Looking for 1950 Westinghouse Washer/Dryer

[gwbhome]

We are a small non-profit museum called the George W. Bush Childhood Home. Our museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a recorded Texas historical Landmark. We are hoping to find a 1950 Westinghouse pair like in the photo provided. We need something in good condition as it will be displayed in the historic home.We are willing to pay shipping if someone is interested in donating the itmes to us. You can post here or email me at [email protected].
Thanks,
Paul St.Hilaire
Executive Director

 

[badgerdx]

I have some salt and pepper shakers that look EXACTLY like the photograph, but I don't think I'll donate them right now...

 

[arbilab]

Blast. I HAD them but long ago.

You do mean the S&P shakers, not the actual appliances? They turn up on ebay periodically, prices may not be amenable.

 

[rp2813]

I think Mr. St.Hilaire is requesting a donation of the real deal, not the salt and pepper shakers he posted. 

 

Now don't all y'all go crashing this site trying to give away your shiny 1950 Westy sets so's to help put George W's house in order . . .

 

[westingman123]

Ralph!

I know, right!

 

[arbilab]

As George Takei makes $150,000 for saying,

Oh my!

 

[gwbhome]

Yes we are looking for the actual washer/dryer combo. We have the salt & pepper shakers and photos of the real thing in the historic home.

 

[mayken4now]

[email protected]/Mr. St.Hilaire

Nice try. And have to say that if these machines were readily available, you just might (tincey wincey bitsey pensey) score. Other than that, one's who do happen to have them "RENT" the machines to movie productions/sets for around 4K a month with a huge liability policy to the tune of around 40-50K! All considered and wishes included, best of luck.

 

[travis]

It never hurts to ask...

Finding a pair of these would be rare. Most of us that have them, have searched to make a pair. Now finding a pair in good condition would be darn near impossible! These are 60+ years old and held water.

If you were asking for help for an organization associated with a more popular president, you'd likely get better responses.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Dear Mr. St. Hilaire,  despite the purpose of this is for benefaction and it is always a good thing and so appreciable, the donation you're requesting is really alot, almost everyone who owns a pair among us just searched for it all the life, without counting that spent really alot for restorations  time and money etc...

As previously mentioned a pair of them is  really worth alot of money and very rare , this is not for <span id="result_box" lang="en"><span class="hps">selfishness but every member on here if would  find or own one would not let it go, and for sure not for free..... I bet some members  would not even allow a rent....
What I'm trying to saying is that this one would be a very big donation to ask on HERE..... this is because us, being appliance collectors and restorers would not let go such a rare and expensive  "piece" that costed years of searching, efforts, time and money....</span></span>

<span lang="en"><span class="hps">Maybe in another istance  (an Estate sale for example) you might have chanches,  but as said it's a  rare set!
Just to explain better:
I recall there is a story of an old lady owining a 52 y.o Maytag  set I will link, well a pair like that for many here would not be worth every brand  new washer  on hearth, for  many reasons....just to let you understand....
Even this lady had to take here decision after weeks, and BTW  I bet  now she is willing her Old maytag set back!!!
Good Luck!
</span></span>

Maytag Takes Lady's Pink Washer and Dryer to Maytag Museum

www.shoppingblog.com

 

[danemodsandy]

And Then, Too....

While appliance collectors run the gamut of both political leanings and orientations, you might like to know that it would be fair to say that liberal Democrats and gay men are quite well represented in their ranks. Quite well.

Without meaning to be the least bit cynical, you have set yourself quite a task if you intend to tease a set of these out of the sort of people who tend to collect them.

 

[yogitunes]

Clutch the Pearls....or Jewels if it applies......

you have a better chance of getting your virginity back than to have these donated....and that goes for a lot of our collections and vintage pieces...this stuff wasn't handed to us, we had to search high and low, plus all the effort and time into restoring it......

in a simple word...PRICELESS!

 

[whirlaway]

A nice one!!!!!!!!!

I just bought one a couple of months ago,a washer like he is looking for!!! Please tell me since I dont have the dryer where I can rent it for a least half the amount stated in above threads! I had no idea these machines were so rare and mine runs and just as clean as a whistle,doesnt need any cosmetic work.I loaned my Bendix to our theatre group for the play Wait Until dark,more people asked where that machine came from,cause more people said OH I had one of those! Dang if I only know I could have rented it for such a hefty price.Thanks!!

 

[whirlaway]

wo-65

Oh by the way,Years ago,I gave a nice and clean WO-65 to one of the members in the club.All they paid was for the shipping,I was wondering if it is still running.I forgot who it was? Ive often thought about that machine and hoped it was still around.Did they come in colors? It camr from a rancher built in 1950,that had been closed-up since 1966.I was a time capsule.Im just curious if anyone knows what happened to it,Thanks! Bobby

 

[rp2813]

Political leanings notwithstanding, we need to cut Mr. St.Hilaire a little slack.   I doubt he realized that the machines he is trying to secure are rare and prized possessions among the members who are lucky enough to own them. 

 

A couple of options come to mind.

 

1)  Might the Bush family have replaced the Westinghouse machines with a more conventional (top-loading washer) set before moving from that house?  Those would likely be easier to find, particularly if they were Kenmores or Maytags.

 

2)  Might the Bush family be willing to spring for a Westinghouse set if they were to turn up on ebay?  Certainly they could afford to.

 

[whirlaway]

Rare?

Are these sets that rare? Apex,yes! But Westinghouse laundramats? Perhaps its regional.Maybe places with basements you will find more older frontloaders than others,places to push them aside and be replaced by newer ones.Just me and the owner carried that one I got up 2flights of stairs to get it out,was it ever heavy!!! But its worth thousands!!!!!!! so it was worth it.

 

[arbilab]

Westinghouse didn't sell anywhere near the volume that Kenpool, Maytag, GE did. As a kid in that timeframe I was very aware of laundry equipment. We had two of those Westy slants. But the only other one I ever saw was at my cousin's. Everyone else I knew had Tags, Pools, or Flos. Oh, except one across the street in 1954 had a Bendix Suck-U-Dry. Wonder ANY survive this far along.

 

[whirlaway]

Surprised

I went to a house on on a telephone repair appointment in 2002,the house was built about 1948,it even still had orig wallpaper in it it was well maintained,I went out to the garage where the protecter was for the telephone,and there sat a perfect set of 1950 Westinghouses,she was still operating them.I ask her if you ever get rid of them let me know.I still drive by there sometimes to see if they are sitting on the curb.I never see anyone there though.I went on lots of calls but very seldom saw any automatics in basements that were old.Wringer machines yes.Also old refrigerators and ironers.

 

[countryford]

I know where a westy slant front dryer is located in Long Beach for $350.