"Uptown Maytag Coin Laundry," Mt. Clemens Michigan

[speedqueen]

As promised in the Norge Laundromat thread, here are some(many) pictures of such establishment. Most(almost all) of the machines are over 20-30 years old and thus this qualifies to be in "Imperial."

Here is the exterior.

 

[speedqueen]

The interior...

 

[speedqueen]

The part you've all been waiting for...

The Machines!

First the Top Loading Center-post Agitator Automatics.
(And their matching dryers)

 

[speedqueen]

Front loaders and Large Capacity Dryers..

 

[speedqueen]

As a side note,

I am very sorry for some photographs being of poor quality

Also, this laundromat is open 24/7 and is unattended and has been for, acording to a lady, many years. She also said that there used to be a large extractor where the 25 pound capacity front loaders are presently.

Surprisingly only about 3 machines were broken at the time, a testament to Maytag's quality and reliability, even 30 years later.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Nice Laundromat:

The TL machines and matching dryers are pure MT. The 25# and 35# machines are Alliance/UniMac built. The 50# washers look to be Primus made. The large dryers are Alliance/Heubsch single pocket 30# dryers
WK78

 

[whatsername]

Never seen Maytag commercial machines of that vintage before. Great post!

 

[speedqueen]

Thanks WK78, I kind of thought that they almost looked the same as the two Huebech machines at another local laundromat.

Do you happen to know about what year or year range they could have been built?
Other than about three replacements they all have "PowerFin" agitators.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

@ speedqueen

You're welcome, Most of those machines appear to be from the late 80's early 90's.
WK78

 

[vacerator]

Mount Clemens

has enough low income in town tenants to support a Laundromat. Those older Maytag's will eventually wear out and parts will be scarce though.
I thought about investing a an Electrolux Laundromat because they advertise a 20% return on investment.
I know someone who opened one near Oakland university in Rochester Hills, and so far after three years, the business is a loser, but they can keep it open as a loss leader against other taxable capital and income for five years.
The newer Electrolux commercial equipment they got with it was made in South Carolina, and you know darn well it won't last as long as old Maytag's.

 

[launderess]

Mount Clemens....

Isn't that were Ironrite company was based back in the day?

 

[speedqueen]

I believe you are right, Laundress

Here is a photograph of a placard on an Ironrite.

***Credits to beekeyknee for the photo***

 

[gyrafoam]

Nice laundry. Surprised to see real Maytags.
Would love to find one of those dryer doors!

 

[goatfarmer]

<blockquote>
Isn't that were Ironrite company was based back in the day?

 

</blockquote>
That was also the home of Lionel trains for years.

 

 

[hippiedoll]

Gyrafoam said...

"I would love to find one of those dryer doors!"

Well here ya go,
your wish is my command!

Ebay Item Number: 222091930051

Keep us posted & let us know if you get it.

GOOD LUCK!
;oD

 

[mayken4now]

Thanks for posting the Uptown Maytag Laundry. Very nice of you to take the time. Real Maytag quality at it's best.

 

[vacerator]

a photo

of an electric range was posted last week, also made in Mt. Clemens.
Lionel trains has since moved to China, after returning in the late 80's to early 90's from Mexico and Hong Kong. The headquarters and office was/is on Richard W. drive in Chesterfield township.
Mount Clemens still has a rather large railroad following. There is a depot museum, and the Gratiot Valley ho scale model railroad club has their building there.
Mineral bath's were also part of it's past, and also some mob history.

 

[speedqueen]

Take the time...

I really don't have much of a choice, we(my parents and I) had a garage fire a month ago and aaa is lodging us at the Marriot TownePlace at the lakeside mall while they have everything in the house is cleaned, the garage reframed, and the house reroofed. On the plus side they are going to refinish the wood floor even though the damage predates the fire by a decade. My mother is also having the master bathroom renovated (on her dime) for the first time since 1955. I forced my mom to have traditional 3 knob shower controls. Only large thing salvageable from the garage was my late '60s Toro Power Handle Snowhound. My father's cheap craftsman snowblower had too much plastic, which melted.

While the TownePlace has two coin washers, one SQ, another whirlpool with the dreaded agipeller. So I have taken this as the opertunity to look at some north suburbs area laundromats.

Any suggestions for laundromats to visit, vacerator?

 

[gansky1]

Nice pictures,it looks like a tidy and clean store. The arrangement of the top load washers and stacked dryers was a Maytag designed store plan for a while around this era. Called the Homestyle laundry, it was thought to be less institutional, etc. I have a little planning kit with wood models of the machines, floor plan layout sheets.

 

[speedqueen]

As they say, "The picture always looks better."

While almost all the equipment was in operable condition, The television(post 2, picture 3, above to the left of the Coke machine) was smashed, the rear projection screen cracked, and only has the red CRT left which is very dim. I don't know how someone smashed it considering the screen portion is in a glass covered case. The place was overall clean, but you could tell the owner is a cheapskate. For example, one of the benches on the tables was in a state of near collapse.

I never knew till now just how quiet Maytag equipment really is. I have a video of three of the dryers running with the laundry I brought that I may post to YouTube.