I remember, years ago, perhaps around 1986, Speed Queen had two stacked washer/dryer units. One was a full-sized unit which had a tilt-forward washer which I never understood, because if you forgot a piece of laundry, you couldn't add it because you couldn't tilt the washer out once it filled with water ... am I correct? Then, they had a more compact version with a smaller plastic tub and an odd-looking agitator ... does anyone else remember that one? Anyone ever use either of these? Todd
Speed Queen Stack
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Speed Queen Ultra-Mate
Good to see you Todd!
I do remember the stacking Speed Queens - 1984. I only remember seeing a couple of them, I think the Maryland guys have one. A b*tch to service, I'll bet. I loved the window in the dryer door, it went right through the center of the exhaust hump in the dryer door.
The plastic tub washer you remember was a little earlier than this - around 1980-81 and were called the Contempo-Mates. There was a matching dryer, a little smaller than full size machines but the dryer was only 120v so not big sellers. I only saw them once at a home show. Speed Queen also sold a compact Japanese made washer and dryer similar to the GE impeller machines. Prior to this, they had a Servis made twin-tub and matching dryer.
Good to see you Todd!
I do remember the stacking Speed Queens - 1984. I only remember seeing a couple of them, I think the Maryland guys have one. A b*tch to service, I'll bet. I loved the window in the dryer door, it went right through the center of the exhaust hump in the dryer door.
The plastic tub washer you remember was a little earlier than this - around 1980-81 and were called the Contempo-Mates. There was a matching dryer, a little smaller than full size machines but the dryer was only 120v so not big sellers. I only saw them once at a home show. Speed Queen also sold a compact Japanese made washer and dryer similar to the GE impeller machines. Prior to this, they had a Servis made twin-tub and matching dryer.
I bet
Your sister developed big forearms yanking that thing in and out twice aday!!
Your sister developed big forearms yanking that thing in and out twice aday!!
veg-o-matic
Well-known member
Okay, that's just plain ol' weird! Never seen anything like that before in my life.
Is there a lid on that washer?
veg
Is there a lid on that washer?
veg
Designgeek
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I'll guess that the lid is fully removable and is hiding behind the woman's laundry basket in the photo.
Reason is: If it was hinged at the rear, it could slam down hard if you didn't close it while tilting the unit back. If it was hinged at the side or the front it could jam and break when the unit was tilted back, though in fact if you look closely, the angle of the tilted unit doesn't provide room for a side-hinged lid to open. If there was no lid, you'd get the "clean floor effect" during the wash cycle. Therefore the only option is to make it fully removable. In which case you could also have a piece of clear perspex cut to size, to provide a clear lid if you wanted to check the cycle from time to time.
The input and output hoses from the washer would be flexed each time it's tilted out or back, increasing wear on the hoses. And if you had a power outage while a load was washing, and tried to tilt the unit out with a tub full of water, it would create quite a splash. But even with those tradeoffs, it's an interesting system and a clever way to get large size units into a stacked configuration.
Reason is: If it was hinged at the rear, it could slam down hard if you didn't close it while tilting the unit back. If it was hinged at the side or the front it could jam and break when the unit was tilted back, though in fact if you look closely, the angle of the tilted unit doesn't provide room for a side-hinged lid to open. If there was no lid, you'd get the "clean floor effect" during the wash cycle. Therefore the only option is to make it fully removable. In which case you could also have a piece of clear perspex cut to size, to provide a clear lid if you wanted to check the cycle from time to time.
The input and output hoses from the washer would be flexed each time it's tilted out or back, increasing wear on the hoses. And if you had a power outage while a load was washing, and tried to tilt the unit out with a tub full of water, it would create quite a splash. But even with those tradeoffs, it's an interesting system and a clever way to get large size units into a stacked configuration.
frontaloadotmy
Well-known member
the lid is the
bottom of the dryer cabinet!!!!!
bottom of the dryer cabinet!!!!!
brettsomers
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so if the washer malfunctioned, with water in the basket, your f@cked? no way to bail the water by hand, and the hose is behind the heavy machine? i have visions of the entire thing falling forward.
JerseyMike
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I also this at the 1984 New Orleans World Fair. It is an interesting design, but I would imagine the it would be a nightmare to service. (Like Brett, I also wonder how one would easily get the water out of the washer in the event of a malfunction or power failure.)
Mike
Mike
This may sound like a silly question-Is there some sort of device to prevent you from tilting the washer while it was full of water or running-It would seem like if you tilted it while there was water in it you would get a wet floor.And once the washer is tilted forward for load or unload-is there a switch in the tilt mechanism to prevent it from filling or running while tilted out?I could just picture a disaster with this unit-someone forgets to tilt it back-starts it and gets a wet floor unless some sort of safety switch was incorporated in it.
frontaloadotmy
Well-known member
I don't think Speed Queen had us in mind
when they designed these jobs. I would think that they "lock"
closed once the fill has initiated. In the early to mid
eighties I remember seeing them in an appliance store
in San Francisco and thinking they were awkward at best.The dryer window was fun though. I could no more start a washing
machine and not fiddle with it than I could not breathe!
when they designed these jobs. I would think that they "lock"
closed once the fill has initiated. In the early to mid
eighties I remember seeing them in an appliance store
in San Francisco and thinking they were awkward at best.The dryer window was fun though. I could no more start a washing
machine and not fiddle with it than I could not breathe!
It is my understanding that once the machine started, it could not be tilted out, it was "locked upright". Thus, if you wanted to add something, you had to cancel the cycle, drain the water, and start over. Not very convenient ... but, back at that time, it was the only "full-sized" stack (other than the front load ones). The smaller unit was obviously made by a different company, as the tub was plastic and it had an odd looking agitator, unlike any other I had seen. Neither stack set was around for long.
golittlesport
Well-known member
I wonder why they didn't put the washer on a track with casters in the front so it could be rolled/slid out while remaining upright.
scot
New member
Speed Queen Ultra-Mate Stackable
I have a Speed Queen Ultra-Mate Stackable. The wiring fried on it yesterday while cycling and it stopped running. Now the washer is locked and I cant pull it out to retrieve my laundry. Does anyone know if there a way that it can pull out manually?
I have a Speed Queen Ultra-Mate Stackable. The wiring fried on it yesterday while cycling and it stopped running. Now the washer is locked and I cant pull it out to retrieve my laundry. Does anyone know if there a way that it can pull out manually?
