Son who loves washers and dryers

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evloveswashers

New member
Joined
Sep 17, 2016
Messages
3
Location
Columbus, Ohio
Hello, my name is Debby Skidmore and my almost five year old son LOVES washers and dryers. He has for about two years now. He talks about them all the time, draws them, builds them out of playdoh, blocks, magnets, cardboard boxes, etc. We also take frequent trips to Home Depot to play with and check out all the washers and dryers. He owns 11 toy washers and dryers ( he would own more if I let him!)
Anyway, my mother in law saw the segment on tv that talked about your club and sent it to me. My son has watched the video multiple times and loves it! I just couldn't get over the fact that there were other people with the same obsession! It was so good to know there are other laundry enthusiasts out there. So I searched on the internet and found you all. We are located in Columbus Ohio and I was wondering if there was someone nearby who had a collection, and if so, if they would mind if he came and looked at it. It would seriously make his day.....month......heck probably his year to be in a room full of washers and dryers that actually work!

Thanks so much and no worries if it doesn't work out, I know it is a long shot, but thought it was worth asking.
 
That's interesting, I was part of that video (the fat guy who's described as seemingly normal or something like that!)

I live far from Ohio but I'm bet you'll find some members that are closer to you! Ohio happened to be the place where many of the greatest appliances were made, including my favorite, GM Frigidaire appliances.

I drove around Dayton two weeks ago to get a 1965 washer and dryer set that I'm fixing now.
 
Debby

This is great to hear. We have to recruit new members to carry on the legacy. Never too young to start! If you have the room buy him a GE Filter-Flo while they are still plentiful. They can be found cheap and are great fun to watch especially one with a mini basket. They are well built machines that last a long time and are great cleaners. I have one from 1983 Id give your son if I were close but Im in NYS. A 1966 GE Filter-Flo is what started my interest in washing machines and all things mechanical. [this post was last edited: 9/20/2016-20:35]
 
What a great Mom!

I too was fascinated with washers from as early as I can recall, all appliances really. Fortunately, my parents indulged my interest and I was never made to feel different because of my seemingly unusual interests. I even had my very own Royal Premier Upright Vacuum that I kept right next to my bed. I hope that there is a member near you that has a collection that your son can visit. You are a lucky Mom too, because before too many more years your son will gladly be able to do your laundry!
Eddie
 
Debby, a warm hearty welcome to both you and your son.  He is so fortunate to have a mom like you.  And how you described your son up to this point, hmm, it's a duplicate of many of our stories.  I'm hoping some of our members in the Ohio area will reach out to y'all.  I did look at your profile, you birthday is the same as my parent's wedding anniversary.  Bob

 
 
Welcome to the site Debby!  It's so nice to hear that your son loves washers and dryers -  I think many of us here on the site can reach back into our own memories and recall watching and inspecting machines when we were that age.   I can remember the '64 GE washer and dryer set my folks had but couldn't use because the house where we lived had really bad plumbing and wiring, so we did laundry in the '55 Whirlpool wringer washer my parents bought when they first arrived in Canada!  

 

I wish I was closer to Columbus - I'd be happy to give you and your son the grand tour!  

 
 
Your son if gifted! :-)

A wonderful hobby to have. Regardless what people say, this is 100% normal. There are so many kids with all kinds of passions be it trains, school buses, sports, weather, trees, animals, buildings, appliances, the list is infinite. All that matters is that you support your son and his interests.

As he gets older Id recommend buying him an actual washer of his choosing, perhaps a portable to enjoy. Even if his interests move on, the knowledge gained will last forever.
 
welcome you and your son to our group......its a great start, wishing something like this was around when we were 3 or so.....great memories from growing up....my mother too thought it was a bit odd, yet encouraged it.....I got a Suzy Homemaker washer for Xmas one year.....

those types are no longer available anymore......

but was thinking of getting him started on something similar, and somewhat his size.....like one of these Mini Twin Tubs.....easy and safe enough for him for now as his collection will grow.....

http://dayton.craigslist.org/for/5732095130.html
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That's great!

Debby,

My gosh! How lucky your son is to have you for a mother! You need the mother of century award for supporting his fascination with appliances. I was the same way as a child but was pushed back and essentially was my family's punching bag for jokes and ridicule. Not so much my parents (though neither liked my fascination) but by extended family. I remember so vividly an uncle laughing and telling me that "you will make somebody a good wife someday." Also, I recall walking into my grandparent's house and overhearing conversation in another room making fun of my fascination. So to read about someone who is not ostracizing but supporting their son's fascination is very heartwarming.

Mike
 
Martin, I DREAMED of getting a Suzy Homemaker, after all the tv ads. Instead I got car models, which was ok. My cousin had a Wolverine wash, spin pink crank one we would play with every chance we could. Hers did not get thrown away like mine always did, because she is a girl. I was a girly sissy liking that stuff as boys have to be men they told me and like man stuff. Tough crap, I turned out just fine and still love old washers and old appliances.
 
Well this is a familiar story for us, isn't it? I think we've all been that child in our younger days.

Debby, bravo for allowing your son to persue his interests. My parents were never fans of my hobby and would try to discourage it as much as possible, but that just made things worse for me. Don't worry about him too much - we all knew those people when we were younger that thought it was odd or weird, but for the most part we all grew into reasonable adults with jobs and houses and familes of our own etc.
 
Hi!

Welcome!!! I wish I lived closer, I don't have a collection like most everyone in this group has, but I would love to have him come play with my 1976 Maytag set! He would love the consoles that light up when the washer and dryer run. Thank you for encouraging his interests and letting him be himself... You sound like a wonderful person!
 
I was the exact same way when I was a child, my fascination with washing machines started around age 3. It lead me into building this website and my own collection of vintage machines as shown in the picture below.

It took three years of begging my parents but they finally relented and got me a Suzy Homemaker Washer around 1971 when I was 7 or so. The link below shows a small washer I just found that I bet he would absolutely love to have as his own, I may break down and get one myself lol...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Portable-Wa...ffType=OrderSubTotalOffer&_trksid=p5731.m3795
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Kudos to Debby!

I guess we have the Internet to thank for this "outreach"! Years ago - and I think I can speak for most everybody here - we thought we had a unique interest. We had no idea there were others sharing this interest, and there really wasn't a way to connect with others, especially as children or young people.

Who knows from where these interests originate - I can only speak for myself when I recall fond memories of time spent with my grandmother in the 1960s, watching her do the laundry in an old wringer washer. The memories are very poignant - the smell of the soap and bleach, the cozy wash-house on the farm with the fire in the old wood-stove, and above all, the time spent with my adored grandparent. She is responsible for getting me my first toy wringer washer at the age of 3. The fascination has continued to this day, and now I've become quite adept at restoring old Maytag wringer washers from the 1930s.

Here's photos of me at 3 years of age, and 50!

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Kudos To Debby!!

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier; font-size: 12pt; color: #800080;">Mine started when I was around 5 or so but mine was small kitchen appliances.  Back then my Dad was a Mechanical Engineer working for GE in Syracuse NY.  He was one of a group of engineers who developed these small appliances.  These engineers would bring them home for their wives to test and evaluate so you can imagine the plethora of do's and don'ts that passed through my Mom's kitchen.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier; font-size: 12pt; color: #800080;">Because I wanted to take them all apart my Dad would bring home those that were no longer needed but he would cut the cords off so I wouldn't take a screwdriver to a machine that was plugged in.  Of course, I would have nothing to do with those that had no cord.  My Mom will often mention the cabinet full of "toys" I had but she'd frequently find me in the kitchen, on the counter, going after one of her "real" ones.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier; font-size: 12pt; color: #800080;">That eventually transformed into a love of dishwashers and the rest is history.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier; font-size: 12pt; color: #800080;">I thought there was a collector in Akron which isn't too far away (compared to some) but I could be wrong.</span>
 
Oh my goodness, thank you all so much for responding!! I was completely blown away by how many of you all took time to write and comment and give ideas. And all of your kind words were such a blessing to me today. As a young mom who is constantly comparing myself to everyone else and feeling unworthy as a parent...these kind words meant so SO much! Thank you! And for those of you who grew up not being supported....I am so sorry! That is so hard to hear and I just want to give your five year old selves a huge hug and tell you that it is okay and that you are great! But I am so glad to her that it didn't deter you from picking the hobby and fascination back up as you got older.
Thank you all so much for your ideas. I was checking out some of the little portable washers online, he would absolutely flip over these. We may take the plunge someday and get him one. He is also currently requesting a portable air conditioner and window air conditioner, so we will have to see! haha This kid loves all this stuff. At age 2 he was talking about the dehumidifier and at age 3 about how this tower fan oscillates and this one doesn't. Cracks me up!
I wish we loved closer to some of you because I would bring him over in a heartbeat. I will have to keep this in mind if we ever go on a trip somewhere, to see if anyone lives nearby.
Thanks again so much guys! So glad I was able to find you and get connected!
 
My take on all this...

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">How lucky we all are (including Evan) to have known early in life what our passions are.  How many of us know full grown adults who are still wandering around wondering,  never having really connected with anything?  Many of us are lucky to have been supported by those important to us?</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">Cute kid by the way.  He sure looks happy.</span>
 
Evan sure has it going on early.

There is or was a toy LG working he top load washer model. I saw it on youtube.
I bet that most innovators were interested in mechanical and or electrical machines as children. Something sparks the imagination, and gets those wheels turning early.
Seeing how current machines worked inspired them to innovate.
None of Leonardo DaVinci's concepts flew, but he was on the right track.
I am also an ho scale model railroader. This winter, I am going to add a Laundromat to my lay out. It will have at least two spinning machines in it. I've saved small dc motors from inoperable cd and dvd players. They opened and closed the trays. I will use a spare 12 volt transformer to control the voltage and speed.
I'll use spare plastic parts from kits to make the tub drums, and cabinets. I'll affix small fins to spin small pieces of fabric.
If Miniature Wonderland in Hamburg can build an airport with planes that take off and land, I can do this.
 
Hi Debby, I echo everyone's comments to you -- I've had the same fascination for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid and we would visit other friends and family, I would whisper into my Mom or Dad's ear to ask if the friends/family had any laundry to do so I could watch their machine!

Keep up supporting Evan, he'll turn out fine like the rest of us! I'm 52 years old and this is my 41-year old set I use for the weekly laundry...

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Interesting...

Well...

Debby, I'm in Columbus (well, just south of Grove city off 104 in Orient), originally from Australia, so my collection only consists of three machines, not including the 'daily drivers' as the collectors call them.

But my collectables are all in fact brand spanking new machines, a Speed Queen Washer and Dryer, a Dexter Twin Tub and an Easy Spin Dryer. But you're most welcome to bring the young fella down some time and see them...

They're possibly not all that fascinating - but we can always arrange a time for you to come down and have a look! Let me know what you think...

Cheers
Steve.

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