Development of the Automatic Washer Club

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Chuck...

I remember when that Balto Sun article came out, I looked up your # in the phone book and called you I was living in Westminster at the time, having grown up in Towson. I saw the article and couldn't believe there was another appliance nut out there. We talked and I wanted to see the museum but moved North and it never happened. My friend Tom and I used to skip class in 1968-72 to check out the appliance stores, Luskins on Perring Pkwy, BGE & E in Towson Plaza, all the ones in Towson &c. And I went to Rudolphs on Harford Rd more than once!
 
Hey Roger,

  We're waiting for the storm to clear so,we're out here about sixty miles south if Oahu. The storm should be subsiding by midnight.  

Charlie Rudolf and his sister in law, Elsie ran that store and had two generations of customers. Families they "FRIGIDATED" to buy predominantly FRIGIDAIRE,Kitchen Aid,Maytag,Whirlpool, and JennAir.  They gave me promo stuff, suites catalogs, promo pens,signs for my bedroom and appliance magazines. I gave then great business for decades and rode there,about twenty miles from my home every weekend or day off school. One night, I had gotten a flat on my bike and Charlie offered to throw it in his truck and take me home. We got there and he walked me up.  My Dad came out,grabbed me by my neck and threw me inside the hours. After that happened, Charlie promised me I could come to his store abd hang out as long as I wanted abd let me sell appliances while there. We'd talkvahoptalk and speak f the history of many brands. They finally closed about half a year ago.Charlie died of cancer back in the late nineties and she ran that store.

Back around 1993,Rudolfs took Baltimore gas and Electric to court and won the case regarding utility companies selling to customers with poor credit that couldn't buy anything with a card but let them put it on their gas and Electric bill. It went national and the Supreme Court gave privately owned appliance dealers a real boost.  However, the big boxes took over and they closed for good. I have many fondue memories. The funniest being that, on Topaz Rd., a couple who owned and ran a FRIGIDAIRE CION CLEAN CENTER on North Point Blvd. Right across from the A&P and the sewerage treatment plant that fed Back River where everyvodies shit was treated and the water filtered before it was sent back. On a hot, blustery day when theorizes blew,you'd smell the stink and try to get out of its path. Anyway,we're gonna rest a while then take up anchor and sail to Oahu. There, we'll go get a few supplies,party a little then sail back out. As long as we have access to internet,I'll try to keep in touch. The waves were peaking at around seventeen to twenty five feet. Not as severe as a while ago. We took in some but bailed it out enough then tipped and the rest went over. We were around 70° tilt. Just so you can understand, this is a trimaran. A sailboat with three sections held together with two rubber,perforated, trampoline like structures that lay flat and connect the three together. There's a big size galley where it can sleep ten. We,have a crew of seven and it's tight but comfortable enough to sleep,eat,or shit. I don't recommend going down there just to hang out. You will get seasick. Trust me. Been there,Done that,won't do it again. I stay where I'm comfortable and steer or guide the sail. We take turns so nobody gets bad calluses.  That,meeting strangers who may or may not be homeless hut prefer being out in the rough. ANYBODY can wing it here without any living quarters. I know at least thirty homeless people whom I love and help out. I never give out money. I buy or catch food,cook it in a bonfire on the Bayfront and "POW". Thats what we say when it was so "UNO"which means one ate all of what they took. Gone. 

I met a girl before we sailed. O was hanging out waiting for Mack to call and I was smoking some bad ass weed and rock n rolling. She asked for a hit and did not sound local. She was born in Taiwan, moved with her mom to Chicago, then,after graduation,became a paramedic and was on a six month visa here to train am no drivers here. She's leaving in a month and her apartment will be vacant.  I want to get my own place and this may be it. It's safe,it's right smack dab downtown and has a nice view. Tour hundred fifty a month including g&e, water and you may have your own a/c. I told her we'll see each other before her leave. Take care and come see the paradise where I live now.
 
Wow Chuck... sounds amazing!

living in paradise...not sure I could handle those big waves however! We've got a 24' pontoon but I won't go out on the lake if waves are more than 2-3ft! My best friend from MD has 2 boys living in Honolulu, he says you can't buy a shack for under a million!
 
Update, September 2016

This thread was set up to serve as the AW club archive of significant events.  So, here goes--

 

In August 2016, another "national / international convention" was held for three days in Beltsville with 60 plus members and guests from 19 states, Australia and Canada.  After a Friday night "meet and greet and front loader wash-in" at AW Jeff_adelphi's house  (featuring Rosalie's zero suds laundry powder developed and patented in 2016 by AW Jetcone), the focus was Saturday evening in the further improved Appliance Museum of AW Combo52 and Surgilator68.  A bountiful feast was prepared using classic ranges and ovens by AW Kevin313 and AW Norgeway.  Trips to the Smithsonian Museums and other local attractions, as well as leftovers rounded out what has been reported as a good time by all. 
 
This is the most . . .

. . . fascinating story I have ever read. Thank you for writing and publishing the history.

I had just retired when I met Hans Craig. And quite by accident, I discovered a newsletter with a picture of Robert sitting atop a Bendix washing machine. Hans informed me of the club and that there was going to be a convention in Omaha in a couple of weeks, but he couldn't go.

I told him, "Well, I'm going. Where is it?"

Having known each other for 2 whole weeks, we jumped in the car and drove from North Carolina to Omaha to Greg Nunn's house. I was dumbfounded. I have never enjoyed anything as much and met such wonderful people in the process.

That got it all started and I have since met and gotten to know John Lefever and was able to attend the wash-in at his museum a few years ago. I came home from there with my Speed-Queen front load.

This group is wonderful!!!

Thank you.

Jerry Gay
 

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