the dues of being a washer collector

[thedrycleaner]

hello fellow washer friends its me the drycleaner. as some people know, I have a small laundry in my basement where I clean clothes and I also have a small collection of vintage washers. however at work there is a guy that is always teasing me about my machines. he says I have a "washer fetish" I keep trying to tell him that a "fetish" is the deviving of sexual feelings from an object of non sexual nature. I just enjoy my machines for their look and vintage history nothing more. thanks

 

[DADoES]

 
There's no need to justify or apologize to anyone for your interest.

I have the usual pair in my utility/laundry room.  Three usable washers in my master bathroom, connected to the bathtub faucet and draining into it.  A portable stored in a closet.  Two (not connected for use) by the kitchen bar at my backdoor entrance, and pieces of two disassembled in the living room and a spare bedroom.  Thirty-ish stored in my garage.

 

[qsd-dan]

In the working place, it's best to keep your personal life personal.

 

[repairguy]

I agree with Glenn that there is absolutely no need to justify or apologize for it. Many people collect many different things and for us it’s vintage appliances.

 

[foraloysius]

I bet that guy has some big issues! He is probably sexually frustrated.

 

[rp2813]

Amen Louis!

 

[statomatic]

Your coworker is too much normal and normal peoples are boring as hell.
Be yourself and enjoy your 'unusual' hobby.

 

[imperial70]

That co-worker is

Harassing you. You should just tell him that he is making you uncomfortable and if he keeps it up he will be reported.

 

[rickr]

I have a friend that thought my washer/dryer collection was a bit over the top. Until his sewer pipe broke under the street. It was close to two weeks before he could use his washer and dryer again, and he called me and asked if he could bring his and his partners laundry over. He was able to wash and dry two weeks of laundry for two people, in one load, because of my multiple antique washer and dryer sets. He was simply amazed! We didn't even have to use all of my machines.

 

[eurekastar]

To me, it's the same as someone who restores vintage cars.  For me, it's preserving Americana and a fascination with the design and engineering of things...just like a vintage car collector.  

 

[bradfordwhite]

Bill

He may not actually have a problem with YOU and your collection; he may be kind of jealous he doesn't have a collection of whatever he might wish to collect.

People, and even some animals, have been known to collect THINGS. Many different THINGS. From the smallest needles to a yard full of old automobiles or even larger THINGS.

 

[gizmo]

Satin Bowerbird

We have those here, on our land. It's the male who collects the blue objects to display outside the bower to impress the ladies. It seems to work - the males here have harems of many females. We don't search out the bowers, but you find one every now and then, it's a lot of fun to stumble upon one. The birds are murder on a vegetable garden, though. They love ripping off leaves. So nature shows us a good collection helps attract a mate...

 

[robbinsandmyers]

Tell your co worker to SUCK IT. I've had to deal with this my whole life. From idiots 40 years ago laughing at me for "playing with trains " regarding my vintage American Flyer collection, to people in my other various hobbies like fans and radios etc and vehicles people have nothing good to comment on. FCUK THEM.

 

[chachp]

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Since collecting vintage appliances isn't seen by all as a "mainstream" hobby (whatever that means) I suspect we have all dealt with this crap at one time or another.  I know I have.  I just ignore them, when you respond you give them what they want.  Your reaction.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's like dealing with a bully.  When you react to them you give them exactly what they are after.  Ignore them, that drives them nuts and you keep the power.  LOL.</span>

 

[maytag85]

Usually the people who criticize others don’t have any hobbies in the first place to begin with. Most people my age are either into video games, sports (the most mundane and boring thing anyone could be into), or any of the most mundane things you can think of.

It might seem weird to your average Joe since most of the people on this site are into vintage washers and vintage appliances in general, but sure wish they had appliances like we all do when theirs break or can’t be fixed since parts for newer appliances tend to become obsolete within a few years.

Come to think of it, we are all living like the Jetsons while everyone else is living like the Flinstones since everyone has to keep an eye on their machine when it’s in operation while we can walk away and not have to worry much about anything and yes some of us watch the machine from start to finish to be sure everything is working properly but most of the time it’s for entertainment since some machines have loud solenoids when they engage into the spin or wash or rev up to 1140 rpm in 26 seconds time

 

[thedrycleaner]

thanks so much for the support.

what is so strange about the whole thing is that this guy actually went to maytag school for years,sold maytags and repaired most of the vintage automatic washers that are on this site. and if that wasnt enough.he also owned at one time a laundramat!!!!go figure!!!

 

[robbinsandmyers]

Reply #15

Sounds like this guy isnt teasing or making fun of you after all. Sounds like a closet case that has a deep seated desire to make moves on you but is too scared but plays it down by being passive aggressive to you and keeping his feelings and masculinity in check.

 

[vacerator]

While not everyone has a hobby,

I bet those of us ho do ar happier. To me a hobby is any activity or collecting that isn't your job.
A fellow collector in Instanbul of model trains was seriously injured inan occupational accident. His foot was crished, and had to be amputated.
He is age 62 now. his happened a few years back. After the surgery, rehab, and depressive period, he rweturned home with crutches. His passion of model railroading saved his life. He spent most of his time home buiding it larger, adding structures, electronics, scenery, etc. It covers 16 square metres. He uploads videos of trains runnning on Instagram regularly, much as in the way vintage apliance collectors and restorers do.
He began collecting while traveling for work, and bought a few antique and vintage pices in Germany. He was even detained at the German airport upon declaring them to customs. They thought he had stolen them from a museum.

 

[servis-dream]

on that subject

some people don't like my hobby, as it seems odd the the average joe who isn't a collector, or into washers at all, the amount of idiots who think i do things like that to my washers, i tell em straight, most of them were serious about it too, not having a joke, but once i tell them it's just a hobby, and not what they think, they back off and apologise

there's always the one person who actually thinks like that, doesn't think you are telling the truth, and keeps annoying you until you shout at them, or become very stern, luckily for me, i haven't met "that" person on my collection journey so far

i currently have 9 washers and 2 dryers that are mine, one belongs to my parents(a chinese crap thing that barely does the job) so 10 washers and 2 dryers in total and i plan to hopefully get more in the future

the final plans for the garage is to get a water heater for the machines that have a hot water connection (i live in the UK) and also better electrics as 2 outlets aren't enough, and the breaker likes to trip if you run more than 1 washer (or dryer) at once (it's happened too many times to count)