Charles, et al....
We had a blast there, and Kevin noted that at least once I looked like I didn't know what to look at next, as if in "overload" mode.
I had some advance knowledge of what was there waiting for me, and had made some plans regarding what machines I wanted, etc. Later I had changed that to be only one or two. Ha! That lasted less than 30 minutes once I got there. By the time we left, there were 12 to 14 machines that had a yellow post-it-note on them, meaning that I wanted them to set the machines aside for me. I can transport them from Phoenix to Charlotte largely for free, so I figured "what the heck". One machine that really intrigues me is a 1979 TOL (mechanical timer) Kenmore suds-saver machine. I've not seen one in person like that, and it was/is pristine. There is also a nice 1966 Kenmore 600 that looks plausible.
Regarding the portable - I will let Kevin do the post on that machine, but we got it back to L.A. late Friday night and worked on it for hours on Saturday. Shockingly (literally, as it bit me good at one time), it works...sort of. The machine is missing a wig-wag, and I would have never tried to operate a washer without one ordinarily, but one makes due when one has to, so we had a ball with it by moving the cam bars manually. Four hours or so went by like a flick of a finger. The fact that the machine agitates, spins, drains, etc. successfully is a testament to the robustness of a machine that can sit outside (with no service panel no less) for years and still work.
I have come up with some knick-names for the portable, including the "mud-washer", and GBJ (green beast junior). I am giving away Kevin's story though, so I'll stop there.
I am sure there will be more posts to come regarding this trip, and somehow I doubt this will be my last visit there.
Gordon