Yah gotta work it, Baby!
While I have the pick of the litter from The Pile behind our shop, networking is the way to go. I have my regular haunts that do pay off from time to time. Some fun places to look (and make yourself known to the people who work there...) include:
*Thrift stores such as those run by Salvation Army, etc. These, imho, are VERY under appreciated sources of appliance goodness. They get machines donated all the time but consider some of the older units we swoon over to be 'unsellable' and either action them off, sell them 'as is' or just outright junk them. The Salvation Army 'as is' thrift store is my friend and has produced nice vintage Maytags or even the pink Lady K dryer I got not too long ago. I let it be known that I'll drop a little cash for certain machines and my cell phone rings when one shows up. I also let them know that non working is just fine as long as it's in decent shape.
*Smaller 'Mom & Pop' appliance stores. They haul them off during deliveries and usually will not repair and resell as they are 'too old'... Most are kind enough to keep an eye out for machines you may want if you give them a small wish list. You MAY have to offer to pay a small amount of cash for the ones you want but must are understanding enough to share.
*Craigslist. Hit and miss, jewel or junk. Lately, at least here in Reno, As soon as a free older appliance shows up, the junk (aka scrapper) guys run to get it to re-sell for scrap before the people who may actually want it in one piece can get to it. Frustrating to say the least. Then there are the ones who equate the word 'vintage' with the word 'goldmine'...
*Let people here know what you want. Someone may find that jewel and help you make arrangements to bring it home.
BTW, I'm still looking for the CA906 to match my CDE906 dryer... LOL!
Good Hunting!
RCD
