New Speed Queen washers and dryers!

[launderess]

SQ Washing Machines

May not have the cachet of a premium European brand such as Miele, but they are built like tanks, even compared to recent offerings by the former.

Building a front loading washing machine that will do the job, and last more than a few years is not inexpensive. Just look at prices for commercial and or laundromat machines.

Build wise there are few front loaders left sold in the US that still have stainless steel inner AND outer wash baskets, much less metal paddles intergrated into the wash tub. Oh, don't even ask about the bearings and out tub assemblies. Even Miele has moved on to fiberglass outer tubs, while most everyone else uses plastic.

 

[favorit]

low levels are "saved $$" for laundry managers

Hi Steve,

what you wrote about low levels and bearing is indeed true about "new millennium" average household fronloaders. Not only the "el cheapo" ones .... but sadly expensive brands as Bosch/Siemens nowadays are into this trend. Bearings are "melted" into the outer tub and can't be replaced.

This is not the case of modern heavy duty machines or vintage household ones. Not only Mieles, but even ASKO, Zanussi, AEGs, Constructas, Bosches... Philco/Bendix household machines were so sturdy that were used even as small commercial ones

Those machines lasted for ages, despite they rinsed full loads of towels up to five times each wash with a half door high level. They hadn't modern inbalance controls, yet survived lots of OOB spins ... but they costed much more than recent 200--->500 € machines. Launderess just wrote it

So I think : from our point of view we hate low levels ... but from a laundry plant or coin-op manager one low levels are a great feature to save on water/power bills . They even use some acids (peracetic)as rinse enhancers, to neutralize alcalins .

I' ve touched just once a SQ, but can say they much stronger than Duets or Nexxt

 

[gyrafoam]

Mmmmm--the Bendix engineers designed a superior product around a set of superior specifications. Vintage or not, I don't believe it a good idea to venture beyond the design limits originally designed into the machine. To do so may be fun, but it also brings with it risks.

I wouldn't think twice about tweaking up the water level of a top loading Whirly/'Kenmo, GE/Hotpernt, or a 'tag.

 

[bobbyderegis]

The SQ's are just fantastic. They are the only new machines I can look at without wanting to puke. Have they discontinued the top loaders? I wonder what they will do now that the new energy restrictions are coming due?
Bobby in Boston

 

[peteski50]

Speed Queen!

While I like these machines they are very over priced. I also feel for the money you should be able to get a unit with a adjustable wash time selector. But instead it's just a 24 minute wash. The only option is a extra rinse. Don't get me wrong I don't like to much fluff on these machines, but a prewash and a adjustable wash time option would make these machines perfecto.
just my 2cents
Peter

 

[mysteryclock]

Well they...

... don't call them "Speed Queen"s for nothing, do they?

Seriously, though, at 45 minutes for a full "normal" wash cycle, you could run really nasty stuff through *twice* and it would still be faster than many high(er)-tech FLs like, for instance my Bosch Nexxt is on "Heavy Duty".

That, plus these are true horizontal axis machines unlike nearly all of the machines available in the US.

 

[lebron]

true horizontal axis machines

What do you mean by that?

Welcome, btw

 

[mysteryclock]

Thanks -- glad to be here!!

True horizontal axis refers to the tilt, or lack thereof, of the wash drum itself. Most US FLs are tilted a little (Bosch / Miele / Elux, 5-10 degrees-ish) to a lot (old Maytag Neptune at 15 degrees). While that means you can get a slightly larger drum in the same size box and can (sometimes) open the wash door after the cycle has started, it also forces most of the water and clothes to the back of the drum, so with big loads the contact area is uneven, at best.

Horizontal axis machines have zero tilt so there's a flat plane of water + soap at the bottom of the drum, so everything has the same contact with the water. The tiny, expen$ive EU Miele 220v machines are that way, as are the US Speed Queens. I think some of the smaller Whirlpools and maybe the Frigidare Gallery are too, but I'm not sure.

The link below (p2) gives a graphic of what I'm talking about.

http://www.speedqueen.com/sq_con_adv_pdf/ar07-502.pdf

 

[suburbanmd]

mysteryclock's link

Wow, that really diminishes my respect for Speed Queen, or at least their marketing department. In a tilted-tub machine, only the clothes in the back are being actively washed??? Come on, the entire load is soaked, hopefully, so it's all exposed to detergent etc., and it's all being dropped and flexed.

 

[lebron]

What's the advantage of a tilted drum then? There must be a reason why they do it... my BOL duet doesn't, while the higher end machines do.

 

[suburbanmd]

Random quotes from LG:

"Tilted Drum and Extra Large Door Opening: Tilted drum and extra large opening make it possible to load and unload clothing more easily."

"The ultra-large stainless steel drum offers extreme durability and is tilted to improve efficiency and allow easier access for large items. ..."

 

[launderess]

Actually

Many large commercial front loaders have tilted drums as well. Thought the incline may be slight, never the less it is still there. Rationale being a slightly tilted drum is eaiser to load and unload.

 

[norfolksouthern]

Tilted drum or not, my concern would be how most of these manufacturers are infusing the drum bearings to a plastic outer tub, making them impossible to replace. A few weeks ago, I saw a recent model Frigidaire front loader up for sale for $20.00, and it was because of this problem exactly. What do you do with a machine that can't be fixed?

NorfolkSouthern

 

[launderess]

Like I Said

And have been saying,

Front loading washing machines have always been more expensive to design and produce versus top loaders. The only way a factory is going to make money is to either build them with great quality and charge accordingly, but sell few units, or make cuts and changes in design where possible to bring the price down, then sell many units to make the money.

Commercial front loaders cost several thousands of dollars, and even then BOL and MOL models don't have half the useless bell and whistles domestic as domestic units. What you are getting as a washing machine that will stand up to use, even hard use for year after year. When something goes wrong it is repaired, and the unit goes back into service. This includes but not limited to bearings, tub seals, motors and the rest.

Amercians by and large were not and are not thrilled with "HE" front loaders, but they are being forced upon the populace in he name of energy savings. Americans certianly are not in the mood by and large to pay $1500 or more for a washing machine.

The great old major appliance makers saw what was coming down the pike years ago, and got out of the business. General Motors, Rayetheon (sp?) and the lot did research and saw formerly "major" appliances were becoming consumer goods, and soon customers wouldn't pay high prices for what was considered a basic good.

Aside from key players leaving the market, innovation and design stagnated or even ceased. Why put all that R&D money into a new washing machine when Mrs. Average Housewife wasn't prepared to spend more than "X% dollars, regardless.

Another thing major applince producers learned, was that if they kept on building goods that rarely needed replacement or repair, it was killing their market. Aside from perhaps moving and or setting up house, most people do not purchase a washing machine unless the current one gives up the ghost.

 

[DADoES]

Innovation and design stagnated?

F&P SmartDrive
Calypso
Neptune FL
Harmony
Neptune TL
HE/3/4/5/2 - Duet
Oasis/Cabrio/Bravos/AquaSmart
Whirlpool direct-drive w/auto load sensing

Perhaps not all as successful as was hoped/expected ... but they were/are on the market.

 

[mysteryclock]

Disposable culture

NorfolkSouthern ,

Clearly someone needs to post some real inside Money Shots of the SQ FLs so their construction and repairability can be assessed! Any takers? I would if I had one.

Launderess,

Well said! The only thing I would add is that given what's happened recently I sense that the the tide may be ~starting~ to turn back towards quality and repairability vs. the highly disposable culture we've been in. In other words, people are beginning to prefer things that last and can be fixed vs. something with a lot of extra bells and whistles that may crap out after 3-5 years.

Having a W/D set that is now starting to crap out after 3 1/2 years, I know I'm in that boat. And I have no idea how repairable it will be down the road, wrt. bearings, etc. <sigh>

 

[mysteryclock]

Good to see you here...

...suburbanmd!

OK, here is my fully-qualified *personal* statement on horizontal vs. tilted performance, the latter of which I will comment on. No marketing literature required.

On my machine, a late 2005(ish) Bosch Nexxt 500 series, I've noticed that its particular combination of drum tilt and paddle design means that on small loads, the back 1/2 of the drum is where the clothes get washed. On medium loads, its probably the back 3/4. When it is jammed full, the whole drum is used, but the pile is thicker in the back.

After spin, small loads are rammed against the back 1/4 of the drum and back plate. On medium loads, about the back 1/2, and full on the back 3/4.

** Of course, the exception to this are my 4-year-old's socks and mini-washcloths which always seem to end up stuck in the door gasket. This does highlight the clear advantage of a tilted drum, namely the ability to open the door and toss things back into the mix that get stuck.

What all of this tells me, again on my particular machine, is that most of the wash action (so to speak) occurs in the back. They wash there, they end up there, and that makes sense since it is on the downhill side of the tilt and that's where the visible water is.

On really full loads, the clothes in the front are pretty much just flopping around on the drum without much / any liquid under them (but obviously on them and the other clothes.) Yes they'll turn over and end up in the back eventually, but their duration in the front is less-productive than their time in the back. Even the water scooped up by the paddles tends towards the back.

Hence, my hypothesis about true HA machines vs. tilted ones. It is a nice theory, at least.

Did that make sense or am I just rambling on again?

;-)

 

[suburbanmd]

Horizontal vs. tilted axis

My opinion is also personal, and, like yours, derived from my own observations. I believe the shallow pool of water at the bottom is there to get the clothes wet, not to wash them directly. But you've got Speed Queen, or at least their marketing department, on your side.

On a related note, some people have posted on THS that small European-style front-loaders aren't as small as they look, and big American-style front-loaders aren't as big as they look, because the former are H-axis and the latter are tilted-axis. This claim has always confused me. I can completely fill the drum of my tilted-axis Miele W4840, loosely of course, and the entire load gets clean. The only way I could understand their claim to be true, is if H-axis machines can be packed much more tightly than tilted-axis machines. But how would the clothes have room to tumble, if they were packed tightly?

 

[askomiele]

Shallow pool of water

Dunno if this is right. But from my observations is that the pool of water is there just to suspend the dirt. The clothes get clean by rubbing against each other. Water is needed to bring detergent inside and between the fibers to speed upt the proces. The soil is loosend and when it comes in contact with water, pulled out of the fabrics. The pool is their to have water to circulate through the load.

I use the full capacity of my washer. It's filled up loosley so there is some place between the clothes. But the drum is always full. When wetting the load, the water can flow throught the entire load and the laod gets packed. I can put a doublebed duvet in my miele GOLD 2000... but then it is really packed and just turned around in water. Yet it's good for me!
Problem is that many brands pulled the ratio down on their capacity. Few years back, a drum with capacity of 50liters = 5 kg (1kg:10l), but some models rate the same drum 50liters today at 6 kg or even 7 kg.

Miele introduced their 7kg washer on the belgian market only. But there you see that the ratio 1:10 is still used. So they have a drum of +/-70 liters.

 

[gregm]

just bought one !

Just got a top-loader and it makes the exact same sounds / noise as the older style maytags from the early 80's and before. It appears to be of great quality ! 3 year parts AND labor warranty on everything ! I love it !

 

[mysteryclock]

Let's see it!

How about some pictures and / or videos?

 

[gregm]

vids are on youtube

Someone else, not sure if a clubmember has the videos already on youtube; you just type in speed queen washer at the you tube site and its the 2008 washer video; mine is the same as that

 

[queeny77]

they are mine

 

[foraloysius]

Here's one of the videos

 

[favorit]

Tilted tubs and bearings

are a nice idea in order to shorten the frontloader lifespan.

Frontloaders have radial bearings. These bearings can bear ONLY radial loads, while axial loads wear them.
The load is totally radial if the axix is really horizontal, otherwise there is also an axial component. The more is tilted, the bigger is the axial component.

Some big commercial frontloaders are TILTABLE, meaning the cylinder is tilted downward while downloading BUT it is set back to horizontal position before operation

 

[yogitunes]

i like the design...but a few more options would be nice...excellent warranty but we'll have to see as time goes on about long lasting for the money.....my experience has been never buy first one on the market..proto type..give it a few years when they respond to customer needs and then the changes will show up.....not to mention getting the glitches out....

 

[gregm]

pics ...

here is the one I got, sorry its so blurry ???

 

[gregm]

console pic

hopefully this one came out clearer

 

[gregm]

inside ... ...

pretty big tub ...

 

[toploader1984]

it would be nice to see more videos of the new speed queen top loader on youtube, a FULL cycle in hig quality! i am getting one of these machines soon, using it as my daily driver and using my filter flo for fun.