Favourite washing machine memories.

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the local Laundromat,1979: 12 Norges,a couple maytags,2 big Zanussi machines,chain-drive dryers.The din from all those Norges was music to my ears back then! with the coinbox timers and the dryers adding their sounds :)
 
Favorite Washing Machine Memories

When I was young, and still riding the tricycle, I remember the sunny Saturday afternoon the new Maytag Highlander (white, of course) came to replace the Norge Timeline. My father sold furniture/appliances (Frigidaire/Maytag) and this is one of my first appliance memories. It seems, a bit, like it just happened yesterday.

We would later move into a new home and, of course, the May"tagged" along. In its new home I remember the sound of the distinctive Maytag "sray rinse", and to accompany it, a matching "Halo of Heat" Maytag dryer.

We had these machine into the 1970's, at which time they were replaced by a new Maytag pair (in harvest gold).

Picture below, a similar machine to our Highlander.

Thanks for reading.

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My memories...

Hi everyone, great thread 👍

For me it was washday at my paternal grandparents house. My nan always washed on a Tuesday as worked on a Monday, even before I was school age she used to come and collect me to join her on washday. She had a 1974 Hotpoimt Countess (the rare wringerless version) and a white trim Hoover Spinarinse. I can remember the smell of old Ariel powder when I think qbout it and it takes me back to her kitchen.

Sometime during the early 90s she upgraded to a Supermatic De Luxe, my dad worked in an electrical shop and a mint 9410 came in so she bought it. It was delivered during the summer holidays so I got to enjoy playing with it!

I've always enjoyed washing machines, before the countess she'd had a Servis Supertwin Mk 30 which she always said was a fantastic machine. Only reason she went to the Countess was because she upgraded to an Indesit auto in 74, didn't like it and those were the only machines in stock at the shop. She'd had an Acme Challenge before that and I remember how excited I was when she found the manual in a cupboard one day. I still have it and have posted pics on one of the other threads on here. Pre Internet days that's all I had to go on. She did say the Acme wasn't very strong and with 4 children it didn't last long before the Servis arrived. Her first machine was a Hoover single tub with electric wringer which she loved but gave to my aunt when she got married in 62 when the Acme arrived.

There are photos of some of my collection on here in another thread, I have a very rare (but older model) of the wringerless Countess in mint condition and a grey Spinarinse from the early 70s. Also have a 9410 and I did have a Servis Mk30 but sadly had to sell it due to space limitations.

I have several manuals and really enjoy looking over them and the history of machines. Lots of happy washday memories and good to be able to share.
 
@Michael…

I take it your mum had one of these Thor’s, the 244 Automagic which was launched in 1958, it was produced under licence by Parnall Radiation ltd in Yate Bristol, there had been 2 previous models before which allowed the user to switch tubs and use a dishwashing attachment, however by 1958 they deemed it not suitable to wash clothes & dishes in the same machine.

I have had 5 pedal operated Thor’s and still have 3 and one of the previous model 240.

Cheers
Keith

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I remember I was putting in so much powder laundry detergent on our second GE top loader as a toddler until my mom caught me. I also remember bypassing the lid switch on both our second GE and my grandparent's but now mine Kenmore 90 Series. And I'd sit and watch our Whirlpool Duet front loader wash up at our last cabin cause you can see through it. Good times. But I think my most favorite was when I really got into laundry, my grandparents were using non HE Tide original powder in their Kenmore like over 10 years ago and it was the greatest smell that I've ever smelled on laundry detergent. It's a real shame that Tide doesn't make them anymore.
 
A very long time ago my mum has a Parnall wringer washer

And i had waist length hair [I know what your thinking ]I came home from school on day to find mum doing the washing .I asked her if she wanted a cup of tea and she said yes but i am just going into the garden to hang some washing out first. I flicked the switch on the latest kitchen gadget in the house [the russell hobs auto kettle] and turned round to get the milk from the fridge .As i did so my hair got caught in the running wringer At that moment mum appeared and quickly pushed the release bar on the machine . More than 50 years later i still wonder what would have happened i she hadn't decided to come back in the house when she did
 
Visiting the home of my grandparents cleaning lady at age 4 when she occasionally babysat me. She had a 1961 Kenmore 110.6104500 with straight vane agitator, speckled gray wash tub, 3 cycles, 1 speed, brush lint filter, 3 water levels. Opening the lid to watch it churning the laundry around and filtering as well as waiting to hear it start spinning was exciting. I was well into my 20s when I learned that my father had bought that machine new when he started his medical residency. After the divorce, the family gifted it to Mrs. Ardis. I was equally disappointed and thrilled when I visited her at the age of 12 to find a new 1976 gold Maytag in its place.
 

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