Wash Party – Open Invitation – Peoria, Illinois – Friday & Saturday, July 8 and 9, 2011

[dishwashercrazy]

Darren (aldspinboy) is coming to Peoria to visit for a few days. What better way to celebrate his visit than to have a Wash Party! This is an open invitation for anyone who is interested in making the trip to central Illinois. It will be held Friday evening & all day Saturday, July 8 and 9, 2011, at my home in West Peoria.

 

Additional machines of interest to my collection over the past year include: a 2nd 1930’s ABC Washer/Spinner, a 1948 Cameron tabletop Dishwasher, a 2nd 1949 GE Round-tub Portable Dishwasher, a 1952 Youngstown Electric Sink, Bens 1955 Blackstone 350 Washer, the 1969 GE Washer & Dryer set, a 1971 KitchenAid KDC-37 Electric Sink, and a 1995 ASKO Washer & Dryer set.

My house is definitely reaching maximum capacity with these and a few other machines that have been brought in over the past year. In total, there are now 67 machines spanning 70 years, dating from 1937 to 2007, eleven of which are Electric Sink/Dishwasher combos.

Food and drinks will be provided. Come watch dishwashers and washing machines in action. I also have an agitator collection, lots of appliance literature, vintage appliance magazine ads, boxes of vintage appliance parts, a huge microfiche parts inventory with microfiche viewer, and lots more.

PLUS, I am going to “try” to arrange a SPECIAL TREAT for us. As part of the Saturday activities, I would like someone from the Altorfer family to come meet and speak to us. There are still relatives and descendants, residing in the Peoria area, of the late A.W. “Bill” Altorfer – who designed and engineered the ABC-O-Matic Automatic Washer with it’s patented “Centric Agitation”, in the late 1940’s (ABC – Altorfer Brothers Company). Ten months ago, I spoke with the now 88 year old brother of Bill Altorfer. And just today, I have spoken with Bill’s son, in hopes of being able to arrange for Bill’s brother to come speak with us (or perhaps we will go to him). If that doesn’t work out, then perhaps we can get one of the other family members to attend. As I learn more details, I will add them in later replies to this thread.

If you are interested in coming, or for more information, please send me a message through aw.org or email me at [email protected].

Mike

 

[appnut]

Cool Mike, a one-year anniversary from last year's get together. 

 

[gmpayne]

Wash Party

Count me in!!!

 

[bajaespuma]

What's the nearest major airport and what airline would I look into for a direct (if at all possible) flight from the east?

 

[turquoisedude]

Oh, I wish I could make it! The collection has grown so much since I was last there and I would love to see the new additions...

 

[rollermatic]

sounds like fun mike!

unfortunately that is the same weekend i have taken off to visit old frends including my ex wife i haven't seen in 30 years at cedar point!

have fun!

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Air Travel to Peoria

 

 

Ken (and others interested):

 

There is an airport here in Peoria with direct and connecting service from these carriers:

 

American (affiliates) with direct flights from:  Chicago O'Hare and Dallas/Ft. Worth

United (affiliates)  with direct flights from:  Chicago O'Hare and Denver

Delta (affiliates)  with direct flights from:  Minneapolis and Detroit

Allegiant with direct flights from:  Las Vegas, Phoenix and Tampa/St.Pete

 

 

Other airports:

 

Bloomington/Normal, IL is about a 45 minute drive from Peoria

Quad Cities (Moline, IL) is about a 90 minute drive from Peoria

Springfield, IL is about a 90 minute drive from Peoria
Chicago O'Hare is about a 3 hour drive from Peoria

Chicago Midway is about a 3 hour drive from Peoria

St. Louis Lambert is about a 3 1/2 hour drive from Peoria

 

 

Peoria Charter Coach Bus Company offers 4 daily round trips between Peoria and Chicago (to both airports) plus a 5th very early round trip to Midway only.  Cost is currently $37 one-way.  Paul (turquoisedude) used this option a couple of years ago. (See link below for schedule information)

Login - Peoria Charter

www.peoriacharter.com

 

[fnelson487]

Definitely Thinking

About attending. I am just three hours away and can't resist seeing all those machines. Are vacuum folks invited? (PS - I have some vintage washers, dryers and dishwashers too!) Do these count?

 

[westingman123]

Ida, honey, it says OPEN invitation! LOL. I'm gonna try to take vacation and come, Mike, I'm so overdue to see all your cool stuff.

Keith
(also a vacuum person) **LOL**

 

[dishwashercrazy]

 

 

Gary,  Can't wait to have you back again.

 

Ken, I would love to have you.  Let me know if I can provide any other information.

 

Paul,  No worry.  I totally understand.  Looking forward to seeing you on the 23rd in Montreal.

 

Pete, Darn!  Well, one of these day, I do hope you can make the trip to Peoria.

 

Fred and Keith,  I would love to have both of you come if you are able, Vacuum people or not.  I am woefully lacking in the Vacuum department.  I have a Eureka canister, and a Eureka upright, and an Electrolux canister (needs a new hose).

 

 

Mike

 

 

[westingman123]

Well, be careful, it's contagious. You may no longer be woeful after a visit from the dreaded "vacuum collectors."

**LOL**

 

[beekeyknee]

Do These Count?

OMG Fred. You have the holy grail Maytag set. I think I might give up some teeth for a set like that. You're very lucky. I think I've seen the picture before, but I never get tired of seeing it.
Brian

 

[volvoguy87]

I wish I could make it!

I have to be in Virginia for a wedding that weekend
The 1st and only wash in I've been able to attend was yours last year and it was well worth the road trip. Wonderful appliances, great people, my 1st GM Frigidaire washers etc., and fantastic hospitality.

I'm sad to miss it this year,
Dave

 

[paulg]

Would love to but can't

Finally, a wash-in within my reach but I'm booked solid those two days. DRAT!
It is sooo on my list to get together with some of y'all... somewhere but sadly it hasn't come to fruition.
However, I may just keep in touch and hope another opportunity arises.

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

Hey Mike, I wish I could be there but it's just not in the cards this time!   I hope to see lots of photos and perhaps a video or two??

 

I know everyone will have a great time!

 

Do a load or two for me... OK??

 

;-)

 

Kevin

 

[aldspinboy]

Mike your the best can't wait to see yaa and the rest of the people !

THANK YOU.

I'm very excited and honored to be with you.

 

 

 

 

Darren k.

 

[dishwashercrazy]

1930's ABC Spinner Washing Machine

 
 
On Saturday, June 4, 2011, I ran a water test on the ABC Spinner.  I recorded the event, and have edited together a video which talks about the machine and shows how it works.  For the most part, it was a success.
 
On the negative side, I experienced a motor failure early on in the wash demonstration - an audible sound about 1:20 into the video one can hear a brief change in the sound the motor is making.  After washing and spinning the first time, I unplugged the motor.  Then a few minutes later, I plugged the motor back in, and it would not turn.  I went ahead and included part of the video footage after the motor would not start.
 
Now for the good news - I do have a second ABC Spinner machine that was acquired back in August of 2008, which is in much worse cosmetic shape.  I had never before even plugged that machine in, but I took a gamble.  I removed the motor, cleaned it up some, and gave it a test.  I was amazed to find that the motor ran quite nicely - it might even have been a replacement motor at one time.  Both motors are made by Westinghouse, yet have differences, which might imply that the replacement motor is newer.
 
This afternoon, June 12, I finished reinstalling the replacement motor, started the machine up, and it sounds very good.  It was one of my goals to have this machine in operational condition for the Wash Party. 
 
Mike
 
 
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[fnelson487]

BTW

I have a local repairman to keep the 906s in shape. He had a 3 valve water inlet in stock for this specific machine if you can believe it. I keep him coming back to tune them up. Love it! We call him "Dan - the Man!" When he walked in the back door and saw the 906s he said "Wow!" Terry Lattz asked him to pose for this picture.

 

[countryguy]

How come I never get repairmen that look like that?

 

Gary