Hooterville-style Speed Queen

[swestoyz]

Hey gang -

If you live in the midwest right now I'm pretty sure you are suffering from the same fate that I am. It is damn hot outside. The tepid temps that early June brought to us were just a memory come Sunday. Hot. Sticky. Yuck.

Yesterday I was needing some supplies from Menards and did the usual stroll out back. A perf tub Speed Queen has been making the rounds for the last few months - but when I spied a shiny panel on what appeared to be a different Queen from the 100 foot distance to the back row, I had to find out what it was.

Hot damn a solid tub Speed Queen!

 

[swestoyz]

I threw it in the back of the Tahoe knowing that the parts alone were worth the 9 dollar charge.

See, lately the boys at Menards haven't been so kind to the used appliances. There hasn't be a single washer in the last few months that hasn't had some sort of battle scare due to the steep fall from the back of the truck. I was just thankful that it wasn't a WCI-58 in Charcoal Gray. Heavy artillery would have blasted the store to bits.

 

[swestoyz]

The top porcelain panel was mint. Not so much anymore. They usually have rusted out somewhere. Just wish I could have found it before they ruined it.

Oh, and two of the 4 feet were completely rusted out. And the cold solenoid smoked when I plugged it in. Gathered that is why they chopped the cord.

 

[swestoyz]

Why Hooterville, you ask? Well -

While up at Don's a few weeks ago, we ran some wash in a machine that had been sitting out in the garage for years. He hooked up a hose from the basement to get hot water, and let her rip from the garage!

So on the hot, hot day that it was yesterday, I plugged it in - out in the driveway, and filled it up with the garden hose.

The thing ran, and it ran just like a Queen should. The pump not only wasn't ceased, but didn't leak!

I almost don't want to part it out, so it can be brought out during a wash-in. Who knows, we'll see.

 

[swestoyz]

The SS tub has the most bizarre scale stuck to it. I threw all kinds of toxic chemicals, and whipped up quite the cocktail, but it still didn't chip off.

Oh - Greg and GregM - remember what that white tub SQ smelled like? This thing smelled just like it! Must have been the swamp humidity.

 

[swestoyz]

Look ma, no rust on the lid!

(don't mind that nasty fabric softener dispenser on the ground)

 

[swestoyz]

Last bit - guessing it was a late solid tub. The model tag wasn't the usual stamped affair - but was a printed sticker tag. I hadn't seen this later plastic agitator bolt either.

The panel is a non-lighted match to the TOL green dryer that will be heading to Mpls. What a shame!

Ben

 

[alr2903]

Ben had this been the lighted one, would it of been the little circle of light at the top of the dial. My Gran had that one. Do you think a gallon of vinegar might dissolve that scale? Nice machine. arthur

 

[laundromat]

timed fill

Better have great water presure!!!

 

[gyrafoam]

Oooooh, lots of "moving trauma". Shame of those brutes at Menard's!
I hope you save it, Ben. (Always easier to suggest what someone else should do with valuble floor-space!)

Anyway. If it is in good operating condition, those certainly do a good job of cleaning. I wouldn't part with mine for 'nothin!
Nice addition to any collection.

 

[gansky1]

A good parts machine. Did the tub spin/rotate while it agitated? I've tried to remove this scale from the outside of SS tubs before and you need a bomb and even then...

You would think that if they wanted to sell these appliances, they wouldn't allow the guys to drop them! It might be worth mentioning to the store management - maybe with a little whine in your voice to make it memorable ;-)

 

[rpm]

Whats wrong with the nasty fabric softner dispenser?
It belongs with the washer does it not? This washer looks a lot like the one my mom had. She gave it to my sisiter when she got married.She lived on a farm and had a lot of problems with the time fill. They had well water and really low pressure. The washer always had to be set twice to fill for a large load. She kept it for a month and then it was replaced with a Maytag. The queen was banished to live behind the barn. It was there on its side for quite awhile till a scrap dealer took it.

 

[revvinkevin]

Congrats on the find and the save......

It's just too bad it's SOOO beat up! I would love to find a solid tub Speed Queen, but here is Southern Cal, the are non existent.

I assume this is a "later" machine... do you have any idea what year it is?

Good luck with it!
Kevin

 

[yogitunes]

YOU LUCKY PUP!...I would kill to find one like this...congrats

 

[swestoyz]

A good parts machine.

Yes, considering there is a rust hole in the bottom plate about the size of my fist where a leveling leg once existed.

Better have great water presure!!! isn't that what a garden hose is for? ;-)

Did the tub spin/rotate while it agitated? no, and I couldn't believe it. The tub breaks much more solid than the green one that came from Omaha. And the center post is almost mint too! If it didn't have the rust hole/battle scar...

Thanks for the kind words guys. I had the TOL dryer that was a step up from this with the lighted panel. Quite a stunning machine and wish this washer had the matching lighted panel. Beggars can't be choosers! I suspect this is from the Chuck Connor's era - late 70's reversing motor (no solenoids in this puppy).

Ben

 

[goatfarmer]

Nice washer, Ben! Looks like you need to have a word or 2 with the Menards delivery people!

kennyGF

 

[blackstone]

Those solid stainless tubs are great for storing/transporting sand; I just stacked 4 of them in the yard. If you need a pump and fluid drive, I have one of each that you can have for this machine.

 

[jetcone]

Lucky Boy!

I'd love to find a SQ someday...

 

[roto204]

Those solid stainless tubs are great for storing/transporting sand

I think that was Consumer Reports' consensus even though they weren't really trying ;-).