and a basement!
Ben, I'm just in awe your dream has come to full fruition. And magnificient machines in a world-class, befitting setting for them.
I still remember meeting both you and Cory at the 2005 Wash-in Omaha. My jaw dropped when I saw y'all drive up to the restaurant in that beautiful black Cadillac. And Greg surprised me with a birthday cake since my birthday was recent at the time of that wash-in.
I still remember meeting both you and Cory at the 2005 Wash-in Omaha. My jaw dropped when I saw y'all drive up to the restaurant in that beautiful black Cadillac. And Greg surprised me with a birthday cake since my birthday was recent at the time of that wash-in.
Thank you for sharing your project with all of us Ben. You did an amazing job and you have an incredible collection.
I can only imagine how much work that was to get to where you are today with all those machine restorations and the hard work you did in that basement. I also have a home around the same age as yours and can appreciate all the backbreaking effort you must have put into it.
Curious how you found working with the epoxy flooring and what you think of it now that its done and you've had it for awhile. I'm doing some work in my basement as well and have been considering going that route over the old concrete floor in parts of it. Yours looks stunning in the pictures!
I also echo what others have said already, you are always super generous on the forum about helping others with questions (including myself) and detailing out all your restorations for others to reference in the future. Thank you for everything you do!
Congratulations on your beautiful home, getting to the finish line on the project and building such a fantastic collection!
I can only imagine how much work that was to get to where you are today with all those machine restorations and the hard work you did in that basement. I also have a home around the same age as yours and can appreciate all the backbreaking effort you must have put into it.
Curious how you found working with the epoxy flooring and what you think of it now that its done and you've had it for awhile. I'm doing some work in my basement as well and have been considering going that route over the old concrete floor in parts of it. Yours looks stunning in the pictures!
I also echo what others have said already, you are always super generous on the forum about helping others with questions (including myself) and detailing out all your restorations for others to reference in the future. Thank you for everything you do!
Congratulations on your beautiful home, getting to the finish line on the project and building such a fantastic collection!
neptunebob
Well-known member
Ben is that a Nautica coat you are wearing above? I like those clothes too! And stop giving me chills up and down my spine, it's getting cold here!
What a nice gallery of laundry appliances, you got there, Ben, may those all forever run...
-- Dave
-- Dave
Looking good!
Congrats and very well done!
Wishing you many long and happy hours in your new "man cave".
L.
Congrats and very well done!
Wishing you many long and happy hours in your new "man cave".
L.
Laundry Room
Great work Ben
Have much enjoyed watching you build you collection and utility room all with detailed commentarys of your latest finds and restorations. Now to sit back & Enjoy using them all !!
Cheers, mike
Ps, Dont seem 2 mins since we all met at the 2005 convention.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/chestermikeuk/albums/72157602161168369/page2
Great work Ben
Have much enjoyed watching you build you collection and utility room all with detailed commentarys of your latest finds and restorations. Now to sit back & Enjoy using them all !!
Cheers, mike
Ps, Dont seem 2 mins since we all met at the 2005 convention.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/chestermikeuk/albums/72157602161168369/page2
golittlesport
Well-known member
Very well done!!
Congratulations!! Absolutely breath taking! Thank you for sharing.
Congratulations!! Absolutely breath taking! Thank you for sharing.
Mike, thank you for the way-back machine showing the 2005 convention. I was beginning to think it wa a figment of my imagination that I was really there until I finally ofound a pic or two with me in the photo.
Wow
Ben, congrats !!! Absolutely stunning. Have followed you for years and your accomplishments. You are the man when it comes to attention to detail, I only wish my collection looked half that good. ❤
Ben, congrats !!! Absolutely stunning. Have followed you for years and your accomplishments. You are the man when it comes to attention to detail, I only wish my collection looked half that good. ❤
Dayum!!
Nice job on the basement,, and collection, Ben!
Nice job on the basement,, and collection, Ben!
The new Cedarfalls laundry room
Wow Ben, you’ve done an amazing amount of work since we were there in January although it looked pretty credible then, where do you find the time?
We’ve started working on the museum project here again, trying to clean up the clutter that accumulated over Covid.
We’ve had Chris and Tate here for another week this week, organizing parts and eventually gearing up to hooking up a lot more stuff in the museum
These machines were made to be in big American basements. You have the perfect home Ben for this type of collection, I’ve been surprised both in my own home and at the museum you never seem to run out of water capacity drain capacity natural gas capacity to run these machines 240 V capacity can get a little bit strained if you run too many dryers at once, lol
Ben, I really love the 1959 pink lady Kenmores, I can’t wait until you get those hooked up someday that’s a very fast dryer and gas. I’m still looking for the parts to convert my white electric 50 amp model to a gas one.
Keep us posted on the progress. Can’t wait to see the collection in person again.
John
Wow Ben, you’ve done an amazing amount of work since we were there in January although it looked pretty credible then, where do you find the time?
We’ve started working on the museum project here again, trying to clean up the clutter that accumulated over Covid.
We’ve had Chris and Tate here for another week this week, organizing parts and eventually gearing up to hooking up a lot more stuff in the museum
These machines were made to be in big American basements. You have the perfect home Ben for this type of collection, I’ve been surprised both in my own home and at the museum you never seem to run out of water capacity drain capacity natural gas capacity to run these machines 240 V capacity can get a little bit strained if you run too many dryers at once, lol
Ben, I really love the 1959 pink lady Kenmores, I can’t wait until you get those hooked up someday that’s a very fast dryer and gas. I’m still looking for the parts to convert my white electric 50 amp model to a gas one.
Keep us posted on the progress. Can’t wait to see the collection in person again.
John
