If I could collect vintage appliances

[rinso]

I envy you folks who have been able to assemble a collection of vintage appliances and have space for them. Most homes in Boise have no basements, and of course here, we need our three-car garage for our pickup trucks and RV parking.

Of course, there's also the fact that Boise is a very isolated city, and things like estate sales don't occur very often. Now, if I had just kept all the ones I've owned over the past 30 years, I'd at least have something of a collection.

 

[danemodsandy]

Rinso:

I feel your pain. Can I suggest another approach to collecting that does not require the space that folks like Robert and Greg have devoted to their holdings?

I collect, but only what I need for actual daily use. In other words, I don't have a big collection of washers and dryers, but I DO have a nice set of centre-dial Maytags that are used as my regular laundry equipment- I don't have new machines for everyday.

I also have an Electrolux 1205 vacuum which is used as an everyday vac, and a 1988 Volvo 245 which is my daily driver.

This kind of collecting takes up no more space than you'd use anyway, since you're not accumulating stuff beyond what you actually need. It does mean that you need to collect sturdy stuff- I would not want to depend on a Bendix squeeze-tub washer or a Yugo for everyday use.

It's an approach that's working out well for me personally, and I intend to expand on it in my next house, with a vintage range, reefer, and dishwasher. I won't have a collection to rival Greg's, but I will have a collection.

 

[tolivac]

I have a diffrent problem in the South-the land of rust.Haven't seen ANY machine here(washers)older than 1970's.Do run into small appliances during yard sales-in fact its yard sale day on the way home from work! A good advantage to working the mid shift.I don't have the space for a large washer collection-just for "favorites".In my area there are no basements.

 

[xyz]

Here at my house in La. You will trip over at least 20 washers before you make it to my front door. Redneck city. But it's a clean yard, only good junk.

 

[rinso]

Here in Cow-Boy-See Idaho, yards like yours are the norm. Just add a car on blocks, and several vintage appliances.