One last try, wish me luck!

[Kevinpreston3]

At 2:00 today, my wife and I are setting off on what may be a real major disappointment. Some background.

A good 8 years ago, we were driving along side the freeway and saw a HUGE line of old washers going up a hillside. There was a building that had large letters painted on it "Appliance Remanufacturing Center". Intrigued we went in.

This place was heaven for I will bet every person on this board. Not only were there, and I am not exaggerating, somewhere between 500-1000 washers of all types from wringers on up outside, but there was an inside showroom of refurbished items. We fell in love with a 1963 GE Fridge, with swing out stainless shelves and the freezer on the bottom. We bought it, it was professionally delivered and setup , and has worked just fine for all these years. The showroom had fridges, washers, dryers, they had two Flair ovens, probably over 150 pieces inside. It was a buzz of activity.

Last year, we ventured over there again, just for fun. It was still there, but the stuff outside was way less. The showroom was there, but this a-hole just said, well, I can't let you browse in there, you have to tell me what you want. What? Angry, we just left. A week later, I called and talked to a different guy, and he was totally different...yes you can browse, sure come down! I hadn't had the opportunity yet.

Well, the last time I drove by the place on the freeway most of the signage is gone. It looks like it is still there, but as I could easily get the phone number off the internet before, now I cannot find a listing anywhere. So, mom and dad are here to watch the kids, wife and I are going to take one more trip out there. Now having a little more education in appliances over the last 8 years, and joining here, I know a bit more what to look for.

So I think I will either end up coming back with some ratty but fantastic find that I will need your collective advice on restoring, or I will be really angry and disappointed.

I will let you guys know...hey, should I video tape it?

 

[lbcarguy]

Would love to visit this place

Hi,

Being in Long Beach, would like to know about your venture. If you have good luck, would be great to visit it myself or we could gather up the locals and make a day of it.

Can't wait to hear how it goes.

MK in LBC

 

[Kevinpreston3]

Update

We went today, mixed results.

It was not nearly as nice as it was 8 years ago. One guy in the "showroom", which looked stopped in time a few years ago. Not even hardly any light in it, besides the sun coming in through skylights.

We were peering through the yard and a guy with a mouthfull of teeth all pointing in different directions said "Showroom here! Showroom here!" Kind of got the idea that they didnt want us poking around in the yard. Whatever.

Inside the "showroom here" was a bit disappointing. While there were a few nice vintage ovens, there were tons of washers, but they were almost all the 80s and 90s Kenmore, Maytag, etc...all white, all boring. There was one Norge dryer with kind of a cool panel. There were a bunch of dishwashers, again, nothing exciting. Interestingly, there was one GE fridge with the swing out shelves, a smaller apartment sized version of the GE fridge I bought there.

There were, however, two very good things outside, if anyone is interested.

There was a Western-Holly single porthole stove there, in blue green, similar to this:

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www.vintagestoves.com

It looked like it had all the grilles and burner grates in the oven. Might be complete. Someone needs to get that NOW before some yahoo in Pasadena gets it, puts some wax on it, then sells it to some other fool in Pasadena for $8K. I think you know what I mean. It was not dented and it needs to be inside.

The thing I almost bought--but have no room for, is a really nice FLAIR electric double oven with retracting burners. This is very dirty, very dusty, but it looks in great shape. I mean, possibly, this is a one day clean job to perhaps a fantasic stove. The doors both open smoothly. The glass is fine. The burner tray moves out really nice. The cabinet doors in the front have surface rust, but with some work and some paint, they would be nice. The chrome looks great. It is a white cabinet. I got the guy down to $350 for it. Someone here please save that unit--I would, but the room I have left I really want to save for a vintage washer.

If interested in these items, and to irritate Mr. Teeth, this place is located right off the 60 Freeway, Pyrite exit in Pedley. This is about 20 mins east of Ontario, Calif. They are on the North Side of the freeway, you will see the signs. The place is a shell of itself, but there are those 2 stoves, and I bet more stuff stashed if you can sneak around and look. Don't bring your kids, too much stuff piled up. It is really kind of an eyesore now, but it used to be really cool. Shame, I bet the original owner sold out.

You can see a sign in front of the place, "Appliance Remanufacturing Center".

Someone save those stoves, I want to see them go to someone from here that will like them and not just buy them for profit.

 

[Kevinpreston3]

Almost forgot....

There was a complete Ironite there. I could not open it up, but the outside looked superb!!!

 

[bethann]

My advice

Send your wife alone next time ( with a can of mace in her pocket)If she goes in there and smiles they'll give her a tour of the whole place! Trust me, it works!

 

[retromom]

Don't give up!

Kevin:
Kevin:

Bethann is right. When I go scavenging for appliances, I always walk in and start talking to the guys. I'm no Cindy Crawford, so I usually use Austin (I'm not proud) as my way to get in the door. "Hi. Do you have any old washers and or dryers around? My son works on them as a hobby. Yeah, I know it's kind of crazy, but it keeps him out of trouble." Then, I flash them my "patient, understanding, long-suffering mom" look. It works every time. Unfortunately, there is a lot of junk out there that's not worth coming home with so the hunt is not always successful.

I would give my eye teeth to find a remanufactured appliance place like the one that you located! People here seem to just give things the heave ho! No chance for recycling.

Good luck on your next outing!

Venus