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Mine was the Servis Starlight 6025, which was also the only new washing machine I've bought. When I left home in 1981 my mother was still using a Hoover twintub and she remained faithful to those for many years. She only got an automatic when one time she was in hospital for some time and my father was having to do the laundry. That was also a Hoover but by then they were the Candy based machines. Before the Starlight I had a Servis twintub.
 
First Automatic Washing machine!

My first experience was this 1955 BOL Hotpoint! I wish I had a regular picture. So far this model has never been found!
Peter

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First Washer Memory

Early 60's Kenmore, exactly like this. The picture sucks, but the water temp had H W C and Mom explained how H stood for hot, W for warm, etc, just as I was learning the alphabet. 50 years later I still remember the rectangular logo around the knob with those fun letters. I also remember the diaper pail sitting next to the washer for my kid brothers, we kept Mom and the washer busy. This exact model wuld be one hell of a nostalgic find. And I do remember the chrome coated lint filter with the litle knob in the middle, and the nibs on the agitator top and a plastic measuring cup that fit it. I don't remember Mom using the cup, instead I remember detergent tablets that gifted you a washcloth in each box. 1964 or 65? I don't know what AW member I stole this pic from, but I'd love to top the list for resale of this Kenmore.

We moved cross-country in 73, and bought a green GM Frig 1-18, with the Sanitize feature. And a matching dryer. My Dad could barely replace a light bulb, so when the dryer element burned out, I replaced it at age 15 with no previous training.

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Paul, if it was a blue console, it was probably a 1961 V-12. Or was it that weird one?

 

My first was a BBBBBOL Whirlpool 24" (probably a "New Yorker") automatic that my Parents snuck into their Peter Cooper apartment, where automatic dishwashers and washing machines weren't allowed. It was on casters, so they could wheel it away into a closet whenever the apartment managers showed up or when maintenance came to repair something. It had no buttons or toggles, you controlled water temperature at the faucet where it drained into a big sink and it had one big beautiful blue dial and, best of all, no safety switch.

 

I was crushed when we moved to our first house, my Mother gave the machine to one of her models; then I discovered a matching GE V-12 set in the new house (at first glance I thought they had bought 2 washing machines, had never seen a matching dryer) and became a GE boy.

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Hi all
My earliest memories are of twinnies, an unheated 1420(1421?)Supermatic, not surprisingly seen off when the spinner went bang when I was about 12 or 13 around 1982. This was followed by a Servis Supertwin 108 that my Mum never really liked. We got our first Auto on New Years Day 1986 and it was a machine that I've never heard mentioned here or even seen another. It was a very basic Philips AWB066, which I'm not sure may have been a Comet exclusive. It was a very good machine but did have a voracious appetite for bearings, getting through two sets in the 10 years we had it, presumably down to the fact it was nearly always overloaded and the spin drain, before it moved on to my Aunt and was replaced by a Zanussi FJ1295 Jetsystem, which I've just acquired when my Father died.
The first machine I owned was a Hotpoint 9605 Top Loader, a machine that I loved and still own although it needs gearbox repairs as it was throwing oil all over the insides and the kitchen floor! I now have a Miele W562 which I have a love hate relationship with.
Apologies for rambling on!

Ian
 
Our first automatic was a rubber tubbed Bendix. Before I was a year old, the tub burst,scaring the shit out of my mother and forcing it to be replaced with an Easy Rivera top loader. It lasted only 7 years. We wound up getting a gas Sears Lady Kenmore washer/dryer combination. It lasted us , a family of twelve, almost thirty years with only two major repairs.
 
My friend's Mum had 59 LK...hubba' hubba'

loved loved LOVED this washer!!! (note: this pic is from 'RevinKevin'). Just like others have said about their faves this one had distinctive sounds and of-course LOVED the filter and lighted control panel! It was traded just because she didn't want to spend $ on new water pump it needed. Replaced with a '72 WP which was boring - no color toggles, no lights and the water filter was now plastic :-(....blah

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Peteski!
The parents of a girl in my class had that Hotpoint. I had never seen an automatic with a lift off lid. The father sold Mutual of Wassau Insurance and every December she would bring us little plastic wallet calendars with the famous train station on them. Each year they were a different color, I think, but I mostly remember the tan ones.

Our first automatic was a 1952 Kenmore waterfall front with sudssaver. Before that, when my parents lived in an apartment in Chicago, they owned a Maytag Master that they sold to one of my aunts. Mom did not like using the coin-op wringer washers in the laundry room so they kept the Maytag in their storage locker and wheeled it out to do laundry.
 
Here I am, on my grandmother's lap with my mom and our 1962 BOL Kenmore washer in the background at our apartment in East Patterson (now Elmwood Park), New Jersey.[this post was last edited: 12/13/2013-13:52]

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'62 BOL Kenmore . . .

I always liked the big recessed knob on these, a very simple yet elegant design. I would suggest it was the perfect machine for a budding washer lover as it put the knob on the front where even a child could see and appreciate it!
 
Hi Ian,

Welcome to the forum!

It seems we've owned 2 of the same machines - the FJ1295 and the W562 :). Those 2 were the best machines I've owned. I love the W562, what is it that you don't get on with about it?

Chris
 
Hi Chris
It's generally the rinsing that gets to me on the W562, even with the extra rinse selected on water plus it leaves a considerable amount of foam in the last rinse, that and the fact it has a tendency to suds lock on the first spin after the wash. I tend to use only two tablespoons of non bio Persil per load these days to try and counteract this but even then it still happens at times.
Perhaps I've been spoilt by the Hotpoint top loader water levels :-)

Ian
 
My mom had a Maytag wringer washer until my first Christmas, when my dad bought her a 1955 Westinghouse slant-front automatic. This lasted until '64.

The first dryer was a '63 Westinghouse; the last year for the slant-front style.

Both machines were White; wish they would have been in Mint Aqua, but she didn't ever like colored appliances.
 
Hi Ian,

I live in a relatively soft water area, but I've not had a problem with excess suds. I use Persil Bio powder, about 80ml per wash, and the second and final rinses are always relatively clear.

 
Miele Rinseing

I have never had any problem, if the 1st rinse has a lot of suds a 4th rinse cuts in so the final is always clear just select water +

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