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

 

[tomturbomatic]

Those two agitators are a sight. The one in the stainless tub had a bite taken out of the top of the front-most vane and the one in the black speckled porcelain tub (at least I hope that is black porcelain) looks like the mating of the white Maytag agitator with the arrow-shaped fins on the barrel and a Surgilator with the resulting heat of passion causing some distorsion. If you look at the black speckled tub just right, the white speckles can look like water spray droplets caught in freeze frame, at least to me, but then I have not had my medications yet.

 

[frontloadfan]

Question for Laundress

Hey Laundress,

I have a question for you. I had the Frigidaire FL for 8 years and then the bearings went out on it. I was curious about the Commercial front load Speed Queens. With the type of wear they would get, say 12 hours of almost constant use each and every day, how long would the bearings typically last on them? I wouldn't be surprised if they needed to be replaced on a yearly basis. I mean if you consider a typical household has even one load per day (and that seems pretty high), a commercial Speed Queen would be working the equal of 20 years of home use in one year!

 

[launderess]

Far as I know bearings on commercial front loaders can go ages before being replaced if ever during service. It is common for bearing to be changed during a refit such as when an older washer is being stripped/rebuilt/repaired before being sold as "used" laundry equipment. Will ask our local laundromat owner and see what his thoughts are.

IIRC correctly much has to do with the type of bearings, how/if they are sealed and placment. Obviously a "cheap" FriGeMore unit which had bearings as part of the plastic outer drum assembly is not going to be the same as heavy duty commercial bearings which are sealed and separate. It has been explained to me that if bearings are of good quality and sealed against water/detergent getting in, they can go ages.

Thing to keep in mind is that commercial front loaders especially laundromat units are designed to be easily serivced and if need be rebuilt. This is why one sees 30 year old or more Wascomat units still around, happily in service. Mind you they lack some of the bells and whistles of modern units, but they get the job done. If you ever take peek inside a commercial front loader, you will see they are VERY basic units. Built for the duration, but easily serviced and if one knows how, taken apart.

Launderess

 

[Emily707]

Need More Speed Queen Info....

I have been watching with interest this thread on Speed Queens. I am in the market for a stacked FL W/D unit. I have been looking hard at the Maytag stacked unit (MLG2000A), Fridgidaire (GLTF2940)and LG (2277 or 2075) stackables. I have looked at the Speed Queen site. They too have a stacked set. Priced $1800-1900 in my area, altho no one carries this particular unit to be looked at, I am wary of buying something like this sight unseen. The size and basic choices are OK by me. Has anyone here actually purchased a more recent model of Speed Queens? What is their reliability record? How well do they wash and are they gentle on clothes?
Thanks for all the really interesting information...you're all such a wealth of knowledge.
Emily

 

[jimmyb]

I have Speed Queens

Emily:

I purchased Speed Queens in early March and am very happy with them. I used to have an Asko set which was great but I was disappointed with the capacity and longer wash times. I switched to LG's which were refurbished and after a month they went back as the washer never would spin.

I now have the ATS90AWN washer (front load no heater) and AES68AWF dryer. My laundry is not terribly soiled so the shorter cycle time and not having an internal heater is not a problem for me. Cycle time for the regular wash is 30 minutes and the dryer is quick as well. The spin on the washer is louder than the Asko but no big deal.

I have given a link to that home site which has a laundry room forum and went ahead and did a search for Speed Queen. Quite a while ago somebody on there had purchased the stacked unit that you are looking at and was quite happy as well. I did not find there posting and am not sure if they have an archive.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Jim

http://ths.gardenweb.com/search/nph-ind.cgi?term=speed+queen&forum=laundry&forum_name=Laundry+Room

 

[frontloadfan]

Speed Queen (35 lb.) Commericial Just Posted on Ebay

I was just on ebay. I did a search for speed queen. It is common to see the smaller speed queens commercial front loaders listed (25 lb.). Tonight, however, there is a 35 lb. model listed. The person stated he bought it a few years ago for $3,000.

If you are interested, check it out (post is for five days) for the pictures. They have a whole series of pictures from every angle both inside and outside of the machine. Here is something I found of interest. One of the pictures was the model number plate. In addition to listing its capacity as 35 pounds, it listed its voltage requirement as 208-240. I never thought about it, but are all of the commercial speed queens FL 208/240 voltage? Or are the small units (25 pound capacity) 110? Also interesting is that you can see that the top of the machine clearly has hinges on the back, so the repairman can insert a key and just push up the top. I guess the front comes right off too for easy access.

 

[launderess]

Have peeped at the voltage for smaller units at the local laundromat from about 12lbs to 35lbs and they all run on 208v voltage. IIRC most SQ frontloader excpet the "Homestyle" light commercial models run on 208v power. There are however some smaller coin units which run on 110v power, however do not know if they are still in production. See the following link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Speed-Queen-Fro...ryZ25390QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[launderess]

Easy Access

Most if not all commercial frontloaders, at least those recently built are designed for "easy front access". After all these units normally bolted down into concrete and have gravity drains, not to mention weigh in at about 300lbs more or less. In short they do not move very easily! *LOL*

Also quite a few laundromat/commercial laundry owners like to do their own repairs (to save on costs and keep down time low), and easy front access makes repairs that much easier.

Launderess

 

[whirlcool]

Today I went down to our local coin laundry and had to wash our queen size comforter, one of our dogs got sick last night, yuk.
I ended up using a Wascomat Senior 124 machine. I sat there and watched it work. It used generous amounts of water, about 1/3 up the door and was very splashy! I used All HE detergent. The rinse water was very clean after those high speed spins between rinsing cycles(3).
I was not only amazed at how much water went into the drum on all cycles, but how quiet the machine actually was. It was almost silent during the wash & rinse mode. Now the spin start was just like a jet engine spooling up. The whole cycle from start to finish was about 30 minutes. And the comforter was perfectly clean when done.
I looked at the power requirements for this washer, 208-240V 3 Phase! I imagine it really drinks the juice!
Unfortunately, I used one of those SQ Commercial Dryers and set it on "low" and 10 minutes later, when I checked on the drying progress I could smell the fabric burning! That dryer got so hot I could hardly touch the comforter, and that was on low!

 

[jetcone]

SQ Cion Op Horizon Machine

I have had that SQ Horizon machine in like on ebay, in my tenants unit for 5 years. She is a big washer, almost everyday. It has run and run without a problem for all that time! A real record when you consider I bought her a commercial Staber and spent EVERY OTHER WEEKEND under the thing trying to keep it going!

I would not hesitate at all buying the home version as it has most of the same components.
I must say I was shocked to see the low amount of water it uses! I saved a bundle but was worried my tenants would end up dirty looking or have rashes all over them! No such thing! Even the newborn has no rashes so the SQ really rinses out well but the clothes never look more than damp!

One feature they really love is the roulette feature. You can program whatever sequence you like but I have it set to 1 out of every 139 washes will be FREE and the console will flash FREE when it comes up! They rush the laundry into the machine everytime that happens!

 

[jetcone]

I'd...

LOVE A WASHER CALLED SUPER MATE!!