This story begins on January 16th about 10PM. Just a few hours before, I had purchased a 1949 WP dryer (my second vintage laundry machine) from Bygted. On TV, Family Guy has just ended and I'm getting ready to head off to bed (tomorrow is my birthday) ... when I hear the ding on the computer that announces "I got mail" ....
Much to my surprise, it's the nicest note from AW.org member Lebron (Jed) congratulating me on the dryer purchase from Ted ... and asking if I'd be interested in purchasing the MATCHING WP washer w/ suds saver? So after a quick change of underpants, I email Jed back to say ... of course I am interested ... and would love to hear details about the machine and see some pics. Within minutes, Jed shares AW archive thread 20440.. and we seal a deal! So now after a few months of planning where/ when to meet to make the exchange ... we worked with Robert and Fred to meet at their place in Minneapolis this past weekend.
So fast forward to my arrival in Minneapolis this past Friday about 8PM. I quickly find the house (there is a truck parked across the street with a washer in the bed) ... and within minutes I'm meeting 3 really great guys! After about an hour of introductory chit chat ... we are off on the tour ... Vintage everything everywhere! Fred has an amazingly displayed collection of Vacuums that occupy a spare bedroom and upstairs hallway space. I have never seen so many Hoover's in one spot in my life! I quickly find my Nanny's machine in the Hoover gallery ... as well as the Rainbow my mom had while I was growing up. What fun!
It was then off to the basement ... Jed in the lead with a HUGE basket of laundry destined to be split between the 2nd model GE automatic and radiantly glowing 57 pink LK. While we started those 2 loads of wash ... Robert and Fred made laundry magically appear that went into the FASCINATING APEX (must find one) as well as an early Frigidare (also very cool). I ran out to the rental van and brought in some extra packing blankets .. and soon had them loaded into the Whirlpool combo and Norge timeline. It is pretty cool watching each unique machine operate ... especially that darn APEX "gettin jiggy with it" (loved the fluff cycle) ... all the while Robert explaining each movement of the machine and what is happening with the mechanicals. Who ever thought doing so much laundry could be this much fun!!!!! Unfortunately, 2AM rolled around pretty quickly, and we all bleary eyed head off to bed.
7am the next morning saw me up, showering and doing the final tie down and packing of the 1950 WP (now affectionally named Winifred / Winnie). I finished that about 8AM, as the rest of the house started to stir and get ready for their exciting day of estate sales (see AW thread 40030). After a few hugs and good byes I was headed back east toward home ... arriving at my place about 10PM for
an 8 hour sleep in with 2 purring cats. Up the next morning ... the WP is unloaded into the garage ... (enjoy the pics) and I am headed back to the Apartment in Chicago for a week of work in the city. More to come this weekend when I am back home and can fire Winnie up in the garage! Hehehe.
Jed ,Robert and Fred .. I can't thank you enough for the great visit!
Much to my surprise, it's the nicest note from AW.org member Lebron (Jed) congratulating me on the dryer purchase from Ted ... and asking if I'd be interested in purchasing the MATCHING WP washer w/ suds saver? So after a quick change of underpants, I email Jed back to say ... of course I am interested ... and would love to hear details about the machine and see some pics. Within minutes, Jed shares AW archive thread 20440.. and we seal a deal! So now after a few months of planning where/ when to meet to make the exchange ... we worked with Robert and Fred to meet at their place in Minneapolis this past weekend.
So fast forward to my arrival in Minneapolis this past Friday about 8PM. I quickly find the house (there is a truck parked across the street with a washer in the bed) ... and within minutes I'm meeting 3 really great guys! After about an hour of introductory chit chat ... we are off on the tour ... Vintage everything everywhere! Fred has an amazingly displayed collection of Vacuums that occupy a spare bedroom and upstairs hallway space. I have never seen so many Hoover's in one spot in my life! I quickly find my Nanny's machine in the Hoover gallery ... as well as the Rainbow my mom had while I was growing up. What fun!
It was then off to the basement ... Jed in the lead with a HUGE basket of laundry destined to be split between the 2nd model GE automatic and radiantly glowing 57 pink LK. While we started those 2 loads of wash ... Robert and Fred made laundry magically appear that went into the FASCINATING APEX (must find one) as well as an early Frigidare (also very cool). I ran out to the rental van and brought in some extra packing blankets .. and soon had them loaded into the Whirlpool combo and Norge timeline. It is pretty cool watching each unique machine operate ... especially that darn APEX "gettin jiggy with it" (loved the fluff cycle) ... all the while Robert explaining each movement of the machine and what is happening with the mechanicals. Who ever thought doing so much laundry could be this much fun!!!!! Unfortunately, 2AM rolled around pretty quickly, and we all bleary eyed head off to bed.
7am the next morning saw me up, showering and doing the final tie down and packing of the 1950 WP (now affectionally named Winifred / Winnie). I finished that about 8AM, as the rest of the house started to stir and get ready for their exciting day of estate sales (see AW thread 40030). After a few hugs and good byes I was headed back east toward home ... arriving at my place about 10PM for
an 8 hour sleep in with 2 purring cats. Up the next morning ... the WP is unloaded into the garage ... (enjoy the pics) and I am headed back to the Apartment in Chicago for a week of work in the city. More to come this weekend when I am back home and can fire Winnie up in the garage! Hehehe.
Jed ,Robert and Fred .. I can't thank you enough for the great visit!
