Speed Queen - is it worth it?

[stopmeister72]

Found this ad today and was wondering if you could give me some advice? Is this machine worth it? Did this model have a history of mechanical problems? Says made by Amana, but wasn't it really made by Speed Queen? The other posts about Speed Queen and Amana's made by whom is kind of confusing to me.

With much thanks,
John

http://dallas.craigslist.org/hsh/638513959.html

 

[laundromat]

Amana was made by Speed Queen.Not the reverse.They were very similar but Amana NEVER made a washing machine of their own.I'd offer $100.

 

[rp2813]

I wonder why they'd say it was made by Amana? Maybe there is some reference to Amana on the panel or model tag? This one looks to me like it was made before any sort of co-mingling was happening between SQ and Amana and could be a very reliable machine.

And I agree, the whole SQ/Amana association is a tough one to follow. That family tree is a tangled up mess.

 

[dirtybuck]

I'd ask for documentation...

And PROOF that the machine was made by Amana. If they can take a pic of the washer, they can take a pic of the documentation.

 

[70series]

I'm not a Speed Queen buff, but here goes:

The Speed Queen, and the Amana branded washers were both manufactured by their parent company, Raytheon Corp, and probably still are. I don't know if Raytheon manufactured Speed Queen washers back in the solid tub days, but that was certainly the case by the early 1980s, when the SQ models with the perforated tubs, and back opening lids first appeared. The Amana branded washers, as I remember made their debut around 1986. I do not know when the Amana brand originated, or if there was any relationship between Raytheon and Amana, prior to Raytheon making Speed Queen washers. If Raytheon became Speed Queen's manufacturer after 1980, when the change in washer style occurred, it could be possible that Raytheon was already manufacturing other Amana branded products, such as refigerators, as I believe these were in existence before 1980. If there is any documentation stating that the machine featured in this ad was made by Amana, this could explain why. However Amana was just the brand name, and Raytheon was the manufacturer. Again, all of this is only possible if Raytheon was manufacturing the Speed Queens after 1980. What I am pretty sure of is that Raytheon was issuing washers under the Speed Queen brand name before they were putting forward Amana branded machines.

Of course if Speed Queen washers were manufactured solely by Raytheon throughout their history, before any affiliation with Amana, then there is no explanation for the claim that they were made by Amana.

I don't know if this assists in figuring out the ad, but I hope it provides clues.

Have a good one,
James

 

[launderess]

Amana began as "Amana Refrigeration" in Amana, Iowa in 1934 to sell walk in "cooler" By the 1940's Amana made the first upright freezer for domestic use, followed by the first fridge/freezer side by side unit. In the 1950's Amana was bought by a group of investors, which included their founder and became "Amana Refrigeration Inc". By 1954 Amana had also started producing air conditioners.

In 1965, Raytheon purchased Amana because it needed to develop furhter and more importantly market the "RadarRange" to consumers for domestic use. In 1979 Raytheon purchased Speed Queen and Modern Maid. Previous in 1967, Raytheon had purchased Caloric.

Amana began producing laundry appliances at in 1982, at the Speed Queen plant in Ripson, WI. By 1992 Raytheon had two appliance divisons, Speed Queen and Amana.

In 1997 Raytheon sold off it's appliance divisions, with Alliance Laundry systems getting the SQ and Unimac (commercial) brands, and Goodman Holding, getting Amana domestic applince, cooking and commercial HVAC. In the early 2000's Maytag purchased Amana from Goodman.

In 1997, Alliance Laundry Systems, granted the Amana Corp, and it's affiliates a license to use both the SQ and Horzion trademarks and trade names until the year 2012. The Horzion trademarks and trade names were given with unlimited use, while the Speed Queen names could only be used for 75,000 home style washing machines, and 75,000 domestic dryers per year. Amana also has the rights to use certian patents, copyrights, mask works, and "know how" for eternity as relating to SQ. Such use was granted in all markets, and Alliance did not belive such use would harm their business.

So the short answer is that yes, the washing machine above can be a "Speed Queen" made by Amana.

 

[queeny77]

speed queen made amana when the lid opened to the left,i think they where called amana turbo machines.

 

[dirtybuck]

Damn..you guys are good!

I kid you not about this. I was thinking about this Speed Queen post this morning before I got out of bed, and for some reason, Raytheon popped into my head. No wonder the guy who posted the ad said it was made by Amana.

Each of you will receive two points and a box of detergent of your choice for coming up with the right answer.

Have a good weekend!

Bill

 

[fa_f3_20]

Launderess: "In the early 2000's Maytag purchased Amana from Goodman"

So does this mean Amana is part of Whirlpool now? Or did it get spun off in the Maytag buyout?

 

[nmaineman36]

Yeah Amana is part of Whirlpool so is Jenn Air and Admiral and Magic Chef...Whirlpool is this century's WCI..something to think about.

 

[andrewinorlando]

....at least whirlpool doesn't make complete junk though....

 

[gansky1]

I had a SQ washer similar to this, bought in 1987-88.

Dreadfully loud. Pretty sad spinning and very easily overloaded.

 

[norgeman]

Re: Speed Queen

Speed Queen or Allaince company is a combo of some of the old excutives of McGraw-Edison which was the parent company and manufacturer of Speed Queen, and some of the old excutvies of Raytheon corp. When Maytag bought Amana from Goodman they made Speed Queen sign a no competion agreement not to market domestic laundry for 5yrs. That was up in 2005. Thats why they are back in the home laundry seen. I for one am glad that Speen Queen is back. I just hope that they can build a good product that will live up the name Speed Queen. Thanks for listening. Danf.