I'm glad I'm not the only one who is fascinated by washing machines!

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tbolt25

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 12, 2004
Messages
218
Location
Kentucky
Every now and then I get negative remarks by anyone in my family over my fascination of washing machines(my Dad, my Grandma, my aunts, etc.) and I feel all alone. I then think of this website and all of you guys on here, and it helps me through those dark moments. It is nice to know that I am not the only one out there who is fascinated by washing machines.
 
Never Alone

I am glad you found us and you are very welcomed here. I loved appliances from an early age. When I was in the hospital, at two years old, my mom brought the mixer for me to play with. We would go shopping and I would sneak away and go to the local appliance store and stare at the appliances. In any conversation, I would try to wiggle in the question about what kind of mixer do you have? Do you have an automatic washer? What kind? If they didn't know I would begin with, does the agitator go up and down or back and forth? I am sure you know the drill. I would get punished, by my dad and he would tell me I'd make some a great wife if I kept up this behavior. I was not wrong to love the design, engineering and technoloy of this amazing invention.

My Aunt once screamed at me to go outside and be normal, like other children. Those kinds of insults hurt. My brothers and friends teased me. It was not until I left home and found out I was fine, but had a family that wasn't normal. One of my best experiences was getting a job in a drive in restaurant. I was very lucky to have a good boss. He was fair, treated me with respect and was a role model for me as a man. Look for adults that can feed your hobby. Often a retired mechanic or handy man type can answer your questions and advise you on how to buy, fix and collect washing machines.
Please be careful. I know how much it hurts to feel alone and wish you were included and special. There are men who look for young people and say they want to be your friend. Don't let anyone talk you into anything that doesn't feel right, that has to be a secret or requires privacy.
I wish you a lifetime of happiness. The keys are in your heart. Your family is wrong, you are just fine.
Good luck and never hesitate to let us all reassure you.
Kelly
 
Re; Love of Washing Machines

You are not alone here as I was a youngster I to loved to watch the washer go back and forth my Grandma Francis didn't mind me watching her washer and also my mom but my moms sister didn't like it and would not let me watch her Hotpoint but any how as I grew up I had to hide my love for washers as I would get teased alot if they knew. But I know what you went through just the same. So good to have you here and where you can share your love of Washers and Dryers and Dishwashers or for that matter any applance that tickles your fancy and you will not be put down for it. Welcome to the fold, your home now relaxe and enjoy. Danf.
 
you are not alone!

I do agree 101% with what MIXFINDER told you above!
I still have the same problems even with my mate - he thinks I'm crazy! Let him think what ever he wants - I am what I am! And I tell everybody, wether they like it or not, that I like to be CRAZY that way, because I KNOW what a WONDERFUL person I AM!!!
That IS me, that WAS me and that WILL BE me! And I do not care about what anybody on this planet is thinking about me and if they are not careful with talking about me, I become quite rude and agressive and tell the person off or....Fuck off!
Most people, I know it, are talking behind my back as they do not dare to do it in front of a 46 year old MAN! But me, I do think in my way of them as well.... stupid blokes! Ha!!

Greetings from over the big pond!

Btw: Finally I got my Hotpoint 9605 Electronic de luxe 1050 - a wonderful machine - works perfectly!

Ralf
 
I'm in the same boat

as everyone else here. I've loved washing machines since I was 6 years old. All my family has always made fun of me because of my love for appliances. Never had many friends because of it either. I was perfectly fine to be in my own world day dreaming of the perfect washer and dryer set (1959 westhinghouse laundromat)for my parents home. Instead we had a one cycle 1959 Hotpoint automatic washer. My Grandmother use to scream at me a lot watching her 1958 Kenmore washer/dryer combo run. I use to sneak around when she wasn't looking. My wife has no problem with my love of washers. I do almost all the laundry which means she has to do none. A good deal in my opinion! I have a great spouse to love me no matter what.
 
I told my bitch of a cousin one day, as she sat her fat ass on a chair making fun of the fact that I like washing machines and dishwashers, that I liken it to the way she just seems to looooove that vibrator that she has tucked away in the drawer next to her bed (I had heard it "in action" one morning). I mean, isn't it the mechanical nature of the toy that you love????? Just like I love the mechanics behind washers and dishwashers????

Of course, I said it in front of her mother and some other family members....and she was not amused. But she never opened her stupid mouth to me again. She still has a fat mouth, she just directs it to others since she hasn't got a snowball's chance in hell with me.

Yeah, some fat-mouthed adults don't understand the hurt and insult things like that can cause young people. I got called sissy, girlie, etc., from my father, my grandmother, but never my mother, and I still say to this day....fuck 'em all. Remember guys....success is the best revenge. Enjoy this wonderful hobby, and be content to be just who you are. Ain't nothin' wrong with it!!
 
Liking appliances and washing machines

I had the same experience growing up. My sister would rather work on cars and lawnmowers and I was always fascinated with washing machine, vacuum cleaner, and all household appliances. I felt I was a disappointment to my Dad and some of the other family members. I let them know at an early age I didnt care what they thought.
 
I Don't Care

I believe there is more to this, than being rude or just writing off your family. This is just about you. There is a very basic need, in our youth, to be accepted and receive approval from our parents and a lesser degree, from our family. The ability to seperate and be a self restoring power source in the Universe, doesn't happen so easily, alone, when we are young and trying desperately to understand or run from the most basic parts of who we are.
The real answer is this. There was absolutely no mistake in your creation. The Infinite Source that created your DNA, sat smiling at It's "workbench" as each chromosome, personality trait and even the color of your eyes went into the mix. It would be a shame to think you were wrong or not good enough. It is in accepting yourself as a Divine Creation and actual loving yourself that is is the key. There is an intrinsic shift that occurs when you walk in the "flow". Life is easier, what others think becomes less powerful and people who are like minded (kind, loving, accepting) will be attracted to you.
This doesn't make the pain of where you are in your life right now, any less painful or easier to bear. Just know, as all of us who grew up and moved out know, there is life after family. Don't pay too high a price for what you are getting in return. It is only temporary.
Kelly
 
Well said Kelly! Besides who cares what other people think, many people think I'm crazy for having so many washers, but I couldn't care less. Look at the losers who protest or try to put us down the most about our collections/interests, would you trade lives with them? Feh, no thank you.
 
Amazing

Ben,
It is amazing that we found each other, here. I am equally impressed with all you have been able to do and accomplish by yourself. I enjoy the attraction of all us being a little, kinder, a bit more gentle and so quick to offer acceptance and support to each other. We have all been there. There is life after family. Please know, Ben, there is nothing amazing about me. I have been privaleged to find a walk that brought me peace. I joke about my new sisters, Ease and Grace. When they disappear, I know I am operating out of the old fear based power source.
Thank you,
Kelly
 
The Collections Links...

...On this site are very helpful when dealing with the ignorant. In my own case, I have a very mouthy, judgmental housemate who just LOVES to call anything in which I'm interested an "obsession" (don't you just love people who pick up two-dollar words off Oprah and Dr. Phil and apply them to everyone?).

Now, bear in mind that I don't collect like most of you- I have ONE of each thing, for actual use, instead of a collection representing a broad selection of interesting machines. That didn't stop Mr. Personality from labeling my interest in acquiring a pair of centre-dial Maytags as an "obsession".

WEEEEL, I brought his judgmental arse here, and let him see Gansky's collection, and Robert's too. He had to shut up; it was clear even to him that this is a hobby that many people enjoy, with a tremendous knowledge base, and collectors who spend a lot of time, effort and money gathering and housing their treasures.

The icing on the cake was when he noticed the Maytags were getting his clothes cleaner than the Whirlys they replaced.

So, illegitimi non carborundum, which is pseudo-Latin for "Don't let the bastards wear you down."
 
I never find this kind of thing something to be ashamed of NEVER I dont get why someone would think less of a person if they liked appliances i used to like washing machine agitators when i was little and car mufflers! go figure, and NO ONE in my family or friends ever thought it was bizarre they actually found it amusing! however i do know some people are assholes, I mean if they would really look at it we could like worse things or worse hobbies, i wish my friends when they got bored would go do something more interesting like play with there filter flo's then get high or fight or do anything pointless and illegal. keep on you hardcore washer fans i dont think any less of you.
 
When I was little, my grandmother had a Westinghouse front loading washer in an alcove off her kitchen. She had a little stool just for me so that I could sit in front of it and watch whenever I was there. I thought it was the neatest thing because nobody else at the time had a front loader. It was probably the main thing I liked about staying over at her house (that and the fact that her house had many bedrooms, and I used to pretend that I was at a hotel). My parents and brother did think it was peculiar (as they did of many things about me), but they didn’t try to stop me. I guess they figured there were worse things.

When we went on our vacations at the beach, I used to wait for the evening when we went to the coin laundry. One time I packed up just about everything I could find to take. That really pissed my mother off. Silly me, I just wanted to have fun doing the laundry.

Years later, in college, I wrote a story about my interest in washing machines for a writing course. My mother “found” it and read it. When she told me what she had done, I thought, “Uh oh.” But she said that she really liked it and that she remembered many of the incidents I wrote about. She even told my aunt about it. How about that—motherly pride!

It is true that some people probably don’t understand or have any interest in a fascination with washing machines. I can accept that. To me, it’s like trying to explain to someone my preference for vinyl records over other music sources. Most people just aren’t interested. That’s fine with me. I think that having interests that others might find odd is a good thing, something that makes a person unique. Belittlers, however, are not worth any energy whatsoever.

Thanks for your post, tbolt25. It made me want to share a few anecdotes—hope nobody minds. I also found lots of interesting and insightful comments in this thread, which I am finding to be the norm here. This is a great group, and I always enjoy reading what everyone has to say.
 
Look on the bright side: you will be the first person the 'non-believers' will turn to when they have problems choosing new appliances, or have laundry issues ;-)

Seriously though, if everybody else had the same interest in appliances as this forum has, they would be able to give a decent description of faults to the service engineers, when the machines break down; as someone with an interest in the machines will know instinctively when something is not working properly.
 
Hi Philip,

Your experiences and interested I believed is shared by many of us. Years ago I never dreamed of connecting with a group of people who share the same fascination appliance and other interests…heck where was this group when I was coming out???

Several years ago I have written a novel and it is currently with the publisher…I am not sure when it will be published …below is a few sections from it.

“I was odd fellow, even at age eight, because of my interest in appliances, mainly washing machines—maybe I was just more mature than were most boys my age. I wanted to learn how things worked. I couldn’t relate to other kids; I found them uninteresting.
….the kitchen in my mom's house was full of wonderful memories from watching her cooking, washing dishes, mixing cakes to when I waited patiently to help her load the dishwasher. My mom was amazed that at young age I could get everything in the dishwasher without breaking and all the dishes will come out clean. I would spend many hours as a kid with my ear pressed against the dishwasher listening to the sounds of the water splashing and the motor gurgling. My mom’s laundry room was next to the kitchen and when she was not looking, I would climb to the top of her old 1960’s Kenmore washer and watched the hoses in the back of the washer banging against the cabinet while it was spinning with an off-balance load. Occasionally when the washtub was empty, I would stand inside of the washing machine imagining that I was in the washer while it was running. This stopped after I accidentally turned the washer on. The tub filled and I was enjoying feeling the water ride up on my legs….then all the sudden the washer started to agitate. I quickly climbed out of the washer before my mom can hear me panicking. Fortunately, I was not caught or hurt.

….I eventually discovered that all my "investigations" into the workings of washing machines and dishwashers lead to me taking them apart. Of course, had to be done in secret, 'cause BOYS were not to be interested in “laundry and dishes”. I could imitate and sounded out almost the entire "Normal" cycle on my mom’s Kenmore washer...almost louder than the TV in the room next door. The water rotating and swirling while watching our family's laundry cleaned with Oxydol-fragrant water, which has become my weekly Saturday morning activity. I was more interested in watching the washing machine then watching cartoons.....

…..when I played with other boys, I would wonder off and go in to their parents’ laundry room, looking at their washing machine...hoping to see it in operation. In time, I learned to know when my friend mothers and aunts do their laundry, so I plan my visit with them during those times.

……I have learned at a very young age to tamper the lid hinges and have a peek on the action while the washer was spinning. I eventually learned how to do this on my mom’s GE dishwasher. Well, the dishwasher door tampering didn’t last very long until after being caught with the door open when the dishwasher was operating and water spraying all over the kitchen….mom was not pleased. This all seems so silly now, but there was something mechanical yet magical about those gears grinding, moving sudsy water around our clothes and dishes being scoured by the hot water scented with dishwasher ALL. Secretly I would try to trip the washer to start agitating sooner then the pre-set water level by rocking the washtub when it was filling with water…this stopped after I burned out the motor from the extra stress on the motor. Then I developed a co-addiction to our Electrolux Upright Vacuum cleaner, at which I built one to replicate my moms. Eventually my older sisters simply declared me insane and said that I was adopted. They would not have anything to do with me as they were embarrassed and tried to avoid being seen with me.

…….I believed my parents advised my older sisters when they take me out to the shopping centre, avoid at all cause for me to glaze at appliances. This did not stop me, as I would always wonder off on my own to the appliance department and open clothes washer lids, hand rotate agitators and turn dials. The memory that will always stay with me was smell of the new-washer smell at SEARS. Oh, those virgin hoses on a new Kenmore clothes washer had an aroma that gave me a sense of security and satisfaction. As my family and friends became aware of my fixations to appliances, they would automatically wondered if I was at their place and played with there appliances because they have broken down.”

Bob
 
Hiding my face

This is such an embarrassment. Phillip, you are the same age as my oldest daughter. I assumed from the post you were an adolescent. I was annoyed so many were using expletives and making the thread an "all about me". So I doggedly brought it back on course. Why didn't it occur to me to look at your profile and realize you are 33. I am so often stupid in public anymore, I guess I shouldn't be surprised at myself. Just one more doddering old coot who should learn to keep his mouth shut.
Kelly
 
"Well, the dishwasher door tampering didn’t last very long until after being caught with the door open when the dishwasher was operating and water spraying all over the kitchen….mom was not pleased."

I love that Bob, LOL I did that exact same thing.
 
People have always had their niche interests and the internet has served to make a community happen, and to extoll esoteric tastes in what many would consider common or obsolete objects.
I remember when I was younger, I visited a friend in Manhattan who took me to a friends apartment and the walls were lined with antique and classic juicers, only the pull handle, put the half orange or lemon in and pull(no electric) in many colors and heritages, and I thought "you can't get a more specific interest than that, manual juicers from Europe and America."
Washers are sort of the same thing. To most people, they are about as interesting as the furnace or the shingles on the roof. It does it's job, it breaks, replace it, who cares, the BMW needs a wax, that's sexier.
But what we are really doing here is adding value to what is older and good, and someday our opinions will count in a design perspective as well as an ecological one for presevation versus replacment.

Have I said too much?
 
Let's Hear It For The Mavericks!

We automatic washer lovers are a breed apart--and proud of it. I was always interested in washers even when I was a little boy. When I was about 7 or 8, the school I attended sent me to a district psychologist because I may have been too advanced for my grade (seems I was not paying attention to what the teacher was trying to convey). In any case, the psychologist asked me to pick a toy from among many in the corner. I chose a hand-cranked washer to play with; the agitator moved back and forth when you cranked it. My mother told me years later that the psychologist felt I had "latent homosexual tendencies." (He turned out to be right, but he never explained what THAT had to do with my learning problem; she never brought me back to that psychologist ever again.)
So please excuse me as I wait for a potential boyfriend to call and my laundry to come out of the dryer...!
 
"latent homosexual tendencies"

I have to make an observation here, and I hope that no one will be offended. If there is a single thread that runs through the personal stories found in these forums, it is one of parents moving heaven and earth to keep their sons from becoming interested in washing machines.

And what that brings up, to my way of thinking, is the question: WHY? In the Mid-Century years when most of us were growing up, major appliances were traditionally designed, engineered, sold, financed, delivered, and serviced by MEN, not women. Why, then, was there such shock and horror that little Johnny was fascinated by the end result?

Indeed, it would seem the reaction should have been exactly the opposite: "Huzzah! The kid's interested in something that he could make a career out of!"

I never understood it. Get interested in baseball, and Dad automatically figured you were going to be the next Mickey Mantle, in spite of the obvious odds against anything like that ever happening. Get interested in washing machines, and everyone became very concerned about your sexual orientation, despite the fact that tens of thousands of heterosexual men made a good solid living in the field.

People can be SO damn weird.
 
MikeS OMG

Had I forgotten about the school social worker, or did I block that episode out? I could of written your post, at first i felt slapped, and now I am laughing like a fool. Was'nt childhood the greatest? aside from some of the family member horror stories above, nothing better than a salaried idiot, with a college degree, counting down their days to retirement, to diminish a childs potential. MikeS- will you be billing me for this session? :-)
 
I am proud of my HOBBY with washing machines and tell people that since I was a kid, I was fascinated with washing machines.
I also tell people that it is no more unusual a hobby than collecting coins, stamps, cars, etc. It is a great diversion and stress relief.
A few times, some people referred to my passion for washing machines as a "fetish" and my response is that it is a hobby and I do not hump my machines. I will then receive an apology.
I admonish people to respect others for their differences rather than be judgemental, and if more people did respect others, the world would be a better place.
Judge not, lest ye be judged or, Let he who hath no sin, cast the first stone.
But if all else fails, I use my New York City accent and say,
"What's it to you?" "Who died, went to Heaven, and had you appointed God's Little Monitor?"

Ross
 

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