Catching up
FANTASTIC!
US federal law changes soon (2007?) that will make new top-loaders illegal to sell to consumers...due to being water-hogs.
The market believes that "we" (Americans) got used to the speed and convenience and capacity of T/L-ers and that "we" won't go for a euro-style front-loader.
There are all kinds of "new" machines out now. Some are putting into practice stuff that was patented in the 50's.
So Maytag has a machine now with two "spirals" on the side of a top-load tub (like an old Hoover two-tub non-automatic with the fan/impeller at the back. General Electric (GE) has a machine with the impeller/fan at the bottom like an Asian Sanyo. The Maytag neptune (no window in door) is F/L with a huge port-hole, but the tub tilts back like a Hoover keymatic (UK/Australian?) or like the Westinghouse slant-front. Gee maytag.... this design was dropped by Europe 40+ years ago (too much weight on the rear bearings)
You will be happy to know (ALERT ALERT sarcasm coming..)
that US manufacturers have discovered ...drum-roll please... stainless steel tubs/drums..... Except whirlpool which still insist even on its F/L series to have a painted steel dryer drum. And with this you can be sure these will become green and blue from the laundry. With glass doors the whole world can see the tub begin to look like Heck. I actually bought a GE dryer because they now can be had with a SS drum, it sorta matches my FRIDgeMORE F/L washer, they last a long time and they have a safety switch such that when the belt pops in two decades... it wont run!
Finally we have my favorite newcomer the unknown "Staber" brand (click on link, please) top-load horizontal axis. (I love this and would have bought it but.. a) no window.... and when it decides to commit suicide b) who is gonna service/fix it? Aren't these like the real-skinny 40cm (18-20 inches) wide top-load horizontal-axis machine across the pond?
It really is an exciting time here to see what will live, and what will die. Also a good time to collect these "inovations"
Still.. I am not used to the idea of imported major appliances. But on the plus side, competition will improve quality and still even further reduce prices.
A decent Sears Kenmore machine is US$400 (and there are other T/L now less expensive.) but relative to income/salary levels this has become very affordable. [I used to sell appliances for Sears after my full-time day job as an accountant.]
Sorry if I am rambling on and on......
Staber Industries is a leader in the commercial and residential laundry equipment industry. Staber delivers American made, high quality laundry solutions. No job is too large or too small!
www.staber.com