speedqueen
Well-known member
How I got interested...
As I have mentioned on this forum many times and in real life, I'm autistic. Hence my varied and obscure interests(vintage Vacuums, vintage snow blowers, vintage mowers(push and riding), old cadillacs, vintage electronics, in addition to washers). When I was very little, someone told me how wash was done by hand, scrub board and wringer to be precise. All I could ask for was a washboard and wringer. I got the washboard when I was maybe 4, my parents however couldn't find a wringer and I only got one much, much later.
I then heard of old wringer washers and my parents found one, a 1950s SQ with SS tub and the unpainted ramps up to the wringers. I got that when I was maybe 6 or 7. I had it for a while. I made a mistake a few years later and it was broke. I had 1/2 of SQ lint filter attachment(the strainer basket) and was using the drain pump as a recirculation device. The hose fell when I was out of the room and the machine pumped out upon the floor and the clothes jammed the agitator and the transmission seized. I replaced it with one of those 1990s Saudi made SQs and that thing was a piece of junk. The wringer kept tripping the release and the machine leaked. I subsequently found a Maytag N2L but it was so far gone that I couldn't even try it; nothing engaged properly.
Automatic machines are a complete and separate memory in my mind. Some of the what I just wrote was happening whilst what I am about to write occurred; namely the destruction of the first SQ, ownership of the second SQ and the MT.
When I was 9 or 10, I was searching Craigslist one day and I found an advert for a "Wonder Washer"(one of those buckets with a impeller at the bottom). The ad mentioned that one could be seen in operation on YouTube. At that time I had NEVER heard of YouTube(I had never been too much interested in tech; too modern) and I looked up the video.(Below is a link to the first video I ever watched on YT) I also saw the competing "Wonder Wash". My mom was new to YouTube too and told me to look up her Westinghouse "How Dry I Am" dryer and we found Lee Maxwell's demonstration of his. I subsequently watched most of the videos documenting Maxwell's museum. I just happened to stumble onto Ben's(swestoyz)video of his 1952 Unimatic. In the suggestions I found Robert's(Unimatic1140) "The Washers We Love and More" and I was hooked. I intended to make a 10 year anniversary thread about his video but forgot. After finding that video, I found this site but not the forum side. I spent hours reading the old Consumer Reports that used to be posted here and religiously watched the POD.
I never had the opportunity to acquire a vintage automatic until this year with My MT A207 and Duomatic.
As for what my parents owned, until I was 6 my parents had a stacked Kenmore DD unit. They replaced it with the worst washer ever in my opinion, a Chinese made GE FL set. That thing lasted only 4 years until it had a bearing failure and was cristened unrepairable by a service tech. It was replaced with a Roper(WP) DD that was one speed. It was gotten rid of about 1.5 years ago when the second fill flume(one piece assembly w/ ATC) sprung a leak. We got a SQ AWN432 to replace it. I signed up as a member 4 years ago but never posted until last year.
To summarize I credit my interest as it stands now to you, the fine members of AW who posted videos of your machines. Does that mean I can blame you guys for the bullying I received for this ridiculous interest too? Just Kidding!!!
***************************************************************
On to a bit of news. I called Gary again earlier and he agreed to sell me a machine for $250.00. He is going to call me back with the pump part number tomorrow. I'll post it here for you then.
Also, you're welcome, it was a pleasure to make the video. So much more fun than Black Friday shopping to me.
As I have mentioned on this forum many times and in real life, I'm autistic. Hence my varied and obscure interests(vintage Vacuums, vintage snow blowers, vintage mowers(push and riding), old cadillacs, vintage electronics, in addition to washers). When I was very little, someone told me how wash was done by hand, scrub board and wringer to be precise. All I could ask for was a washboard and wringer. I got the washboard when I was maybe 4, my parents however couldn't find a wringer and I only got one much, much later.
I then heard of old wringer washers and my parents found one, a 1950s SQ with SS tub and the unpainted ramps up to the wringers. I got that when I was maybe 6 or 7. I had it for a while. I made a mistake a few years later and it was broke. I had 1/2 of SQ lint filter attachment(the strainer basket) and was using the drain pump as a recirculation device. The hose fell when I was out of the room and the machine pumped out upon the floor and the clothes jammed the agitator and the transmission seized. I replaced it with one of those 1990s Saudi made SQs and that thing was a piece of junk. The wringer kept tripping the release and the machine leaked. I subsequently found a Maytag N2L but it was so far gone that I couldn't even try it; nothing engaged properly.
Automatic machines are a complete and separate memory in my mind. Some of the what I just wrote was happening whilst what I am about to write occurred; namely the destruction of the first SQ, ownership of the second SQ and the MT.
When I was 9 or 10, I was searching Craigslist one day and I found an advert for a "Wonder Washer"(one of those buckets with a impeller at the bottom). The ad mentioned that one could be seen in operation on YouTube. At that time I had NEVER heard of YouTube(I had never been too much interested in tech; too modern) and I looked up the video.(Below is a link to the first video I ever watched on YT) I also saw the competing "Wonder Wash". My mom was new to YouTube too and told me to look up her Westinghouse "How Dry I Am" dryer and we found Lee Maxwell's demonstration of his. I subsequently watched most of the videos documenting Maxwell's museum. I just happened to stumble onto Ben's(swestoyz)video of his 1952 Unimatic. In the suggestions I found Robert's(Unimatic1140) "The Washers We Love and More" and I was hooked. I intended to make a 10 year anniversary thread about his video but forgot. After finding that video, I found this site but not the forum side. I spent hours reading the old Consumer Reports that used to be posted here and religiously watched the POD.
I never had the opportunity to acquire a vintage automatic until this year with My MT A207 and Duomatic.
As for what my parents owned, until I was 6 my parents had a stacked Kenmore DD unit. They replaced it with the worst washer ever in my opinion, a Chinese made GE FL set. That thing lasted only 4 years until it had a bearing failure and was cristened unrepairable by a service tech. It was replaced with a Roper(WP) DD that was one speed. It was gotten rid of about 1.5 years ago when the second fill flume(one piece assembly w/ ATC) sprung a leak. We got a SQ AWN432 to replace it. I signed up as a member 4 years ago but never posted until last year.
To summarize I credit my interest as it stands now to you, the fine members of AW who posted videos of your machines. Does that mean I can blame you guys for the bullying I received for this ridiculous interest too? Just Kidding!!!
***************************************************************
On to a bit of news. I called Gary again earlier and he agreed to sell me a machine for $250.00. He is going to call me back with the pump part number tomorrow. I'll post it here for you then.
Also, you're welcome, it was a pleasure to make the video. So much more fun than Black Friday shopping to me.
