Am not surprised
Those units were exactly the best offerings from what one understands in terms of build and other quality. That and the market for conventional washing machines wasn't very large. It must have cost good money to ship those things from Middle East round the world. All this not even touching the liability issues related to safety.
Finally at least in the USA there doesn't seem to be a shortage of *used* wringer washers. Their condition ranges from mint to near down to not so much. In any event a used SQ, Maytag, Norge or whatever conventional washer probably runs circles around the "Home Queen" versions. That plus you can find them cheaper.
