Field trip!! Tucson group visits appliance yard in Phoenix

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

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Thanks for the great pics guys. Terry that runs the shop there is a great guy. I always stop by and see him when Im out at Barrett-Jackson weekend in January. I have several machines that came from him and Rich Craft (trainguy) has a couple that I brought back. Tim (timinator) from Elyria is getting the 1960 GE dryer that I brought back from there to go with the washer that Im selling him so he has a matched set. The pics brought back lots of good times Ive had out there in that yard..........
 
Great pictures and I love the captions. Perhaps you all should come up with a khaki safari type outfit with the matching safari hat. Someone can get an old van or jeep and paint it in zebra stripes... Appliance Safari's.com
 
Visit!!

I think you all should definitely drop by and we can visit the Phoenix yard--wouldn't it be fun to have a field day there?

A few consolidated answers to posted questions:

Yes, there were Frigidaires there, but only pre-and-post WCI 1-18s (it's so annoying to see a nice 1-18, open the lid, and see a WCI agitator!). They had some exceptionally old 1-18s, but time and the sun had been extraordinarily unkind to the simulated-woodgrain control panels, even though the interiors were rather good (most Jet-Cones had all cones intact). I consider the 1-18 control panel to be one of the hardest to restore, due to the woodgrain (at least I can have glass or Plexiglas reconstructed!). But they had some old ones that still had the script "Jet-Action" insignia on the lower-left, and some with windowed lids.

The only solid-tub machine lurking was a Hotpoint Silhouette, with the patented "gorgeous but useless" agitator :-) I was surprised to only find the one solid tub, but since Kenmores, Whirlpools, Filter-Flo GEs and Frigidaire 1-18s seemed to rule the West, I'm not overly amazed.

Thanks to all of you for the kind words--I'm glad you like the picture compilations :-P I certainly enjoy making them!

As a general rule, the machines that are out in the yard (if you obtain permission to get one) go for probably around $50-100; maybe more, maybe less, depending on what it is, how rare it is, and how good/bad of shape it's in. You know the drill--as we all chanted the mantra with the Rollermatic set, "It's worth whatever you're willing to pay for it." The owner is very nice and extremely reasonable, and I didn't feel shorted paying $100 for my '61, especially since it was mechanically intact--just a lot of cleaning and repainting to do (and a lot of centerpost rust repair--but more on that later).

The really rare stuff--including a (was it a '61? I forgot--maybe Ross, Roger or Scott can help me out) slant-front washer and a similar-vintage Lady K went upward of $500, but that's because you're purchasing something that's A) almost pristine and B) an item that the owner is fundamentally keeping for himself. So you kind of see how it all works out. If you're willing to apply some elbow grease and aren't afraid to tear things apart (gently), you can get a good deal on a back-lot machine.

And yes, Venus, Sears or Lowe's is kind of anticlimactic now :-P LOL

I'm really grateful to the owner, though, for keeping a place like this--it's a real rarity and a definite treat to explore. As he said, he's happier selling some of these to our club members, as they end up cherished, restored, and in good hands.
 
WOW!!!

Looks like you guys had a great time! Thanks so much for the photos. Now about that Hotpoint solid tub! I would be the LAST person to suggest this (HAHAHA!) but you really SHOULD get that Hotpoint set! Not very many in the club has a set of Hotpoints....and the solid tub washer.......well!!!!! Mark
 
Roto204
I usually pass by that place when I'm down in Phoenix, which as of late, has been about every 2-3 months. My family still lives down there. It looks like it was a fun trip!

On your next excursion, you may want to snoop around the Glendale/Peoria area for used appliance stores. Sun City had a lot of Fridigaire machines. And as they were just used during the Snow Bird months, I've still seen some when I go to the estate sales with one of my sisters. I don't have the room to bring one back, but they are out there.

Also, if memory serves me, Buckeye Road, along with Washington used to have a lot of used appliance stores. There was a place on South Central, past the Salt River that had used appliances, but last time I was in there a few years ago, they were starting to restore them and priced pretty high.
 
Hi Michael, Mark, and Darrel,

We'll have to go looking at those other possibilities--thank you for the info! :-)

Mark, yes, you probably noticed the Silhouette dryer and washer could be had together...but gosh, the dryer was in better shape. The entire control panel on the washer would need redoing, and with the fits my '61 Kenmore is sure to give me in that respect, I can't *imagine* redoing the Silhouette's huge, wing-like control surface. Plastics just don't do well outside here--especially the generally weaker, more brittle, and less sun-resistant plastics of yesteryear.

It would be neat, though!

Darrel, no, I didn't get a shot of the slant-front inside the store, alas. It seems to be the mate to Jetcone's dryer, though. But the boot on it is toast, and I wouldn't know where to find another or attempt to cobble one.
 
Nate, regarding that slant-front westy, and calling it a match to Jon's dryer, I have seen that washer in a pic from a former member who had taken photos at that same yard. At that time, the washer was still outside and yes, I do remember the toasted boot.
 
And the dryer ain't on featherweight either. At the end of the 2002 convention, jetcone got the dryer form a club member. You should have seen jetcone, gregm, and others getting that sucker up and out of the basement.
 

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