toys
At the age of 4,I was given a Wolverine toy agitator type "automatic" washer.It is pink and I was beside myself.Since then,I found so many different styles/types that there became a parralel with the reasoning I had to have not only the real machines but also the ones that were made for kids (like me)to play with that worked like the real ones (Just like Mom's). The GE(Structo),The FRIGIDAIRE (Wolverine),the Westinghouse(Marx),and the Miele (Europlay)are all toy washers that realy wash,rinse and spin pretty much like the real "McCoy".
The GE and FRIGIDAIRE are the most realistic toy washers I ever had.
The Frigidaire was made by Wolverine and had the similarities of a 1962 FRIGIDAIRE Imperial Three Ring Agitator washer.The only mane difference is the rings were made of hard plastic instead of rubber and the tub was plastic too.However,unlike its later models,the one I owned had the actual up and down agitation. Their later models had the "agitub" type cylinder and it was nothing like the original one.The original tub heald 3 pounds of wash!
The GE had a timer and settings for agitate,nutral,and spin.I could have my Ken and Barbie have a severe mud throwing fight and wash their filthy outfits as they made up in the hot tub.As I have mentioned before,our friend???,Ralph Nador, ruined the toy appliance market by claiming that the sharp tin edged bodies,electronics,small pieces,hot surface and use of chemicals like Tide,Dash,Cheer and Joy was way too dangerous for any child 14 and under to even touch with their "delicate" hands.So,these gems imediately disapeared in the U.S.
When we were kids,my siblings and I knew what not to touch (unless we were into that sourt of self inflicted pain)and what not to put in our mouths or up our noses.Sre, i could have realy gotten some true scars from my "Thingmaker" with its hot "Gobilty Goop" or my Pretzel Jetzel and its 100 watt light bulb.but,alas,it never happened.It reminds of all the times I heard ,and once saw,horror stories of other kids who showed an interest in their family's wringer washer by placing their hands onto the wringer unaware that the water is removed by the tense presure that wound up smashing their hands and arms.The worst cace being a woman who was scalped by her long,straight hair getting pulled off her head.It all had to do with common sense which today is null and void.
