This is so cool! I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see this and I can't wait for the Aberdeen video. I've always been intrigued by what I have read and viewed about the place. Thanks for sharing this Robert. History is very important!
I Have Some automaticwasher.org History To Share
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Precious Memories
Robert, you seem to have found very "medicine" we all needed to move through the grief and shock we all experienced. It was like a tonic to recapture the freshness and allure of this site through the captures of where it was all beginning. I can never lose sight of all you have done to provide this amazing group and so freely share it will of all of us ragged vagabonds. For me it began with the machines and very quickly shifted gears into wonderful friendships and connections with the mighty men from all over the world who are the heart of AWorg. It seems odd that in all these years you haven't changed a bit while I seem to spend as much time pressing my wrinkles as I do the laundry. I was interested to see which machines have made the cut though the years and I am still drawn to the Hotpoint and loved the spectacular action of the Easy Spiralator. The washers aren't the only thing that's over flowing, my heart does to with love and gratitude to you for being the catalyst to bring us all together. A million thank yous.
Kelly
Robert, you seem to have found very "medicine" we all needed to move through the grief and shock we all experienced. It was like a tonic to recapture the freshness and allure of this site through the captures of where it was all beginning. I can never lose sight of all you have done to provide this amazing group and so freely share it will of all of us ragged vagabonds. For me it began with the machines and very quickly shifted gears into wonderful friendships and connections with the mighty men from all over the world who are the heart of AWorg. It seems odd that in all these years you haven't changed a bit while I seem to spend as much time pressing my wrinkles as I do the laundry. I was interested to see which machines have made the cut though the years and I am still drawn to the Hotpoint and loved the spectacular action of the Easy Spiralator. The washers aren't the only thing that's over flowing, my heart does to with love and gratitude to you for being the catalyst to bring us all together. A million thank yous.
Kelly
Wow
does that bring back memories! I remember Robert put a dozen roses on my bedroom table that night, I was soo impressed!
Where have all those machines gone too??
We've been through our share haven't we!
Love it, the club needs this for its permanent roots!
OXOXO to the Club!
Jon
does that bring back memories! I remember Robert put a dozen roses on my bedroom table that night, I was soo impressed!
Where have all those machines gone too??
We've been through our share haven't we!
Love it, the club needs this for its permanent roots!
OXOXO to the Club!
Jon
Our Trek to the Aberdeen Farm...
Thank you so much everyone for your kind comments. I'm glad you are all enjoying these.
I believe I also set up a video camera during the 2001 convention and just let it roll during the start of the Convention. I'll have to see if I can find that VHS video as well.
And the Farm Video is now ready, it took six hours to get it up to YouTube, but it's all there now.
Enjoy...
Thank you so much everyone for your kind comments. I'm glad you are all enjoying these.
I believe I also set up a video camera during the 2001 convention and just let it roll during the start of the Convention. I'll have to see if I can find that VHS video as well.
And the Farm Video is now ready, it took six hours to get it up to YouTube, but it's all there now.
Enjoy...
Great video, and I really enjoy learning about the early days of AW. I still recall being completely amazed when I found this site. That was years ago, and it's still one of my favorite sites. Time flies when you're washing clothes, LOL!
mark_wpduet
Well-known member
Great video! Must be really great for those who were actually there to relive it : D
I'm trying to remember when the first time I came across AW.ORG
As I watched this video I found myself wondering what I was doing at the moment this was going on. (weird)
I was probably at work as a telephone operator taking calls for GTE.
I know I had AOL dial up in 1997 (LOL)
I'm trying to remember when the first time I came across AW.ORG
As I watched this video I found myself wondering what I was doing at the moment this was going on. (weird)
I was probably at work as a telephone operator taking calls for GTE.
I know I had AOL dial up in 1997 (LOL)
Dang. If only I had been born sooner! I was in first grade when these were filmed! Just 7 years old! lol
Aberdeen Farm Classics
Great to see both vids and familiar faces, cant believe its all those years ago, I bet you could have spent a week & more on The Farm...
Would love to know how many machines in your collections guys came from the farm??
And Quotes From The Aberdeen Vid: Lol
We Did Lasagne & Laundry
Guardian Doggy of the Appliances
Its a Beautiful Day for Collecting Washers
And No Tornadoes
I Do Not Need This Today
We Need Water
I`m Hungry & Thirsty
Its The Only Way To Get Washers
I Wanna Sack
I`m Gonna Get A Sack
I Got My Sack
John Just Loves Those Maytags
Oh, Look At That
I`m Having That
He`s Taking That
Its Not Gonna Come Off
Whose Humpy Bumpy
26 Machines - And They`re Gonna Fit On That??
I Need Another One Of Those Like a Hole in The head
Can Everbody Push
Can Everbody PLEEESSSE Push
Its Like Giving Birth
Our Stopping Distance will Be Considerably Reduced
We got Them
AND YOU DID ...Yay!!!
And Robert The look on your face when you first put your prized washers on the Bobcat -you look terrified running along side in case they fell off...Lol - actually I would be as well!!! And a big thanks to Robert the Cameraman who managed to give us the Whole Picture and MORE!!! Ta...
[this post was last edited: 9/29/2011-05:25]
Great to see both vids and familiar faces, cant believe its all those years ago, I bet you could have spent a week & more on The Farm...
Would love to know how many machines in your collections guys came from the farm??
And Quotes From The Aberdeen Vid: Lol
We Did Lasagne & Laundry
Guardian Doggy of the Appliances
Its a Beautiful Day for Collecting Washers
And No Tornadoes
I Do Not Need This Today
We Need Water
I`m Hungry & Thirsty
Its The Only Way To Get Washers
I Wanna Sack
I`m Gonna Get A Sack
I Got My Sack
John Just Loves Those Maytags
Oh, Look At That
I`m Having That
He`s Taking That
Its Not Gonna Come Off
Whose Humpy Bumpy
26 Machines - And They`re Gonna Fit On That??
I Need Another One Of Those Like a Hole in The head
Can Everbody Push
Can Everbody PLEEESSSE Push
Its Like Giving Birth
Our Stopping Distance will Be Considerably Reduced
We got Them
AND YOU DID ...Yay!!!
And Robert The look on your face when you first put your prized washers on the Bobcat -you look terrified running along side in case they fell off...Lol - actually I would be as well!!! And a big thanks to Robert the Cameraman who managed to give us the Whole Picture and MORE!!! Ta...
[this post was last edited: 9/29/2011-05:25]
laundromat
Well-known member
Hey Robert,
Thanks for mentioning me as well as the March, 1989 anniversary issue of People Magazine article they came and wrote about my collection. I'm not really as well off as most here because they have more space and mechanical knowledge about appliances and can go pick up, have shipped and tare apart appliances to restore,rebuild,and use.I guess one can say I was just at the right place at the right time.
What had actually happened was I went to visit a close friend,who is excentric? and collects lots of stuff including Halloween costumes, Lynn Williams, a writer at that time for the Baltimore Sunpapers,was there interviewing him and writing an article about his collecting. She claimed that his hobby was a bit off and just as I was entering his studio, he was saying to Lynn " You think my collecting is weird? you need to go see my friend, Chuck,this weekend because he collects washing machines and has dirty laundry parties every weekend right in his own apartment!" I walked in to bring him a lunch I got for us both and swapped phone numbers and addresses with Lynn. She came during the week and fell in love with my cat, Teddy who was a full black Manx that did many strange things like fetching, answering the phone, drinking out of the toilet and wrestling.I had received two gifts from John LeFever, A gorgeous 40 inch wide GE Americana electric range(1966) and a fabulous Westinghouse roaster with the base.I also had the Laundromat twins and an older Philco frig in the kitchen.There were different washers that went in the kitchen over the years there and I had numerous FRIGIDAIRE washers from 1954 to 1974. The one used most was the 1973 WC6. A 2 speed 1-18 in Harvest gold. The last time I saw it was back around '85 when John LeFever and I drove up to meet Jon Charles in Boston. Jon said that,when he saw me in PM, he took my picture from there and made it a dartboard because he thought he was the only washer collector. I was glad we met to resolve that and, Jon,you and everyone else here,especially Robert,should have been the ones in People.
Anyway, Lynn was told by the editor of the Sun that he was not that impressed with my story. She said that she wanted to make a wajor on his decision and bet him a dinner at a restaurant in Baltimore's "Little Italy"that the response to the article would be unbelievable.On Christmas day of 1988, the Baltimore Sun had the article and my phone was ringing off the hook. I was offered so many washers that people there had in their basements, garages, backyards, barns and the like.Because of Lynn's bet, the article went to the subsidiaries across the country and around the world and kept coming up in different papers. I was getting calls from radio and tv stations and received a call from Dr. Bronwynn Jones who is a radiology Xray doctor at Johns Hopkins where I worked at that time.She was calling from Sydney Australia on her cell car phone! She and her husband were there on their way to the theatre and heard me on the radio! I was being interviewed live on one of their local news radio stations she just happened to be listening to. She said she almost had an accident when she heard me. She still to this day has a bd Whirlpool washer and dryer I sold her back in '82.
I was scheduled for major brain surgery (experimental left temporolobectomy)the third week of April'89 and received a call on March 20th from Dallas ,Texas. A writer for People Magazine who was reading the article about my passion for appliances and wanted to fly up and see my works.He was so disbelieving,especially when he went into the spare bedroom full of different models and adds regarding them.So, he recorded our 4 hour visit and edited it. It was published in the March,1989 Anniversary Issue of people Magazine (collectors)where I was called " Amana for all seasons" and photoed popping out of a 50's Kitchen Aid top loading dishwasher.
It wasn't long after that that my entire life fell apart.Lost my job,lost everything I owned and died a few times due to thyroid cancer.Not much has changed since and,even though the brain surgery was successful and is now a common procedure for epileptics who are candidates,my life is not that great now. I try to look at the bright side of things but am scheduled this following Monday for a visit to see my surgeon who is concerned about another growth on my right leg behind my shin.I was just there a few weeks ago because my cat scratched my right wrist while jumping out of my lap and swelled my hand up 5 times bigger. I was septic and had to be admitted and put on severe anti biodics. That visit lasted two weeks.
Don't get me wrong guys and gals, let's face it, WHERE AM I NOW??? What? Hawaii??? What? way up in the mountains there?? What? off the grid?? What? paddle surfing? Yea, it sounds like paradise but,trust me folks, "It ain't all that!"I'm called a "Howley" every single day and treated like a white slave here. Everyone else who lives here smokes tobacco,drinks hard liquor and has sex with anything that can walk.Hens included! hippies seam to get drawn to our place and come in pennyless to try and stay a while. Al and I just got rid of 4 of them and 3 more showed up yesterday.They claim they want to "earn their stay" but get involved in those here who are useless but have money to pay for their stay here.Then, they just hang out, get stoned,use the bathroom facilities but never clean up after themselves and don't shower. they stink! The girls do not shave and have enough hair under their arms, on their legs and some even have beards and mustaches. You could make dredlocks on their armpits!We'll see waht happens. I filed a year ago this month for Social Security and in December,there's a trial I have to attend to see a judge and have him/her decide my eligeability.If so, I'll receive a check that will be retroactive from 9/4/10 to current. The decided amount is now $1650/month.If the judge decides (my lawyer is pretty sure they will now everything's documented)I'm eledgeable,the first check will be more than enough for me to put a nice downpayment on a house in Hilo Bay which is where I'd want to spend the rest of my time here.
Thanks for mentioning me as well as the March, 1989 anniversary issue of People Magazine article they came and wrote about my collection. I'm not really as well off as most here because they have more space and mechanical knowledge about appliances and can go pick up, have shipped and tare apart appliances to restore,rebuild,and use.I guess one can say I was just at the right place at the right time.
What had actually happened was I went to visit a close friend,who is excentric? and collects lots of stuff including Halloween costumes, Lynn Williams, a writer at that time for the Baltimore Sunpapers,was there interviewing him and writing an article about his collecting. She claimed that his hobby was a bit off and just as I was entering his studio, he was saying to Lynn " You think my collecting is weird? you need to go see my friend, Chuck,this weekend because he collects washing machines and has dirty laundry parties every weekend right in his own apartment!" I walked in to bring him a lunch I got for us both and swapped phone numbers and addresses with Lynn. She came during the week and fell in love with my cat, Teddy who was a full black Manx that did many strange things like fetching, answering the phone, drinking out of the toilet and wrestling.I had received two gifts from John LeFever, A gorgeous 40 inch wide GE Americana electric range(1966) and a fabulous Westinghouse roaster with the base.I also had the Laundromat twins and an older Philco frig in the kitchen.There were different washers that went in the kitchen over the years there and I had numerous FRIGIDAIRE washers from 1954 to 1974. The one used most was the 1973 WC6. A 2 speed 1-18 in Harvest gold. The last time I saw it was back around '85 when John LeFever and I drove up to meet Jon Charles in Boston. Jon said that,when he saw me in PM, he took my picture from there and made it a dartboard because he thought he was the only washer collector. I was glad we met to resolve that and, Jon,you and everyone else here,especially Robert,should have been the ones in People.
Anyway, Lynn was told by the editor of the Sun that he was not that impressed with my story. She said that she wanted to make a wajor on his decision and bet him a dinner at a restaurant in Baltimore's "Little Italy"that the response to the article would be unbelievable.On Christmas day of 1988, the Baltimore Sun had the article and my phone was ringing off the hook. I was offered so many washers that people there had in their basements, garages, backyards, barns and the like.Because of Lynn's bet, the article went to the subsidiaries across the country and around the world and kept coming up in different papers. I was getting calls from radio and tv stations and received a call from Dr. Bronwynn Jones who is a radiology Xray doctor at Johns Hopkins where I worked at that time.She was calling from Sydney Australia on her cell car phone! She and her husband were there on their way to the theatre and heard me on the radio! I was being interviewed live on one of their local news radio stations she just happened to be listening to. She said she almost had an accident when she heard me. She still to this day has a bd Whirlpool washer and dryer I sold her back in '82.
I was scheduled for major brain surgery (experimental left temporolobectomy)the third week of April'89 and received a call on March 20th from Dallas ,Texas. A writer for People Magazine who was reading the article about my passion for appliances and wanted to fly up and see my works.He was so disbelieving,especially when he went into the spare bedroom full of different models and adds regarding them.So, he recorded our 4 hour visit and edited it. It was published in the March,1989 Anniversary Issue of people Magazine (collectors)where I was called " Amana for all seasons" and photoed popping out of a 50's Kitchen Aid top loading dishwasher.
It wasn't long after that that my entire life fell apart.Lost my job,lost everything I owned and died a few times due to thyroid cancer.Not much has changed since and,even though the brain surgery was successful and is now a common procedure for epileptics who are candidates,my life is not that great now. I try to look at the bright side of things but am scheduled this following Monday for a visit to see my surgeon who is concerned about another growth on my right leg behind my shin.I was just there a few weeks ago because my cat scratched my right wrist while jumping out of my lap and swelled my hand up 5 times bigger. I was septic and had to be admitted and put on severe anti biodics. That visit lasted two weeks.
Don't get me wrong guys and gals, let's face it, WHERE AM I NOW??? What? Hawaii??? What? way up in the mountains there?? What? off the grid?? What? paddle surfing? Yea, it sounds like paradise but,trust me folks, "It ain't all that!"I'm called a "Howley" every single day and treated like a white slave here. Everyone else who lives here smokes tobacco,drinks hard liquor and has sex with anything that can walk.Hens included! hippies seam to get drawn to our place and come in pennyless to try and stay a while. Al and I just got rid of 4 of them and 3 more showed up yesterday.They claim they want to "earn their stay" but get involved in those here who are useless but have money to pay for their stay here.Then, they just hang out, get stoned,use the bathroom facilities but never clean up after themselves and don't shower. they stink! The girls do not shave and have enough hair under their arms, on their legs and some even have beards and mustaches. You could make dredlocks on their armpits!We'll see waht happens. I filed a year ago this month for Social Security and in December,there's a trial I have to attend to see a judge and have him/her decide my eligeability.If so, I'll receive a check that will be retroactive from 9/4/10 to current. The decided amount is now $1650/month.If the judge decides (my lawyer is pretty sure they will now everything's documented)I'm eledgeable,the first check will be more than enough for me to put a nice downpayment on a house in Hilo Bay which is where I'd want to spend the rest of my time here.
I so wish I had been here from the beginning
How many of us have told you that we thought we were the only humans on the planet with passion for appliances? I myself was notorious in my own family for having a "fixation" with washing machines. It's like coming out all over again only better.
I first heard of the Aberdeen farm from a wonderful local appliance dealer, Andrew Page, 3rd generation proprietor of Page's Hardware and Appliance Store in Guilford CT. I have told Andrew that when I die, I'm leaving instructions to my executor/trix, to make sure some of my ashes are spread in his store. We were talking sometime in the late nineties about old appliances and Andrew said that he had heard that there was this farm somewhere in the Dakotas...
I believed him but heard nothing about it until I gave up AOL dial-up and manned up to high speed Internet and I think this was the result of my very first Google search. It was sort of like that dream we all had as children where we open a strange door and there, inside, is every candy (or young hottie, or 77 virgins, you get the idea) in the world and it's all yours.I keep praying that somewhere there's another similar appliance graveyard just waiting to be discovered.
Can't wait for the next convention. BTW, how did the Vacuum convention go?
How many of us have told you that we thought we were the only humans on the planet with passion for appliances? I myself was notorious in my own family for having a "fixation" with washing machines. It's like coming out all over again only better.
I first heard of the Aberdeen farm from a wonderful local appliance dealer, Andrew Page, 3rd generation proprietor of Page's Hardware and Appliance Store in Guilford CT. I have told Andrew that when I die, I'm leaving instructions to my executor/trix, to make sure some of my ashes are spread in his store. We were talking sometime in the late nineties about old appliances and Andrew said that he had heard that there was this farm somewhere in the Dakotas...
I believed him but heard nothing about it until I gave up AOL dial-up and manned up to high speed Internet and I think this was the result of my very first Google search. It was sort of like that dream we all had as children where we open a strange door and there, inside, is every candy (or young hottie, or 77 virgins, you get the idea) in the world and it's all yours.I keep praying that somewhere there's another similar appliance graveyard just waiting to be discovered.
Can't wait for the next convention. BTW, how did the Vacuum convention go?
1.29 for a gallon of Amaco gas!?!
Jon only spent about 39 bucks to fill up that U-Haul on 10/5/1997! Amazing! Too bad she didn't give him a bag....
All kidding aside, loved the Farm video, and the fact that the group is at the point where there is true history to be reflected upon. A Facebook 'Timeline' feature would be pretty sweet.
Glad to have found this fantastic group of people when I did. Great machines, great hunts, but most of all, great friends have been discovered.
Ben
Jon only spent about 39 bucks to fill up that U-Haul on 10/5/1997! Amazing! Too bad she didn't give him a bag....
All kidding aside, loved the Farm video, and the fact that the group is at the point where there is true history to be reflected upon. A Facebook 'Timeline' feature would be pretty sweet.
Glad to have found this fantastic group of people when I did. Great machines, great hunts, but most of all, great friends have been discovered.
Ben
Love your list of quotes Mike!!!! lol
I had so much fun reliving this video I can't even tell you. I want more now!!!
It is interesting to note in that of all of the machines in my original/early collection I only have the Norge Time-Line left intact as it was. The house the video was taken in was my x-partners house, I've moved twice since then. The first convention was at my next house.
By the time this Farm video was taken I had been there three times, it was the first time for everyone else. The only machine I took home from this 3rd haul was my turquoise WCI-58 Frigidaire Unimatic. All of the other machines you see being taken were brought back to Washington DC and Boston.
Thanks Chuck for your story. We will have to organize all this stuff at some point for our "History Page" or what ever we decide to do.
Ken I'm shocked to hear that you head of the Aberdeen Farm all the way out in Connecticut.
I had so much fun reliving this video I can't even tell you. I want more now!!!
It is interesting to note in that of all of the machines in my original/early collection I only have the Norge Time-Line left intact as it was. The house the video was taken in was my x-partners house, I've moved twice since then. The first convention was at my next house.
By the time this Farm video was taken I had been there three times, it was the first time for everyone else. The only machine I took home from this 3rd haul was my turquoise WCI-58 Frigidaire Unimatic. All of the other machines you see being taken were brought back to Washington DC and Boston.
Thanks Chuck for your story. We will have to organize all this stuff at some point for our "History Page" or what ever we decide to do.
Ken I'm shocked to hear that you head of the Aberdeen Farm all the way out in Connecticut.
cycla-fabric
Well-known member
That was a great video of "The Farm" and some adventure, like kids in a candy store. Robert, I think you should mention the names of they guys who took that trip with you and are they all still with the club.
Doug
Doug
Besides you getting the 1958 Unimatic, who took what in the end? I see Jon gets a control tower washer (dryer too?).
Wonderful document of appliance hauling!
Wonderful document of appliance hauling!
Robert, I think you should mention the names of they guys who took that trip with you and are they all still with the club.
Hi Doug, the trip to the farm consisted of Jon Charles (Jetcone), John Lefever (Combo52), Robert Stokes (Syndets2000), Don Haggerty (I don't think he has a logon here) and me.
Besides you getting the 1958 Unimatic, who took what in the end? I see Jon gets a control tower washer (dryer too?).
Good question Louis, we only could fit my turquoise Unimatic, the rest of the room in the truck was taken up by John and Jon's haul. As for what they brought home they are going have to answer that themselves, I don't quite remember. I do know like you said Jon got his '57 Control Tower Unimatic that trip.
I also thought it would be fun to share a few pictures from the very 1st wash-in, three months earlier back in July 1997. We spent a few days in Jon's Boston house and a couple of days at the Cape Cod beach house.
This first picture is the washer boys washing and getting tan, just like we did this last July
. Me, Jon, Don, Don's partner and John L in the background...
Hi Doug, the trip to the farm consisted of Jon Charles (Jetcone), John Lefever (Combo52), Robert Stokes (Syndets2000), Don Haggerty (I don't think he has a logon here) and me.
Besides you getting the 1958 Unimatic, who took what in the end? I see Jon gets a control tower washer (dryer too?).
Good question Louis, we only could fit my turquoise Unimatic, the rest of the room in the truck was taken up by John and Jon's haul. As for what they brought home they are going have to answer that themselves, I don't quite remember. I do know like you said Jon got his '57 Control Tower Unimatic that trip.
I also thought it would be fun to share a few pictures from the very 1st wash-in, three months earlier back in July 1997. We spent a few days in Jon's Boston house and a couple of days at the Cape Cod beach house.
This first picture is the washer boys washing and getting tan, just like we did this last July
. Me, Jon, Don, Don's partner and John L in the background...
Here is another shot of the w-boyz...
An adorable picture of Jon we took in his basement after we got back to Boston...
And me in the back yard on the Cape. Ugh those shorts!
Of course I was being a ham when I should have been helping schlep and lift that Bendix we were taking back to Boston into the truck lol.
Of course I was being a ham when I should have been helping schlep and lift that Bendix we were taking back to Boston into the truck lol.
autowasherfreak
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2008
- Messages
- 3,637
Robert, what a difference in your basement from then to now! How long did it take you to redo your basement?
Them some "big" agitators in Reply# 35, LOL.
Them some "big" agitators in Reply# 35, LOL.
