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I had the same one in my last flat lol

The on/off button fell off and couldn’t be repaired, had to use a pen. Apart from that it worked, took several hours per wash though
 
Basic Indesit

Was part of Hotpoint, until Whirlpool aquired Hotpoint.

Pretty basic, simple, cheap machines. Typical sealed tub (no bearing exchange possible), usual life span of 2-4 years.
But for 200-300€ machines, pretty ok. Good wash and rinse perfomance, though on the slower and less flexible side.
 
Thanks everyone :) I agree basic- but looks simple and for 300 euros that is one economical front loader.

For those who know, can these be shipped to or bought from the US? Probably not going to happen for me, but it would be a fun toy to play with.
 
Shouldn't think so

Indesit appliances are not sold in USA to best of ones knowledge. For a start there is that pesky 208v-240v at 50hz power problem.

Now you *might* find something on fleaPay, CL or whatever, lord knows have seen plenty of European laundry appliances in such places. But most if not all were brought to these shores by people who moved house and for reasons only known to them packed up their washers and or dryers as well. Only to find even with a voltage converter (if no 208v-240v power is available) the change in frequency to 60hz can be enough to cause machine either to malfunction or simply not work.

IIRC many new electronic washing machines and dryers have internal sensors that are designed to limit damage from "improper" power sources. Thus running a washer that needs 50hz at 60hz can trigger such protections.

Being as all this may you *can* have anything you wish shipped from Europe to the USA, long as you are willing to pay. It would have to go via freight and don't fancy the chances of it arriving totally undamaged.

There is the other rub; if the machine does become damaged and or needs repair you may be on your own. Since Indesit isn't sold in USA there isn't an established parts/repair network.

If you want a similar but less electronic Indesit washer, but something sold in USA, search out Malber washers and dryers of old. They were made by the same company (Merloni Elettrodomestici ), and occupied a similar market; BOL to MOL washers and dryers that were relatively durable (if not abused) for what they were.

 
Wow

Interesting site. They even have machines that are hard to get over here, like that slimline toploading condenser dryer.

The Electrolux machines are verry good in their own right. That is all the AEG, Electrolux and Zanussi branded versions, preferably with an inverter motor. Pretty long cycle times though.

But there even is a heatpump dryer avaible! *gasp*
 
First two are AEG units but made by Electrolux, and not of the Oko-Lavamat or Lavatherm of old like mine or those others have. You can purchase AEG units from places like this: http://alno-usa.com/appliances#aeg

Having looked inside my AEG washer it is made for 50hz/60hz power, you'd want to make sure any unit purchased is designed to run on North American 208v-240v at 60hz power.

Have known the above linked website of old and seems they are geared to selling North American appliances modified for export to overseas. How they get there is another matter since company itself does not offer international shipping.

My AEG Oko-Lavamat will do a boil wash, but rarely use that setting just as hardly bothered with same on the Miele. Have found using a good European detergent with bleach such as Persil (powder or Megaperls) gives excellent results at 140F or even 120F.

Personally if it is a boil washing capable washer you're after, I'd go with an older Miele washer. There are plenty of them out there and often going for relative little money. Since Miele has an established parts/repair in USA you wouldn't be stuck if something goes wrong. Purchase a Candy unit from the above website may be all very well, but what happens when or if it needs repair/parts?
 
Looking at the machines on offer at the East West International Company, it wouldn't surprise me if they have an Australian, Sout African or so trade partner. I guess it would make sense to import huge quantities from one country with 220V. A lot of the machines on that site, especially V-axis toploaders, are not available in Europe.
 
You’d wonder who they are marketing those to?
I mean it just seems odd you wouldn’t simply buy a washing machine locally.

They seem to be a fairly ransom collection of EU and US washers.

Is it for people moving to / living in very underdeveloped parts of the world?
 
US and Canada shipping only

The site is geared with the intention of purchasing 230 volt appliances for those moving abroad. Some marine applications as well where 240 volts is present. The idea is you take them with you once they arrive. Also I think very large orders can be shipped internationally. However, some folks like those 3000 watt griddles and 2,400 watt hair dryers in their home ;) If any US folks ever try a real high wattage kettle, iron, or cooking appliance... you don't go back, thats for certain.

In any case I am thrilled that they offer stuff that you can't even get in Europe. I did not know that, but now that I do I feel blessed.

Does anyone know who makes those Multi-star washers?
 
There are more than a handful of these sort of export stores

All over the USA; we have some here in NYC.

http://www.bondyexport.com/category/catalog/major-appliances/laundry/

Discovered them ages ago (maybe before joining this wonderful group or shortly afterwards) when seeking 220v washing machine.

Best as one can tell these places all cater to overseas markets. That is as mentioned persons already in USA and moving house. It is *VERY dear to ship large appliances overseas. It almost always means via ship which involves tons of paperwork.

Way around this of course is for diplomatic, military and corporate postings where someone else is picking up the moving tab. Then you often get a crate or something that you can pack up your household goods and the lot gets shipped overseas.

This is also how all those wonderful European appliances we see on this side of pond end up. Though it was more common when people came by ship instead of air. From what one understands ocean liners offered generous cargo allowances for passengers. You could even bring back an automobile if that was up your street. At least one fantastic car went down with the Andrea Doria.

http://www.bondyexport.com/planning-your-kitchen/

Am given to understand that those moving house to Israel often want American appliances, especially large capacity washing machines and dryers. This likely explains the Speed Queen appliances on offer.

https://www.whodoyou.com/biz/1885/kunst-sales-new-york-ny

Indians seem to dominate this 220v electronics market, apparently there is also a large market for persons wishing to take such things back to India.
http://www.desijacksonheights.com/appliances.html

Do not know if any of these dealers sell appliances that will work in the USA and or even if they come with any sort of contractual warranty. The fact they are all 50hz alone means they aren't designed to work in USA. Wonder what Alliance Laundry would say if you did purchase one and it had problems.
 
As we've gone through at nearly every discussion about voltage; not all American homes/apartments have a "panel" with 220v power coming in, and upgrading (when possible) can be an expensive undertaking. Miele found this out for years trying to push their 220v washing machines with only limited success. A good portion of the time deal killer was the voltage. That and the perceived small capacity.

Here in NYC we have some of the oldest housing stock in the country. You have multi-family housing from our very best homes on Fifth Avenue to Lower East Side tenements that went up in the early part of last century, if not before. In many instances their electric capacity is what was installed to suit, and has not grown.

Know plenty of persons living in apartments with around 80amp (2 twenty amp fuses, and two 15 amp) total amperage. Only reason fuse box was up graded to two twenty amps is one is for fridge (in kitchen), the other for AC (outlet near window).

In many instances it isn't even just a matter of running more power from the main box in basement/meter. But rather increased supply must come in from the mains outside. That involves ConEdison, a licensed electrician, breaking up sidewalk, installing new panel in apartment, running the line up from basement......

Fast forward to today much new construction and major renovations are getting 220v lines because people are demanding washing machines and dryers. It is not always possible (or wanted) to run a gas line, so people go with electricity. Besides many of the "compact" European dryers do not come in gas anyway (Miele no longer sells gas dryers in USA), so again you are going to need 220v power.

The other reason is one we've discussed before; post WWII much of Europe was rebuilding housing and infrastructure that was damaged. Decisions were made to go with 208v-240v at 50hz (yes, I know) power as the standard. As mod cons had not expanded greatly (and even if they had large numbers likely would have been damaged or destroyed during the war), it was easy to mandate that switch.

Across the pond USA saw no damage to infrastructure and basically simply carried on. As the expansion of electricity continued to rural areas that didn't have they got the same service as elsewhere.

Also as we've discussed one of the prime reasons for all that "high power" in European homes was for washing machines and dishwashers to heat their own water. American homes largely relied upon central hot water from a tank. Energy for heating could be provided by any of the "cheap" but (then) plentiful natural resources (coal, natural gas, oil), and or if you lived in certain areas where electricity was basically being given away.

Long story short the die was cast and don't see it changing in any large way. People and or businesses that need 208v-240v power can usually get it if they wish.
 
220V is safer??

Thomas, all things being equal, a shock from 240V to ground carries twice the amperage of a shock from 120V to ground. So 120V has the safety advantage. I don't see why 240V is more reliable than 120V.

 

The North American system is elegant, I think. 240V, as the potential difference between two 120V legs, is routinely supplied by the power company. Appliances needing less amperage can run on 120V, with less shock hazard than 240V. The problem is availability of 240V within buildings.  
 
Laundress, I'm not sure that you're entirely correct there.

220V 50Hz single-phase using a hot and 0V neutral predates WWII in Europe.
Here in Ireland it's mentioned as the official standard as early as 1923.

There were a few other approaches taken, including 3-wire systems in some countries and there were a lot of different voltages and frequencies before national grids became the norm. Most of the standardisation seems to have happened long before WWII though, with Britain being a notable exception as it had a large number of voltages and only really fixed on 240V 50Hz in the early 1970s.

50Hz came about largely by just picking a number that provides imperceptible flicker in incandescent bulbs but that wasn't so fast that it made generators impractical.

50Hz is basically metric - you're flipping from + to - 100 times a second (or 50 full cycles per second)
That seems to have become the established standards in Europe very early on and possibly came from Siemens or AEG.

60Hz is 60 cycles per as second and time is all in base 60 so there's a logic to that too.

There's really very little advantage to either frequency and both have the unfortunate consequence of causing muscle contractions. In an ideal world if you were picking a frequency now, maybe 400Hz might have given more advantages - smaller transfers, absolutely no flicker but we are where we are and it works fine.

Three wire systems all originated with the notion that light and power were charged differently. So you could get lights from your 110V supply but if you wanted power or heating you had to buy a different service and it was either an extra meter or a higher standing charge.

Remember early electric lights were being sold to compete with gas.

That differential charging stopped making sense fairly early on but somehow the US ended up largely on 110V for most appliances.

The shock risk from both 120 and 230V us potentially lethal and is why GFCI or RCD protection is important.

230V also increases the current carrying capacity of wiring and connectors so you generally decrease fire hazards a bit.
 

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