Speed Queen Front Loaders/Commerical Models

[frontloadfan]

This last weekend, my new Maytag/Samsung didn't get delivered as promised, so I had to make my way to the local laundry mat. Actually it was a good experience. They had over a dozen Speed Queen stainless steel front loaders. They look to be at least 20 years old. I loved that they had the countdown feature and did what seemed to be a great job in 30 minutes flat. I especially liked that after they completed the final spin and came to a stop, the countdown timer still had 2 minutes left. Great, I thought, they will be like my Frigidaire Front Loader and make me wait for 2 minutes for no reason before they unlock the door.

Surprise, after staying stopped for 15 seconds, both of my machines then sprung to life, reversed and did a light fluffing spin. Then when it stopped, presto, right away the door released!

Does anyone now what the size of those old Speed Queen front loaders was? The smaller had signs up saying they were good for up to 25 lbs of clothes and the larger FL Speed Queens were signed for 40 lbs.

It's too bad Speed Queen hasn't been more aggressive in getting into the home front load market. It really seems like they make a good product and they have so many years experience!

 

[toggleswitch]

I like them a lot too.

Even their T/L-ers are nice, INHO

 

[launderess]

SQ's front loaders are very dear for the features they offer, especially when compared to units such as the Bosch "Nexxt". No internal heaters, limited cycle selection with very short cycle times. Bascially a coin operated washing machine without the coin box. Mind you the build quality is decent, but some have reported the face plates are glued on,and other minor things one does not expect in a washer costing upwards of $1400.

SQ is going to have to pull up their socks and either offer more features or drop the price if they hope to make any sort of dent in the residential front loader market.

Launderess

 

[brisnat81]

What other options do you really need?

Hi Launderess,

What options does a normal user really need? I know it's possible in the US to get a machine 20+ cycles, but who really ever uses more than one or two of them anyway? I manage quite sucessfully with 2 cycles coupled with 5 wash rinse temps. Family members who have a FL basically use two out 10 cycles.

It might look impressive to add lots of options, but what value does it really add to the user?

If the machine didnt have Seperate Temperature controls, then I could understand. The options and controls arent any different really to a SQ TL. There is a maximum of 5 cycles there. They just havent given you the ability to choose the timer increment you want to start from.

Regards

Nathan

 

[the7]

SQ FL with Heater

Please note that SQ FL has an internal Heater version with a boosted temperature of 140 F.

 

[peterh770]

Commercial SQ could have been sourced from any one of several companies. The only true SQ front loaders were known as "Super Load" or "Super Mate" washers. These were big, boxy machines with the mesh covering the undercarriage access, stainless steel tub with only 2 lifter vanes. One wash, one spray rinse, 2 deep rinses. Many are still in service and owners love these machines.

Once they discontinued these washers, SQ sourced washers from Continental, Primus and Dexter before settling on Unimac. Shortly after contracting with Unimac, SQ merged with Unimac and Huebsch to form Alliance Laundry Systems. The current SQ line is still Unimac based. Unimac/SQ recently introduced a softmount, hi-extract line of commercial washers that they are sourceing from Ipso.

SQ tops and the Horizon line have always been their own design. When Amana was sold off to Goodman at about the same time that Alliance Laundry Systems was formed, while the TL machines are very similar under the hood, they are different and diverged further as time went on.

 

[toggleswitch]

Speed Queen Washers

As part of my job as a commercial real-estate appraiser, I get to inspect buidlngs. Some have laundry rooms.

Does it get better than that?

 

[toggleswitch]

such fun

 

[toggleswitch]

SQ

 

[toggleswitch]

commerical machines

 

[toggleswitch]

Commercial machines

 

[toggleswitch]

commercial machines

 

[toggleswitch]

Commercial machines

 

[toggleswitch]

Commercial machines-
Gas buner at the top.
Lint filter & huge compartment below tumbler.
These dry a full-sized load in 30+/- minutes.

These dyers have a heat input of 60,000+/- BTU/hr, as opposed to 22,000+/- Btu/Hr that is normally seen in a domestic Amercian gas-fired dryer. (Don't even as for KW I have NO IDEA!)

60k BTU-s is equivalent to four gas-stove burners and an oven on at once.

24k BTU-s is two surface burners on at once.

Controls are (Top to Bottom
"ON" pilot light
Three position temperature rocker switch.
"Start" button (as required by law)... on a home machine to prevent machine fromm re-starting on its own, should a child climb in and shut the door.
Coin slide is ont he right slide.

 

[toggleswitch]

Thank you for partaking of this emergency interruption.
We now return to the regularly scheduled programming:

 

[jmirawm]

LOL !!!

Ok Steve, are you appraising those buildings based on the building......or what is in its laundry room!

 

[toggleswitch]

Well, actually how much fun is this?

Real conversation said to various superintendents ("New Yawk" for building manager).

1) How big is your unit?
2) I'll need to see it.
3) I'll need to photograph it.
4) What's the best way to get to it?
5) and if a mess- When was the last time it was maintained?
6) Take a seat? No, thank you. I can't while I'm working.

One time I had a BOG (friend of Dorothy's) hugely corporate power-broker type busting out laughing. We had each other pegged in mili-seconds.

It's a living.....

 

[frontloadfan]

Speed Queen Commercials On Ebay

I was alerted on this board to a link on ebay, where a landrymat owner was selling several Speed Queen front loaders. I just checked back and those machine apparently have already sold.

Now there is a new listing on Ebay from a landrymat owner in Orland Park, IL who is selling 11 of the Speed Queen "Supermates" which hold 18 lbs. of laundry. He states they were made in 86-87 and are set for 32 minute wash cycles.

From what I can tell when these units go onto Ebay, they don't seem to go for that much, but you are strictly on your own for delivery. If you are interested, just go to Ebay and enter Speed Queen. These have 4 days left to run, but they seem to be sold pretty regularly on Ebay.

 

[launderess]

Location, Location, Location

Many urban areas already have one or more dealers of used/rebuilt units, so the eBay units would have to be a great deal to by pass them. Also buying commercial units sight unseen could be a disaster if one installed them in a "mat" and they turned out to be duds.

Finally like many other large appliances, thems that wants are not always near to the items. Have seen many, many great commercial units on eBay, some MIB either languish or go for very low prices. IMHO this is because the item really has to have a local market. Crating,packing and shipping a 300 pound or more washer is not inexpensive, so even if the unit only cost $100, one will surely spend $600 or more to ship.

Mind you, am still waiting for one of the older SQ "Commercial Homestyle" washers with heaters to pop up on eBay. But so far nothing!

Launderesss