I'm feeling guilty...

[beekeyknee]

I'm feeling guilty about parting out a Maytag HDE606 dryer. I took the front panel off and took the door apart. Then I put the screws back in the hinges on the inner panel and put the handle, switch, front panel clips and screws in a plastic bag.

I picked up the front panel and felt it's weight, then laid it on the ground, took some all-purpose cleaner and a green scratchy pad and lightly cleaned the front panel to see how it would look. A lot of what I thought were scratches were really just scuffs and paint marks. I took some Pledge and polished it up. It really looked pretty nice and it made me sad to think I'm getting ready to scrap it knowing there won't ever be anything like it made again. I can't keep it because there's no room, I have a DE606 setting right next to it and I'll use the guts from the HDE to make a perfect DE606.

But it still makes me sad to feel it's weight and quality and to know that I can't go out to a store and buy something like it anymore.

Do any of you guys ever feel this way?[this post was last edited: 6/15/2012-01:45]

 

[d-jones]

I know exactly how you feel

I'd have a very hard time scrapping a machine that was repairable.

 

[combo52]

Scrapping Old Appliances

Brain I know how you feel, we scrap appliances every week that could easily be used from old classics to fairly new machines. I have a TOL 1988 JA RR DW thats looks and works perfectly that may start its trip to becoming a new Kiea this weekend. Everyone here loves these old appliances but few come forward to get them, about two years myself and another club member [ whose name I won't mention ] scrapped a dozen early 1960s center dial MT W&Ds must with lighted glass control panels because both of us have gotten so tired of not being able to even get $50 out of a machine and then folks won't show up to get them.

 

[gansky1]

Yup. Sometimes you just have to make room. John is right though, it's hard to find anyone to take them unless they're "rare" and then the shipping or pick-up is difficult for non-local people to get done. Selling them as "older, working" on Craigslist, etc. only gets so far. Unless it's nearly free, people don't want anything that looks old. There have been a couple center-dial Maytag dryers on CL here for a couple of months now and nobody is biting. Let them go with a nod to the heritage and beauty - they will come back as Kias or Samsungs but that's the cycle of life

 

[goatfarmer]

John is exactly right, you can't save 'em all.  I've scrapped so many that needed something minor, or were never checked out, simply because of space concerns. People around here always talk about wanting something vintage, but when it's free, or $5.00, but 100 miles away, you hear "if it were only closer...."

 

[mickeyd]

There is a real need in this club right now

for some members--strong and healthy--with road-worthy trucks, vans, etc, who are looking for employment, to form the Automatic Washer Shipping Company.

 

We need shipping that is both available and affordable, trusted and familiar. Right now that does not exist. We could make it happen.

 

My hope is that someone will see a real opportunity in this obvious need, go for it, and let the shipments flow.

 

[travis]

I have shipped plenty of stuff

Considering the price of gas, I have found my shipping quotes to be very fair.  Shipping an appliance is going to be at least $200-300 just to deal with it.  This means you only ship really cool stuff.  You're almost always going to have more into something after you ship since the value of stuff doesn't increase no mater how hard it was for you to fetch it home.

 

The "collector" market for these appliances consists pretty much of the members here or the prop guys.  Most normal people won't spend the time and money to acquire and restore an appliance.  Then after you're done, deal with the antiquated features it possesses.  I say that in the most loving way, but I am about to put a two door monitor top in the kitchen.  It has no freezer space to mention, so in comes a vintage chest freezer!  I am thrilled, but most folks aren't going to tie up 7.5 ft of space in a room for refrigerating appliances.

 

[westingman123]

Travis...would that be the Maytag chest freezer, hmmmm?

 

[mickeyd]

"I have shipped plenty of stuff"

Me too, and that's why I'd love to see us have our own company. It's just a dream, for sure, but that's how you start any innovation. With people looking for work, this remains a golden opportunity, even if only part time to start, but who knows?

As Automatic Washer grows so will the need to have some of these priceless gems that John and Kenny have to send weekly to the crusher man.

 

[stan]

Mike D

I think your on to something! Good idea!

 

[brianl]

I agree!

Ever since I got my van, I toyed with the idea to make a couple of extra bucks by doing just this. Heck, it's something I would enjoy doing, as I would get to meet members, and make a little money too. I'm glad I'm not the only one whose pondered this.

Perhaps I'll need to more seriously consider this. How much interest do you think there would be?

 

[mickeyd]

The easiest way to find out

is through a new thread. But let's see what happens here, and go from there. Of course your own judgment is fine as to how to proceed.

This is exactly what I mean, Brian. Say someone in Hamburg has a machine waiting in Waterloo. You put that trip on this list, and we're a patient group here by nature, so when you get enough orders, you map out the most efficient route for pick-ups and deliveries. The options are limitless. We all know and trust you, etc.

PS EDIT: Thanks, Stan[this post was last edited: 6/16/2012-12:33]

 

[laundromat]

When I left Baltimore and let John have my pieces,it took a while to fulfill the empty feeling. It's similar to coming home to an empty house.

 

[bendixmark]

Cant save Them All

I deal with this every day.I go to an appliance store nearby each day to see if they have any nice machines I can fix and sell and I regularly see center dial maytags and beltdrives that could be saved.I wish I had the room to take them all.I even have an avocado green maytag DE806 with little wrong with it that I brought home from work and was thinking of posting it here in case somebody wants it but it probably is going to get scrapped as I dont have room for it as the green kenmores came the other day .My advice to those out there who are thinking of getting that dream vintage machine is get it,the ones I have gotten so far have been hugely rewarding to me.(the people I work with think Im insane)I now know that no matter what crummy thing that happens in my life next there is always that next great dirty washload to look forward to.

 

[beekeyknee]

Michael,

You maybe on to something. With so many of us pining for vintage appliance and items, this may be a viable enterprise. It would take responsible and dedicated people to pull it off. And transporting vintage appliances many times requires special considerations and handling. For instance, transporting a refrigerating appliance can require stabilizing a compressor to prevent breaking soldered connections and loss of freon.

It's possible that with people starting to realize that the items they are buying in the stores these days and the price they are paying for them aren't worth dragging home. It would take an awful lot of capital to get it off the ground. With people like my sister starting to realize that their new appliances aren't all they're cracked up to be it could cross-over into the mainstream. She commented the other day that her family is getting smaller and that she thinks she might be interested in going back to and older type washer that uses a normal amount of water. I told her that could be arranged. She said she didn't think that her clothes were getting clean in that tiny amount of water the machine uses. She said that a small amount of water can only hold so much dirt.

If one wanted to think bigger, one could envision a warehouse near the center of the U.S. for distribution of restored or non-restored devices, for those that do or do not have restoration abilities. At this point the facility would almost become a factory and would require older folks with traditional knowledge and younger folks with the energy to do labor. The way things are going, this might not be such a bad idea. A lot of people might jump at the chance to work together for the common good, the young learning from the older, the older feeling useful and having person pride again and all feeling pride in American ingenuity.

As Americans loose self-sufficiency we loose independence and if we loose independence we're vulnerable. I don't think the government or corporations have our best interests at heart. I think they're concerned with greed.

As a child, I remember how self-sufficient my grandparent were. They could do almost anything and grew their own food. Even my parents were self-sufficient compared to folks today. My Dad is eighty and still sets out a garden. My Father and Mother built their house their selves and they didn't borrow any money to do it. They'd save as much as they could and build on it a bit at a time until the house was built. It took about 10 years, but at the end there were no house payments, we had more money in our pockets, we didn't line the banks pockets with interest. We were better off in the long run.

What's going on with the products we buy today represents our loss of independence and I don't know that anyone is doing anything about it. If we don't do something about it before long, we will have lost the knowledge to care for ourselves. The older folks won't be around much longer. If any of you have called a tech to your house recently, you'll surely know that most of them, especially the younger ones, don't know much of anything and most will just tell you to replace the item because it's broken. What's the point. If an appliance costs $2000, calling a tech should be more cost effective than replacing it. But if the appliance wasn't worth anything to begin with why repair it or buy it for that matter.

I know this isn't the correct forum for this topic, but it seemed to fit in with what Michael was talking about. I don't want this to turn into a political football. If someone wants to turn it into that, I suggest they move it to Dirty Laundry and post a referral as to where the thread originated.

As Independence Day approaches I hope this inspires you all. [this post was last edited: 6/18/2012-05:40]

 

[mickeyd]

Brian,

I am inspired by your thoughts. Like you, I have daydreamed of the Ultimate Appliance Factory where we could work seasonally or full-time. And more than once have fantasized about the AW Academy with four regional centers where we could all teach our specialties.

 

When more people start dreaming, things become more possible than they otherwise would be. Lets keep dreaming.

 

[washerlover]

I, too, am facing the same dilemma, having been offered a fantastic job out of the area and having to sell our house and take the following to the recycling center this weekend: '65 Norge dryer (not in the best shape), '78 Maytag dryer (noisy motor, dead heating element), '75 Whirlpool washer (agitator/motor frozen), '65 Lady Kenmore combo (in a sad state of dissassembled repair), and am selling a working '75 Wards Signature dryer. Hate to do it, but live so far away from everyone here in the Redwood Empire and don't have time/space to save any of it. Hope to buy a place where I'm going to house what I have left and add more!