My trip to Minneapolis and Robert&Fred's WASH-IN!

[revvinkevin]

When I first heard our own webmaster Robert was going to have a Wash-In, I KNEW I just HAD to go! I mentioned it to my friend Joe (Catalystboy) and he wanted to go too. So planned it out and decided to drive from Los Angeles to MInneapolis. Here we are in the car on our way....

 

[revvinkevin]

What... you don't believe we drove?

OK you non-believers... here is the proof! The car with California plates parked @ the Mall of America! (it's in Minneapolis, look it up)

So you see? We drove ALL the way from LA!

Now come on, would I lie to you??

 

[revvinkevin]

OK... OK... FINE!

OK... yes you got me... we flew to Minneapolis (And BOY are my arms tired! LOL).

Actually I laughed when I saw the rental car company gave me a car with California plates! Great joke though... yes? LOL

OK... so we arrive Friday afternoon and head to Roberts house. After getting a preview of what there was to watch and play with the next day, we all head off to dinner together at a nice little restaurant with great food. It was really great getting to spend time with Robert, Fred, Jon, Terry, Ben, Cory, Tanya and the others! (I can't remember everyones names, SORRY!)

 

[revvinkevin]

Robert with his 2nd (or was it 3rd?) purple passion pear something... LOL

 

[revvinkevin]

Tanya, Cory & Patrick.

 

[revvinkevin]

Saturday morning... before the Wash-In

We are driving around near the hotel and see this sign...

(Please insert your own joke here)

LOL[this post was last edited: 5/18/2010-01:30]

 

[revvinkevin]

Earlier in the hotel lobby I discover....

There is a Spam, yes you read that right, a Spam museum in Austin, MN so we drive down there to check it out!

 

[revvinkevin]

Surprisingly it was actually interesting (at least to Joe & I anyway). They had the entire history of Spam and how it came to be, plus of lots of other stuff.

These ads are from the 1930's (right) and the 1940's (left).

 

[revvinkevin]

OK, enough Spam, right? Right!

Now Saturday afternoon we arrive at Roberts house about 4:10 pm to find this cool Hoover sales balloon out front to greet us!

 

[revvinkevin]

I grab some shots of the basement while the grabbing is good!

The smaller area with 4 Frigidaires, the Bendix Duo-Matic at the end, the Bendix rubber tub across from it next to the Maytag Wringer with the clear demo tub. There are also 2 early GE Filter Flo's and behind the cameras view, a Hotpoint, the Wizard (aka the Pig), a Wards Signature, an Easy automatic and the beautiful, very early Maytag 806.

 

[revvinkevin]

Too late.... to get an "empty room" shot...

So I asked everyone to come in for a a group photo!

People came from far and wide to attend this Wash-In! I'm pretty sure about 40 people from all over the country![this post was last edited: 5/18/2010-01:22]

 

[revvinkevin]

The KDW-2 running in the kitchen always stops anyone who tries to walk by (like a moth to a porch light, LOL)

 

[revvinkevin]

Peter, Rob and I watch as the Philco Automagic washer washes while we keep adding more and more and more.... it's amazing the roll over never did stop, it just kept going and going!

 

[revvinkevin]

The PINK 1957 Lady Kenmore washer was very popular... and for good reason!

 

[revvinkevin]

Roberts incredible Apex washer was something to behold. Here, literally looking over Roberts shoulder as he opens the lid. Boy was it really spitting the sudz out at us!

 

[revvinkevin]

A few of us take our seats at the "Bendix Theater"

"Hey, can you pass down the popcorn?"

 

[revvinkevin]

Another shot of the FAB '57 Lady K washer...

 

[revvinkevin]

Robert starts the "Super Unimatic" demo... the audience is just captivated....

 

[revvinkevin]

He explains what it's doing and what the display is showing us...

An amazing and ingenious machine! Great job of putting it all together Robert!

 

[revvinkevin]

Back upstairs I go to use the bathroom and discover this very, very clever night light!

 

[revvinkevin]

Now I cannot forget our co-host, Fred!

What a great guy and what an amazing collection of (mostly Hoover) vacuums he has! Just incredible!

I now wish I would have spent more time with him learning more about his collection.

 

[revvinkevin]

Suzy Homemaker wants to come out and play too!

We had a special guest visit too! Jim (may32) brought his Suzy Homemaker washer and it ended up visiting with Robert's baby Suzy. Thanks so much for bringing it Jim!

I had one of these (the larger one) when I was younger. I of course wish I had it how![this post was last edited: 5/18/2010-01:18]

 

[revvinkevin]

I decide to tempt fate by overriding the door safety switch on the Westinghouse as it's washing.

It was a lot of fun to watch without any window to obstruct the view.... [this post was last edited: 5/18/2010-01:15]

 

[revvinkevin]

BUT......

I gambled and lost!

LOL

 

[may63]

Bendix Theatre

I enjoyed watching the double feature with you guys..."Wash" and "Spin"!

Jim S.

 

[revvinkevin]

Robert is channeling thru Peter via his psychic abilities... "OK boys, just what are you doing with the Laundromat??"

 

[revvinkevin]

As the evening wares on... and after doing multiple loads of laundry in every washer in the basement... we start drying things....

This is a shot of the heating element in Philco Automagic dryer... this was really something to see! The white towels being dried actually looked orange with the room lights off!

 

[revvinkevin]

Meanwhile back up stairs.... it's just like Christmas!

Someone gave Fred a Dyson Air Multiplier. Basically it's a very cool, blade-less fan that produces a clean, smooth stream of air.

 

[revvinkevin]

Another group shot of everyone...... this time on the front lawn!

 

[revvinkevin]

The end of the night.......

Well here we are at the end of the night. Every washer had at least 2 loads run thru them and a few machines probably more! Cloths are piled all over... some folded, some not.

Joe and I arrived at the Wash-In about 4 PM Saturday afternoon and finally left at 2:45 am Sunday morning. Boy was I exhausted... BUT was it WORTH IT! OMG this was SO much fun and I am so glad that I made the trip!

Robert, thank you so much for hosting this event and inviting everyone into your home! I very much enjoyed being able to see, touch and hear all of your machines in person, what an awesome experience! It was also really great to finally meet you, Fred and others from the site and to be able to put faces to the names.