Who built this pair of Amanas? There aren't many photos, but from what there is, they are very similar to my Speed Queens - wash basket, agitator, cabinets. Just curious...
lawrence
lawrence
Who Built These?
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Cookietaster12
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These were built by Maytag. Amana was one of Maytag's subsidiaries. They are practically identical to Speed Queen, except Speed Queen's were built so much better.
billiedyer1954
Active member
raython
I believe these were built by raython when they owned both speed queen and amana.
I believe these were built by raython when they owned both speed queen and amana.
Billie
That's more or less what I suspected, but leads to my next question. How does the quality of this washer compare to the current SQ's? When Alliance bought the brand from Raytheon did they improve the "guts" while retaining the visible components, or did they maintain the previous quality whereas the quality of the Amana product declined when they were purchased by Maytag? Or maybe yet another scenario?
lawrence
That's more or less what I suspected, but leads to my next question. How does the quality of this washer compare to the current SQ's? When Alliance bought the brand from Raytheon did they improve the "guts" while retaining the visible components, or did they maintain the previous quality whereas the quality of the Amana product declined when they were purchased by Maytag? Or maybe yet another scenario?
lawrence
Raytheon through and through......
I am gonna go with iffy on these machines......Alliance/SpeedQueen did a major overhaul on the problem areas when they took over, but before then, its a 50/50 risk sorry to say......
the main thing was the tub seal....prone to failure quite often....
some even claim to premature belt wear.....but that was more for the Marathon series....
bought a set for my MIL back then.....for the most part, they were heavy duty machines....and she had no issues after 6 years when she sold the house, and left them behind.....not that all are bad, they just have some weak areas....
I just want you to proceed with caution, or at least know what you may be getting into.....not sure if the revision Alliance made will work on these models...
I am gonna go with iffy on these machines......Alliance/SpeedQueen did a major overhaul on the problem areas when they took over, but before then, its a 50/50 risk sorry to say......
the main thing was the tub seal....prone to failure quite often....
some even claim to premature belt wear.....but that was more for the Marathon series....
bought a set for my MIL back then.....for the most part, they were heavy duty machines....and she had no issues after 6 years when she sold the house, and left them behind.....not that all are bad, they just have some weak areas....
I just want you to proceed with caution, or at least know what you may be getting into.....not sure if the revision Alliance made will work on these models...
Was there a difference in pump configuration with the Raytheon vs Alliance versions?
Martin
That was the kind of information I was looking for! From all outward appearances, they looked like the modern day Speed Queens. It's good to know that Alliance actually re-engineered some of the mechanicals to eliminate certain problems.
I have no problem avoiding these.
lawrence
That was the kind of information I was looking for! From all outward appearances, they looked like the modern day Speed Queens. It's good to know that Alliance actually re-engineered some of the mechanicals to eliminate certain problems.
I have no problem avoiding these.
lawrence
RAYTHEON
And the washer appears to be a BOL model.
We went from a solid, heavy Maytag center dial washer to a Raytheon Amana and, while the tub size was impressive, nothing else was. Like they were made of tin compared to the Maytag, and over the years we had it, the Maytag never needed any type of service. The Amana was on its third belt when we unloaded it after nine years of sub-par rinsing and slower than average spinning.
So much for taking CU seriously, as they had top-rated our Amana. I let our subscription lapse after that.
I've heard that the current SQ line from Alliance still tends to eat belts, but it seems that Alliance has resolved the bigger issues that afflicted the Raytheon machines.
And the washer appears to be a BOL model.
We went from a solid, heavy Maytag center dial washer to a Raytheon Amana and, while the tub size was impressive, nothing else was. Like they were made of tin compared to the Maytag, and over the years we had it, the Maytag never needed any type of service. The Amana was on its third belt when we unloaded it after nine years of sub-par rinsing and slower than average spinning.
So much for taking CU seriously, as they had top-rated our Amana. I let our subscription lapse after that.
I've heard that the current SQ line from Alliance still tends to eat belts, but it seems that Alliance has resolved the bigger issues that afflicted the Raytheon machines.
Slower than average spinning
IIRC they spun with 640rpm, which was quite a normal spin speed. The TOL models did spin with 710rpm, which made these models the fastest spinning toploaders at that time I think.
IIRC they spun with 640rpm, which was quite a normal spin speed. The TOL models did spin with 710rpm, which made these models the fastest spinning toploaders at that time I think.
Reply to Imperial70
"Was there a difference in pump configuration with the Raytheon vs Alliance versions?"
No so far as I an tell. For a while Raytheon had a separate belt running the pump then somewhere along the line mounted the pump directly to the motor as SQ carries forth to this day.
"Was there a difference in pump configuration with the Raytheon vs Alliance versions?"
No so far as I an tell. For a while Raytheon had a separate belt running the pump then somewhere along the line mounted the pump directly to the motor as SQ carries forth to this day.
Raytheon sold their appliance division to Goodman Manufacturing...
Goodman sold to Alliance...
It's the Goodman era machines that got iffy... Goodman did keep the Amana heating and air conditioning division... You might see local distributors sales and repair trucks with both Goodman and Amana heating and air logos on them...
Goodman sold to Alliance...
It's the Goodman era machines that got iffy... Goodman did keep the Amana heating and air conditioning division... You might see local distributors sales and repair trucks with both Goodman and Amana heating and air logos on them...
Goodman-Maytag Built Amana Washers
Hi Peter, yes Raytheon sold their entire appliance division to Goodman, Goodman sold off and gutted a once large appliance division. Alliance took the Speed Queen name and agreed to sell only commercial laundry for 10 years after this sale, that is why the SQ name disappeared from home laundry for this time period.
Goodman s ownership of Amana did not do the name any good as they continued to fire people and cut costs. For example they sold Amanas less than two year old built-in refrigerator line to Viking, it was a trouble prone product when Amana sold it and now 15 years later it is still a piece of crap [ if you want to throw away $5000-10,000 on a built-in ref buy a Viking LOL ].
The basic Amana-SQ TL washer design we have today was designed by SQ-Raytheon around 1980. We never took this washer design really seriously as it was noisy, hard to do major repairs on [ and had transmission center seal belt, idler and pump problems from the beginning ] and just an average performer overall.
But the landscape has changed if you want a conventional TL washer. WP, MT, FD and GE have changed their designs or are gone. In the mean time SQ has continued to refine their washer and it is a decent machine now for many users, however even though I have sold over 300 of them in the last 5 years I will never have one in my home. If as a collector and fan of traditional TL washers I would buy a nice high-end WP built DD washer, or a WP built BD machine or maybe a GE FF or maybe a MT HD machine.
John L.
Hi Peter, yes Raytheon sold their entire appliance division to Goodman, Goodman sold off and gutted a once large appliance division. Alliance took the Speed Queen name and agreed to sell only commercial laundry for 10 years after this sale, that is why the SQ name disappeared from home laundry for this time period.
Goodman s ownership of Amana did not do the name any good as they continued to fire people and cut costs. For example they sold Amanas less than two year old built-in refrigerator line to Viking, it was a trouble prone product when Amana sold it and now 15 years later it is still a piece of crap [ if you want to throw away $5000-10,000 on a built-in ref buy a Viking LOL ].
The basic Amana-SQ TL washer design we have today was designed by SQ-Raytheon around 1980. We never took this washer design really seriously as it was noisy, hard to do major repairs on [ and had transmission center seal belt, idler and pump problems from the beginning ] and just an average performer overall.
But the landscape has changed if you want a conventional TL washer. WP, MT, FD and GE have changed their designs or are gone. In the mean time SQ has continued to refine their washer and it is a decent machine now for many users, however even though I have sold over 300 of them in the last 5 years I will never have one in my home. If as a collector and fan of traditional TL washers I would buy a nice high-end WP built DD washer, or a WP built BD machine or maybe a GE FF or maybe a MT HD machine.
John L.
Poor Speed Queen
That once hollowed laundry appliance brand has been passed around more than a lumber camp toy. *LOL*
One saving grace has been the commercial end now owned by Alliance. IIRC those machines are wonderful though the jury is out for the domestic washer and dryer versions being offered. IMHO much of that comes from trying to pass off a commercial washing machine for domestic use. Build quality is one thing, but what good is it if cycles don't suit the end user's needs?
That once hollowed laundry appliance brand has been passed around more than a lumber camp toy. *LOL*
One saving grace has been the commercial end now owned by Alliance. IIRC those machines are wonderful though the jury is out for the domestic washer and dryer versions being offered. IMHO much of that comes from trying to pass off a commercial washing machine for domestic use. Build quality is one thing, but what good is it if cycles don't suit the end user's needs?
