Has anyone here seen one of these? I'm half tempted to bid on this though I have no kids, yet. This is really cool though. Where were these when I was growing up?

i have got one

Small laundry "toys" for children have been around for ages. Makers such as "Wolverine" and others made all and sundry type appliances for wee ones but mainly geared for little girls. There were irons, ironing boards, washing machines, vac cleaners and all manner of household appliances all designed to acquaint a young girl with her supposed lot as a grown woman, housekeeping.

Launderess

Hey this is 2005, not 1955. Times have changed, and I'm secure enough in my masculinity to think of this as a cool toy. Growing up I probably would have enjoyed it just as much as my Matchbox/Hot Wheels collection. They would have probably been parked side by side. Yes I was a strange kid.

Calm down, no one is doubting your manly hood. You posted a query and I responded with history of toys such as the one featured in your post.

Weather you played with appliance "toys" as a lad is a matter of complete indifference to myself. Will say though not many fathers would have welcomed their sons playing with "Suzy Homemaker" sets back in those days. My brothers and male cousins only came in to see if there was anything "good to eat" coming out of the Suzy Homemaker oven.

Yes, things have changed, and quite for the better. Today one often sees little lads pushing "toy" strollers with a doll inside down the sidewalk. Am here to tell you THAT certianly would not have happened in my day. *LOL*

Launderess

Here's one from Pottery Barn in pink for the kids....

TWO HUNDRED-FIFTY FREAKIN' BUCKS???

Guess that's one of the reasons I don't shop at Pottery Barn.

As for the first one pictured, I'm 99% sure I've see it in Toys R Us. I remember playing with it, and I'm pretty sure it was the same one. Can't remember the price.

I know someone here owns that Hasbro washer from the 60s that makes suds in the window. Might we have some pics?

veg

lol. No harm done.

$250.00 plus $15.00 shipping, and all the Pottery Barn model does is make some silly noises.

Wow! $250! That's about what I paid for a REAL Whirlpool washing machine! Of coures, that was heavily discounted at the Sears scratch-n-dent warehouse! I would have found this washer pretty interesting as a kid, as I did practically anything mechanical. I enjoyed washing machines, and was usually found though bent over looking underneath it at all the moving parts, as much as I spent on top watching all the suds action!

I have one of those toy Hotpoints and I did not pay $250 for it that is for sure! It was $49.95 AU at David Jones.

The 250 bucks is not for the toy Hotpoint on Ebay, but the stack on potterybarnkids.com. Probably because it's more Life size. The Hotpoint it a table top version, but I think it washes, or the drum at least does turn.

Who loves ya baby?

In the 70s I wanted, begged for and got a toy twin tub washing machine. And used the hell out of it too.

Pottery Barn machine-WOW!-for $250-save the money and let the kids use the REAL machine!From the Pottery Barn description-the drums don't turn?no fun in that.Yes I could get two or even three REAL vintage machines for $250.-and have them delivored from the swap shop to my house.WOW kids toy washers are costing a lot these days.Hate to see their price on a range or 'fridge.I will say this about the PB washer-they come with signs saying wehter the clothes are done or not-usually a sign like that was for a dishwasher.Remember a magnetic one from long ago we used in our household.

Oh that is expensive! You could buy the kids one of those tiny Haiers and they could have some REAL fun!

I saw a cool kid's fridge a while back that really cooled! It ran off of a wall-wort transformer, and had thermoplates in it just like one of those electric coolers. it even had a water dispenser in the door that was big enough to put a dixie cup under! You had to fill the water dispenser inside manually though. Still, that was a totally cool idea! It was 99.95. I believe I saw it at a fancy little toy shop downtown.

When I was looking for a vacuum cleaner part last year, the vac shop had these toy Miele vacuums that were basically 1/2 or 1/3 scale models that actually worked. Pretty darn impressive. About $50. if I recall correctly. Might buy one for my brothers' kids for Christmas or something. Apparently Miele makes a bunch of different toy/model versions of their stuff, including a washer that does actually wash.

When I was a kid I once saw a battery-powered toy washer that appeared to really work, with water and all. The sales person at the toy counter said a lot of boys had looked at that one because it was mechanically interesting. I think it was red and white but that's all I remember.

And to all the rest of you who gave me your input. I tried to ask the seller of the Hotpoint/Pottery Barn version a question about their machine, but they never bothered to answer. So I looked at the Miele version, and frankly, I liked it better. It would probably have more collectible value, and it looks much more attractive. So the auction ended on 10-20-2005 with the "buy it now" option. The winner was JCLshopper555. That would be me. I'll hang on to it for a while. My sister is getting married next spring, and she and her new husband to be want to have kids soon after. I'm actually starting a hope chest for them with cool novelty toys like this one. Just imagine if their child(ren) developed a fascination for washing machines just like their uncle Jason did. It might sound sound strange to buy gifts for someone who hasn't even been born yet, and if so, I do apologize. I guess that in the mean time, this will make a great collectible. I'm looking forward to getting it anyway. I only wish I could have got it 20 years ago.

Big Lots has the same washer as Pottery Barn in a differnt color for $11.99

Have seen those Miele "toy" washers in upscale toy stores in our area, they do look very sharp. Just the perfect gift to get a future "appliance lover" off to a good start.

As for eBay sellers not answering emails, have had our share of that, but find on balance most get back to you in time.

Again, well done.

Launderesss

Hey here's an idea.

Issue one of those actual-working toy washers in olive drab, for washing GI Joe's uniforms, and "decontaminating" after anti-WMD missions. Give the boys "permission" to play with that stuff in a familiar context. And of course this will also sell more uniforms, so Joe et. al. have something to wear while their other uniforms are in the wash.

I am not sure the PB washer/dryer will get the kids off to good start. Dirty clothes in the dryer?

i got it in 1976 as a christmas gift because i wouldn't quit playing with my mom's montgomery wards washer. Mine was a white twin tub washer and spindrier. the lids were see-thru, the agitator in the center was bright red and held alot of my sister's barbie doll clothes, I was even able to wash a pair of socks in it at one washing.My washer hooked up to the kitchen sink faucet and with the slide of a lever the water pumped into the wash tub thru a little hole in the bottom. It was electric so my mom or older sister had to supervise me while i played with it. I played with it till it fell apart in my hands.