When was the last Speed Queen wringer washer manufactured?

[blackstone]

I remember selling a new wringer to a customer, but I am stumped about the year. It was a Speed Queen, and I think that SQ was the last U.S. manufacturer of wringers. The retail price was comparable, if not more than, the price of an automatic.

I guessing it was the 1970s, or possibly early 1980s. If I had a clue, I could look through my old receipts.

Yes, the customer specifically wanted a new wringer washer.

 

[tomturbomatic]

I believe the design is still being produced off shore. John had a similar experience with a customer here and procured one for her some years ago.

 

[wayupnorth]

They were made in Saudi Arabia under the name Home Queen with a gravity drain only. I believe they stopped making them there. I saw an new Amana branded model in the mid 80's in a mom and pop appliance store. Sears did sell them for a short time with the Kenmore name.

 

[cfz2882]

I think 1994 was the last year for U.S. made SQ wringers

 

[launderess]

We've had this discussion at least once before

IIRC, so answer is somewhere in the archives.

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?19057

QUESTION.....who made the last wringer washer in US history?

I recall having read somewhere that the last wringer washer made in US history was made from Speed Queen in the summer of 1990...is that correct? Was just thinking about this now and catched my curiosity to know better and if it's really so...

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[blackstone]

Thanks for the links to the archives. Interesting reading there.

 

[launderess]

By most accounts towards end of production those wringer washers sold under "Amana" at least had much of the money taken out of them. One would be better off finding a Maytag (which were then and now plentiful), if truly on hunt for a wringer washer.

 

[launderess]

You can see last incarnation of SQ wringer

In this thread; brought to you by McGraw Edison; owners of the SQ brand at that time.

New (NOS) Speed Queen/ Like New and Other SQ W&D's from CL

1) Antique Speed Queen Washer, New Old Stock - $500 (Delphi, IN) - http://tippecanoe.craigslist.org/atq/4721602034.html 2) Wringer Washing Machine Speed Queen Like NEW - $500 (Radcliff) - http://lexington.craigslist.org/app/4699802007.html 3)Very big speed queen dryer(avocado) works wonderful...

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[combo52]

Last SQ Wringer Washers

Were built in Ripon Wi. sometime in 1994, We installed the last one in late 1994 for a customer in Georgetown NW Washington DC late in 1994, the serial # confirmed a 1994 build date.

 

This one replaced a SQ she got on the early 70s, it was more poorly built and had numerous issues in its less than ten year life, because she was a loyal SQ customer I sold her a SQ FL washer in 2005 which has never had a problem, and the customer is still doing fairly well and in her home at age 95.

 

Best vintage WWs to use today ?

 

Certainly the WP-KM machines were the best performing and safest to use, after that a SQ also washes better than a MT, but a MT is certainly also a good basic choice.

 

When any of these brands develop major problems with wringers or water in the gear box they are very difficult to fix, and MTs with their low post agitator drive are more prone to gear-box problems than the other two.

 

John L.