supersurgilator
Well-known member
I was wondering if any of you know about when SQ made these models? I have heard mid 80's, but always thought it was earlier than that. If anybody has an idea, let me know. Thanks.
Commercial SQ
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I went to my first laundromat when I was 8 years old with my mom when our BD Whirly went belly up, we used 2 of these exact washing machines, I thought it was sooooooooooooooooooo weird that you had to put money in to start it! Of course, that day was the also the first day I had ever seen or heard of a front load washing machine, they had triple load Milnors!
Harvest Gold
When I was as young as I can remember in my hometown we had 3 laundromats. My mother went to Princess Coin Laundry so that would be 1971 when I started going, they had Speed Queen TL in Harvest Gold, stainless steel solid tubs. They looked similar to those above. The other laundromats where a Frigidaire Coin Laundry and a Norge Coin Laundry.
When I was as young as I can remember in my hometown we had 3 laundromats. My mother went to Princess Coin Laundry so that would be 1971 when I started going, they had Speed Queen TL in Harvest Gold, stainless steel solid tubs. They looked similar to those above. The other laundromats where a Frigidaire Coin Laundry and a Norge Coin Laundry.
laundromat
Well-known member
We had many of the original Westinghouse Laundromat equiped half-hour coin laundries as well as the Norge World com ercial laundries.However,my two absolute favorites were a good ways from where I lived but,I could walk along the dirt roads parralell to the Penn-Central(AmTrak)train tracks.As I'd walk or ride my bike along the trail,the Metro Liner trains would sneak up and go by at incredible speeds(anywhere from 85 to 145 MPH!)
Martins(a corporation that manufactures air plains and airplain parts)owned a huge factory in the Essex-Middle River are of Baltimore County)developed a neighborhood to house Air Force members and employees of their own naming it Aero-Acres.After the Korean war,the empoyment wen down and the workers laid off moved and got other jobs.The area was open to the public.all the streets,avenues and roads were named after plain parts.There was a medium size shopping center called Aero Planes where there was a theater,supermarket and some small shops.There was also a huge coin laundry there with all FRIGIDAIRE washers and Huebsch gas dryers.the propritor of this laundry leased three individual stores and knocked out all the adjasent walls to make three individual rooms.The first one had all pink FRIGIDAIRE Jet-Action Washers.The second one, or the main business one where the office and service desk was located,had all white FRIGIDAIRE Jet-Action Washers (two of which were set next to 4 Big-Boy front loading dryers and a Bock extractor)a detergent dispenser,coin operated popcorn vending machine,cigarette vending machine,snack vending machine,drink vending machine and a change machine.The third and largest one had all turquiose FRIGIDAIRE Jet-Action Washers.The first two rooms had 25 washers and 15 gas dryers each.This one had 60 FRIGIDAIRE Jet Action Washers And 30 Huebsch gas dryers.The wash was 25 cents and 10 cents to dry.All the FRIGIDAIRE washers had round windows on their lids.
I found this place by accident when one summer,Mr Abe,our daycamp leader(whom I saw at the Hippo a major gay club in Baltimore decades later LOL)took us on a dreary,rainy day to the theater to see the new thriller"Hush!,Hush!,Sweet Charlotte!"When that ax went and that head rolled ,that was enough for me,I ran out and found the laundry seeing all the Frigidaire washers going and got mesmorized watching pink,white and turquoise washers agitate and spin splashing sudsy and clear water onto their lids! Screw Betty Davis!I needed a fix so I stayed there until the movie ended not missed by anyone!
Martins(a corporation that manufactures air plains and airplain parts)owned a huge factory in the Essex-Middle River are of Baltimore County)developed a neighborhood to house Air Force members and employees of their own naming it Aero-Acres.After the Korean war,the empoyment wen down and the workers laid off moved and got other jobs.The area was open to the public.all the streets,avenues and roads were named after plain parts.There was a medium size shopping center called Aero Planes where there was a theater,supermarket and some small shops.There was also a huge coin laundry there with all FRIGIDAIRE washers and Huebsch gas dryers.the propritor of this laundry leased three individual stores and knocked out all the adjasent walls to make three individual rooms.The first one had all pink FRIGIDAIRE Jet-Action Washers.The second one, or the main business one where the office and service desk was located,had all white FRIGIDAIRE Jet-Action Washers (two of which were set next to 4 Big-Boy front loading dryers and a Bock extractor)a detergent dispenser,coin operated popcorn vending machine,cigarette vending machine,snack vending machine,drink vending machine and a change machine.The third and largest one had all turquiose FRIGIDAIRE Jet-Action Washers.The first two rooms had 25 washers and 15 gas dryers each.This one had 60 FRIGIDAIRE Jet Action Washers And 30 Huebsch gas dryers.The wash was 25 cents and 10 cents to dry.All the FRIGIDAIRE washers had round windows on their lids.
I found this place by accident when one summer,Mr Abe,our daycamp leader(whom I saw at the Hippo a major gay club in Baltimore decades later LOL)took us on a dreary,rainy day to the theater to see the new thriller"Hush!,Hush!,Sweet Charlotte!"When that ax went and that head rolled ,that was enough for me,I ran out and found the laundry seeing all the Frigidaire washers going and got mesmorized watching pink,white and turquoise washers agitate and spin splashing sudsy and clear water onto their lids! Screw Betty Davis!I needed a fix so I stayed there until the movie ended not missed by anyone!
laundromat
Well-known member
The other FRIGIDAIRE comercial laundry was on the other side of the tracks in Dundalk right on Northpoint Road not far from a Roller scating rink(Rolla-Rina) I visited regularly.
The A&P was on one side and a huge 100 washer/50 dryer and drycleaners/coblers business was on the other directly across.Their FRIGIDAIRE Jet Action Washers were newer and had the rectangular window lids.They also had he FRIGIDAIRE Jet Action Washer Illuminated Direction signs with the FRIGIDAIRE logo and Jet Action,RapiDry,Lint-Away and 18 Minute Cycle listed on them.There were at least 8 signs like that scurried all around. They also had 5 Big Boys and if I remember corectly,the drycleaning machine they had was uniique and I think i was an Ajax? It was so like the LaunderAll machines because it had 4 or 6 seperate sections to load the clothes in to and it tumbled.The owners knew my appliance dealer/friend,Charly Rudolf and they lived in the same neighborhood right up the street from his FRIGIDAIRE dealership.I'd go visit them during a trip to see Rudy!They were realy nice and made me feel like I was always welcome to come and visit there shop or home.When they closed and got out of the business(seamed like it happened overnight)I was devastated.I am very fortunate to have so many fond memories of that era.
The A&P was on one side and a huge 100 washer/50 dryer and drycleaners/coblers business was on the other directly across.Their FRIGIDAIRE Jet Action Washers were newer and had the rectangular window lids.They also had he FRIGIDAIRE Jet Action Washer Illuminated Direction signs with the FRIGIDAIRE logo and Jet Action,RapiDry,Lint-Away and 18 Minute Cycle listed on them.There were at least 8 signs like that scurried all around. They also had 5 Big Boys and if I remember corectly,the drycleaning machine they had was uniique and I think i was an Ajax? It was so like the LaunderAll machines because it had 4 or 6 seperate sections to load the clothes in to and it tumbled.The owners knew my appliance dealer/friend,Charly Rudolf and they lived in the same neighborhood right up the street from his FRIGIDAIRE dealership.I'd go visit them during a trip to see Rudy!They were realy nice and made me feel like I was always welcome to come and visit there shop or home.When they closed and got out of the business(seamed like it happened overnight)I was devastated.I am very fortunate to have so many fond memories of that era.
laundromat
Well-known member
skating not scating,sorry!
70series
Well-known member
If there are any interior pictures, that would tell us. If the washer has a perforated tub, these machines could be from as far back as 1983 or so. If it has a solid tub, I would guess the vintage to be from the mid 70s to very early 80s.
In 1977 I went to a resort in the Pennsylvania Pocono Mountains that had three Harvest Gold solid tub coin op SQs in one of their laundromats, which looked similar to these. Earlier that summer, I was at another summer vacation spot up in the New York Catskill Mountains which was an annual retreat. They had two solid tub SQs from the 60s in their laundromat, and it was my favorite hang out spot. My love of Speed Queens was born there.
Have a good one,
James
In 1977 I went to a resort in the Pennsylvania Pocono Mountains that had three Harvest Gold solid tub coin op SQs in one of their laundromats, which looked similar to these. Earlier that summer, I was at another summer vacation spot up in the New York Catskill Mountains which was an annual retreat. They had two solid tub SQs from the 60s in their laundromat, and it was my favorite hang out spot. My love of Speed Queens was born there.
Have a good one,
James
supersurgilator
Well-known member
Right now I am unable to open the interior pics, but they are perforated tubs, with the four vane white plastic agitator. We have one laundromat around here that had 5 of these in harvest gold, so I was just wondering how old those would be. They were replaced 4 years ago.
supersurgilator
Well-known member
Ah ha, I finally found the link to a video I found on youtube that shows these machines in detail, except harvest gold versions.
Early 80's if perforated, and judging by the font on the console and the knobs, it is.
supersurgilator
Well-known member
Does anybody have any pics of the 70's version solid tub model?
laundryshark
Well-known member
Silent Speed Queen Demo?
The SQ video you shared contains no sound. Even after converting into a Windows Media file, still silent. Would like to collect a good commercial SQ demo though, especially of the final spin going into high gear, like a race car revving up and slowing down to a stop.--Laundry Shark
The SQ video you shared contains no sound. Even after converting into a Windows Media file, still silent. Would like to collect a good commercial SQ demo though, especially of the final spin going into high gear, like a race car revving up and slowing down to a stop.--Laundry Shark
queeny77
Well-known member
the previous model had round status lights not rectangle
supersurgilator
Well-known member
The solid tub had the round lights? There is a laundromat around here (the one that had the others) with one of those. It isn't in operation though but I would like to see the inside, maybe have to take a trip back down there.
queeny77
Well-known member
WHERE IN INDIANA?
supersurgilator
Well-known member
Kokomo Indiana
For some reason they have 2 rows with 10 toploaders, but each time they bought new ones they only bought 9, so there is one of these old harvest gold ones on the end. I will see if that one indeed is a solid tub, as it is the only one left. The other one is a perf tub.
For some reason they have 2 rows with 10 toploaders, but each time they bought new ones they only bought 9, so there is one of these old harvest gold ones on the end. I will see if that one indeed is a solid tub, as it is the only one left. The other one is a perf tub.
queeny77
Well-known member
bring your camera
irishwashguy
Well-known member
Well, I am glad someone brought this up
There was for many years, was a laundomat a couple of miles from where I grew up that had solid tub Speed Queens, of which the outsides looked just like or rather simmilar to these.We went there when the Moms very old Maytag finally bit it, and we used them, overflows and everything, that was 1985, they also locked in the spin.. A few years later, I went back, maybe 1988 or 89, just to check it out...... the outsides looked the same, but the insides were the new style Speed Queens. That was a trend all over town.I am thinking that they went though some kind of upgrade, just the insides.I have not seen a solid tub Speed queen since 1985 in the Pacific Northwest anywhere. Any thoughts?
There was for many years, was a laundomat a couple of miles from where I grew up that had solid tub Speed Queens, of which the outsides looked just like or rather simmilar to these.We went there when the Moms very old Maytag finally bit it, and we used them, overflows and everything, that was 1985, they also locked in the spin.. A few years later, I went back, maybe 1988 or 89, just to check it out...... the outsides looked the same, but the insides were the new style Speed Queens. That was a trend all over town.I am thinking that they went though some kind of upgrade, just the insides.I have not seen a solid tub Speed queen since 1985 in the Pacific Northwest anywhere. Any thoughts?
