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welshsi

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Jul 26, 2011
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Hi Everyone,
Im looking to invest in a new Top loader here in the Uk, they have got pretty hard to find here now (New) the only ones that are available (I've found) are Whirlpool, Maytag, Speed queen (theres a small hotpoint thing that isn't my idea of a true top loader)

I keep getting drawn back to a Speed Queen LWS17. Ive seen about Maytag and Whirlpool but they all point to the Speed queen being a much better machine.

Does anyone here have experience of this model. or know how good they are? I don't want to invest in what will pretty much be double the cost of a new front loader here.

Any of your thoughts or experiences would be really helpful.
Thanks all.

Si.
 
I see the Speed Queen is available in the UK with the matching gas or electric dryer.  It's a shame the matching dryer's automatic cycle will be thermostat-based rather than electronic moisture sensors.  But nevertheless I have used them and I found that once I got used to it, I could set it very accurately.  I don't know if you're thinking about getting a Speed Queen dryer too, or if you already have another one.  I'm sure it would dry extremely quickly and provide wrinkle-free results better than most Euro dryers.

 

I'm sure the Speed Queen experts will be along shortly to help and advise you.  Purely from appearance, it looks like an older model compared to the current models being sold in the USA (both electronic and electromechanical timer models).  However I'd say it's probably a fantastic machine and probably the best agitator top loader available to you.  I'd say go for it!  A proper old-school mechanical transmission and a solid machine that gets the job done well at breakneck speed.  The last of its kind.
 
Hi Welshshi, I live in Australia where like in North America, the traditional top loading washer is most popular and as far as I can tell, the Speed Queen models sold around the world are all pretty much the same in how they are built and how they operate. I have used Speed Queen washers for many years and they are all the same with some very slight differences in cycle options etc., it's a very long-lived and traditional design. I have worked for many years in the administration of university dormitories and Speed Queen washers and dryers are all we used - the students would flog the living daylights out of the machines with the poor washers and dryers running load after load every day, and they just don't quit. They would usually only go out of service if a hair clip got stuck in the pump or something like that, that's how I became aware of the Speed Queen brand.

I have a Speed Queen (an export model for Australia, AWNA62) and I love it, it's a fabulous machine compared to my previous washer which was a cheaper Simpson top loader (an Australian brand). Whereas my old washer had lots of plastic and could be easily moved around, the Speed Queen has lots of metal componentry and weighs a ton - like washers from the good old days when they were still made of metal. This site has been a wealth of knowledge in assisting me with my purchase (thanks everyone!!)

I would have no hesitation in recommending one, they are solid as a rock and very hard to break, if looked after properly a Speed Queen should last for years. Just be aware they are quite different from the small European style front load washers you are probably used to. It is my understanding that many houses in the UK don't have a dedicated laundry room which you will definitely need if you buy a Speed Queen as they are much larger than a Euro style washer. They also don't heat their own water unlike a Euro machine - this isn't a problem in "the colonies" as we all have hot water storage tanks but if you don't have mains pressure hot water this may also be an issue. So just keep that in mind before you invest in one. If you do buy one, you'll see straight away (or rather, in 35 minutes when your first load of washing is finished!!) why they are so popular.
 
I think the Speed Queens sold in Australia are basically the same as those sold in the USA, except for the neutral drain and electric drain pump and possibly a slightly different lid...?

 

However this model of Speed Queen sold in the UK that Simon is considering is the LWS17.  I've googled it and looked at images of this machine and it doesn't look anything like the current Speed Queens in the USA/Australia.  In fact it looks kind of like the older Amana machines.  Could anyone clarify the possible origin of this machine?  Is it really a Speed Queen built by Alliance in Ripon, Wisconsin?

marky_mark-2016010806222400612_1.png
 
Speed Queen

Hi Marky Mark,
Thanks for that. Yes I'm used to that size top loader as was brought up with a Hotpoint one so know they are much bigger.

Yes id be interested to know from people if that model is a true speed queen. there is another one I've seen that is similar but with the metal catch on the lid that you can see. (called a real commercial machine) here in the uk. but theres a pretty big jump in price too.
 
I'm not an expert, but from the outside, that looks exactly like the AWS92 that I just got save for the different control panel - mine is electric push button, that is mechanical. But the trim around the control panel, the lid (without the metal catch), the front and side look exactly the same to me.
 
Speed Queen

Im not sure, but i know theres a similar machine in the local Laundrette and that catch is the lock/safety switch.

Are most of these machines pretty good then?
 
Speed Queen

Hi Yogitunes.

thanks for that, Speed Queens are rare here in the uk especially domestic ones so was good to have a bit of a heads up. I know they are built really well just was wondering if anyone had any problems with them and how reliable they found them so any advice is good advice.

Si.
 
It is curious that the export Speed Queens use an electric drain pump. If it was a superior design I would think it would be universal. Perhaps it is to accommodate a difference between foreign and domestic setups? Does it drain more slowly to accommodate a potentially smaller sized drain pipe than we usually have in U.S. laundry rooms?

I also wonder if eliminating the spin-drain have the side-effect of extending the belt life or increasing the chance of an unbalance load. My experience with neutral-drain TL washers is that using a water level that is too high for a partial load can increase the chance of an unbalanced spin.
 
The Speed Queen is supposed to be very reliable, that's why I bought mine. I haven't had it long enough to comment on that really. I will say the TL feels very solid, the drum doesn't want to be pushed around when loading, and its basic cycles are very fast. Clothes come out clean, if a little wetter than I remember from my previous washer. That said, it doesn't seem to affect drying times, probably because the SQ forces me to do smaller loads (which is probably a good thing according to this forum). The 2 small loads take about what 1 packed in load took in washing though, and the quicker drying mostly balances out the time of a second load.

The biggest change is dumping in the detergent first - pretty much every washer before this one either had a compartment where you put the soap, or you added it after putting in the clothes and filling with water.
 
I have a Speed Queen TL. ..I turn it on, add the clothes, than add the detergent after its filled with water, avoiding pouring it directly on the clothing. Cheryl
 
Speed Queen

Hey thanks everyone,

Its really good to read your experiences, I'm Certainly going to buy a Speed queen, I've heard good reports for some time but wanted to be sure. ;-)

Si.
 

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