gansky1 & gyrafoam visit Iowa and bring a riddle

[gansky1]

Steve (gyrafoam) flew into Omaha on Thursday and we drove up to Early, Iowa today for a day of appliance hunting. Steve brought back a Maytag Super Highlander A200 time-fill, helical drive washer among other fun small odds and ends and I brought back a NIB KitchenAid KD-18 series plexiglas display panel and a "mystery machine."

Since we all love the washer-riddles so much, we thought than rather unveil the washer that I bagged today, we'd test everyone's knowlege of washer manufacturing history with a guessing game. I'll post the first hint after a couple of the sights we saw today...

Here is a picture of the Hardware Hank store where the owner, in business since 1959 selling hardware, Hoover, Maytag and a little KitchenAid has been stockpiling stuff for 46 years.(OK, it's a junkyard inside and out)

 

[gansky1]

Here is the Maytag washer Steve brought back.

 

[gansky1]

The fabulous new-in-box KitchenAid display panel. I can't wait to try this!

 

[gansky1]

Here is inside the warehouse of the Iowa hardware store. You literally have to crawl on top of appliances and around vans and school bus-turned camper to see the contents.

 

[gansky1]

another warehouse shot

 

[gansky1]

still another view, this is only scratching the surface of the unimaginable amount of junk in here - and the store as well, you can barely walk around in the hardware store. Stuff everywhere!

 

[tolivac]

Cool and interesting place---Lots of disembodied wringer washers.Any vacuums amongst all of those treasures?Good appliance hunting spot.

 

[petek]

My guess is the mystery machine is a vacuum cleaner

 

[goatfarmer]

How do you guys find these places?

 

[toggleswitch]

turning negative to positive.

Great finds guys, I'm excited for ya both.

Great to see that someone else's hoarding and disorder instincts mean great finds for appliance lovers!

 

[mayken4now]

Steve (Gyrafoam) is to blame for finding these kinds of places to enter! Remeber last month with Steve 1-18? Remember how nasty and dirty those pix were? OY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have fun guys and Steve, the Highlander is an awsome find! Now make another connection and when I come to Atlanta, I want the Rollermatic and the Highlander next to each other - working and washing!

Steve

 

[swestoyz]

Great find Greg!

I remember reading a few months ago about this place. This one looks like a ton of fun! I am not surprised at all that this place is hidding in Iowa - I imagine there are a lot more out there waiting to be discovered! Wish Cor and I could have lent a hand..... =)

Ben

 

[peterh770]

Wow, Greg! It looks like the place has gotten worse!

 

[westytoploader]

Wow, great finds guys!! Interesting place too, and I bet they have some NIB steel-tank Shop-Vacs there!! Would love to check it out!

Did you see any Hoover twinnies by any chance?

 

[bostonwash]

now this is shopping!

that place is like a dream come true.

 

[gansky1]

It is a fun place, the couple who own the store are very nice people. We didn't have time to do much digging to get a couple more things out we wanted but are planning another trip up there soon to fetch a couple more things - Ben, you and Cory are more than welcome to go along too! There are many more washers and dryers around there, mostly Maytag. Here's one I 'peed around' while we were climbing about. There are also a couple of Kelvinator dishwashers (D&M) and a Frigidaire d/w back in a corner, a similar Kenmore washer to the 63 I found this summer but maybe a lower end model, I think it said 517 or 518 on the panel (??) a 67-68 Lady Kenmore w/gold vari-flex and as you probably saw, many, many wringer washers.

Steve and I have been cooking and baking all afternoon today, the sales were mostly a bust, but we're loading up the never-used avocado Kenmore dishwasher for it's virgin load tonight. We'll post more pics later of the fun!

 

[westytoploader]

517-518...that's definitely a large-capacity model with the BIG 3-vane agitator! I found a 518 in OK shape, but the centerpost was rusted and it had fallen victim to hard water. Did keep the top panel and that cool agitator though!

 

[lesto]

I've never seen a time-filled Maytag before. I can't wait to see it when you get it home, Steve. That old 55 in the warehouse would be a beauty all cleaned up too.
Les

 

[appnut]

Lesto, Powerfin64 (Rich in Yakima, WA) has a timed-fill Maytag in his collection.