ingliscanada
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2009
- Messages
- 338
My folks used to own an old 2 storey building in Dunnville, ON. The whole upstairs was an apartment, where my grandparents lived, and we often spent a weekend there during my childhood. On the ground level was a pool hall, barber shop, and a laundromat. I used to love spending time in that laundromat, watching the machines running. This laundromat had 15 Speed Queen top loaders, and 5 large Huebsch dryers. I remember this like yesterday; walking into the laundromat, the washers were lined up on the wall on the right, and the dryers on the left. The first 4 were the original washers from when that laundromat opened. They were early 60's SQ's, white, with the one-way tranny which changes cycles via solenoids. The motor ran from beginning to end. They would fill up, CLUNK into agitation, and then CLUNK right into spin. Without tub brake, they would coast to a stop. The majority of the washers were new (at that time) 70's models, in harvest wheat colour. They had the 2-way tranny, which paused in between agitation and spin, and had the tub brake. The pump in the newer washers had that rhythmic sound, that kind of freaked me, as it sounded like it was calling my name (Gary-Gary-Gary). Seriously, that's what it sounded like! The old Huebsch dryers were turquoise in colour, and had the circle doors with a small round window in the middle. They started up with a loud wind. Up in the apartment, I could hear those dryers running. It had the unique sound, the blowers kept a tone, and you'd hear one start up with that wind here and there. Ah, the memories.