classic Maytag sighting

[cehalstead]

I just returned from a visit with my other half's aunt and uncle. Today, after many visits, I finally got to see into the laundry closet. To my great surprise and joy, there sat a 66-67 center dial Maytag that actually had the word "automatic" on the console, washing its way through a load of towels and sheets with hot water, bleach and Cheer.......was it ever a beauty!!!!!! I asked his aunt its history...she said it had never been repaired...(and this is a farm family....so I am sure many heavy dirty loads have been washed in that beauty). Try getting that kind of service out of one of today's models!! The dryer had been replaced in 89 with a Wards dryer.

 

[brettsomers]

stories like this are (seemingly) the norm for Maytag. times have changed, esp for Maytag. too bad.

 

[Designgeek]

Forty years without need of repair. That's industrial spec, utility-grade equipment there.

This is an example of "lost technology." As in, the Europeans of the medieval period must have freaked out wondering how the Romans and the Egyptians built their major engineering projects: because Europe had lost the techniques that were common at an earlier time. (Even today there are people who believe the pyramids were built by extraterrestrials or with ET technologies, i.e. were in some way "miraculous" rather than good engineering and persistent use of available resources.)

The European dark ages came about due to consolidation of power by a clerical ruling elite that cared nothing for science or technology. We are beginning to see early symptoms of similar here. Fifty years from now, the skills of mid 20th century machinists and industrial workers may seem miraculous. "Power" is not always the same thing as "ability."

 

[cehalstead]

have we lost the battle???

I hope someone, somewhere pays attention to lessons of the past......