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Post# 16244-4/7/2002-01:08 ||| appnut (Temple, TX)
SUBJECT: today is golittlesport's birthday!!!
MESSAGE: Happy birthday Richie :-)) :-D
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Post# 16245-4/7/2002-01:55 ||| DADoES (El Campo, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: today is golittlesport's birthday!!!
MESSAGE: Heyyy! Hope you have a spiffy day, big guy!
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Post# 16246-4/8/2002-07:52 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators ((Trying to steer this conversation back to appliances....))
MESSAGE: And this needn't only apply to jeans; nearly all my laundry gets washed inside-out, and I definitely find it helps to keep clothes looking new for longer. Of course, I don't waste time turning things like socks and underwear inside-out, as nobody ever sees them... unfortunately LOL. Same applies to really old, grotty clothes which I wear to do jobs like painting woodwork and suchlike.
Perhaps this is why I've never experienced fabric wear when using a TL? Either way, it's a force of habit for me, and I still do it when using my FL. It makes sense to let the wear take place on the side of the fabric nobody sees.
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Post# 16247-4/8/2002-07:54 ||| jasonl (New Orleans, LA)
SUBJECT: RE: For DADoES
MESSAGE: And don't forget the page with my Kenmore record :-)
LINK: http://216.88.255.195/jasonl/
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Post# 16248-4/8/2002-09:13 ||| PeterH770 (Atlanta, GA)
SUBJECT: RE: And Now for a True Classic Appliance!
MESSAGE: What a great machine. Can't wait to see how the Filtrator cleaned up. Love the suds cake and the tangles! How do you rate the rinsing without overflow?
-ph
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Post# 16249-4/8/2002-09:18 ||| PeterH770 (Atlanta, GA)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (getting jeans to move)
MESSAGE: To me, an agitator washer either is too rough on jeans or not rough enough. In my 1-18, an all jeans load just does not move. I've learned that you have to have other things in the load to push and pull the jeans around, so jeans get washed with towels, sweatshirts or other large water-pliable items.
-ph
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Post# 16250-4/8/2002-09:59 ||| peteski50 (New York)
SUBJECT: RE: And Now for a True Classic Appliance! (WO56 IS Great )
MESSAGE: Greg
Good look with this Great Treasure!
Peter
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Post# 16251-4/8/2002-10:02 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators ((Trying to steer this conversation back to appliances....))
MESSAGE: Well, socks are one of the few items that I do turn inside out. This is to get the lint out from inside the socks. It doesn't need to happen with every wash, just once in a while I put all the socks through an "inside out" phase. Kind of like puberty for socks.
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Post# 16252-4/8/2002-10:57 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (It Works!)
MESSAGE: Again, glad you like the Ecos, Mike. I like the Ecos as well. It does a remarkably good job for a "plant based detergent". Love the aroma as well. It's easily the most pleasantly scented of anything I've tried. Maybe I'm just an unreconstructed hippie, but I like the herbal scent.
Did a small load with a very muddy pair of jeans and shirt that I used when finishing off rototilling and planting the spring garden yesterday. Used just Ecos, no STPP, and hot water setting on the Neptune. Normally I add some STPP before the Ecos, but I wanted to see just how well the Ecos cleaned on its own. The jeans came out very clean. I may run them through again with STPP and Sears HE to see if they get any cleaner, though, just to compare. There may be some residual ground in dirt in the knees, which STPP would probably handle nicely. It's hard to tell if all the stains that can come out are out, since these jeans were once worn while staining furniture, and nothing will get those stains out. My general impression is that the liquid Ecos cleans as well as Sears HE powder. However I haven't done any side-by-side testing.
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Post# 16253-4/8/2002-11:20 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: And Now for a True Classic Appliance!
MESSAGE: And once again one of your pictures made it to my desktop. I love the picture with the flying bubbles. I believe this is your first Unimatic? The water of the second rinse doesn't look very clear, did you use to much soap to get a good bubblecake or isn't the rinsing that great? I should think two rinses and 1140rpm in between should do a good job rinsing out most suds. Looking forward to the pictures of the dryer, you've got a really handsome set there.
Louis
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Post# 16254-4/8/2002-11:23 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators ((Trying to steer this conversation back to appliances....))
MESSAGE: Hmmm - think I'll have to give that a try. Often I notice that white sports socks seem to fill up with big clumps of lint from washing and wearing. Sometimes it floats away in the dryer, but usually I end up shaking it out. Next time I'll add the socks to the inside-out pile :o)
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Post# 16255-4/8/2002-12:25 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: And Now for a True Classic Appliance!
MESSAGE: This is my second unimatic Frigidaire - the first was the wonderful 57 Control Tower that Robert brought in January.
The jury is still out on the overflow rinsing vs. the two deep rinses with 1140 spin between each water change. I was playing with some already washed rags last night so adding more detergent probably didn't help to begin with. Once I get the dribble from the top seal fixed and the feet on, I'll be able to move him into his very own spot and use it for regular washing so I'll be able to tell better with "real" washloads. I may have to do some re-arranging of the laundry rooms as I'd really like to have the set together, as it is now, I'll have to separate them.
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Post# 16256-4/8/2002-12:42 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (getting jeans to move)
MESSAGE: I've found that most top-load washers, when loaded to capacity with denims do not adequately move them enough to get them thoroughly clean. Saturday night I put a load of jeans in the Calypso with the jeans that I wore while working on the 52 Filtrator that were very dirty and had a few oil spots on the knees. The Calypso did fine job with the other jeans, but the oil spots were still present after a warm soak, wash and rinsing. I don't see this as the fault of the machine however, even though I pre-treated the spots with Shout. Denim is a very dense woven cotton that is very difficult to wash in any machine. The hotter the water, the better as the cotton fibers relax and flex more easily in the agitation. I treated the spots again and re-washed them in the souped-up Maytag in hot water and the spots were gone. Only recently have I tried washing jeans by themselves, I too have always had better luck with a mixed load of jeans and other sturdy fabrics.
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Post# 16257-4/8/2002-13:11 ||| golittlesport (California)
SUBJECT: RE: today is golittlesport's birthday!!! (the old man speaks)
MESSAGE: Oh Bob...you big loveable blabber mouth! Actually it is today, the 8th. Thank you for your well-wishes! Let's hope I'm also wiser. :-)
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Post# 16258-4/8/2002-13:13 ||| golittlesport (California)
SUBJECT: RE: today is golittlesport's birthday!!!
MESSAGE: Thanks, Glen ;-)
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Post# 16259-4/8/2002-13:18 ||| golittlesport (California)
SUBJECT: RE: And Now for a True Classic Appliance! (excellent work)
MESSAGE: Hi Greg...thanks for sharing your pictures. What a beauty! Those all-porcelain machines sure clean up nice! Looks brand new! That model has two deep rinses and no overflow rinses, right?
Rich
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Post# 16260-4/8/2002-14:34 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: And Now for a True Classic Appliance!
MESSAGE: Interesting thought - I guess you load a Frigidaire differently than other TL's - but how?? What is the most appropriate and effective way to load that machine to reduce the tangling? And how do you load large items like sheets, beach towels, etc.....??
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Post# 16261-4/8/2002-14:58 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: And Now for a True Classic Appliance!
MESSAGE: Hi Angus, well I found out later that Greg was washing a load of rags which you probably can't do much with, but to answer your general question, you do most definitely load a Frigidaire different than other washers, or all your clothes will look like the tangled rags in Greg's picture.
You divide the tub (in your mind) into 4 sections, and drop loose clothing into each section. If you wrap them around the agitator as some folks do in top loaders, Greg's picture is the result. When unloading you "lift" from the bottom up, and that helps facilitate smoother unloading as well. When I load pants and long sleeve shirts, I "fold in" the sleeves and pantlegs and point that part away from the pulsator, and that seems to work best. You can't always avoid tangling with some of those types of items, but you minimize it to a great degree.
Large items, you sort of ease into one of the sections and you're fine.
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Post# 16262-4/8/2002-17:43 ||| fanfare (Idaho)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: Having owned (and being old enough to have owned) just about every brand/type of laundry equipment known to Americans, I have had bad front loaders, and good agitator machines. I think the difference, again, is design and fittness for use. The old Norge TLs were the very best if you worked as a farmer/rancher, mechanic, machinist, etc. They had a vigourous washing action and a very long agitator stroke and a decent spin. Did a great job on heavy overalls. In short, they were really very butch machines. Although, I named mine Helga.
The Frigidaire jet cone machines were the very best at rolling over most loads, but tended to tangle large items like sheets, and were pretty noisy.
My WhiteWestinghouse front loader washed well, but had poor extraction and didn't really last very long. The door rusted in the inside after it was only 4 years old.
The Maytag I had in the 70's was the only machine I owned that couldn't effectively roll over it's rated load. But, the damn thing won't quit working. My nephew and his wife are still using it.
My GE filter-flo had a unique agitation action, long front stroke, short back stroke and spiral agitator. Was very effictive at sucking clothes to the bottom. But, could have had better extraction. And woe be to anyone who changed the speed control while it was running.
One of the biggest improvements to the back-and-forth agitator, was the ratcheting spiral mechanism that helps pull clothes to the bottom of the washer. Was a stroke of genius. I hope the guy that came up with it at Whirlpool/Sears got a bonus that year.
I agree that most machines these days do a splendid job of getting clothes clean, but also some credit has to be given to the improvements in laundry chemicals as well. I also think laudering products help even out the differences.
But, just my opinions, I could be wrong.
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Post# 16263-4/8/2002-18:31 ||| Ironrite (Las Vegas NV)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Speaking of mud...Shoes!!)
MESSAGE: And I'm going to wash my own gardening jeans and shirts and see how well they clean up. But actually what my question would be is....has anybody tried to wash tennis shoes in their front loader???
I know in a T/L you can usually add some towels and such to help with the odd load, but what does one do in a F/L machine? My instruction manual doesn't say not to do it, but I'm curious what results would be in a F/L? My dryer does have the rack to dry them when their done, but again, no warnings in it's manual either.
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Post# 16264-4/8/2002-18:41 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: And Now for a True Classic Appliance! (Tangle, Tangle!)
MESSAGE: I almost instinctively load in sections as per manufacturers instructions, however a couple of factors would probably contribute to the tangling. The first one is the pulsator has a four inch section missing although it doesn't seem to make much difference when you feel the water moving around with your hand near it, (remember the 1000 or so pictures of Peter with his arm in different washers at the convention??) but who knows what happens to the clothes at the bottom of the live water action! I have newer diaphram for this washer, but will need to get a different soap dispenser that is shorter because the one on the washer now will hit the lid when it's pulsating - and that would be bad!
The other factor is that the three ring agitator wasn't quite as prone to tangling as the earlier ones without the circulator ring and the different lower diaphram. By far the most common user complaint with Frigidaire washers was the tangling/twisting - it can be minimized by careful attention to loading methods, but even experienced, meticulous users still have a twist or tangle now and then. Frigidaire even recommended replacing the earlier agitators with the Jet-Action to solve this problem. While Consumer Reports isn't the best authority, they too found that although the cleaning and spinning were among the best of all machines tested, they had so much trouble with tangling in the WO65 that they gave it an unacceptable rating. While they probably were a little more critical than was probably deserved as evidenced by Frigidaire's gradual rise to the top in 1958, they still noted in their 58 rating "special care required in loading to avoid tangling." I cannot imagine ALL the test loads were as bas as the one pictured in the 1952 issue.
Don't get me wrong, Fridigaire is among my most favorite washers, and having used the three ring, the jet action and the 1-18's (which seem to have the tangling problem all but eliminated by then) there is the undeniable fact that tangling was a problem. I've done hundreds of loads in the last couple of years in my rollermatic with the 3 ring and now the unimatics and the tangling problems are few, but still happen. When you come down for a visit, we can do some side by side test loads in the 1950, 57, 1-18 and just for fun, the Westinghouse and see what our results are with the same load in each one. (I'm putting my money on the Westy for consistent tangling!)
LINK: http://www.classicappliances.com/RATE%20PAGES/LIST-INDEX.htm
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Post# 16265-4/8/2002-18:48 ||| golittlesport (California)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Speaking of mud...Shoes!!)
MESSAGE: My son washes his tennis shoes in our Kenmore front loader and seems to get excellent results. He throws a couple of towels in with them and removes the laces and inner soles, which he "soaks." He then lets them air dry.
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Post# 16266-4/8/2002-19:06 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (inside out and sun bleaching)
MESSAGE: Hi Suds,
What a great idea, I will try it. I turn pockets out sometimes for the same reason, though sometimes, lint and fluff is so bad in pockets that they need a brush before washing.
I already, like Kirk, turn all my laundry inside out, partly to reduce wear on the good side, also with jeans to avoid the white crease lines (I learnt this one early on by ruining a good pair). I also do it to avoid the sun bleaching the good side. Actually, I tested the sun's bleaching effect on a table napkin that had a curry stain that soaking and 60C (140F) washing with added oxygen bleach had not removed. At first I hesitated to hang it on the line in case any neighours noticed the stain, then thought what the hell, and decided to see if the sun could really bleach out the stain. A few hours later the stain had all but gone, I had to hold the napkin up to the sun to be able to see the faintest shaddow of the stain left. If the sun can bleach out turmeric, I am glad I hang clothes inside out on the line.
Richtoo
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Post# 16267-4/8/2002-19:40 ||| steved (Albany, NY)
SUBJECT: RE: For DADoES
MESSAGE: hi, Glenn....... since I accidentally deleted my own pics, could you send them back?? Thanks, SteveD
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Post# 16268-4/8/2002-19:42 ||| steved (Albany, NY)
SUBJECT: KitchenAid KD10 racks
MESSAGE: Is it my imagination, or was somebody looking for stainless steel racks for a KD-10 dishwasher? I found a set, in reasonable condition....... let me know, or I'll toss them
Thanks, SteveD
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Post# 16269-4/8/2002-19:47 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Washing Neptune's Flippers)
MESSAGE: Well, since Neptune was the god of the seas, he didn't wear shoes, but probably had some sort of flippers.
Nonetheless, I've been successful in washing plastic garden clogs and various types of slippers in the Neptune. I usually add some other items - such as work clothes or towels - to help cushion the load and help rub against the shoes to help release dirt.
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Post# 16270-4/8/2002-19:52 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (inside out and sun bleaching)
MESSAGE: UV light is indeed a potent bleaching agent. The owner of any red car can attest to that!
A while ago someone on THS wondered how Guatemalan women managed to get their white peasant garb so clean just by beating on rocks. I suppose they use native materials or soap to help with the process, but no doubt they also use the power of the sun's rays to help remove stains. And most of their stains will probably be plant based, so that they will fade quickly in the sun (as is tumeric a plant based stain).
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Post# 16271-4/8/2002-19:54 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Speaking of mud...Shoes!!)
MESSAGE: Trainers and tennis shoes wash surprisingly well in a FL. I used to own several pairs of Nike trainers, and every few weeks I'd run them through a wash to brighten them up. Adding a couple of old towels helps to cushion the thuds a little, and improves the wash results somewhat, too.
The manufacturers probably wouldn't recommend this, but I found that trainers with leather uppers washed just fine. As for drying, I always left mine to sit outside in the sun for a few hours, but a dryer rack would probably be much faster if you have one.
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Post# 16272-4/8/2002-20:42 ||| appnut (Temple, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (perhaps this will help!)
MESSAGE: Leslie, if I'd not seen so many similar complaints, and if I didn't know you as well as I do, I'd say this sounds like a "crock".
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Post# 16273-4/8/2002-20:43 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (inside out and sun bleaching)
MESSAGE: My work trousers always seem to collect lint in the pockets. But, worst of all, lint and sand get trapped in the folds of the turn-ups, too. No amount of washing will remove it, so now I have to manually brush it out before the trousers go into the washer.
The sun has quite a powerful bleaching effect, and it's amazing how quickly it can get to work. Unlined curtains always seem to fade pretty quickly on the reverse side, especially during the summer months.
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Post# 16274-4/8/2002-20:54 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (inside out and sun bleaching)
MESSAGE: I forgot about the effect the sun can have on cars. One of my pals had a red BMW, which was always parked halfway into the shade for several years. It looked rather odd towards the end... trademark super-glossy BMW red on one half, blotchy pink on the other LOL.
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Post# 16275-4/8/2002-20:55 ||| appnut (Temple, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: And Now for a True Classic Appliance!
MESSAGE: Congrats Greg onf finally getting her up and running. In modern lingo WO. Have you nicked named her yet, maybe Charlotte is perfect, she weaves such a tangled web. But that's to be expected.
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Post# 16276-4/8/2002-20:59 ||| appnut (Temple, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: And Now for a True Classic Appliance! (Powdered Gain!)
MESSAGE: Flyin suds around the room, hmm, maybe that's why the 3 owners of WO65s in my past wouldn't allow me to watch the spin with the lid open (yeah right).
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Post# 16277-4/8/2002-21:42 ||| tlee618 (Danville, Illinois)
SUBJECT: RE: today is golittlesport's birthday!!! (Happy Birthday)
MESSAGE: Happy Birthday Rich, hope that your special day was a happy one. Terry
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Post# 16278-4/8/2002-23:40 ||| washrfreak (Dallas)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Speaking of mud...Shoes!!)
MESSAGE: I've washed tennis shoes a number of times in a front loader. As you said, just toss them in with a full load and the they do fine. I've had even better results than with a top loader, because they don't tend to float.
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Post# 16279-4/8/2002-23:53 ||| washrfreak (Dallas)
SUBJECT: Oh Fab...
MESSAGE: My mother recently got a new front loader. She had previously used liquid Fab in her top loader. I told her that only the powder was HE compatible. She still had 2 large bottles left, and my mother is nothing if not che... er... thrifty. She called Colgate and asked about it. They told her that while not as low sudsding as the powder, all Fab products were low sudsing and HE compatible. She tried it and tells me that a full dose of Fab liquid hardly sudses at all.
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Post# 16280-4/9/2002-02:40 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (inside out and sun bleaching)
MESSAGE: Blue seems to be worst colour when it comes to unlined curtains fading in the sun. When we bought our house, it had unlined blue curtains in a sunny window and they had faded to grey. With paint, red seems to be teh worst for fading, as you and Suds have both said, red cars can fade badly, I have also noticed that red paint on front doors fades more than any other colour.
Richtoo
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Post# 16281-4/9/2002-10:51 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: I agree with you - especially that the Norge machines were quite butch - and even with that washing ability (I assume you mean the old Norge Time Line machines) they were reasonably gentle on clothes because of the long, slow stroke.......
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Post# 16282-4/9/2002-10:54 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (inside out and sun bleaching)
MESSAGE: Richtoo - if the fabric can stand it - a bit of lemon juice and baking soda paste will also remove stains like that, also have to "sun dry" them though.........
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Post# 16283-4/9/2002-10:59 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: Oh Fab...
MESSAGE: I guess this is one of those unexplained phenomena - Liquid Fab in my Amana TL produces tons of suds.................
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Post# 16284-4/9/2002-11:10 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: Vintage GE dryers
MESSAGE: At a few tag sales this weekend I found a few items of interest. While no vintage detergents (but one vintage bottle of Linit Starch)I found:
- a 1950's Heyward Wakefield(sp??) dining room setwith a "limed oak" finish. Very 50's - almost Jetsons looking but fascinating. Beautiful condition - table, 8 chairs, sideboard and hutch. Asking $700 - alas I have noplace to put it.
-a very early 1960's GE V-12 dryer, in excellent working condition. I cannot really tell the year, but it has the straight up and down console, lit panel, and some buttons. Also, wide door with foot pedal. One of those things that the owner was selling the grandmother's house - and granny never used the dryer. Funny, the dryer was in an area of the basement tagged as "not for sale" - but when I asked about the dryer, she said "Take it for $10." Will call her today to arrange pickup. Unfortunately no matching vintage washer - just a very recent Kenmore. Wonder what that replaced......
- At the house with the dining room set, a GE dryer that I would peg as the early 1950's. Single dial control with sprinkle setting, dial on the top left of the short control panel and a push button to open the door. Actually looked like the drum was perforated, but I couldn't tell in the dark basement. Next time, a flashlight! Can't decide about that dryer though...........do I really need another?? No price on it - but this sale was run by an estate sale company and they tend to gouge even on the crappy stuff........................
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Post# 16285-4/9/2002-12:35 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (inside out and sun bleaching)
MESSAGE: Thanks Angus,
I have heard of using lemon juice as a bleach, but have not yet tried it, I have never heard of mixing it with baking soda. Do you know if the idea of mixing the two is to get a chemical reaction, or just to thicken the lemon juice for easier application? I get plenty of curry and tomato based stains on napkins and tea towels so I will get opportunity to try this tip, though getting the sun here is tre prob, after a lovely sunny spring week last week, it seems to have departed again.
Richtoo
Richtoo
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Post# 16286-4/9/2002-12:51 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: Hi Fanfare,
It sounds like your GE Filter-flo had a very similar agitator design and action to the Hotpoint twintub I used in the early 80s. The HP twinny had a spiral agitator, and I am fairly certain that it had a long forward and short back stroke, though I would not swear to this as I had not used to take as much notice in those days. The agitation was very effective, moving clothes to the bottom of the tub, cleaned well, tangling seemed not to be a problem and it did not seem to cause excessive wear. In the UK, if I remember correctly, HP's design was called fliter-clean, and featured the same sort of soap/lint tray on top of the agitator with continuous pumped water through it. In fact to empty the tub, one attached a hose to the water spout and let the washer run. Extraction was fab, thanks to a spinner running at 3500 revs, though, of course, this came at the cost of having to manually transfer the clothes into the spinner and manually rinse them. Our twinny did not have the auto spray rinse feature that posher ones had.
It has always struck me as rather odd that the UK and US took such different routes after the wringer washer, US went straight to autos and we went to twin tubs. I assume this has someting to do with relevant affluance and also teh UK's Northern European distrust of anything designed to make life easier - we still mainly drive manual cars (autos have about 10% market share) and dishwashers are only just really catching on and have about 20% penetration.
Richtoo
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Post# 16287-4/9/2002-13:47 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: Vintage GE dryers (Your first vintage appliance?)
MESSAGE: Is this your first vintage appliance? Congratulations on the dryer find, I think GE had beautiful styling on their appliances in the 50's & early-mid 60's. What color is it?
On the dining room set, I have a limed-oak Victrola cabinet that I found in an antique store years ago. I was told by a furniture refinisher that the greenish brown finish is a long and multi-step process that few people even know how to do anymore. I have been threatening to list this cabinet on ebay for a few years now as I don't have a use or space for it anymore. It is a truly unique finish though, I'll bet that dining set was truly wonderful.
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Post# 16288-4/9/2002-15:38 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (inside out and sun bleaching)
MESSAGE: It's just so nice to hear people discussing line drying! I don't know why this practice has fallen so out of favor in America. I always enjoy it when I can do it, and I always remember my mom and grandma making observations (usually good, sometimes not so good) about items being line dried by others in the neighborhood, and their sage advice that "you can tell a lot about how someone keeps house by the quality of the washes they put out."
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Post# 16289-4/9/2002-15:40 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: Having seen and used Robert's Norge, I think it is a very impressive machine. It really moves the clothes with that long stroke and cleans but it's not that fast or terribly harsh. My observation is that the earlier ones are perhaps better in quality and washability than the ones of the 60s and 70s.
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Post# 16290-4/9/2002-15:46 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: That is interesting stuff Rich; here you still see a lot of wringer washers in the estates of older people, but automatics took hold early and fast. Dishwashers took a little longer but it is very rare to see a kitchen with no dishwasher, regardless of the age of the owner.
Automatic transmissions in cars have been around I believe since the immediate postwar era, and with the exception of small and sporty cars, it's almost impossible to find a manual in the US today even if you want one. I have a manual and no one outside my family can ever drive my car because they don't know how to do it. My father always drove a pickup with a manual and saw to it that we knew how to drive this type of transmission, and I'm glad he did. I prefer them to automatics except in very large cars, and I hope we never get where they disappear altogether.
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Post# 16291-4/9/2002-15:58 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (inside out and sun bleaching)
MESSAGE: I believe that it does foam a bit, but it doesn't release any toxic fumes or anything like that..........
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Post# 16292-4/9/2002-16:10 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: Vintage GE dryers (Your first vintage appliance?)
MESSAGE: Greg - both dryers were white - would have loved pastels, but that was never too big here in the conservative Northeast... Not my first find though. I have also recently found a 1-18 Gold Crown series that appears in fairly good condition - probably 1973-74. I haven't yet brought it home though - hopefully soon as I am dying to see if it works. It came from a local appliance dealer who pulled it from someone's house. On the surface, it needs a new agitator and cap since there is a big piece chipped off the jetcone, a new B.O.N. filter, some hoses and those rubber feet that cushion the lid as it closes.
I did take the front off the machine. There was no rust on the outer tub and the belt, while a bit dry moved somewhat easily. Aside from a whole lot of lint built up inside the top of the machine ( I don't think the owner ever cleaned the filter - there is lint everywhere)it seems unusually clean. I did however find a few ladie's "knee high stockings" on the bottom of the machine.......
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Post# 16293-4/9/2002-16:14 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (inside out and sun bleaching)
MESSAGE: I guess that this is an age old observation. My mother and aunts used to discuss this all the time . And they saw a lot of laundry living in the Brooklyn apartments . Sad that line drying has fallen so out of favor. I take a lot of ribbing from friends about it. I suspect that in this age of affluence, it is considered somewhat "blue collar" to have a clothesline........ Too bad, my clothes look and smell a whole lot better than theirs!!!!
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Post# 16294-4/9/2002-16:16 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: Exactly - I am so sorry we let my aunt's '55 Timeline get away in 1975... That was one hell of a machine. Wish I could find one of those......
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Post# 16295-4/9/2002-18:06 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: I'm pretty sure the Hotpoints did use a long/short agitation stroke as you describe. Combined with the deep spiral fins on the agitator, this would explain the fantastic rollover. I was always really impressed at how well the 9605 top loader could handle a big load of towels. By taking off the Filter Clean tray, you could watch the load being drawn towards the agitator and sucked down into the bottom of the tub.
Funny you should say about Brits being fans of manual cars - I just cannot drive one, and eventually gave up trying to learn. Always found automatics really easy, so that's the way I shall be going whenever I decide to resume my lessons. Strange thing is, I find the manual clutch and gears on a motorbike to be really easy to get on with!
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Post# 16296-4/9/2002-18:11 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake
MESSAGE: Hi All
Finally got a digi smartcard reader that works, have posted a link to the new finds I`ve gotten recently....
This Hotpoint TL is busy being put through its paces, even the dogs are getting fed up with having their blankets cleaned so much...all I need now is to find a 1960`s Servis MK41 Top Loader...
Cheers, Mike
LINK: http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/twintubemporium/lst?.dir=/Mikes+Laundry&.src=gr&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/twintubemporium/lst%3f.dir=/Mikes%2bLaundry%26.src=gr%26.view=t
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Post# 16297-4/9/2002-18:12 ||| washrfreak (Dallas)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: Well, I always like a manual transmission. I drive a full sized pick-up with one. It is indeed difficult to find manuals unless you are buying bol. Sales people always look at you funny when you want power everything, high end sound system and a manual transmission. On the other hand, I always find automatics difficult. That HUGH brake peddle that extends to where the clutch should be is a constant source of irritation. More than once I've just about crashed the other half's car by going for the clutch and hitting the brake instead.
BUT... I would never consider washing dishes by hand or line drying my clothes -- go figure....
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Post# 16298-4/9/2002-18:21 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: Vintage GE dryers (Your first vintage appliance?)
MESSAGE: After I posted that question about your first classic appliance, I remembered the 1-18 you found recently. If your new dealer friend knows what you're looking for, it's quite possible that he will come across another 1-18 and save it for you. You then can combine them into one good machine. Funny that those rubber lid bumpers are gone, probably some little kid watching the washer, picking at them the whole time!
The lint is common - in my Maytag dryer, there was hardly any lint at all when I got it, but I'm sure that's not the case now! The stockings you found are an added bonus! Will you be able to post pics of your new found treasure?
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Post# 16299-4/9/2002-18:29 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: The Hotpoint 9605 has a 180d stroke and pretty quick at 74 opm, without getting scientific it seems to have an equal stroke back and forth although wouldnt swear by it....unlike the Servis MK41 machines which had a wide sweep at 210d with 60 opm...
Though it does have a great spin extraction at 1050rpm it nowhere near compares to the twinny at 35oo revs...no hands near that machine!!!
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Post# 16300-4/9/2002-18:34 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (inside out and sun bleaching)
MESSAGE: My mother has always done the same thing, and still does to this day. As a result, I've picked up the habit as well, and often wrinkle my nose up at some of the things my neighbours hang out on their balconies. Some of them are real shockers LOL. We're talking people who mix whites and colours in one load, and hang out clothes which are still stained. I'd never show myself up like that!
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Post# 16301-4/9/2002-18:38 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake
MESSAGE: What wonderful pictures Mikey! NOW I'm even more psyched and excited to arrive! :-) That Hotpoint is a beautiful and well-made machine; much like our GE/Hotpoint products were before they were revamped. Do the schnitzels perch atop and watch their blankets being washed then? ;-) The agitator looks more like an Easy Spindrier agitator than the spiral agitators that were used in GE/Hotpoints here; that is very cool! I have never seen one of those agitators in operation. Love the spindrier units too!
Scott
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Post# 16302-4/9/2002-18:40 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: Mikey, do you know how fast do those individual spindriers you have spin?
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Post# 16303-4/9/2002-18:43 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: Thanks for the clarification, Mike. Unfortunately, it's been a long time since I've seen one running, so I couldn't be sure if I was remembering correctly.
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Post# 16304-4/9/2002-18:53 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake
MESSAGE: Enjoyed your pictures and loved the Hotpoint! What a neat washer that is - I love the center filter flow stream. The agitator reminds me a great deal of the 50's & 60's Easy Spiralator here. I was happy to see pictures of the mechanism and motor, interesting how it's all put together. Does the "Rinse Hold" option fill and then stop to wait for conditioner to be added? I remember my mother dropping what she was doing and literally running to the washer to add softener - Rinse Hold (or a dispenser) would have been a useful feature in our house!
Thanks for the pictures and keep them coming!
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Post# 16305-4/9/2002-18:56 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: Hi Scott
The Bendix spins at 2800rpm and uses a direct drive induction motor which is pretty quiet, thats German engineering for you!!!
the Hotpoint spins at 3100rpm and uses a brush motor linked to the drum and pump with a pulley belt system, same as the Hotpoint Twinny and is rather noisey... but certainly extract the water with very little moisture left....not long before you can try them yourself!!!!
Cheers, Mike
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Post# 16306-4/9/2002-18:59 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: Hi Kirk
I know what you mean about the rollover, the spiralator does a great job of pushing the clothes to the side of the tub and then pulling them back into the centre as well as rolling them up and under...
Just glad I happen to have gotten this last of the line beaut...
Cheers, Mike
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Post# 16307-4/9/2002-19:07 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake
MESSAGE: Hi Greg
Yep sur is a great machine, this one has just benefitted from a new motor, power unit, gearbox and spin tube so a perfect find...
Is the mechanism like your newer machines, or like the older models, didnt get to see much of the innards at the last convention, will make an exception to look this next time..
The Rinse Hold light on the fascia glows two minutes into the final rinse and the machine pauses, then add the conditioner and press the swith and off it goes to complete the cycle..
Cheers, Mike
p.s. just looked at your latest machines, great, a lot of work I see, looks like you`ll be contender for next years convention at this rate...
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Post# 16308-4/9/2002-19:13 ||| DADoES (El Campo, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake
MESSAGE: OK, what am I doing wrong? Mikey's link takes me to a "Document not found" page at Yahoo Groups.
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Post# 16309-4/9/2002-19:29 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake
MESSAGE: Mike, you really wouldn't believe how jealous I am of you! That 9605 looks like it's in mint condition, and it's great to see some pics of one in action again. Thanks very much for sharing :o)
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Post# 16310-4/9/2002-20:00 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: You're a lucky boy! LOL. Was it already spotless when you got it, or did you have to do some work to it? Either way, it looks like it's brand new out of the box.
Hopefully I'll find a 9605 in decent shape when I move and have some more space, and if there's any such thing as a service manual available, I could even be tempted to try my hand at fixing one up myself. Stuff the energy and water use, such things don't matter when you have spiralator washing action and all those deep rinses!
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Post# 16311-4/9/2002-20:22 ||| appnut (Temple, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: Ed, I thought your truck was extremely top drawer (and yes I've seen true plush pick-ups). I didn't find it odd at all that there was a manual tranny in it and it being such a nice truck.
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Post# 16312-4/9/2002-20:30 ||| appnut (Temple, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake
MESSAGE: I'm having the same prob Glenn.
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Post# 16313-4/9/2002-20:59 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: Vintage GE dryers (Your first vintage appliance?)
MESSAGE: I hope to post some pics when I get it home....... I did dispose of the old knee high stockings - not much use for them.
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Post# 16314-4/9/2002-21:37 ||| tlee618 (Danville, Illinois)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (Same problem here)
MESSAGE: Hi Mike, sure would like to see your pictures but I am having the same problem that Glenn and Bob are having. Glad that it is just not me. Terry
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Post# 16315-4/9/2002-22:13 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: How many deep rinses are there?
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Post# 16316-4/9/2002-22:30 ||| frigemore (Chicago IL area)
SUBJECT: Hotpoint POD??
MESSAGE: Is that a 1957 model?? anyone know??
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Post# 16317-4/9/2002-01:59 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake
MESSAGE: Hi Glen
I`ll submit the limk again, I`m wondering if its to do with this new Yahoo groups thing....Kirk & Greg have logged in and been able to see, but if I`m right they are linked as members to these sites....
Glen, Terry & Bob are you registered with any yahoo sites that are now groups etc...have not checked the old applianceville site, will check now...I know Greg has posted some recent yahoo photos, need to confirm if he posted to his own free space or used one of the clubs..
Mike
If this doesnt work i`ll post the photos to my own space again and check it out, hope not but this could have implications for future pics....buts its probably just me!!!!
LINK: http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/twintubemporium/lst?.dir=/Mikes+Laundry&.src=gr&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/twintubemporium/lst%3f.dir=/Mikes%2bLaundry%26.src=gr%26.view=t
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Post# 16318-4/10/2002-02:01 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake
MESSAGE: Hi Guys
Again the link didnt work until I logged into yahoo groups, then it was fine...looks like you need to log on to yahoo now in order to see any pics etc...
Mike
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Post# 16319-4/10/2002-02:08 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: This one does look like new especially and I suppose is with the new power unit etc, a few nicks on the cabinet...you can still get the service manuals from Hotpoint service dept, cost about £20.00 and the main parts are still available such as drum, power unit, gearbox etc...
The only thing is that the gearbox, power unit, spin tube etc are all linked together as part of one unit so you have to take the machine completely apart to do work on it...but as thats all new I should have learned a lot more until I ever need to.
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Post# 16320-4/10/2002-02:10 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (Yahoo Log- On)
MESSAGE: Hi Bob
I think with new yahoo groups you have to log on to a yahoo account in order to see....
Cheers, Mike
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Post# 16321-4/10/2002-02:13 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (Yahoo Log-On)
MESSAGE: Hi Terry
Sorry about that, I think like the others you have to log on to a yahoo account or group in order to see pics now, It didnt work for me until I had...
Lets see what happens this time
Mike
p.s.any more vintage vacs yet, hows the GE doing??
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Post# 16322-4/10/2002-02:18 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Rinses)
MESSAGE: After the wash it does a neutral drain ( I know.., boring) with the cold water valve on to flush tank & pump suds away, 1st deep agi rinse & then 1 min 1050rpm spin, then second rinse, rinse hold if required then final 4 minute spin..
So short answer two..
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Post# 16323-4/10/2002-03:43 ||| CleanteamofNY (Brooklyn, NY)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (Your link is broken!)
MESSAGE: Once again, this is what we see: Document Not Found
Sorry, the document you requested is not available.
Please click here to visit the Yahoo! Groups home page.
CleanteamofNY
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Post# 16324-4/10/2002-05:42 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (Logging On)
MESSAGE: Sorry!!!!
Have you tried logging on as a member of a yahoo account, it seems to work if this happens....
Cheers Mike
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Post# 16325-4/10/2002-07:18 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (You Must Be a Memeber to View Pics)
MESSAGE: In order to view photos in a "group" section of Yahoo, you must become a member of that group first, in this case you must join the Twin-Tub Emporium group -- just like the Yahoo "club" we have for Classic Appliances, you had to be a member to view the pics in the photos section. Here is a link to the Twin Tub Emporium group home page - then click "Join This Group." Once you have joined, you can view the photos posted there.
Looks like the twinnie group is going to be very popular all of a sudden!
LINK: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/twintubemporium/
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Post# 16326-4/10/2002-07:55 ||| jasonl (New Orleans, LA)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (Logging On)
MESSAGE: WWWOOOWWWW!!! I want one! What year is that Hotpoint? It looks new. So am I guessing right that the UK is starting to get our "classic" designs (solid tubs, spiralator, filter-flows, high speed spins)?
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Post# 16327-4/10/2002-11:08 ||| surgilator (North Hykeham, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (UK Hotpoint TL Year)
MESSAGE: That toploader was manufactured between around 1990 to the middle of 2000. They were also available in almond. Mike's must be an pre 1995 version, because in 1995 they changed the lid to one that covered the whole top and could also be used as a worktop when not in use. My friend used to have one in his old house in the corner of the kitchen completely surrounded by units with a matching worktop. It was like this layout:
Washer | Unit |
_______|_________|
|
Unit |
|
_______|
Must have been a hell of a problem for repairing, but seemed quite a space saving idea. Hotpoint's new toploading model is a Euro style H-axis that's now made by Whirlpool, unfortunately. I remember correctly that it did not have a very good energy ratings - it had a G (most ineffcient you can get) for washing and energy efficiency and a D (equivalent to 5kg 800rpm frontloader) rating for spin cycle! It also used something like 150 litres in the wash.
surgilator
P.S. I have a copy of a 1997 Hotpoint brochure, I will scan it in for you in the very near future.
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Post# 16328-4/10/2002-11:09 ||| surgilator (North Hykeham, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (Logging On)
MESSAGE: Hotpoint probably used a high speed spin to compete with it's frontloading models. Most likely they would have been paired up with matching Hotpoint dryers.
Surgilator
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Post# 16329-4/10/2002-12:01 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake
MESSAGE: Hey Mike,
Really great to see pictures of your Hotpoint. The temperatures selection integrated in the timer is really European, isn't it? Most American toploaders had separate temperature selectors except for the BOL models. Were there any UK Hotpoints with separate temp controls?
What detergent did you use to create the sudscake? It looks really impressive. BTW, the washer looks so new, must have taken care of really well. Do you know the previous owner?
Louis
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Post# 16330-4/10/2002-15:08 ||| CleanteamofNY (Brooklyn, NY)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (Logging On)
MESSAGE: Thanks for the great photos!
That Hotpoint knows how to bubble up!
Anyway, while I was looking through your photo's, I saw a Philip washer that had an agitator machine with 120 strokes per minuets. If they had such a powerful wash action back then, why are we complaining about the direct drive washers of Whirlpool/Kenmore and Maytag? Did anybody had major grief that this machine wash rougher than their older model washers?
Please fill us in, thanks.
LINK: http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/twintubemporium/vwp?.dir=/Keith%27s+Alsort%27s+2....&.dnm=Philips+Top+Twin+Part+1.jpg&.src=gr&.view=t&.hires=t
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Post# 16331-4/10/2002-16:08 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (You Must Be a Memeber to View Pics)
MESSAGE: Hi Greg
I think the link works if you log on to any other club in the groups as well... ( it did for me this morning, logged on to hooverland, then came here to test the link and it did work)but could be a fluke...
I think yahoo are converting the clubs in batches so some still look like they did...
Thanks for confirming, thought it was me!!!
Mike
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Post# 16332-4/10/2002-16:09 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake
MESSAGE: I think he said "soapcake", but actually I like the sound of "sudzcake" better.
I wonder, though, if it has another meaning. I wonder if a "sudzcake" is an extremely attractive person one might find in a laundromat... ;-)
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Post# 16333-4/10/2002-16:16 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (Logging On)
MESSAGE: Hi Jason
The 9605 was introduced in May 89, and this is a later oct 92 which benefited from an upgraded pump, thermistor control and higher torque clutch assembly and stator.
The drum is perforated, but the machine design has always been the same, all bar the control panel which used to have timeline controls like the Norge..
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Post# 16334-4/10/2002-16:24 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (Born In 92)
MESSAGE: Hi Jonathan
This is a 92 model, first introduced in 89... it also has the famous worktop, its cream on one side and faux woodblock on the other, I`d forgotten I`d left it off....
My Aunt must have bought your friends house, the previous people had exactly the same arrangement, but took the machine with them, she ended up getting a new hotpoint Fl with the new purple controls and glass door, which I thought very groovy, but had to change the kitchen as well..am looking for a TL control panel in purple now!!!
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Post# 16335-4/10/2002-16:28 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake
MESSAGE: Your Majesty, the Hotpoint appears to be a very Royal washer indeed. We cannot wait to experience it ourselves.
QEOM
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Post# 16336-4/10/2002-16:38 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (Pics at Last)
MESSAGE: Hi louis
Glad I was able to show you at last, no stopping me now...
the first Hotpoint TL came out in the late sixties early seventies, exactly the same machine as now but with timeline controls like the Norge and seperate temp controls, this machine stayed like that until the introduction of the programmer timer like the FL in 1978...the one previous to this had funky purple controls,
The Servis Top Loader 44/41/49 models did have individual temp/wash/time controls like the US models but also had a heater and spin of 650 rpm...Hotpoint have always had 1050rpm spin speed..
The cake came about whilst using Lux soap flakes and a little DAZ wringer/twintub powder, it went about 6inches more but my camera batts failed and as I got new ones it had started to pump out...dont know the previous owner but it really has been taken care of cosmetically and with the new power unit gearbox etc and I`m sure new timer cos it feels so tight its like a new machine...
Mike
p.s. did you manage to recognise the german made Bendix spinner????was it made by aeg or bosch perhaps???
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Post# 16337-4/10/2002-16:45 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (Super Stroke)
MESSAGE: I`d forgotten about that.... this must be 120 opm with looong stroke/short stroke other wise what a drama.... I suppose there where more cotton fabrics around then so it didnt matter as much...
The thing that makes me laugh so much is this machine washers at nearly half the spin speed of the Baby Bendix..LOL
Cheers, Mike
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Post# 16338-4/10/2002-16:54 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (Maybe!!)
MESSAGE:
Could be.... but I`d say BeefCake and never MeatLoaf......
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Post# 16339-4/10/2002-16:59 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake
MESSAGE: Hi Scott
Not long now to find out, though it does have trouble with Tararras or do I mean Tiaras!!!
and come to think of it so do those customs men with their x-ray machines...so watch out!!!!
KOCC
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Post# 16340-4/10/2002-17:36 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (Pics at Last)
MESSAGE: Mike,
I saw some pictures of a Servis toploader on the Twintub Emporium. Quite an impressive machine. A pity these washers weren't sold overhere on the continent.
The Bendix spinner doesn't look familiar. I don't think Bosch or AEG ever made a square spinner, only the round ones. I only know two square models, a Zanussi and an Erres (Stokvis), but both don't look like the Bendix. Is that a timer on top? What is the spinspeed of the Bendix?
Louis
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Post# 16341-4/10/2002-01:09 ||| geoff (Connecticut)
SUBJECT: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing??
MESSAGE: Could anyone be so kind as to tell me if Arm & Hammer Fabricare powder is low sudsing?? I thought i remembered some of you saying it was but im not sure, I'd like to try it but wont if it is a Super-foamer!!!
Geoff
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Post# 16342-4/10/2002-01:14 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Rinses)
MESSAGE: Oops, I was under the impression it did three or four deep rinses. Thanks for the correction, it's been absolutely ages since I've had one of these machines running, so it looks like my memory was a bit clouded on this one.
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Post# 16343-4/10/2002-01:17 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (UK Hotpoint TL Year)
MESSAGE: Nooo, Hotpoint kept that style of lid right til the very end. The worktop was an additional accessory supplied with the machine, which sat on top of the main lid to provide a work surface. You used to slide the worktop off in order to reveal the lid as shown in Mike's pictures.
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Post# 16344-4/10/2002-01:25 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: Glad to hear you can still get service manuals. I'll bear that in mind should I decide to go down that road and fix one up myself sometime.
I'm still amazed at what a good find that was. With all the major working parts being replaced, that washer should have years of life left in it yet. It's a pity not everyone refurbishes their old appliances before getting rid of them - would certainly make things much easier for collectors!
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Post# 16345-4/11/2002-04:20 ||| Chachp (Little Rock, AR)
SUBJECT: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !!
MESSAGE: Hi Folks,
For the past couple of years or maybe longer not really sure, I have enjoyed all the posts and photos to this web site as well as the former Yahoo group. I feel as if I know some of you personally. I, unfortunately, don't have the space to collect the appliances I'd like (mostly vintage dishwashers) so I live vicariously through all of you. I own a condo in Chicago with no basement. I have just been transferred to Little Rock, Arkansas and now that I could have the room I find myself in an area with very few basements, ARGH I do, however, have an extensive collection of dishwasher Print ads dating back to the late 1800's and probably just about any manufacturer who ever made one.
Having said all that, I'll get to the reason I'm writing today. I have just placed an order for the new Bosch Axxis Plus Washer and Vented Dryer. I have read through the Detergent "cocktail" posts on the Gardenweb site and quite frankly my head is spinning. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to share a few really simple guidelines on what wash temperature is appropriate for what type of fabric and if anyone recommends a certain type of laundry detergent, bleach (or bleach alternative) and fabric softener. My whites are a bit on the dingy side so I'd like to be able to brighten them up and keep them that way. I'd like the colored clothes to be clean and not fade. Some claim high wash temperatures will slowly ruin your clothes, others claim you can't get them clean unless the water is 200 degrees. Can I do this with products from the grocery store? These folks are ordering from chemical companies and who knows what else. I actually printed out the thread and found it pretty hard to follow because everyone seems to have their own idea of what's best.
I read one post where the person only used cold water for everything. To me it begs the question, why spend the money for a machine that heats the water if you're going to use cold water for everything??
Also, is there anyone out there with this set who would be willing to share their experience. If this has already been covered I apologize for asking again. I chose these because I have space constraints and they seemed to be the best value given their size and features. I've read some posts from folks who claim their dryer is noisy. I guess I'll have to wait and see.
THanks again for all the viewing please and keep on posting!!
Chach
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Post# 16346-4/11/2002-05:24 ||| laundromat (florida)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (arm & hammer powdre/liquid)
MESSAGE: NO!It makes mounds of suds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I am now using the new Oxidol in my FriGEMore and getting great results!not only in low suds but also real clean clothes that smell great!!I have tried TideHE(-),WiskHE(++++++++++),Tide tablets(++++),Purex tablets,(+++)Wisk tablets(++),Surf tablets(++),and Fab liquids(+++).All low or "moderate sudsing.
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Post# 16347-4/11/2002-07:21 ||| washrfreak (Dallas)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !!
MESSAGE: I'm sure when you posted this you realized that there are some subjects that are dangerous to discuss in public: religion, politics, and laundry detergent. I think you picked the stickiest. Everyone has their own quite strong views. I'll tell you what I've experienced, and I'm sure if you read the next post you'll get a completely different view.
I'm on my 3rd front loader in 11 years (Westy, Asko, Frigidaire). In addition, I had a Bosh combo when I was working in the UK. The biggest problem I've had is trying to use a reduced amount of regular detergent (not low-sudsing) to prevent sudsing. Unfortunately, this was in a time when it was almost impossible to find low-sudsing detergents in America. Over time my clothes became very dingy.
My suggestions:
Use a regular amount of an HE-compatible detergent - Tide HE, Wisk HE, Fab powder (liquid seems ok too), Surf tablets, Purex tablets. You can also find European detergents mail order if you like. The Bosh is somewhat smaller than my current Frigidaire, so you may have to adjust dose a bit from "full dose" I suggested. My experience has shown that Tide HE fades quite a bit.
Use a good oxygen bleach when you need to.
My current machine allows for chlorine bleach, which I use on whites with success. On machines that didn't encourage bleach I found very hot water to work well. On the Asko, I typically washed whites at 95C (203F). This does, however, cause elastic to wear out quickly.
I wash most bright clothes in cold or warm and they seem to do fine. I know there are plenty of people who say hot will set the color, but I've had success with cooler temp.
I have tried the chemical cocktails and have not really found them, personally, to do much better than a good detergent and oxygen bleach.
My favorite detergents are Fab and Persil. Downy Enhancer is my fav fabric softener (though every so often I like the Downy Tropical Bloom).
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Post# 16348-4/11/2002-07:50 ||| gizmo (Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (long / short strokes)
MESSAGE: There have been several references lately to washers having a long forward stroke and a shorter backward stroke. This has got me intrigued. From what I understand of washing machine innards, it is theoretically impossible to have unequal length strokes, UNLESS the inner gearing has a way to disconnect the agitator for part of each return stroke. Otherwise the gear sector (the last gear before the agitator gear) would have to grow with each stroke so that the agitator gear doesn't reach the end of the sector and disconnect from it. Am I missing something here???
Or is it that a spiral agitator drives the clothes forcefully in the forward direction, but tends to slip through them on the return stroke, causing the clothes to index around with each stroke?? This would give the illusion of a longer forward stroke, but in reality it is just a more forceful forward stroke. The Hoover top loaders made in Australia from early seventies to the early nineties worked like that and were a fantastic washer.
If there is a way to make a longer forward stroke can someone hazard an explanation of how it works please ?
Thanks.
Chris.
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Post# 16349-4/11/2002-08:24 ||| Jetcone (Boston.MA)
SUBJECT: Theremin Video??????
MESSAGE: Hi and Thank you to who it was that sent me the Theremin Video!I thoroughly enjoyed it BUT the return address was torn off and all I could see was G & Z???? Who sent it? I would like to thank you directly!
Cheers every one Jetcone(whos been off of late studying 3D photography!)
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Post# 16350-4/11/2002-08:28 ||| Jetcone (Boston.MA)
SUBJECT: Air Way Rebuild tip!!!
MESSAGE: HI all Air Way fanciers!!
I just discovered a restore secret!! I have been soaking my old hoses in Simple Solution to get all the old crud and stink out of them and found out by accident that on the old styly vinyl braided hose if you soak them for a week! all the tiny dust comes out of the braids and the hose is not only clean again but more importantly it becomes REALLY flexible again like new!!
Just thought I'd share a tip that worked for me!!
jet
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Post# 16351-4/11/2002-10:19 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !!
MESSAGE: Welcome to the club, Chachp, and I hope you enjoy your new washer! Chicago to Little Rock must be quite a change, but I hope you will enjoy and be comfortable in your new home.
That Home Site can certainly be mind-boggling at times with all the "chemical blends" they try out and recommend. I've already read ahead some posts here and see you have received some good tips from people who are quite experienced with frontloaders. My experience with them is somewhat limited, but I've gotten good results from both styles of machines in much the same way the gentlemen here have mentioned. Keep us posted!
Dishwashers can be a fun and interesting item too. I didn't realize they existed in the late 1800s though...wow! Enjoy the club, Scott
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Post# 16352-4/11/2002-10:25 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Air Way Rebuild tip!!!
MESSAGE: Thank you, Jet for that interesting info! The old woven hoses are very pretty but can be difficult to deal with when they age, so it's always nice to have helpful tips. I'm going to mention it to some vacuum folks in case it can help someone out!
I either didn't realize or didn't remember that you had some vintage cleaners as well as your new AirWay! Which ones do you have? I was very fortunate to have found my AirWay 88 Mark II from the 60s in near mint condition, including the hose. I don't really use it to clean with, but if I did, I would buy a "user" hose to keep the original collectible fresh.
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Post# 16353-4/11/2002-10:44 ||| chachp (Little Rock, AR)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !! (RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !! )
MESSAGE: washrfreak,
Thanks very much for the information. My feeling, after reading pages of posts, was that there is probably a laundry detergent that does just fine. I guess I was hoping someone would write back to say "These are my favorites and this is has been my experience with others" just exactly as you did.
Thank you very much. The machines are delivered on 04/25 and I'll be prepared to start my own Wash-In.
Chach
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Post# 16354-4/11/2002-10:50 ||| chachp (Little Rock, AR)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !! (RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !! )
MESSAGE: Hi Scott55405,
Thanks for the reply. You're right - reading the posts only confused me. I wanted to be "armed" with everything I need the day the machines are delivered and it looks like I'll be able to do that.
I'm sure many of you have seen the machine in the attached link. Sure wish I had room for this one. This is actually the machine I bought for $25 when I was in college (many, many years ago) because I couldn't imagine living without one.
Chach
LINK: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=856618423
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Post# 16355-4/11/2002-10:58 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !! (RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !! )
MESSAGE: What a wonderful old d/w! Thanks for posting that link!
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Post# 16356-4/11/2002-11:43 ||| PeterH770 (Atlanta, GA)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !!
MESSAGE: Hey Chach. Welcome to Applianceville!
Do you have a link to the AXXIS pic and specs? I know this machine has caused alot of excitement at THS, but have never seen a link to info on it.
In my FL's, I use a scoop from a can of powdered PowerAid or Slimfast, about 35mm, to measure my favorite detergent, ALL. A heaping scoop keeps my clothes looking good, clean and fresh. I think alot has to do with the condition of your water. We have pretty soft water here in the Atlanta area, and this amount of detergent has worked fine for me -- until I got a 1-18.
-ph
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Post# 16357-4/11/2002-11:47 ||| chachp (Little Rock, AR)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !! (RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !!)
MESSAGE: Hi ph,
Check out the link below. Don't know where it came from but at least there is a picture and some specs. If anyone is interested I'll be glad to scan the books once I'm settled and my scanner is running.
Chach
LINK: http://home.attbi.com/~uwrx/
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Post# 16358-4/11/2002-11:59 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !!
MESSAGE: Hello Ralph,
Welcome to the club and congratulations on the purchase of the Bosch set. You will probably know that I have some reservations on the capacity of the dryer, but I think you bought a wonderful set.
As for wash temperatures I usually wash my whites on 140F which is most of the time enough. If necessary you can wash them on 160F, some oxygen bleaches work better on higher temperatures. I seldom see the necessity for a boil wash. Bright colors that are color proof can be washed on 140F, others on 105F. For darker colors you can use 105F or 85F. Delicates on 85F or cold. Woolens on cold because the rinses are also cold, otherwise your woolens might shrink.
I don't know much about American detergents, but oxygen bleach is good for your whites. I prefer liquid detergents for delicates and woolens.
Hope to hear from your experiences,
Louis
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Post# 16359-4/11/2002-12:00 ||| DADoES (El Campo, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: Theremin Video??????
MESSAGE: Jet,
You just now got that? I sent it several weeks ago. It must have gotten lost, which explains the torn address.
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Post# 16360-4/11/2002-12:03 ||| DADoES (El Campo, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !! (Dishwasher Literature)
MESSAGE: Scan some of your dishwasher material, too!
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Post# 16361-4/11/2002-12:37 ||| DADoES (El Campo, TX)
SUBJECT: New Members
MESSAGE: Welcome to chachp, and zammy234 (that makes four Texans now!), and whoever else I missed!
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Post# 16362-4/11/2002-13:37 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !! (RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !! )
MESSAGE: That's a cute little dw you got there, and for a very reasonable price. I'm sure it will be snapped up quick!
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Post# 16363-4/11/2002-13:44 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !!
MESSAGE: A lot of people get by just fine on Sears Ultra Plus HE. It comes in three flavors - stain fighter ("regular"), with oxygen bleach, and with fabric softener. I use the stain fighter and the oxygen bleach flavors. Never tried the one with fabric softener, but I hear it works well also. I supplement my Sears HE (SHE) with phosphates (STPP). Because I have hard water and my gardening and house refurbishing work clothes get very dirty and STPP gets the grit out better than just about anything else.
I wash whites and very dirty jeans in my Neptune 7500 at 130F. I'd go higher on whites but that's as high as the Neptune goes. I wash darks at 105F, without problems. I rarely use cold, and then for very delicate stuff like fine woolens, silk, leather.
I hate liquid Wisk HE. I think it sudses up too much, and smells like a cheap whorehouse. Tide HE powder works well on whites but seems to fade colors.
Right now I've been experimenting with Ecos plant based liquid laundry detergent. I add some STPP to the wash before adding the Ecos. It seems to work very well and leaves the clothes naturally soft without needing an extra fabric softener.
I think you'll like your Bosch. If it's any consolation, the Maytag Neptune dryer is loud, as well. But it works quickly and efficiently.
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Post# 16364-4/11/2002-15:17 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: What do other folks do with their cotton button-down (casual) shirts and khaki pants? Do you dry them completely dry? *Why* is it that some cotton items I can dry a whole cycle and they come out beautifully, and in the same load, other cotton items turn into a horrendous mess if they're left to tumble more than just a few minutes? Normally I tumble these "known offenders" for maybe 5-7 minutes and hang them up damp, and it works out perfectly. This time I was trying to save time and had things to do so I let some things go longer. I won't make that mistake again, but I'm just wondering what others' thoughts are on this, and what they do. People seem to really love dryers, but with some things they seem more a hindrance and a help.
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Post# 16365-4/11/2002-15:29 ||| DADoES (El Campo, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: I generally let 'em go 'til they're normally dry, then take an iron to 'em if necessary. I've also noticed that certain items will come out of the dryer consistently worse than others, and even items that sometimes come out OK will vary a little from time-to-time.
Sometimes if I know I won't be able to pull the load from the dryer right away and can plan ahead on that point, I'll set the load for the lowest possible dryness level, then run a dewrinkle cycle later to finish 'em up and pull a couple items at a time before the cycle ends while they're still a little warm (restarting the dryer between), and smooth them as much as possible.
Why is *real* permanent press / wrinkle-free so hard to find nowadays? I bought a bunch of shirts a couple months ago, lucked-out in that they're all supposed to be wrinkle-free, but one or two don't do so well.
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Post# 16366-4/11/2002-15:38 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: I do the same thing with the Damp Dry on the Maytag dryer and then finish them later. Cloth napkins and the like I usually throw over the clothes line or lay flat to dry, no ironing and no puckered wrinkles from the dryer either.
At the same time I had a Kenmore dryer with Wrinkle Guard, I had a roommate. He suggested that the cycle be extended to prevent wrinkles for three or four days. Chronic overloader with cold water washes - I used to tell him his clothes wrinkled because they weren't clean!
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Post# 16367-4/11/2002-15:39 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Some cotton items are treated to be wrinkle free, others are not. Might also have to do with the type of cotton fiber.
Cotton fiber, by nature, wrinkles. It is unlike wool, silk, and many other fibers, which are naturally wrinkle resistant. This characteristic has something to do with the fact that the cotton fibers are not very elastic. This is both a drawback and a benefit. Because they are not very elastic, they withstand high temps and don't unravel as much in hot water. Unlike silk and wool, which are weakened by water. I'm sure this is not a complete explanation but it's what I recall from recent web treks.
I have noticed that some of the permanent press dress shirts I've purchase in the last year have the look and feel of 100% cotton, but are in fact 65% polyester. The textile makers appear to have greatly improved the polyester/cotton blends. These things always come out of the dryer looking like they were just starch-ironed, yet they still breathe well and don't feel, well, plasticky, and they don't pill like older cotton/poly shirts I've owned.
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Post# 16368-4/11/2002-15:41 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Thanks for those tips, Glenn. Least I know I'm not going crazy! LOL Soon, I'll have a *real* laundry room where I can leave my iron set up all the time which I will love!
You're right, it's almost impossible to find blend or permanent press shirts these days, and that "wrinkle free" thing (whatever that is) sometimes has its virtues, but I too find it's largely a game of chance. If you find a brand that you like and can find a number of things you like within it, that tends to work well.
By the way, I washed the one load in the Maytag since I was in a hurry. Then, I wound up running 4 things through a rinse on the Frigidaire since the dryer messed em up, and the water looked more like wash water than rinse water! Yuk! Pooey! LOL
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Post# 16369-4/11/2002-15:46 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Thanks Rich! Nice to know that background about the fabrics...I'll have to keep watch for some of those nice poly/cotton shirts you mention (maybe I already have some and don't know it). It's rare I have to do much ironing 'cept when something like this happens. Looking forward to my new laundry room, which is larger than my current bedroom! :)
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Post# 16370-4/11/2002-15:59 ||| PeterH770 (Atlanta, GA)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent) (damp dry with a kiss is the secret)
MESSAGE: I always take dress/work clothes and khakis out of the dryer when they are barely damp and hang them up. I'm not a big fan of fabric softener, but just a "kiss" of softener (1/2 to 1/4 the recommended amount, even less in a FL washer) in the last rinse helps tons without stink or clogging the fibers. Most wrinkles will fall out shortly after being hung up.
-ph
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Post# 16371-4/11/2002-16:07 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent) (damp dry with a kiss is the secret)
MESSAGE: Thanks Peter! I actually do use your fabric softener tip, a little bit in the load does nicely and doesn't leave things limp and lifeless. The issue here I see now is that I should not have cut corners. Next time, I won't wash those items unless I have time to tend to it, in which case I do fine.
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Post# 16372-4/11/2002-16:21 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: The shirts I'm referring to are Van Heusen "Broadcloth, 55% cotton 45% polyester". Sorry, I got the proportions wrong! Anyway, I routinely wash them in the Neptune at 130 F with the rest of the whites or lights, and they come out just fine. The only thing I've noticed is that it's a good idea to unbutton the collar or it takes an unnatural and annoying set in the dryer.
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Post# 16373-4/11/2002-16:23 ||| DADoES (El Campo, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: I have a serious aversion to ironing, but will do it if there's no choice . . . odd thing is that when I actually get to doing it, it's not bad, especially if there's a "Space 1999" (or whatever) DVD handy to pass the time.
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Post# 16374-4/11/2002-16:25 ||| DADoES (El Campo, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: I always unbutton the collars when I strip down at the end of the day, so they're set to go for washing.
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Post# 16375-4/11/2002-16:32 ||| peteski50 (New York)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (Arm & Hammer detergent )
MESSAGE: I use the A&H in my FL Equator and it is low sudsing. I use 1/2 the amount (powder) and the cleaning is great. It is much cheaper than HE soap which I think is a scam.
Peter
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Post# 16376-4/11/2002-16:45 ||| PeterH770 (Atlanta, GA)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (with bleach or with tutti-fruitti)
MESSAGE: The 'with bleach' version was rated highly by our good friends at CU, and it has a cleaner scent than the regular version, which smells tutti-fruitti to me. On the other hand, it's mostly baking soda, so you want to make sure it all ends up in your machine or you'll very quickly get a hard calcium build up. Many laundromat owners wish people wouldn't use it because of the build up in their soap dispensers.
-ph
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Post# 16377-4/11/2002-17:01 ||| peteski50 (New York)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (Soapcake (Yahoo) )
MESSAGE: I cannot get onto some pages like this one and from a few other posts from Yahoo. I am a member but it keeps comming up with Document Not Found! Can anyone advise?
Thanks,
Peter
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Post# 16378-4/11/2002-17:10 ||| peteski50 (New York)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing)
MESSAGE: Pete
Actually I just use the regular powder with advanced detergent action fabric care and their is no scent. I don't like to use stuff that contains bleach. I use either clorox2 or borateem. I always thought the detergents that contain bleach would fade my clothes (I could be wrong about that). It just amazes me at the prices of detergent. So I will stick with A&H for now.
Peter
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Post# 16379-4/11/2002-17:12 ||| geoff (Connecticut)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (arm & hammer powdre/liquid)
MESSAGE: laundromat,
I also use the new Oxydol only in liquid for my sheets cause it smells so wonderful. I LOVE getting into my fresh mad bed after my sheets have been Oxydoled LOL. i dont find it low sudsing at all though, are you using the powder???
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Post# 16380-4/11/2002-17:13 ||| DADoES (El Campo, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (Soapcake (Yahoo) )
MESSAGE: Are you sure you've joined the TwinTubEmporium group?
Go to http://groups.yahoo.com
Sign-in with your Yahoo ID and password
When the screen refreshed, you should see a list at the upper left of the groups to which you belong -- My Groups
If TwinTubEmporium is not listed there, then you have to join it.
Search for twintubemporium
When it comes up, Join the group
You will have to provide your Yahoo ID and password
You probably will have to "confirm" the email address on your Yahoo registration -- they will send you a confirmation code number along with a link that you can click to confirm your desire to join the group.
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Post# 16381-4/11/2002-17:32 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: You're welcome, Scott. Here is a more technical explanation:
"11 What makes cotton wrinkle? During wearing and cleaning, fabrics are temporarily distorted to accommodate the stress of use. If the fabric does not recover its original shape, the results are described as wrinkling. Untreated cotton fibers do not have a permanent memory. The cellulose chains in the fiber move by breaking and re-establishing hydrogen bonds. There are no natural forces to promote the cellulose chains to return to their original configuration. "
" 12 What is wrinkle-resistant cotton? This innovative fabric treatment works by strengthening the molecular "bridges" that connect cellulose molecules in a cotton fiber. The special process stabilizes the hydrogen bridges. This permits the fabric to retain its smooth surface, even after numerous washings. The finish does not alter cotton's durability, color clarity or natural absorbency. "
LINK: http://www.touchofcotton.com/FAQ/faqg3.htm
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Post# 16382-4/11/2002-17:36 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (with bleach or with tutti-fruitti)
MESSAGE: Um, baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, which contains no calcium. I don't know what the composition might be of the build-up you are noticing in your laundromat soap containers.
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Post# 16383-4/11/2002-17:36 ||| peteski50 (New York)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (Yahoo)
MESSAGE: Thanks Glen,
I cannot find the twintubimporium page or I don't know how to find the actual site.
Peter
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Post# 16384-4/11/2002-17:37 ||| Fanfare (Idaho)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (HE a Scam)
MESSAGE: I will have to agree with you, that HE detergent is a a Scam. As soon as front-load machines started being popular in the US, owners started saving a ton on detergent. They could use less, and the concentration in the water would remain the same or better than a TL. That probably sent P&G and Lever Brothers into a panic, and caused several of their executives to have to come in off the golf course, and take a meeting. The next thing that happens, is they come out with this horridly expensive, not really so low-sudsing, concentrated detergent, that leaves the last rinse water looking like the first wash. (Especially if you use the liquid.) Their challenge was, "How can we be sure that we don't lose revenue due to efficient, environmentally-friendly appliances?" And presto!H.E.detergent was born. But, this is just my opinion, I could be wrong.
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Post# 16385-4/11/2002-17:49 ||| DADoES (El Campo, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (TwinTubEmporium)
MESSAGE: Peter,
Here are some screen captures that may help.
Yahoo Group Search
Twin Tub Emporium
LINK: http://groups.yahoo.com
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Post# 16386-4/11/2002-18:00 ||| jasonl (New Orleans, LA)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: LONG LIVE WRINKLE FREE!
When I have a mixed load of wrinkle-free pants and 100% cotton, I fire up The General and wait about 10 minutes, then I one by one pull out those cotton pants and let the rest dry. The General is old and very energy consuming so I set the timer to between regular and light fabrics and it will stop right as the clothes are nice and dry. The wrinkle free pants just seem to iron themselves when hung up.
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Post# 16387-4/11/2002-18:06 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Well that definitely confirms what I have been doing then, and it works great like you say. Thanks!
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Post# 16388-4/11/2002-18:34 ||| washrfreak (Dallas)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (Well, maybe not a complete scam)
MESSAGE: I respectfully disagree. Having been a front-loader user during the years between when low sudsing detergents were available and the HE detergents became available, I found it very difficult. The small amount of regular detergents that had to be used to prevent a suds nightmare was simply not enough to clean. The main issue was that it couldn't hold the dirt in suspension and it would redeposit, making clothes grey and dingy. The amount of the chemicals that hold the dirt needed is based on the amount of dirt, not the concentration in the water. Other ingredients, like oxygen bleach, are based on concentration, but that wasn't the real issue. Thank god we now have some low sudsing choices.
I do, however, agree that HE detergents are overpriced. There are now several good detergents available that are not marketed as HE (but often contain a small phrase like "front-loader compatible"). Fab powder, Surf and Purex tablets are examples. Good detergents and you can use a full dose with paying for the HE symbol.
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Post# 16389-4/11/2002-18:49 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Hi Scott,
I love the dryer, but rarely use it to dry things!!! I have ecperienced teh very probs of whihc you speak, and my preferred method with these difficult items is to shake tehm after the wash, put them in the dryer, just a few at a time so plenty of room for them to move, and run the cool down or fluff cycle , 10 mins or so with no heat which loosens the creases, then hang them on a line or over a clothes horse (rack) till dry. Then back in the dryer, loosely loaded again for 10 mins low heat and 10 mins no heat to help remove any remaining creases, remove as soon as dryer finishes and shake and fold or hang, some things still need an iron depending on the item and ones preferrence but I find many are fine after this treatment.
I have yet to read the other answers to this, so it will be fun.
Richtoo
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Post# 16390-4/11/2002-18:53 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Well and it's fun and interesting to learn that so many folks are doing the exact same thing I usually do for best results. I would have been more frazzled if people would have said "I dry everything to completion all the time with perfect results." No more shortcuts for me, LOL
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Post# 16391-4/11/2002-19:00 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Hi Suds,
Your description of fibre proerties sound like what I have read on the web too.
I find your experiences with nee poly cotton shirts interesting, I ought to stop being so snooty about synthetics and give them a try. Previousl experience with synthetics has put me off, pilling, lack of body, plasticy etc, but if tehy have come on so much, could be worth a try again. I have stuck with pure cotton as much as possible, but cotton shirts whilst looking good when freshly ironed sometimes look like $h!t after an hour or so of wearing.
I do like pure cotton bedding as I can wash it at 60C 140F, to kill dustmites, polyester and poly cotton gets permanent wrinkles if washed above 53C or 54C 127-130F, I forget the exact, whereas I think it is 56C 132F that is needed to kill dustmites.
Richtoo
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Post# 16392-4/11/2002-19:11 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !!
MESSAGE: I agree 100% - all you really need is a good low-sudsing detergent, and maybe a little non-chlorine bleach on occasion. Many folks get great results with the chemical cocktails, but that's probably more suited to those who have to contend with very heavy soils on a regular basis. The detergent and oxygen bleach combo, in my experience, shifts virtually anything.
Some folks use reduced amounts of regular detergent, but I'd advise against it. Nobody does that in Europe, and now HE varieties are becoming more widely available and affordable in the US, there's really no reason to. I hear Sears offers a really good HE formulation at a relatively low cost, and people seem to swear by it.
As for temperatures, I'm not familiar with the Fahrenheit scale, so I can only quote Celsius. Generally, 40*C is the most popular temperature in Europe for everyday coloured loads, 50*C for some synthetic fabrics, and 60*C for most pastel shades and whites. The very hot to boiling temps are mainly used for "kitchen whites" such as dish towels and household cloths.
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Post# 16393-4/11/2002-19:15 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !!
MESSAGE: Kirk, have there always been "HE" style detergents available for sale in Europe, where I know frontloaders have been popular for a much longer time?
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Post# 16394-4/11/2002-19:24 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !!
MESSAGE: Hi
Welcome to the group.
Like you, I don't have space for a collection, so I too enjoy the vintage machines through this group. Would love to see scans of your dishwasher adds if ever you post them.
Congrats on your new washer and dryer purchase, I have a Bosch dishwasher and have never regretted buying Bosch, though as the handle suggests, I am a fan of Miele.
I have read on or 2 of the replies to your post, but still need to catch up with the others, so my appologies if I am duplicating here.
The main thing to consider switching from a US TL to a euro FL is that it is a totally different aproach to laundry. You need to give youself time and experience to adjust. Cycles are much much longer, 1 - 2 hours, so many euro users wash 1 or 2 loads daily rather than having a 'wash day', but while the washer is doing its thing, yu can do what you want. euro FLs spin pretty dry, so line or rack drying is feasible, saving money and polution.
On your questions about how to get the best out of your FL, really your own trial and error and personal experience will be the best answer for you. As someone else poined out, so many factors come into play that what works for one will not for another; water quality, degree and type of soil, length and action of cycles on your chosen machine, type of fabric washed, choice of detergent and additives.
I am happy to share some of my methods to help give you a start. I would suggest not worying yet about the cocktails suggested on THS, try the machine first with grocery store products, then based on your own experiences you could try some of those suggestions if you want or need to.
Personally for whites, I like a long hot wash with detergent and I add an oxygen bleach, I use Ecover laundry bleach for this. I am not familiar with US detergents, but some may contain oxygen bleach, or you could try to find ecover or oxyclean which is much the same but more expensive. You say your whites are dingy, this could be the natural tendency of cotton to yellow with age, so oxygen bleach, long soaks and hot water is your friend; or it could be mineral build up from the water, not sure what to suggest other than white vinegar in the final rinse; it could be from too much or too little detergent dosage or from insufficient rinsing. Try websites of detergent manufactures, tide.com and persil.com are good.
CAUTION - don't use chlorine bleach in your new FL unless Bosch specifically says that you can, CL can damage the stainless drum and tub and may invalidate your warranty, check carefully. Don't worry though, in a euro style, due to hot water and long cycles, oxygen bleach is very effective and safe.
On whites, I would also suggest not washing whites containing elastic at higher than 60C or 140F, as it can damage the elastic.
You need to find out whether your washer fills with hot or cold water, on a hot wash with a hot fill, protein based stains may be set, so you may need to do a pre-wash; if cold fill it should not be a problem.
To avoid fading colours, I would suggest a bleach free detergent. Hot water may fade them, though I have not noticed much problem and I use 50C 122F and 60C 140F on many colours but with hot you need to be careful of colour runs. You could try warm, or even those cold detergent that the US has, UK does not get cold detergents. Most euro style machines warm cold washes to 20C, 70F, so there is still a point to the heater, check if yours does this, it would make a cold wash more effective.
As Louis suggested, wool and silk needs careful treatment, but is fine in a FL. Do not ever use bio detergents on wool or silk it can eat them! Buy a special wool & silk product, check it is suitable for FLs though, dont want too many suds. Wool/silk detergents are less alkaline than heavy duty products and are bleach and enzyme free. I wash wool at 40C 105F with cold rinses and have never had a problem. I also wash hand wash only wool on the handwash cycle.
Another point, don't overload, follow manufacturers recomended loads, clothes need room to tumble. Also due to low water use, linting can be a problem, so wash lint producers separately. Low water use machines can also get a smelly body oil build up if you don't use hot washes occasionally, manufactures usually recommend occasional hot washes to keep the washer clean. Due to the fast spin between wash and rinses, and the fact that only small ammounts of soap are needed the number of rinses can often be safely reduced. I usually only use 1/4 recommended soap, and 1/8 recommended conditioner and often use only 2 rinses, works fine for me, but I have very soft water and only lightly soiled clothes.
Sorry, you asked for simple and I type this lot, hope it helps. The link below is for general interest in the group, it is a German synthetic fibre manufacturer and has quite good care advice for many synthetic fibres, it is in English.
Enjoy, the group and your new toys.
Richtoo
LINK: http://www.ivc-ev.de/englisch/welcome.htm
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Post# 16395-4/11/2002-19:39 ||| Erkjoey (Los Angeles, California)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Scott, I usually dry them for a few minutes on low, and then remove, and iron, or hang, and let them finish air drying.
Erik
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Post# 16396-4/11/2002-19:39 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (HE a Scam)
MESSAGE: I believe you are wrong on this matter. Suds level is not a reliable indication of washing efficiency in a front loader. Reducing the amount of regular detergent to keep the suds level down, can result in less-than-minimally-required amounts of water softener, dirt suspension agents, and total alkalinity agents required to get heavily soiled fabrics clean.
Surfactants, which create the suds, are very inexpensive components of laundry detergents because it takes so little of them to create a rich lather. The bulk of modern US detergents (not HE) is sodium carbonate and/or filler, sodium sulfate. Throw in some silicates to protect washer parts, some enzymes, some optical brighteners, maybe some bleach, and some fragrance to cover up the fact that the clothes really arent' clean, and you get your typical detergent mix.
An HE detergent, in addition to being low sudsing, should also include sufficient alkali, enzymes, and other additives to help the low sudsing surfactant do its job. The amount of these things, particularly alkali and soil suspending agents, are not so dependent upon water volume but the load size and the soil burden. So adding 1/2 the regular amount may well mean that only 1/2 the dirt is removed.
*****
Post# 16397-4/11/2002-19:43 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: I wash my poly cotton shirts and sheets all the time at 130F with no permanent wrinkling. I have a 100% Egyptian cotton set and it's taking many washes to get it to the point where it doesn't come of the dryer wrinkled. The cottonpoly sheets are high thread count and *almost* feel like 100% cotton, but of course there's nothing like the real thing.
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Post# 16398-4/11/2002-19:45 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (HE a Scam)
MESSAGE: I forgot to add: HE detergents are *supposed* to add free dye inhibitor agents. These are designed to counteract the tendency of dyes from colored clothes to tint other clothes. The free dye concentration in a front loader will be higher than that in a top loader, so it's more of a potential problem. And the amount of free dye is entirely dependent upon the load size, not the amount of wash water.
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Post# 16399-4/11/2002-19:47 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: That's precisely what I do for things which are supposed to be line-dried. Also works well on formal trousers, with the added bonus being that they only need ironing occasionally. If they go through an entire drying cycle, they need pressing from scratch every time - stuff that!
One thing I have noticed is that cotton knits don't really like being machine dried. Fred Perry polo shirts, which I virtually live in, get a short, slow spin to pull out the bulk of the water, then I gently stretch them back into shape while still wet. They then get dried on a hanger, which helps them to keep their shape and lets the wrinkles drop out.
*****
Post# 16400-4/11/2002-19:53 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Kirk, I do that a lot to my knit shirts too, and they come out great! All these great minds thinking alike here today, LOL
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Post# 16401-4/11/2002-19:57 ||| chachp (Little Rock, AR)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !!
MESSAGE: I am overwhelmed (in a really good way). I was hoping for a no nonsense approach to dealing with these new machines and that's what I got. I really appreciate all of your responses and feel I can be much more prepared for their arrival! You really are a great group of folks. Now, I'll spend some time experimenting and we'll see how it goes.
Thank you all, again.
Chach
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Post# 16402-4/11/2002-20:01 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Not to mention polycotton bed linens pill, and feel sweaty in the summer - yuk! Have you ever tried Egyptian cotton bed linen? Although it's extremely expensive, it feels very luxurious to the touch, and lasts for years.
Cotton shirts are nice, but totally impractical sometimes if you're trying to look smart. John Lewis sell some really nice no-iron shirts - look for the Jonelle label, which is their own brand. Just wash, shake, tumble dry damp if you want to, and hang up. The creases drop right out, although you can iron them if you prefer the crisp-pressed look. They resist wrinkles while you're wearing them, too, and don't feel syntheticky, if that's a real word.
*****
Post# 16403-4/11/2002-20:25 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !!
MESSAGE: To be honest, I'm not entirely sure whether or not low-sudsing detergents have been all that widely available here in years gone by. Put it this way, they've always been pretty widespread during my lifetime, so that's well over 20 years already.
Theoretically, you could save heaps of cash by purchasing high-suds "handwash" detergent, and being stingy with the dosage in order to reduce the suds level. But nobody does that here in Europe, because low sudsers are so widely available, and don't carry an extortionate price tag, thus negating the need to do so. Plus, it just doesn't seem to work as well. I gave it a try out of curiosity, and by the time you get the suds down to a one inch layer, the cleaning performance is dreadful.
The feeling I get is that the American detergent manufacturers are taking advantage of the FL owners, by marketing their HE formulations as a speciality product, and charging extra it. In reality, it's no different to the low-suds brands which don't carry the HE logo. Just marketed differently. That may change when FL washers become the norm over there.
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Post# 16404-4/11/2002-20:30 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: LOL - it took a minor mishap for me to discover that method, however. When the bottom hemline of the polo was sitting over my bellybutton, I got the general idea that machine drying was a Very Bad Idea. Rewetting it and pulling it into shape restored it back to its original condition, so all was not lost, but now they go on hangers to dry.
*****
Post# 16405-4/11/2002-20:40 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !!
MESSAGE: I'm hoping that as frontloaders permeate, the prices on these "HE" products will moderate. I know our Sears stores have one that some folks seem to like, and Ed made some good suggestions for products that are HE compatible but don't say HE per se. I work PT in a store and I can tell you the HE products will give you sticker shock to be sure. I'll never forget the one time a woman accidentally picked up a bottle of HE Tide, and nearly flipped when I scanned it. It's nearly twice what the regular stuff is.
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Post# 16406-4/11/2002-20:53 ||| peteski50 (New York)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (Yahoo!)
MESSAGE: Glen,
Thanks much I did get it to process after awaiting awhile
I love looking at the real cool pics
Another Great Addition to the Appliance World.
Peter
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Post# 16407-4/11/2002-21:53 ||| PeterH770 (Atlanta, GA)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (HE a Scam)
MESSAGE: Add to this that before the Ultra craze, detergent boxes all said to use about 1/2 cup or enough to bring suds halfway up the window. Plus, you are only dealing with a few gallons of water, rather than about 20 gallons in a TL. I bet most FL owners, along with nearly all laundromat users, use regular detergent and get satisfactory results. As the owner of a 'mat, I can count on one hand how many times in the last 2 years that someone has brought HE detergent in to use in my FL's (that's 20 FL's and 6 TL's).
-ph
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Post# 16408-4/11/2002-22:34 ||| jetcone (Boston.MA)
SUBJECT: RE: Theremin Video?????? (Thank YOU Glenn!!!!)
MESSAGE: Glenn:
Its you! Thank you so much! I really enjoyed that!! Clara is a one of a kind isn't she!
Yes the thing arrived in pretty bad shape but the video was absolutely fine! Now I am looking at the Big Briar theremin kit!! You have gotten me interested again!
Will email you direct!!
jet
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Post# 16409-4/11/2002-22:37 ||| fanfare (Idaho)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (HE still a Scam)
MESSAGE: I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with my disagreers. The real scam of HE detergents is in the price. I'm not totally arguing that they arent better performers for FL machines. There is simply no reason for their inflated price, but to line the pockets of the producing corporations, and I can prove it. I am old enough to remember the low sudsing detergents like Dash and All back in the 50's and 60's. They did an excellent job in FL (and TL machines, for that matter) machines and cost about the same as high-sudsing detergents. And, I still maintain that the liquid HE detergents don't rinse well, even when the directions are followed perfectly. My last rinse is still way too sudsy. So, there is no way anyone can convince me that HE detergents, while very effective, aren't just a revenue generating mechanism.
*****
Post# 16410-4/11/2002-22:52 ||| jetcone (Boston.MA)
SUBJECT: RE: And Now for a True Classic Appliance! (Greg--Westy Tangling)
MESSAGE: You know Greg, I was told over and over by Tom, & John that the Westy tangles. And she does but--- like chaos theory--order does come out from time to time. I watched hundreds of loads in the Westy and found in mine that there is a pattern and what you get at the end of the cycle is determined by where the "tumble agitator" stopped in that pattern!!! The loads in the Westy first wind up and tangle then after a while they actually UNwind and detangle and tumble, then it starts over ,they wind up, tangle and ball around and then if the cycle continues they unwind again. Its maybe a sign I have toooo much time on my hands but take a close long look. Sometime if you are inclined peek at your Westy and see if you see what I saw. I would be interested to know. I think you have one of the 6 vained machines no???? You may have more or less tangling with 6 vaines.
Cheers Jetcone
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Post# 16411-4/11/2002-23:11 ||| washrfreak (Dallas)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !!
MESSAGE: 40C generally corresponds to warm setting in US (104F). 60C (140F) is often the standard label for items recommend for hot. Many homes here, however, set their hot water heaters lower than that - closer to 50C (122F).
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Post# 16412-4/11/2002-23:18 ||| washrfreak (Dallas)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (HE a Scam)
MESSAGE: I've been tossing in Woolite Dye Magnet sheets with some success on brightly colored loads.
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Post# 16413-4/11/2002-23:27 ||| washrfreak (Dallas)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (HE still a Scam)
MESSAGE: I agree with you on the pricing. I've never had the rinsing issue with HE detergents however. It is interesting though, the lowest sudsing detergent I've used isnt an HE branded detergent, but powdered Fab. It rinses very good - no suds in even the first rinse usually.
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Post# 16414-4/11/2002-23:37 ||| jasonl (New Orleans, LA)
SUBJECT: Another video (oldappliancenut look here)
MESSAGE: Here's a little magic I did with a program called Video Shaker. Basically, you give it some video clips and with match the video to some background music. Here's a little somthin' called Washers & Coasters. Oldappliancenut should recognize some of the rides on this video ;-)
right click... save as.
Robert, you can add this to the museum if you'd like.
LINK: http://members.cox.net/rotoswirl/videos/washersncoasters.wmv
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Post# 16415-4/12/2002-03:21 ||| OldApplianceNut (Pennsylvania)
SUBJECT: RE: Another video (oldappliancenut look here) (thx coasters)
MESSAGE: sorry I haven't been in chat but java won't load on my PC
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Post# 16416-4/12/2002-07:11 ||| surgilator (North Hykeham, UK)
SUBJECT: Detergents
MESSAGE: In all of my washers, domestic frontloaders and the ones at the launderette, I have used Persil Colour for coloured items, and Fairy for whites. I use Ariel very rarely for heavy soils and towels. I also sometimes use Ace bleach for heavy soils. I always get the powder form of Persil Colour, Ariel and Fairy, and liquid Ace bleach. For fabric softener I use Asda's own brand easy iron.
I have tried out Persil Capsules and Ariel Liquitabs before, and also tablets, but went back to powders as you can measure out how much you want.
I always use dosing balls that you put on top of the laundry in the drum. I don't use the detergent dispenser for powder as it tends to clog it up. I still use fabric softener in the dispenser, though.
What does everyone else use?
surgilator
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Post# 16417-4/12/2002-07:38 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: And Now for a True Classic Appliance! (Greg--Westy Tangling)
MESSAGE: Hi Jon - good to hear from you. I too, must have too much time on my hands and have noticed the tangle/untangle process the Westy goes through. With some loads, those six vanes are a plus to keep the load moving, but at times it seems to increase the tangle factor. I have tried using less water so there is less "float" and more drop, but as you know, the slanted tub was not designed for much "drop" and the higher water level is needed to keep the load more separate and moving in and out of itself. Since this a cold rinse only washer now, I'll be using it more this summer and will keep you posted on how all the washers perform. I moved the WO-65 into his spot last night and washed a "normal" load which didn't tangle at all. I used the Filtrator to dry them which worked beautifully, but there is a horrible screech somewhere in the motor/fan assembly that I need to get to now. Always something!
*****
Post# 16418-4/12/2002-07:39 ||| jasonl (New Orleans, LA)
SUBJECT: Another video
MESSAGE: OK, for those who got sick riding those coasters on my last video, here's one with all washers.
LINK: members.cox.net/rotoswirl/videos/ultimatewashervideo.wmv
*****
Post# 16419-4/12/2002-08:36 ||| arrrooohhh (Sydney Australia)
SUBJECT: Wheres Uni?
MESSAGE: If you are reading please check your email.
Thanks.
*****
Post# 16420-4/12/2002-10:26 ||| JoeEkaitis (Rialto, California, USA)
SUBJECT: Manly Picture of the Day (April 12, 2002)
MESSAGE: A young boy, a stocky delivery man (with just a hint that he enjoys a couple brewskis after a hard day of delivering Norge washers) who appears TWICE in the ad, and the use of the word "men" twice as often as the word "women". Quite a departure from the typical appliance/detergent ads of the same vintage which usually showed women (always addressed as "Girls", "Gals" or "Ladies" in the ads' headlines) admiring the product with a lust usually reserved for Hollywood's leading men.
*****
Post# 16421-4/12/2002-10:32 ||| JoeEkaitis (Rialto, California, USA)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (Possible Beginning of the End of the HE Detergent Price Scam)
MESSAGE: Purex Tabs sell for about $3 a box for 24 single-tablet front-load washer uses, making them not only the least-expensive tablet detergent (versus Tide Rapid Action Tabs, Wisk Tabs and Surf Tabs) but also the least-expensive supermarket brand of HE detergent. I'm excluding Sears low-sudsing detergent since most of us don't make a special trip to Sears for a 25 pound pail of the stuff. :)
Now, if Arm & Hammer would add the 2 or 3 cents worth of suds suppressor and anti-redeposition agent to every box of FabriCare, the HE price scam might finally topple.
*****
Post# 16422-4/12/2002-11:38 ||| jasonl (New Orleans, LA)
SUBJECT: RE: Another video (GEEZ here's the link)
MESSAGE: here's the fixed link
LINK: http://members.cox.net/rotoswirl/videos/ultimatewashervideo.wmv
*****
Post# 16423-4/12/2002-11:40 ||| golittlesport (California)
SUBJECT: RE: Theremin Video?????? (thermin)
MESSAGE: Hey Jon
When you come to California, we'll go visit my friend Charlie, who not only owns a thermin, but who publicly performs and has recorded on movie sound tracks and records. He loves to show it off and play for people. He even let me try it (that was scary!!!) Not to forget he also has a vintage vacuum museum.
Rich
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Post# 16424-4/12/2002-12:13 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (HE a Scam)
MESSAGE: Have to disagree with you on this one. When my ex got his Frigidaire FL in 1997, there were almost no low sudsers on the market. So we experimented with various doses of Cheer, Tide, Surf and FAB (yes, it was still available everywhere back then) powders and in order to have the right suds level, usage had to be scaled back so much that we found certain really ground in dirt and some stains were not washing out. Very noticeable on things like white towels and pillowcases (especially if you sweat in your sleep.......)
Luckily, I remembered Colgate's Fresh Start which has always been a low suds powder. A few washes with the full dose of that (and the correct water temp of course) and the difference was amazing. Then of course, all the HE detergents came out.
The truth is that I don't understand why all of the manufacturers do not make their products low sudsing. Then there will be no need for separate, ridiculously expensive detergents . I may have posted this before but I called the "big three" detergent manufacturers to inquire about the whole suds thing. I did that because I remembered that in 1990 or so when the "ultra powders" were introduced, most of the major brands were low suds (Tide, Cheer, Fab, Ajax, Oxydol (it was still a P&G brand then), All). Suddenly in a few years, they became high suds. All three manufacturers told me the same thing - They were flooded with calls from irate consumers who felt that if they didn't see mountains of suds, the detergent was not working.
So the point of this is that we the people may have helped create this issue.........
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Post# 16425-4/12/2002-12:14 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: Hi Ed,
I had teh opposite prob getting an auto car, I wanted BOL, small car, no power anything - too much to go wrong, and auto as an extra. I can drive manual, but never get the chance to experience the true pleasures of manual transmission, most of my driving is city in rush hour - stop start in gears 1 and 2, or on the motorway, up to 90 (ohh I meant 70 of course) and top gear all the way. Manuals are best on an empty, round with some bends, so you can get your foot down and really enjoy the gears - we don't get much of that driving in the UK.
On lines and dishes, I find pegging out (UK expression for putting clothes on the line) a real pleasure and love to see good clean clothes and brilliant whites on the line.
I hate, hate, hate washing dishes, would rather scrub toilets!!! I hate it so much that as soon as finances permitted I bought the DW and installed it in my old 7' by 6' kitchen, yes it really was that small. Pervesley, we rent a holiday cottage that has no TV, phone - mobile (cell) phones don't get reception either, internet, washer or DW - has a great old spin dryer though. I actually enjoy the break away from teh technology and for the 1 week, enjoy doing dishes by hand, though of course we eat out for most meals.
Richtoo
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Post# 16426-4/12/2002-12:19 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: Hi Kirk,
I was the opposite on a motorbike, I could do 3 gears with no clutch on a moped, but never got the hang of 1 down, 4 up + clutch on a real bike, though I can drive a manual car, but prefer not to.
The HP agitator discussions has bought back some great memories, I think the HP TL would be the machine to convert me to TLs, that or a Frigidaire.
Richtoo
*****
Post# 16427-4/12/2002-12:25 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (inside out and sun bleaching)
MESSAGE: Hi Angus,
I think that your 'blue collar' idea has a lot of truth. Some years ago, when almost everyone had a line, I visited a friend's parents' house for the first time. It was in a very up market area. Looking at the garden, I spotted no line so asked where it was to be told that there wasn't one as the neighbours would think they could not afford to run a dryer.
I live in a very mixed, mainly mid scale neighbourhood and lines are still very much in evidence here. When weather is too bad for outside drying, you often see clothing on racks drying near the windows.
Richtoo
Richtoo
*****
Post# 16428-4/12/2002-12:26 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (HE still a Scam)
MESSAGE: Well, in point of fact, Dash and All were not exactly stellar cleaning performers. I seem to recall that CR mentioning that, while satisfactory, neither product was a top performer - but since they were synthetic detergents, this would have had nothing to do with suds level anyway. Actually there were a few more that were considered "controlled or adjusted suds" now that I think of it - AD, Ajax, Punch, Burst (Colgate), Bold (P&G - when first introduced)and Drive (Lever).
I AGREE with you that the prices are heinous. There really is no reason for that kind of robbery - and P&G is the worst - the Tide HE in both liquid and powder is almost twice the price of regular, and it is never included in any of the supermarket specials on regular Tide, and any coupons for Tide cannot be used on HE.....
It does appear in my area that the WiskHE liquid is priced equally with the regular Wisk. And finally - my humble opinion is that no liquid rinses particularly well............
*****
Post# 16429-4/12/2002-12:29 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: Manly Picture of the Day (April 12, 2002)
MESSAGE: Heh, Heh...supports my theory of the "butch factor" for Norge Timelines.........
*****
Post# 16430-4/12/2002-12:30 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (inside out and sun bleaching)
MESSAGE: Hi Kirk,
Your mother sound like mine, love em. Mum was very proud of her whites, but loved to comment on less than briliant whites on other peoples lines, would always point them out.
I remember her telling me in hushed tones about how appaled she was with a friend of hers who did not wash her babies nappies (diapers) in they were only wet, instead she would hang them on the line to dry and re-use them. Grosseroonie big time!
Richtoo
*****
Post# 16431-4/12/2002-12:43 ||| DADoES (El Campo, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (long / short strokes)
MESSAGE: F&P's SmartDrive is one way to do that.
*****
Post# 16432-4/12/2002-13:00 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Just goes to show that it is not the simple chuck in the wash, chuck in the dry and wear that advertising and manufacturers would have us believe. Good results still take some more effort.
Richtoo
*****
Post# 16433-4/12/2002-13:23 ||| JoeEkaitis (Rialto, California, USA)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (HE detergent scam: interesting label change)
MESSAGE: Before there was Tide HE, there was Tide for Front-Loading Washers. The label on Tide for Front-Loading Washers advised against using it in top-loading washers.
After it became Tide HE, it magically became suitable for use in ALL washers.
Major reformulation? I think not. Most likely, Proctor & Gamble's marketing folks discovered that consumers were buying a MUCH cheaper detergent (say Arm & Hammer or Purex) for those occasions when they had to use a top-loader, like loading several washers at a laundramat when pressed for time. The solution: recommend using the MUCH more expensive Tide HE in ALL washers. :)
*****
Post# 16434-4/12/2002-14:10 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: Theremin Video?????? (thermin)
MESSAGE: Excuse me for asking, but what is a thermin?
*****
Post# 16435-4/12/2002-14:27 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: Another washer
MESSAGE: I found an agitator washer in a second hand shop. It's a wringer washer but without the wringer, or a twintub without the spinner. You combine it with a separate spinner or centrifuge. It has a straight vane agitator, a pump (which not all models had) and a heater. The brand is Velo, a dutch brand. I posted a picture of a similar washer, a Thomson, the only difference is that the brown parts on the washer are white on mine. When the pictures are developped I will post them.
Louis
LINK: http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/foraloysius/vwp?.dir=/More+washers&.dnm=Thomson-3.jpg&.src=ph&.view=t&.hires=t
*****
Post# 16436-4/12/2002-15:08 ||| fanfare (Idaho)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (HE still a Scam)
MESSAGE: Angus, you've convinced me. I'm glad we agree that HE prices are "heinous" and that no liquid rinses very well. That also has been my experience.
I do understand the detergent companies needing to "up the suds" in their products for psychological reasons. It is this mentality among Americans that caused us to embrace inefficient, top-loading, back-and-forth, butter churn agitator machines in the first place.
*****
Post# 16437-4/12/2002-15:16 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: That's for sure! On the up side, it gave me a chance to freshen and restore creases on the items the dryer messed up with the iron last night whilst watching my soap operas, LOL
*****
Post# 16438-4/12/2002-15:17 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Another washer
MESSAGE: Did you purchase this washer then, Your Majesty? One of the square spinners that Mikey has would be quite suitable as a pair to one of these!
*****
Post# 16439-4/12/2002-15:38 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: Another washer
MESSAGE: Your Majesty, our eye fell on it while passing a second hand appliance dealer. We purchased the washer immediately and it was delivered within 2 hours after the purchase. We already did a small load of towels in it. The machine has a vigorous stroke of about 160 degrees. It's not a very big machine, We believe it's a 6 or 7 lbs machine. You are very right by stating this washer would go well with one of Mike's spinners. We would prefer one with a spray rinse option, we found it quite something to keep moving the towels back and forth from the washer to the spinner etc. The towels needed two deep rinses and spinning between the wash and the rinses. BTW, we used Persil Non-biological that our friend Michael from Manchester (UK) brought so friendly with him on his Easter visit.
QLOTOC
*****
Post# 16440-4/12/2002-15:45 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Another washer
MESSAGE: How nice! Congratulations on this nice addition to your collection. We understand what you're saying regarding an automatic rinse phase in a spinner. Enjoy your new piece and have a great weekend! We shall drop some correspondence soon.
QEOM
P.S. How especially nice, that you have a friend Mike from Manchester and a friend Mike from Chester! :-)
*****
Post# 16441-4/12/2002-17:02 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !! (Modern detergents)
MESSAGE: When I was at school, I took Home Economics as an exam subject, and I still have one of my textbooks which I used to work from, called About The House. It was printed in 1981; a relatively "old" book for me to be given to work from in the late 90s, but it gives an insight into how things were at the time, when the "automatic revolution" was still in full-swing over here.
One of the chapters on detergents states that low sudsing detergents are better suited to front loading washers, but are more expensive and not quite as widely available. Bear in mind, we're talking 1981 here. The book also goes into detail about the differences between FL, TL and twin tub machines, which would be irrelevant in a modern textbook, seeing as how everyone buys FLs over here nowadays, and not much else.
Nowadays, over 20 years later, the opposite is true. Over here, low sudsing detergents now work out much cheaper than the high suds varieties. And the choice is enourmous; each brand is available in several different permutations, so we have dozens upon dozens to choose between. Then there's all the store brands, too. It probably all adds up to hundreds of different varieties, so we really are spoilt for choice.
Conversely, when it comes to high sudsers, there are only about half a dozen branded varieties to choose from nowadays. Most supermarkets offer one high suds detergent under their own label, but that's it. For the most part, the only folks who buy high sudsers are the old ladies who refuse to give up their twin tubs and go automatic.
*****
Post# 16442-4/12/2002-17:12 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !!
MESSAGE: Thanks for the clarification on that one, washrfreak. Being used to Celsius, Fahrenheit seems like a foreign language sometimes.
I've just remembered that I have an old dictionary stashed somewhere, with the conversion formulae for Celsius to Fahrenheit and vice versa. Better seek it out and note it down so I don't have to guess all the time.
*****
Post# 16443-4/12/2002-18:06 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Detergents
MESSAGE: Good question, Surge - it's always interesting to be nosy and find out what everyone else's favourites are!
At the moment I'm working through a big carton of Ariel Color powder, which gets used for most of my coloured loads. Once that's gone, I'll be switching to Persil Colour Care liquid, as I fancy a change.
For whites, I normally stick firmly to Ariel regular powder. The scent is starting to get to me now, though, so next time I'm going to try the Alpine variety, or maybe go back to Bold Active Fresh, which smells gorgeous IMHO.
I decided to try Persil Non-Bio liquid recently, and really like it. That's what I now use for towels, bath robes and bed linen, and I love the fact that it rinses out so easily.
Ace non-chlorine bleach is great stuff, and I always keep a bottle handy. Not just for whites, but for reviving colours which have lost their brightness.
Downy Enhancer is my favourite fabric softener at the moment. I like the one with the pink bottle cap, not overly keen on the others; they smell like a tart's handbag, for want of a better description. Comfort Pure is very nice as well, and has a much lighter scent.
*****
Post# 16444-4/12/2002-18:28 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: I think, in all honesty, the reason I get on better with motorbikes is that they hold my interest more than cars do. To me, cars are boring (BMWs excepted, of course), and I don't actually like driving. Hence, if the car isn't going to change gears for me, I can't be bothered wasting my time on it LOL. Motorbikes, on the other hand, I positively drool over. My pal has kindly let me get acquainted with his bike on several occasions, which I enjoyed thoroughly, so I was all too happy to persevere with the gears - it was worth the effort to me.
Back to appliances, the Hotpoint 9605 is the machine that got me hooked on top loaders in the first place. All along, I've always maintained that this would be my first choice for a new washer, if it was still in production today. When the time comes to start flat-hunting elsewhere, I shall be paying particular attention to kitchen sizes, to make sure I have enough room to squeeze in a rescued 9605!
*****
Post# 16445-4/12/2002-18:30 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (HE still a Scam)
MESSAGE: And even more unusual... I still have a few boxes of phosphated Ultra Fab, Ultra Ajax and Fresh Start. Every one of those boxes state clearly that the products would not produce a lot of suds and that a high suds level is not indicative of better cleaning. But the public was bound and determined to have their high suds!!!!!
*****
Post# 16446-4/12/2002-18:35 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (inside out and sun bleaching)
MESSAGE: Oh, please, no! You don't mean to say that #2's got washed out, but #1's were just allowed to dry into the fabric? How do some people's minds work?! I bet that kid grew up with one hell of a sore bum.
My mum always took great pride in the nappies she used for my brother and I. She used to spend hours every day boiling and washing them in a twin tub, but says it was all worth it to see the washing line filled from end to end with pure white nappies.
*****
Post# 16447-4/12/2002-18:39 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Detergents
MESSAGE: I LOVE that expression you used in your last paragraph here, Kirk! I must remember that one, particularly if a fitting use for it comes about when I'm visiting the UK! LOLOL
*****
Post# 16448-4/12/2002-18:44 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Detergents (UK Style)
MESSAGE: Hi Surge
With this new Hotpoint I find myself testing most of the powders on the shelf at the moment....
Am using Arial Colour for light colours, for darks and blacks have switched completely to "Persil Black"liquid soap as I found the dye loss to much since using the previous Wirlpool Awm328 with "Unique Dry-Clean Action"(lowest of the low water level, pha)always use Fairy for whites and light towels..hot wash...
Fabric Conditioner I use Down to Earth, Ecover and Lenor...
Interesting on the point of HE US detergents, I remember going to a Siemens sales training meeting in Germany, and the question of high/low suds powders came up, there was a P&G rep there from UK and he stood up and said that when the powder is made its all low suds...so when UK was awash with twin tubs and wringers the manufacturers where adding hi foam stuff to the powder.... then 1975/80`s FLoaders started to take off and they simply took the addded ingredient out and upped the price.....now its the other way about here as well they have upped the price again for the hi sudzs powders today!!!
What goes around comes around I think we`ll find....
Mike
*****
Post# 16449-4/12/2002-18:45 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Detergents
MESSAGE: Hehehehe - glad you liked that one, Scott :o) It's the same smell you notice when walking down the detergent aisle at the supermarket. A strong whiff of mixed scents, which starts to make your nose sore after a couple of minutes!
*****
Post# 16450-4/12/2002-18:45 ||| washrfreak (Dallas)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: Thanks for reminding me of that. I'm headed to Birmingham next week, and to avoid a customs nightmare in Chicago on the return, decided to fly into Gatwick instead of BHX. I was thinking of a nice, quiet (long), early Sunday morning drive up to Birmingham (and not having to use my phone hand to shift). Maybe I'll take the train...
If it weren't for dishwashers, I'd use disposable pots and pans.
*****
Post# 16451-4/12/2002-18:50 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Detergents (UK Style)
MESSAGE: For what it's worth, when I sell a top loader to a customer, I tell them to stick to regular low-sudsing detergent. The high-suds types are formulated to produce an artificially high level of foam, which doesn't actually do anything. Since when did bubbles of trapped air clean anything?
Also, when the detergent manufacturers update their formulations, you can be sure it only applies to the low-suds varieties. The high-suds powders tend to stay the same for years, with improvements few and far between. By sticking to the low-suds brands, you can be sure you're getting their latest formulation.
*****
Post# 16452-4/12/2002-18:51 ||| washrfreak (Dallas)
SUBJECT: RE: Arm & Hammer detergent low sudsing?? (HE detergent scam: interesting label change)
MESSAGE: I don't remember Tide for Front-Loading Washers. Perhaps it was just test marketed in your area. I DO remember Wisk for Front-Loaders. To my knowledge, this was the first HE style detergent available and you got samples in the Frigidaire front-loaders the first year they were out. It was only sold mail order and was replaced with Wisk HE.
*****
Post# 16453-4/12/2002-18:51 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !! (Modern detergents)
MESSAGE: Many fewer choices here. Tide dominates all the shelves in all of its 500 formulas, fragrances, etc.... Then Wisk in liquid, powder and tablet forms, then Cheer liquid and a bit of Cheer powder, All liquids and powder (regular All only). Then equal space is given to things like Gain (liquids only), Dreft (liquid and powder), Surf liquid (usually only the regular fragrance - no powders or tablets), Ivory Snow, Arm &Hammer (powders and liquids), Oxydol liquid, Fab liquid and then we get into some store brands and finally "price sensitive brands - Xtra, Sea Mist, Purex (liquids only), Sun liquid, Ajax liquid and Dynamo liquid.
I kind of miss, though the days when you could be overwhelmed with detergent choices - as I remember, it broke down as follows:
P&G: Tide, Cheer, Bold, Duz Soap, Duz detergent(with glasses or flatware), Premium Duz detergent(with dinnerware, Dash, Gain, Ivory Snow, Ivory Flakes, Oxydol, Bonus (with towels), Dreft, Salvo Tablets
Lever: Concentrated All, Fluffy All, Cold Water All, Wisk, Surf, Breeze(with towels), Silver Dust Blue(with glasses), Rinso White Soap, Rinso Blue Detergent, Sunshine Rinso, Rinso with Color Bleach, Drive, Vim Tablets
Colgate: Fab, Ajax, Cold Power, AD, Punch, Burst, Fresh Start, Octagon Soap Powder
Purex: Instant Fels Soap Powder, Trend, Purex, Brillo
Oh, well, progress I suppose.............
*****
Post# 16454-4/12/2002-18:52 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (inside out and sun bleaching)
MESSAGE: Hi Kirk
The "Line Whites" experience was another reason that the British Housewife was the last to benefit from washer automation...the twin tubs and spinners did such a good job of flinging the hot soapy powder out of the clothes,(even if the washer part was crap) that most people kept their twinnys after seeing all those cheap Floaders that flooded the market from abroad in the 70`s...
Always remember seeing an el cheapo Indesit 300rpm spin , give away price, hardly tumbled & turned, you`d get more agitation throwing them in a bath and treading water...LOL
Mike
*****
Post# 16455-4/12/2002-18:53 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: Another video (GEEZ here's the link)
MESSAGE: Fun videos!
*****
Post# 16456-4/12/2002-18:54 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: Kirk does NOT wash dishes by hand. He would rather skip meals than face a mountain of pots and pans afterwards, which is precisely what he used to do before getting a dishwasher LOL.
If I had to choose between a dishwasher and a washing machine, the dishwasher would win. I'd rather use a launderette than scrub pots by hand.
*****
Post# 16457-4/12/2002-18:56 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (inside out and sun bleaching)
MESSAGE: Not washing out the diapers does sound pretty revolting. If that is what she would admit to, I can only imagine what went on in other areas of that house that no one saw!! I hope your mom never ate anything prepared by that woman!!!!!
*****
Post# 16458-4/12/2002-18:56 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: Theremin Video?????? (thermin)
MESSAGE: I believe it's being mispelled. It's "Theremin", named after the inventor.
*****
Post# 16459-4/12/2002-19:00 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Detergents (UK Style)
MESSAGE: Kirk, we bought into that "layer of suds" thing here in the states for decades. Homemakers of my mother's generation especially simply did not think the process was working as it should in the absence of these suds!
*****
Post# 16460-4/12/2002-19:02 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: Red Letter Day!!!!!
MESSAGE: Hi All
You know that feeling whilst waiting for a number ten bus that never comes then three come along all at once...
Following on from my new Hotpoint 9605 experience, I`ve managed to find another three sought after machines in as many days.....a couple of machines where advertised in loot and I was tipped off by a fellow club member because they where within 30 mins of me......the oldest machine is the most pristine a Servis MK1 Supertwin you`ll need your sunglasses on for the colour....the other is the last twinny ever made Mk111 and the third is a big wringer washer the Superheat Model `M` which according to the blurb was the best selling wringer machine both here and the States...
Happy Washing
Mike
LINK: http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/twintubemporium/lst?&.dir=/Mikes+Laundry&.src=gr&.begin=17&.view=t&.order=&.done=http%3a//photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/twintubemporium/lst%3f%26.dir=/Mikes%2bLaundry%26.src=gr%26.view=t
*****
Post# 16461-4/12/2002-19:04 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (inside out and sun bleaching)
MESSAGE: One of the women I work with recalls her first front loader, a Candy which she bought sometime in the 70s. She says the spin cycle went up to a roaring 500 rpm, just fast enough to stop the load dripping everywhere upon removal from the machine.
Poor girl, she was so embarassed to admit this to me. Back then, she wasn't in the business, and had no idea how awful these machines were. It didn't take her long to find out, though, and she soon went back to a twin tub. Funny thing is, though, she now works as a demonstrator for Candy, which is embarassing in itself as far as she's concerned LOL.
*****
Post# 16462-4/12/2002-19:07 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Another washer (Anglo Dutch Covention.......!!!)
MESSAGE: Hey Louis
There must be something in the air for us at the moment....
congrats on the latest find, looks a lovely little mover, does it have a SS tub, I would team it with at least my Bendix spinning at 2800, only thing is it doesnt flow or deep rinse, you`d need a lovely Hoover Rinspin for that...
Keep Looking, at this rate we`ll be able to host a wash-in convention in Euroland soon....what do you say???
Mike
*****
Post# 16463-4/12/2002-19:10 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Detergents (UK Style)
MESSAGE: How very true. On many occasions, I've read in publications from about 20-30 years ago, that the best way to gauge how much detergent to use was to keep adding it until you got a nice thick layer of suds!
*****
Post# 16464-4/12/2002-19:18 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Red Letter Day!!!!! (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
MESSAGE: This is SO exiciting Mikey!! What BEAUTIFUL machines!! Of course we know the REAL reason for this sudden burst of fortune! ;-)
Your only task now is to decide how many pence I am to pay you for each sheet I feed through the wringer that you catch and place into the spinner! The schnitzels will think we've gone bloody mad, and they won't have any bedding to sleep in all week! LOLOLOL
*****
Post# 16465-4/12/2002-19:32 ||| keymatic (Surrey.U.K)
SUBJECT: RE: Red Letter Day!!!!! (Great Find...)
MESSAGE: Hi Mike
That was a great find on the Twinny front..Mk1 Servis in a1 condition and in two-tone colours!!
I must send you the little sliver bit that goes in the timer dial...i have one kicking around the place somewhere.
You must be on a roll..keep them comming!!
Keith
*****
Post# 16466-4/12/2002-19:53 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: Another washer
MESSAGE: Neat find, can't wait to see more pics of the inside and in action!
What would the major advantage of this type of machine been compared to a twin-tub or wringer washer? Cost or space savings?
Have you totally given up on the "spare bedroom" notion now? Looks like that room will be quite full very shortly at this rate! Congratulations and have fun playing!
*****
Post# 16467-4/12/2002-20:00 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: Red Letter Day!!!!!
MESSAGE: Beautiful finds Mike - I love the wringer and the MK1 is just beautiful enough to make a washer-nut swoon! I'm hoping to see some more pics of them in action - and pics of the interiors would be fab too!
Congratulations on your finds - parking the car outside the garage is an appliance collector's destiny! Have fun with your windfall of new toys!
*****
Post# 16468-4/12/2002-20:00 ||| Jetcone (Boston.MA)
SUBJECT: WHO is Mortition???
MESSAGE: Anybody on the club with the "ebay" handle "
Before I blow you away on the vintage frigidaire parts??
Jetcone
*****
Post# 16469-4/12/2002-20:02 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: Another washer (Anglo Dutch Covention.......!!!)
MESSAGE: Get ready - we're coming!
*****
Post# 16470-4/12/2002-20:05 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: WHO is Mortition???
MESSAGE: Mortition has snatched a few of those Frigidaire parts auctions from other club members (rarcraft - Trainguy, myself and Peter too) maybe we should invite him/her into the fold!
*****
Post# 16471-4/12/2002-20:13 ||| Jetcone (Boston.MA)
SUBJECT: RE: Wheres Uni? (Uni)
MESSAGE: Arroohhh:
I believe Uni is off studying Vacuum Tube TV right now, like me off studying 3D photography.I know one of his hard drives also crashed this week so he may be doing computer repair. I'm sure he'll get your email at some point!
Jet
*****
Post# 16472-4/12/2002-20:14 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: Hi all,
Just been looking at the Maytag UK website, seems like they've got the details up for the new touchscreen Neptune at last. I was most surprised to see that the washer has a 2.75 kW heater, much more powerful than I first imagined. And, having its own heater, it comes under the EU energy labelling scheme, for which it gets a "B" for energy efficiency, "A" for wash performance and "B" for spin efficiency, which was quite a pleasant surprise.
Looks like Maytag are going to be kind to us after all when it comes to pricing. I've just seen it online at www.ogormans.co.uk for £1065, which is a steal, considering the old model often sold around the £1500 mark. They do a washer & dryer package now for less than that - yay!
Looks like the Bosch will have to go once I've moved!
LINK: http://www.maytag.co.uk
*****
Post# 16473-4/12/2002-20:14 ||| Jetcone (Boston.MA)
SUBJECT: RE: WHO is Mortition???
MESSAGE: Invite him in or clobber him! So everyone else has run into him too!
Thanks Greg
jon
*****
Post# 16474-4/12/2002-20:19 ||| Jetcone (Boston.MA)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Cool Link!)
MESSAGE: Kirk: Way cool link. Its nice to see Maytag is pushing out into the EU market. It will be interesting to see how they do agianst Miele!! Keep us yanks posted will ya???!!
Jon
*****
Post# 16475-4/12/2002-20:31 ||| Jetcone (Boston.MA)
SUBJECT: RE: Red Letter Day!!!!! (Hotpoint 9605!! YAY!)
MESSAGE: Mike that 9605 is a HOT machine!! I bet it DOES the laundry!
I had no idea England has seen FilterFlo up close and personal!!
Cool site!!
jet
*****
Post# 16476-4/12/2002-21:50 ||| peteski50 (New York)
SUBJECT: RE: Another video (Another video)
MESSAGE: Jason This is Great!
Peter
*****
Post# 16477-4/12/2002-22:26 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: Detergents (UK Style)
MESSAGE: There was a good reason for this thinking. Back when soaps were used, sudsing was a good indicator of washing ability. If the water was too hard, or there was too much dirt, the suds would diminish at the same time the cleaning ability would diminish. That's because the soap molecules themselves were responsible both for suds and suspending oils and dirt.
With modern detergents, however, the chemicals that provide the suds are not the only ones in the mix. There's also carbonates or phosphates to provide alkalinity, break the soil away from fabric, and keep it suspended. There are additional soil suspension agents (carboxymethylcellulose, which sodium carbonate needs), as well as other ingredients. In addition, the sudsing agents are not so sensitive to hard water minerals and dirt, and can provide suds in situations where a soap would be bound up. So, the suds level is no longer a reliable indicator of cleaning ability. Add to this that the surfactants can be modified to provide different levels of foaming, while still emulsyfying oils and greases, and the suds level is even less reliable.
Still, old habits die hard, even for modern homemakers who never used a soap based laundry product. It's what I suppose one might call a techno-cultural artifact.
*****
Post# 16478-4/12/2002-22:54 ||| appnut (Temple, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: Manly Picture of the Day (April 12, 2002)
MESSAGE: Yuppers, I'd take the washer & the delivery man (daddy) in a heartbeat!!!!!
*****
Post# 16479-4/12/2002-01:55 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Theremin Video?????? (thermin)
MESSAGE: Leon Theremin is the anglicized version, his real name was Lev Sergeivitch Termen, a bit of a mouthful for the average non-Russian speaking person though.
*****
Post# 16480-4/13/2002-02:08 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Theremin Video?????? (thermin)
MESSAGE: Oh, and to describe what a Theremin sounds like, it's very difficult, it used to provide the sound backdrop for a lot of old horror and sci fi movies, it's sound is an ethereal squeak/squawk.
Anyone with a better description, feel free to have a go.
*****
Post# 16481-4/13/2002-03:04 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Theremin Video?????? (thermin)
MESSAGE: That's a good basic description, Mr. Bubbles. The horror/sci fi analogy will make people think of the sound. I had the opportunity to see and hear one of these whilst in California in January. A friend plays and even gives concerts!
Go to the very bottom of the page of this link, and you'll see the instrument being played.
LINK: http://137.com/cleanup2/page3.html
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Post# 16482-4/13/2002-03:51 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: Red Letter Day!!!!!
MESSAGE: Mike, wonderful finds!! Your washdays must be happy days! Can you explain the controls on the MK1?
Louis
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Post# 16483-4/13/2002-03:54 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: Another washer (Anglo Dutch Covention.......!!!)
MESSAGE: Yes Mike, it has a stainless steel tub. A Hoover Rinspin would be great to combine it with. Actually I think this is the newest washer I have, I believe they still are in production. Velo makes twintubs too.
A European convention would be great!
Louis
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Post# 16484-4/13/2002-03:56 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: Another washer
MESSAGE: Hey Greg,
No, I haven't given up on the spare bedroom yet, I put this washer in a corner on the landing. It is very light and on casters so you can move it easily. This washer was probably made for people who had no room for a twintub or already had a separate spinner.
Louis
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Post# 16485-4/13/2002-04:11 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: Thanks for posting the link. The marks aren't bad, although most European washers on the continent have an "A" now for efficiency. I wonder if the Neptune will ever come to the European continent. The old one never made it.
Louis
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Post# 16486-4/13/2002-04:13 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Cool Link!)
MESSAGE: Jon, I don't think they won't compete that much with Miele, most European households don't have room for a Neptune washer and dryer. They are wider than the European appliances and then there are the controls on top of the machines. Besides that, not many people overhere have a hot water supply that fits the needs of a Neptune.
Louis
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Post# 16487-4/13/2002-05:02 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !! (celsius to farenheit)
MESSAGE: Kirk,
May I recommend an excellent piece of freeware, CDML advanced calculator, link below. It will do the conversions, in fact it will do all metirc to imperial conversions, though I think it uses US imperial not UK imperial, so watch the gallons, we have 4.5litres in a gallon, US has 3.8 litres in one of their gallons.
Farenheit is a wonderfully logical scale where water freezes 32F and boils 212F!!!!
Richtoo
LINK: http://www.cdml.com/products/personalcalc.asp
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Post# 16488-4/13/2002-10:06 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Theremin Video?????? (thermin)
MESSAGE: What a neat link! Thanks heaps Scott, there is so much interesting and enjoyable material on that site, that my natural curiosity compelled me to investigate further (of course). Truly enjoyable stuff, you've put a sparkle into an otherwise ordinary evening.
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Post# 16489-4/13/2002-12:32 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Theremin Video?????? (thermin)
MESSAGE: I'm glad you enjoyed it! It is a fun site, and was the first vacuum site I'd ever come across several years ago, which sparked my interest. The site belongs to the person playing the theremin, who is also a vacuum collector and whom I met for the first time on my trip this past winter.
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Post# 16490-4/13/2002-13:39 ||| tlee618 (Danville, Illinois)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (Thanks Greg)
MESSAGE: Thanks Greg, I followed your directions, joined the Twin Tub Enporium club and was able to see Mike's new pictures at last. Seemed like it took forever for Yahoo to send the code but it finally came. Mike you have really added to your collection. The machines look great!! Thanks for sharing with all of us. Terry
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Post# 16491-4/13/2002-18:07 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: Perhaps an "A" energy rating is something Maytag could work on for future versions of the Neptune. At the moment, though, I suppose it's not too bad a trade-off to make for that monster capacity. Hopefully Maytag will publish the actual consumption figures sometime, so we can work out the efficiency on a per-kilo basis and compare it to what else is on the market.
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Post# 16492-4/13/2002-18:12 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Cool Link!)
MESSAGE: I agree, it's aimed at a completely different sector of the market. The Neptune will most likely suit those with spacious laundry rooms, not those who need to situate their washer in the kitchen.
As for making it to the Continent, Louis makes a good point about European hot water systems. In the UK, we tend to have either large amounts of stored hot water, or powerful combi boilers which heat water on demand. Apparently, that's not always the case on the Continent, hence the popularity of cold-fill machines over there.
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Post# 16493-4/13/2002-18:13 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !! (celsius to farenheit)
MESSAGE: Cheers for the link, Rich. I'll bookmark that one so I can refer to it in the future :o)
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Post# 16494-4/13/2002-19:29 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: An "A" for wash performance? Very interesting. The Whirlpool web site claims that the Neptune 7500 gets somethink like a "D" or "E" for wash performance.
I wonder what the top temp of the Euro Neptune is. That heater, at 2.75 kW, is about 2.75 times more powerful than the US spec Neptune (1 kW).
I'll check out your link to see if they list the euro temp.
*****
Post# 16495-4/13/2002-19:34 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: Well, I just viewed the link... no temp info, but since the US Neptune 7500 has only 3 temp selections (cold, warm, hot), and the UK Neptune has 5 temp selections, I surmise that the two extra temps are higher temps, above the current hot high of 130F. Maybe 160F? Who knows?
Please get thee to a Neptune dealer right away and find out for us ;-)
*****
Post# 16496-4/13/2002-19:38 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Cool Link!)
MESSAGE: Well, while the Neptune won't fit under a counter (it comes with rear panel controls only), it is not as large a foot print as the HE3t/Duet. In fact, I think it has a slightly smaller foot print than the Electrolux/Frigidaire/Kenmore (Fluxmore) front loader sold in the US. About 1 inch less depth. So I can fit the Neptune in my laundry closet which is just off my kitchen (half in the kitchen), whereas the Fluxmore wouldn't fit.
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Post# 16497-4/13/2002-20:02 ||| washrfreak (Dallas)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: Yep, they list the MAH7500 as an "E" and the Frigidaire as "C" (and, of course, the Duet gets an "A"). On the Neptune they are using the Cotton Sturdy cycle - not sure if there is a stronger cycle that might compare better. On the Duet the use the Sanitary cycle, so it would be hotter water than the Neptune.
*****
Post# 16498-4/13/2002-20:03 ||| washrfreak (Dallas)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: Interesting - that might explain the "A".
*****
Post# 16499-4/13/2002-20:23 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Hi Kirk,
I now won't buy polycotton bed linen due to pilling; I bought the Next Denim cotton duvet cover and pillowcases, and bought Next's matching blue and grey polycoton pillowcases for the bottom pillows. Within 2 years the polycotton pillowcases had pilled so madly that I slung them and bought Egyption cotton to replace them. This set is only used every other week, so thatis very bad for wear, though the denim duvet cover and top pillowcases are just fine. I do find the denim too heavy and warm for comfort, but it looks great.
Actually, when I was shopping for replacement pillowcases, I called into the Dormer concession in a department store, on discovering that Dormer only did polycotton, I declined citing pilling and was grandly informed by the Mrs Slocumbesque saleslady that polycotton will only pill if one buys cheap foreign polycotton! She maybe right, years ago I had a Dormer set in polycotton that was fine for years.
My other bedding set is Egyptian cotton, and 2 years on is still like new. It does crease and I either live with that or have to iron it depending on time and mood, though I have tried old fashioned boil starch and ironing which makes it just wonderful. Its not too bad if I do the cool tumble to decrease, over clothes horse to dry and warm tumble to iron it routine, but is best starched and ironed.
Aside - Real starch, Boots, £1.45 for a large box, not animal tested, really quite easy to use. I tried it after our previous discussions of starching and love it.
Are the Jonelle shirts polycotton or real cotton? I shall look them out. I like JL, but have not bought clothes there, and I really love Waitrose (food shop of the John Lewis partnership for non UK folk), have shopped there for years, for me it beats all the other supermarkets hands down.
Richtoo
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Post# 16500-4/13/2002-20:30 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Kirk,
You are probably more trendy than I, but M&S knit polo shirts tumble just fine, I love their new Blue Harbour range and have bought loads of it. I have never had a problem with polo shirts from the Gap either. I don't usually tumble them as I am conscious of the power use of the dryer, but when I am short of time I tumble and have not had a problem.
Actually, I have a dryer tip that may interest some. I worry that high heat might ruin elastic, cause creases or shrinkage, but low takes forever. I set the dryer to high heat and select slightly damp. When the timer goes, I reset for low heat and fully dry. Bit of hassle, but works for me.
Richtoo
LINK: http://www.marksandspencer.co.uk
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Post# 16501-4/13/2002-22:53 ||| gizmo (Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Sudz `n` Soapcake (long / short strokes)
MESSAGE: Yes, of course.
I've got one, remember?
I was referring to a "conventional" style transmission. Is THAT possible?
I love those smiley faces, DADoES.
Chris.
*****
Post# 16502-4/13/2002-23:54 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: Well, they should probably be using the "stain remover" option as well. This adds additional time. I hope they were using the 34 minute wash cycle, and not the standard 16 minute one.
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Post# 16503-4/13/2002-23:55 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: Yes, especially considering that without phosphates or chlorine bleach, one generally needs very high heat to get things to A certain level of satisfaction.
*****
Post# 16504-4/14/2002-04:53 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: Sudsmaster,
Have you ever used SA8 Plus or Gelzyme? Using Gelzyme, as a pre-treatment on almost all extemely stubborn and well-set stains, I have no need for phosphates, chlorine or very high temperatures. Up to now I have always obtained perfect results with it. Once applied, I don't even need to wash the treated garment immediately. Letting the 'zyme dry into the fabric and leaving it in for as long as a week, doesn't effect its efficacy at all, nor does it damage or bleach the fabric. In fact, I haven't used phosphates in a decade and don't miss 'em. I use chlorine on my white cottons and linens, but only very occasionally - no more than half a dozen times a year. I also don't wash hotter than 140 degrees F. Usually, 86 to 104 suffices. Plus Gelzyme and SA8 plus are suitable for agitator and h-axis machines. A 6.5 lbs packet of SA8 powder lasts six months in my house with 5.5 people using my wonderful 13 lbs top load washer. It also only costs me AU$48 once every 6 months, do you obtain that kind of economy from top brand supermarket detergents?
I've never sold the stuff and am not plugging it, but in all the years I have used it, I've never obtained near satisfactory results from supermarket brands. With all the discussions concerning detergent effectiveness and quality I honestly find it amazing that Amway doesn't get a mention by anyone here. Is there some sort of stigma happening or am I missing something?
In regards to Amway's sales scheme, I have never been hassled by any sales people or pressured into hopping onto the Amway wagon. I have only ever bought the stuff and had it home delivered by really nice people, who used to only come by once every six months, when I asked them to.
I know that using a single speed agitator washer in conjunction with Amway products makes me more like one of your Republicans or ultra-far-right Moral Majority members, but I can't help that. So please don't pick on me any more and make sure you respond to my post, or I might have to sue you (man, you're lucky I don't live in your neighborhood, hahahaha!!!), okay?!
*****
Post# 16505-4/14/2002-05:16 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: I think it was a "D", but it could have been the old Neptune that got it. Unless there are more options on this specific Neptune I guess they will be using the same temperatures. Considered that the Neptune is much bigger than the European washers the heating element is still not very powerful.
Louis
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Post# 16506-4/14/2002-05:17 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: Sorry for posting too soon about the temperatures.
*****
Post# 16507-4/14/2002-05:24 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Cool Link!)
MESSAGE: Rich,
European appliances have standard sizes. Appliances are all made to the 85cm high, 60cm deep and 60cm wide standard. European builders use that standard for planning laundry corners. In my bathroom I can easily fit two European stacked sets, but it would be very hard to squeeze on Neptune set in. Although the width would be the problem in my situation I think in most cases the the depth would be the problem.
Louis
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Post# 16508-4/14/2002-08:12 ||| gizmo (Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (amway stuff)
MESSAGE: I have tried SA8+ some years ago and wasn't impressed. I had to use twice the recommended dose to get a good wash. I have no idea what washer I was using at the time, it was too long ago. Choice mag have never been impressed with it. Some years ago they did a "super dooper test" on washer detergents (much more in depth than the current tests) including testing out claims made on packaging and advertising, and looking at environmental effects. They were pretty up to date on the enviro stuff, including their assessment that in Aus at least phosphate detergents are unlikely to be a problem.
The Amway got a caning because they made claims about containing no phosphates when in fact the SA8+ was particularly high in phosphates. And the performance was nothing special, and the cost per wash was high. (but far from the dearest - the dearest was an "environmental" powder which was so poor that the clothes came out WORSE than those washed in plain water!!!.
Still if you like SA8+ then I'm not criticising you for using it..... each to their own.
I have been using Milton Infacare for some months now. It looks expensive too at AU$8 for 1kg, but I use a TINY amount and it cleans better than anything I have used before. A 1kg tub lasts me over 2 months, and I got the last two for AU$5 on special. But I an a bit of a tart when it comes to washing detergents, I have to keep checking out new stuff. I have a pack of Castle with Oxyfresh to try when the Milton is used up. I have opened the pack and sniffed, it is too highly perfumed for my liking so I think the Castle may be a one box wonder. We'll see how it works.
Actually one of my favourites is incredibly cheap. One box (4 cakes) of plain yellow laundry soap and two cakes of generic Stain Removing soap (like Sard Wonder Soap, but the unbranded one), grate them all into an icecream bucket, lasts over a month for less than $1.50 and works better than most brand name detergents. Needs a hottish-warm wash to work well. It oversudses a fraction in the FL for the first ten minutes of washing but the suds break down quickly and it rinses away better than synthetic detergents, and doesn't make me itchy.
Chris.
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Post# 16509-4/14/2002-08:17 ||| gizmo (Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia)
SUBJECT: Lux soap
MESSAGE: I recall recently there was some wailing and gnashing of teeth because Lux was disappearing from the shelves in UK and USA.
Lux flakes are still sold in Australia, the stuff is made in New Zealand. It has a website on the box for those of you suffering withdrawal symptoms, I think it was www.unilever.com.au but I haven't checked that out.
If anyone is desperate for some I could possibly send some. It is about AUS$5 a box, plus post.
Chris.
*****
Post# 16510-4/14/2002-08:24 ||| washrfreak (Dallas)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Duet Link)
MESSAGE: Here is the link to the duet. I don't know how to post a link directly to the ratings, so you'll have to click on the duet image, then comparisons, then cleaning.
LINK: http://duet.whirlpool.com/
*****
Post# 16511-4/14/2002-09:54 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (amway stuff)
MESSAGE: Hi Gizmo,
Years ago the original SA8plus used to contain phosphates and there was only one detergent, which came in the big 6 kilo pack. That was originally replaced by the phosphate free powdered enzyme super concentrate, which now comes in the 3 kilo pack. The phosphate containing regular concentrate is still available in the six kilo pack, for those who don't like enzyme only action. Now they also have the Gelzyme super concentrate liquid detergent (two thirds of a fluid ounce (approx. 20 ml) required for a full-size 14 lbs washer), that also doubles as a pre-treatment stain remover and you've already read what I think about it. Anyway, I always thought, that manufacturers have to state exactly what their products contain (at least nowadays), or else they get into trouble with Fair Trading and Dr Fels? No?
I believe that it takes people some getting used to washing with Amway, because there is no sudsing whatsoever and I think that not seeing suds, creates the perception that the detergent doesn't clean (in my interpretation as amateur psychologist). Although, when you put your hand into the water you definitely feel that it is very soapy. Amway is perfect as a soaking agent and always has been. I also like the rather subtle fragrance of the powder, which never clings to the clothes and all I smell when I hang them up to dry is 'clean.' Occasionally, with a regular hot wash I add trizyme enzyme booster and do a nice soak of an hour or two. I swear that my clothes smell like they've been through a boil wash, the smell is wonderful. The Gelzyme has a slightly stronger perfume to it, but nothing as strong as Fab, Cold Power, Radiant etc..
In terms of cost, even if I'd buy the no frills stuff or other generic brands like Big Kev's, I reckon that due to the quantities required the savings would be negligible. The same would apply if I'd be using Cold Power, Fab, Radiant, Hurricane or Omo, considering how much they are, I can't see any significant savings. Plus, they all use fillers that deposit around the outer drum and other parts of the wash tub and create an ugly white chalky film that gets worse over time.
Interestingly enough, I haven't seen Lux Flakes here at Castle Hill. Mind you, I've only looked at Bi-Low and Coles - want to get the last out of my shareholders card before it goes. Woolies is always a tad too expensive, since I don't get my 8% or 10% discount there. So you flake your Sards Wonder Soap? Now there is an interesting concept, what fabrics do you use it on, wool and silks?
BTW, how is your house coming along? You are in the middle of building aren't you?
*****
Post# 16512-4/14/2002-10:20 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: No, I've not used any Amway stuff, nor anything sold door-to-door. The STPP is quite inexepensive and works wonders when used to boost just about any laundry product.
*****
Post# 16513-4/14/2002-10:26 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap
MESSAGE: Thanks for the information - just to clarify though, Lux Flakes have been unavailable here in the USA for years and years. Recently though, a catalog called the Vermont Country Store began carrying Lux Flakes at $5.50 per box. I thought that was ridiculously expensive considering that they are only small boxes, but I guess that's how it is.............
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Post# 16514-4/14/2002-10:27 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (amway stuff)
MESSAGE: It may depend on your local governmental regulatiosn, but in the USA I believe that laundry detergent mfg's are allowed to hide their full ingredient list, for "proprietary" purposes. Naturally things that are injested, such as foods and drugs, are required to give full disclosure. But the full disclosure of detergent ingredients appears to be entirely voluntary. My suspicion is that laundry detergents are absurdly easy to manufacture from basic ingredients. The only tricky part might be the enzymes. But most of it is available from chemical warehouses for a relative song. The mark up on ingredients is probably at least several hundred percent. So I can see why a major brand would like to keep its formulation secret so that some other mfg cannot duplicate it and sell for less.
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Post# 16515-4/14/2002-10:29 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap
MESSAGE: I'll check in with my local Pacific Islander supermarket (!) and see if they can get the ANZ flavor of Lux flakes. They have other ANZ items (like truly vile fruitcakes) so I don't see why they couldn't stock the flakes.
*****
Post# 16516-4/14/2002-10:45 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Funny you shoud mention the Next denim bed linen, as I was looking at that in their catalogue recently, and was debating whether or not to buy it. Perhaps it might be OK for when it's really cold, but if it's too hot, it would drive me nuts. But you're right, it does look great - very "blokey" LOL.
The Dorma polycotton may be what's known as Percale. My mum works in a soft furnishings store, and she informs me that Percale has a higher thread count and a tighter weave, making it smoother and more robust. It's intended as a substitute for cotton, and she says it's actually quite good, considering how crappy regular polycotton bed linens are.
Egyptian cotton is a bugger for creasing - perhaps you could use this to justify to your other half that you Really Must Have a Miele rotary iron LOL. Having said that, I overlook the creasing, because it's so comfortable to sleep in. Bed linen is one of the few things I actually iron, and I keep meaning to try out that starch I bought a while ago.
I honestly can't remember if the JLP shirts are easy-care cotton or polycotton. I strongly suspect it's the former. Either way, they're really nice to wear, and if you wash and dry them right, the creases just drop out. The quality is very good, as most of their stuff tends to be.
Shopping at Waitrose? How posh! Unfortunately we don't have one nearby, I think the nearest is Peterborough. Being the lazy so-and-so I am, I order my groceries online from Tesco, and have them delivered :o)
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Post# 16517-4/14/2002-10:52 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Apparently, M&S' new clothing range is really quite good, and they're moving away from the fuddy-duddy image now. Perhaps I should check them out sometime, as the folks I work with all say the new gear is fantastic. Gap is nice too, but I'm too stingy to pay their prices, hence why I always shop at Next.
The two-stage drying you describe really works quite well. Good for getting the bulk of the drying done, and then finishing off gently. After all, clothes only tend to shrink in the dryer when they're overdried, so there shouldn't be a problem with tumbling still-wet clothes on high heat.
*****
Post# 16518-4/14/2002-11:37 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Victoria Wood)
MESSAGE: Kirk,
'fraid so, that was exactly what I meant. She had 2 sproglets, and mum reckoned they must have had readfull nappy rash.
I agree with your mum about the line of really white nappies looking good. By the way, are you a Victoria Wood fan? If so, you may remember the character Kitty, plyed by the redoubtable Patricia Routledge. Kitty informed us how she regularly travelled on her Cheadle saver and so saw a lot of life; thusly she came to her conclusion that what was wrong with modern societ could be attributed to the fact that people weren't pegging enough out.
Another VW funny, reading from the horoscope, 'today's a good day for buying a beige headscarf, but make sure it goes in the tumble dryer, you have been caught like that before'.
Richtoo
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Post# 16519-4/14/2002-11:45 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: Ed,
Take the train? In the UK? Are you completely mad? Our trains don't work worth $h!t, they are a national disgrace. Mind you driving, from Gatwick to Brum, M23, OK, M25 hell on earth, M40, OK, then you got to drive into Birmingham, not fun at the best of times, we drive like complete maniacs, forget Paris, Rome and London.
Seriously, you can hire autos here, and travelling conditions are dire, whether road or rail.
Good luck, have you been to Brum before? its my neck of the woods, till I manage to escape to somewhere civilised and nice.
Richtoo
*****
Post# 16520-4/14/2002-11:52 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (inside out and sun bleaching)
MESSAGE: Hi Mike,
'you`d get more agitation throwing them in a bath and treading water...LOL' Done that, works fine. My crappy creda that spent more time awaiting repais than it did working, as I hated to go to teh launderette, I used friends and rellies washers when visitng, otherwise I did laundry by hand - or sometimes by foot in the bath. I bet I wrung better than a 300rpm Indesit as well.
Not all twinnys had dreadful washers, the HP used the spiralator and was fantastic. Servis was pretty good, with a straight vane agitator. I only used the Hoover active water impeller style a couple of times so can't really judge that one.
Richtoo
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Post# 16521-4/14/2002-12:01 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: Kirk,
Much as I hate dishwashing, I hated launderettes even more, they are so depressing, thus I did laundry by hand too. As laundry is harder work, teh washer came first. The dryer followed, unheated North facing flat - clothes took a week to dry over the clotehs horse, no exageration. I got so fed up of lugging wet washing to the launderette to tumble, I had no car then either, so I got the dryer, one had to order and wait weeks in those days if buying a dryer in winter. DW followed a year or 2 later, though got one as soon as money allowed.
Actually, a couple of years ago, we moved out of our house to have builders in. We rented next door, and it only had space for washer or DW. It was suggested that I have teh washer, so I said it would be all paper plates and ready meals then! Ended up getting the DW in the rental, and using the washer and dryer in the middle of a building site. For a couple of weeks whilst new concrete floors dried out, I had to use the cleaners Neptune (real hardship eh?) at work and use the dryer outside on the yard.
I can testify that an AEG Lavamat 645 is exceptionally stable at 1200 spin when leaning at 20 degrees or so on a bare earth floor!!!!! Boy did I have kittens trying that one, but it was fine.
Richtoo
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Post# 16522-4/14/2002-15:17 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Victoria Wood)
MESSAGE: The funny thing is, I bet most people wouldn't believe you if you told them about the nappy-recycling. Sometimes the mind boggles at how far people will go to save a few minutes and a couple of pennies.
Must say I'm not familiar with those two Victoria Wood sketches you mention, although I do usually fire up the TV when she's on. One of her best comedies in recent years, IMHO, was Dinnerladies, and casting Julie Walters as her nutty mother was a stroke of genius.
*****
Post# 16523-4/14/2002-15:20 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: Ah, Birmingham... such lovely roads to travel on :o/ Getting to the NEC in order to go to the trade show last year made me glad I can't drive LOL.
As for the trains, I find it largely depends on the train company on question. GNER and WAGN, for example, are usually flawless in my experience. Central Trains, who operate in my neck of the woods, are just plain crummy.
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Post# 16524-4/14/2002-15:29 ||| washrfreak (Dallas)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Completely mad?)
MESSAGE: Completely mad? Nooooo... not completely.
Well, life is full of bad choices. A colleague of mine who happens to be going at the same time talked me into Gatwick by reminding me of my last experience in Chicago customs. I was escaping Brum after the 9/11 disaster. In those days following, you couldn't get near a plane without a body cavity search. Connecting flights were disconnected. Anyway, I ended up abandoning my bags in Chicago. In the best of days Chicago customs are a pain. Of course, on the other hand, is the customs office in BHX EVER open? And to seal the Gatwick option - I was able to wrangle my way into first class upgrades on that flight.
I've been to Birmingham a number of times - though I haven't been in about 6 months. I haven't noticed the trains being ALL that bad. When I'm there, I usually take the train to work (though that's not far) and it's much faster than driving.
M40? I had been assuming the M1 was a better option. My options at this point seem to be car, train, or driver.
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Post# 16525-4/14/2002-15:33 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: Not much has changed when it comes to buying a dryer in winter - manufacturers run out of stock pretty quickly, and then you can be waiting 2 or 3 weeks for the next batch to come off the production line. Hotpoint in particular always seem to have a shortage in summer, seeing as their dryers are the ones in most demand. There's often a shortage of fridge freezers in the summer, too.
Using a dryer in the yard reminds me of the slogan in the Bounce ads: "Like drying outside, inside"... only in reverse!
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Post# 16526-4/14/2002-18:16 ||| gadgetmad (Birmingham, AL)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (amway stuff)
MESSAGE: Ive always had good results with SA8, but think that there are powders just as good, but which cost less money.
Now Amway Dish Drops dishwashing liquid on the other hand - terrific stuff. When I was using it, I had to cut the prescribed amount down because it was that concentrated.
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Post# 16527-4/14/2002-18:35 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: Recently I noticed that Persil have changed their packaging, so I took a quick look at their website to see what's new. Can't say I'm enthralled by the new layout, but there is a new product which may be of interest to fellow members from the UK.
The newest product is Persil Aloe Vera, a non-bio formulation which also contains (drumroll...) aloe vera. It's claimed to make clothes feel softer against the skin, and is currently available in powder and tablet forms. Hopefully they'll add a liquid version in the future.
Sounds like quite a novel idea, so once I manage to find some in the shops, I'll give it a try and report back. And if anyone manages to find some before I do, please tell us what you think about it :o)
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Post# 16528-4/14/2002-18:37 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: Grrrrrrrrr! Forgot the link to go with that...
LINK: http://www.persil.com
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Post# 16529-4/14/2002-18:38 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !! (Modern detergents)
MESSAGE: Kirk,
I agree that we appear to have enourmous choice of detergent in the UK. However, nearly all detergents are made by 3 companies, P&G, Unilever and Albright and Wilson who make most/all of the supermarket own brand products. There are nor many detergents from smaller independant companies, I can only think of Acdo, Filetti, Ecover and Bio D. As soon as you decide that you want a product based on vegetable detergents, not petrochems, with no animal testing, optical brigheteners, bleach activator nor synthetic perfume, the choice drops right off, my fault for being so picky.
Richtoo
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Post# 16530-4/14/2002-18:43 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Red Letter Day!!!!!
MESSAGE: Hi Mike,
That Servis Mk111 is just like the one i used to use in teh early 80s. Methinks someone has removed the little white safety lid that should live under the brown spinner lid.
The Mk1 looks very much like my grandmother's servis TT, still in regular use. Hers is all cream and has a lift a swivel spout from the spinner for pumping suds back into the washer or rinse water into the sink, does this sound like the MK1?
Richtoo
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Post# 16531-4/14/2002-18:53 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: Hi Kirk
You are going to need a big kitchen in your new flat, dont forget the Hotpoint TL you want as well.
The Neptunes ratings are very good, I'm impressed, if only Maytag would add the boil wash. That price is good too, I could not find the neptune on ogormans, but will look out for it.
Richtoo
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Post# 16532-4/14/2002-19:02 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: I ordered a Bosh AXXIS+ !! (Modern detergents)
MESSAGE: Nothing wrong with being picky, that can be a good thing. You're sticking to your principles, and as a result take the time to find out what goes into a product, rather than just grabbing anything off the shelf. I can't see anything wrong with that, besides your choice being somewhat limited.
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Post# 16533-4/14/2002-19:38 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: If needs be, I'll have to go without a fridge... only kidding! Of course, I need to get the new job first, before worrying about a new flat. Guess it doesn't hurt to pre-plan these things, though :o)
A new Neptune would be VERY nice indeed, space allowing, so hopefully I'll be lucky enough to find somewhere with a decent sized laundry room. Pretty much anything should be bigger than my current LR; the washer and dryer will only fit in as a stack, and there isn't room to swing a hamster, let alone a cat! Serves its purpose, though, so I really shouldn't complain.
The Hotpoint TL will be a definite, enough space or not. If push comes to shove, I could make use of its casters, and wheel it into a cupboard or alcove between uses. Desperate measures for desperate folk, as the saying goes LOL.
About the temperatures on the UK Neptune, I believe it was Sudsy Rich who pointed out it has five temperature settings, as opposed to the three offered on the American version. Although I never have use for a boil wash, it would be nice if one of those extra settings was something of that nature, for those who do need it.
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Post# 16534-4/14/2002-00:55 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Hi Gadgetmad)
MESSAGE: Sorry about the other nite, I got booted off the net and had probs getting back on again.
Just out of curiosity, can you tell me what SA8 is worth in your part of the world? Is it that much more expensive there in comparison to upper range supermarket detergents? As I have mentioned, I don't spend any more on Amway than I would on supermarket products of similar quality.
Yeah, the Dish Drops are very concentrated and excellent, but, since I use a dishwasher, I tend to go with generic liquid dishwashing detergents, that are usually sold on special. I also use the cheapest available dishwasher powder from the supermarket. The dishes that I use are functional and haven't got painted patterns or gilded borders, nor do I use expensive lead crystal wine goblets and other such fancies on a regular basis, so my dishes get cleaned with regular high alkaline powder of the least expensive kind and it works to my satisfaction. On the other hand, fabric care is a little more complicated than dishwashing, that's why I am prepared to spend a little more on fabric detergent.
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Post# 16535-4/14/2002-01:11 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (amway stuff)
MESSAGE: Actually, you are right. Detergent manufacturers don't list every single ingredient that they put in their product here either, and very likely for the reason you stated. Although, I think that they are required to provide some information about contents, as all detergents have a list of some of the ingredients that they use. At least the ones they all have in common. Yet, if a manufacturer claims that their product is completely phosphate-free, when it isn't, is potentially misleading the consumer and would appear to be a different matter to non-disclosure (?).
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Post# 16536-4/14/2002-01:30 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap
MESSAGE: What?! You don't like our fruit-cakes?
Boy, I have yet to meet a yank that knocks back an Aussie fruit-cake or saussage roll. Usually they can't get enough, once they've had that first taste. Then one has to slap 'em around a bit to knock some sense back into them.
Don't know much about the Kiwi variety, but they are all nutters in gum boots over there anyway - so who'd want to bother with that?
Have you ever tried vegemite, spread all over your fancy and slowly licking it off? It's not only sexy and delicious, but very healthy. Dr Ruth actually recommends Vegemite over chocolate sauce and strawberry jam - take my word for it.
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Post# 16537-4/15/2002-08:50 ||| gizmo (Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (amway stuff)
MESSAGE: The SA8+ I used would probably have been the older one. Iy wasn't a lack of suds that I didn't like (I actually prefer suds-free) but it was the marks that didn't come out of my clothes. I get my clothes VERY dirty at times. I used to wash in lukewarm water back then, nowadays I use "hottish" warm water (about 35 - 40 degC) which helps.
The Lux flakes are at Bi-Lo and Safeway (the Victorian brand name for Woolworths) in Colac. I have a Coles discount card too, it is a crime the mess they have made of that scheme. The discount is 3.5% at Bi-Lo and 5% at Coles though there is no Coles near me. That discount card meant Coles group could kill off their discount opposition (Jewel and Franklins) because all us cheapskates that used to shop at J or F got some Coles shares to get the Shareholder discount card, so the supermarkets that specialized in the cheapskate market withered on the vine and died. I suppose that now they are gone Coles have no further need for the discount card so we lose out. The bean counters are quick to calculate how much that discount has cost the company, but they don't mention how much it has gained the company in sales stolen from their opposition.
The "sard" soap trick... I don't use Sard, I use a generic equivalent. In Bi-Lo it is just called Stain-Removing soap. I grate it using a hand grater and blend it with ordinary yellow laundry soap, also hand-grated. That's not generic detergent, it is yellow soap bars, grated. Like Velvet soap, which I think is called Sunlight up your way. Funny how state-specific brand names persist in these global economy days. I mix the two soaps together and use it as a washing powder, not for delicates (I don't own any delicates...) but just as a daily wash product. I haven't done it for a while, though. I have been happy buying the Milton. I am a shockingly unloyal shopper, I won't stick to a product no matter how much I like it, I always try new brands. But when I have a disappointing new product I tend to go back to the soap mix for a while.
I am as happy as Larry today as the building inspector just passed the frame inspection. Now I just have to start on the several tons of mud for the walls.....
Chris.
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Post# 16538-4/15/2002-08:57 ||| gizmo (Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap
MESSAGE: What brand are the truly vile fruitcakes?
After my stay in the USA (A long time ago and with one host family so I can't say it's a national characteristic) I joked to my parents the USA should call its cuisine "the Land of Canned". I don't think I saw a fresh vegetable except for corn for twelve months.
Chris.
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Post# 16539-4/15/2002-09:04 ||| gizmo (Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent) (M&S)
MESSAGE: Doesn't Gran (Edina Monsoon's mother) shop at M&S????
Are M&S really moving away from the fuddy-duddy image or....
I commented to the hubby that I had gone into Harris Scarfe recently and the clothes there looked less dowdy than previously. I said maybe they are chasing a younger market. He said, "no, dear, you are getting older."
( I have never seen or been to M&S, they don't exist here, I'm just being cheeky.)
Best Wishes,
Chris.
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Post# 16540-4/15/2002-11:17 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: The Neptune has 5 temperature options as it says in the text on the UK Maytag website. As the American model has 4 (including the warm-warm option), not 3, I guess an extra high temperature would be one of the possibility. Would that be a boil wash or just a higher temperature? I hope we soon hear something about this.
Louis
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Post# 16541-4/15/2002-11:20 ||| geoff (Connecticut)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (amway stuff)
MESSAGE: Here is where my expertise comes in. LOL. Any manufacturer producing a product designed for hair, skin, or ingestion is mandated by law to disclose the ingredient list. Anything from shampoo to food to skin cream. The problem with most products from companies is that they often come with highly inflated claims of efficacy and are surrounded by a whole lot of puffery! The only way a consumer can tell if a product is able to stand up to its claims, requires a consumer to be able to read and Understand an ingredient list. Alas, no detergent readily lists there ingredients so the consumer is rather in the dark about wether the product they bought can live up to its claims. We must test products by trial and error. Most detergents lists ingredients as " builders, non ionic and anionic surfactants" and so on. what most people dont realize is that there are only a handful of detergent agents, cleansing agents that clean the clothes or hair or what have you. Detergents are very simple concoction that RARELY differ between brands due to the relatively low number of available synthetic agents. You're right sudsmaster, they are absurdly easy and INEXPENSIVE to manufacture. Just to give you one example and then imm done cause this is going on forever LOL,
to make a standard product that contains your surfactants, foam builders, stabilizers, and so forth COSTS A PENNY AN OUNCE TO CREATE!!!! shampoos, skin cleansers and laundry detergent are alll relatively the same formula as long as the detergent doesnt contain bleach. They are all the same penny an ounce. Kind of grabs you right in the wallet doesnt it guys?????
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Post# 16542-4/15/2002-11:29 ||| gadgetmad (Birmingham, AL)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune ((the other day))
MESSAGE: Yep, got kicked myself and kept trying to get back on so you wouldnt think I was just being rude. Glad we both lost out...
Been years since I used Amway; my distributor disappeared. So, I dont remember what the price was. Consumers Union has always given Amway products low marks because they are so expensive when measured per use.
For my dishwasher, I always did well buying the cheapER powders, because Sunlight, here in USA, is cheaper than Cascade, but, in my never-to-be-humble opinion, does just as good a job. But, when I discovered Cascade Complete sold here, I use nothing else now, and dont mind paying the higher price because I HATE to do dishes, even prescrubbing.
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Post# 16543-4/15/2002-11:39 ||| geoff (Connecticut)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: And heres another one LOL, regarding aloe vera Persil. What most people dont know is that aloe vera is 99% water!!!! The other 1% is a mixture of amino acids that act as an anti in flamatory agent, which is why its sucha good idea to put aloe vera on a sunburn or other skin irritation. The idea that aloe vera would provide softer clothes or "less" irritation is valid if you think about but that would only hold true if the detergent wasnt washing any benefit the alow vera might have down the drain. The amount of aloe vera in a product is most likely at best, negligible. If it costs the same go for it, just dont expect any real difference, but if it costs more?? SAVE YOUR MONEY!!!!!!
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Post# 16544-4/15/2002-11:40 ||| gadgetmad (Birmingham, AL)
SUBJECT: LadyKen POD
MESSAGE: Anybody know who the model is in today's pict-of-the-day? Looks suspiciously like a famous actor, specifically Jane Wyatt, "Father Knows Best".
Celebrities had been used for years to hawk appliances (Ronnie Reagan for GE; Desi & Lucy Arnaz for Westinghouse), but not until the late 60s did any famous people sell for Sears, not a place you would expect to see celebs. There's a great ad in Better Homes and Gardens, September 1969, where Rosemary Clooney talks about her new Lady Kenmore washer and how, although she's a glamorous star, she isnt ashamed to admit she bought at Sears because she got the best for her money, or some such advertising jargon. Great ad that kicked off others from a famous novelist to Dave Brubeck. Dont know why the stigma - we all know the truth. Hell, about a week after he got the nod to take over the Tonight Show, Jay Leno was doing an interview that started just as he had got back from Sears with a new Kenmore dryer he was installing himself during the interview. Even the stars like to save money, I guess.
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Post# 16545-4/15/2002-11:57 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: Hi Louis,
The Neptune 2.75kW heater is near the limit for UK normal domestic sockets, which are rated at 13A, at the 230V we now supposedly get, this gives an upper limit of 2.99kWh. I don't know what Amp rating sockets run at on the continent, but I imagine it is similar to the UK 13A.
If Maytag used a more powerful heater, say 5 or 6kWh, to give hot washed with short times, the machine would no longer be plug and play, one would have to install new dedicated wiring to it, which would cause much loss of sales appeal.
Richtoo
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Post# 16546-4/15/2002-12:29 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Hi Kirk,
Yep, Next Denim for winter, good Egyptian cotton for summer would be the way to go. The Next Denim set really must be about the butchest bedding around!
Your right, the Dorma polycotton is a percale. I think that percale describes the weave rather than the fibre, as I am fairly sure that one can buy pure cotton percale.
I don; tthin thet 'He who must' would ever wash the idea of a Miele rotart iron, he considered me to be quite mad buying a £100 pressurised steam generator iron. He also considers me to completely mad if I iron anything other than trousers, we send shirts out for ironing, at 60p each they can have them, trousers at 2 quid, I will do. I think he approves of me ironing table napkins, but makes sarcy comments when I iron tea towels or bedding. Actually, I only ever rarely ironed bedding, but these last few weeks, since discovering real starch I have ironed and starched the bedding, tea towels, napkins, aprons, even the tea cosy - yes I like the full pot and cosy tea ceremony, my mother bought me up to consider a bag in a mug to be a little common.
Actually the real starch is easy. Cup of cold water in a jug, add 3 tablesppons starch and mix till lump free, easier than I expected. Add kettle full of boiling water, mixing well, I use a balloon whisk, add cold water to cool it a bit and chuck in the machine with the damp washing, either chuch in through the door or soap dispenser. Select the starch cycle or conditioner rinse, spin. Dry til damp, dryer is fine and iron til dry. If short of time to iron immediately, dry fully and steam iron or spray with water to refresh it. Best results come from ironing from damp til dry, but eitehr way works OK.
Shopping at Waitrose posh!, Well I suppose it isn't Kwik Save or Aldi, but it really isn't expensive. Safeway, almost next door but I hardly ever go there, is way more expensive. Actually, I am off to Sainsbury's now for some top up shopping. I have not tried the online supermarket shopping yet, I really must. I have veg, eggs, soap, shampoo etc delivered by the local organic cardboard and sandles workers cooperative, so I guess it is the next step.
Richtoo
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Post# 16547-4/15/2002-13:13 ||| PeterH770 (Atlanta, GA)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent) (starch and fine rinse)
MESSAGE: What are the cycle sequences of the "starch" and the "fine rinse" settings on a Miele washer?
Talking with Faultless reps at the last Clean show, they said that clothes must tumble in a starch solution for 7-10 minutes for the starch to "take" properly.
-ph
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Post# 16548-4/15/2002-14:44 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: LadyKen POD
MESSAGE: It is Jane Wyatt!
"Although she could afford to buy any washer and dryer..." This was a great campaign for everything from refrigerators of famous chefs to sewing machines for clothing designers.
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Post# 16549-4/15/2002-14:52 ||| keymatic (Surrey.U.K)
SUBJECT: RE: Red Letter Day!!!!!
MESSAGE: Hi Rich
The Servis 111 that Mike has just got did'nt have the inner lid, this was only introduced on the Mk 70 & 80 & 108 as a safety measure..
The Twin tub that your Grandmother is using either sounds like a Hotpoint or another machine, Servis never had an arm set-up, sounds quite interesting though to find out. If it is a model 1400 Hotpoint supermatic, it would be great if she still had the instructions as I have never seen these!!
Cheers
Keith
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Post# 16550-4/15/2002-15:44 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent) (M&S)
MESSAGE: Yep, M&S was always considered to be a shop for the "mature" person. June Whitfield's character in Absolutely Fabulous is the stereotypical M&S shopper, all cardigans and polyester slacks. But since profits began to dive, they've had to start appealing to a wider audience in order to attract more shoppers, hence the changes. I haven't been in one of their stores for years, but have been reliably informed that the "old" image is starting to become a thing of the past.
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Post# 16551-4/15/2002-15:45 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (amway stuff)
MESSAGE: Yes, of course, claiming something when the truth is otherwise is not good, and should be stopped. But that's different from an incomplete ingredient listing. I've noticed that the top brand name US detergents tend to be rather terse about what they contain. They might say something like "surfactants, water softening agents, enzymes, optical birghteners, fragrance." They list the enzymes, dyes and fragrance because these items give some people allergic problems. But they don't say what kind of water softener, surfactant, etc. I've noticed that less expensive brands are often more complete in their ingredient listing, actually stating, for example, that it's sodium carbonate. But none of them seem too interested in listing the actual name of the surfactant compound used. I suppose most consumers aren't interested either, but I'd sure like to know.
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Post# 16552-4/15/2002-15:48 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: A higher temperature sounds like a strong possibility, considering the Euro export model has a 2.75 kW heater, versus 1 kW on the American version. As soon as the new brochure comes out, I'll order one and see if it reveals any further info.
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Post# 16553-4/15/2002-15:58 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: Of course, one has to weigh up the cost versus the benefits. If it costs a fair bit extra, I might think twice about even trying it. Likewise, if I can't tell any difference in the finished result, it will be a one-off purchase.
I wonder if it would have been a better idea for them to put the aloe vera into a fabric softener? That way it wouldn't be rinsed out after the wash.
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Post# 16554-4/15/2002-15:59 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap
MESSAGE: I took a taste of Vegemite back in the mid-80's when that Men At Work song made it all the rage. We had a kiwi co-worker who brought some in. I actually liked it, but then I also went through a period when I used to add brewer's yeast to my eggs before scrambling them. Well, maybe like is too strong a word. I wasn't revolted by it, which most people here seem to be. I can't quite see it being pleasing with chocolate or strawberry, but maybe it's an aquired taste. I'll have you know that as a sailing initiation ritual, I once managed to consume and keep down an oreo that had been taken apart, had sardines inserted in the middle and reassembled. This is best done on a downwind leg.
I still have that Aussie fruitcake in the fridge. It's just too dry and tasteless for my liking. I had more in mind the delicious moist fruitcake I used to get in Harry and David packages from Oregon. Now that's good stuff.
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Post# 16555-4/15/2002-16:01 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap
MESSAGE: Oh my. Your visit to the USA must not have been to Northern California. Up here the canned vegetables are reserved for air-raid shelters or French people (who, I'm told, have a secret craving for canned peas). We are very proud of our produce and enjoy it prepared al dente.
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Post# 16556-4/15/2002-16:06 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: That's the same reason folks who buy an American washer over here usually don't bother getting the dryer to match it. The washers plug into a 13A socket, so they're not a problem. The dryers, however, need a 30A connection, which puts most people off. Unless they're refitting their kitchen or laundry room, they're not interested in all the extra hassle the installation would create.
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Post# 16557-4/15/2002-16:09 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Detergent labeling)
MESSAGE: LOL, yes. And I can go into my local feed store and buy a gallon of pure sodium lauryl sulfate, the major ingredient in most shampoos and hand dishwashing liquids. The cost is about $8. This is a very thick liquid and it is no doubt diluted with water to make most products. Anyway, I've heard it makes a passable shampoo, provided one follows it with a vinegar rinse or a conditioner. I imagine it's also used to wash horses and other livestock. A while ago, Consumer Reports did testing of shampoos. They found that the cheapest hand dishwashing liquid (such as "Crystal White") did as good or better job of washing hair as the more expensive brand names.
When I was researching STPP etc, my local chemical warehouse man gave me his recipe for laundry detergent. The actual amount of surfactant to be added was very small - maybe 1-2%. If detergent manufacturers had to list their ingredients in the actual order of proportion, as food products must be listed, the surfactants would be near the end of the list, instead of first on the list with so many laundry products today.
OK, you may have had enough, but I'm sure others have not.
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Post# 16558-4/15/2002-16:10 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: And, aloe vera is very easy to grow in a pot indoors.
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Post# 16559-4/15/2002-16:12 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: LadyKen POD
MESSAGE: Leno is a gear head, who collects cars and motorcycles. I doubt that Johnny Carson even knew how to do a load of laundry.
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Post# 16560-4/15/2002-16:14 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: Consumer Reports also did a comparison of hand/bath bar soaps. They also said that those which claimed to have "Aloe Vera" in them had so little as to be of negligible benefit. Similarly for those that claimed to contain vitamin E.
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Post# 16561-4/15/2002-16:47 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: How about the bed linen set I bought my brother in readiness for him moving into student accommodation - camouflage pattern! He was a typical student, bit of a filthy pig if I'm honest, so I figured it would help hide the stains between the yearly trips to the launderette. But it scores 10/10 for butchness, it must be said. He still has it, and even his girlfriend thinks it's great.
Those steam generator irons are great - I have the Polti Vaporella, and it makes the little ironing I do much easier. Plus it's a brilliant steamer for de-wrinkling things on a hanger. Expensive, but worth the extra in my opinion. There's no way I could go back to a regular iron now, that's for sure.
You've probably guessed by now that I'm not the teapot type, much preferring to throw a teabag into a mug... oh dear! No ceremony here, in fact guests get told to make their own tea; they know where the kettle is LOL.
As for starch, I will give the Dylon liquid a go, seeing as I already have a bottle stashed in my utility room. Once that's gone, I'll try some real powdered starch and compare. There's nothing quite like that fancy-hotel feel of starched sheets, so I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out.
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Post# 16562-4/15/2002-16:54 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: My aunt grows aloe in her conservatory - it somewhat resembles a cactus, in that it has thick, fleshy leaves. If she burns herself while cooking (which is quite often, as she's rather cack-handed), she snips the tip off one of the leaves, and rubs it on the burn to stop it swelling into a big welt.
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Post# 16563-4/15/2002-17:00 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: Hmmm... I'm not expecting great things now, after reading the posts here. If it's priced similar to regular Persil, I'll get a small carton just to see if I can tell any difference. With all the recent detergent discussions here, I've started to deviate from my strict Ariel-only regime, and have enjoyed the change that comes from trying out new detergents.
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Post# 16564-4/15/2002-17:10 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: Ah, that reminds me; I picked up a bottle of Persil Black Velvet today, and have already done a couple of washes with it. First thing I noticed is that it has a very strong scent, which rather took me by surprise. Second, it's somewhat sudsier than the other Persil liquids, yet rinses very easily.
From what I've seen so far, it cleans very well. Time will tell if it works better than an ordinary colour-care detergent at preventing fading.
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Post# 16565-4/15/2002-17:28 ||| geoff (Connecticut)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Detergent labeling)
MESSAGE: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is a rather caustic cleansing agent. It can very easily dry out the hair or skin and strip hair color, even your OWN natural color. Alas it isnt used very often anymore in shampoos etc. It is however used in toothpaste almost indeffinitely because of its strong cleansing nature. It is ALSO used frequently in Laundry Detergent. Thats why i say, they are all relatively similar in composition. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate and so on. All the same thing!!!! A pisser isnt it?? LOL
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Post# 16566-4/15/2002-17:30 ||| geoff (Connecticut)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Detergent labeling)
MESSAGE: I meant i was done typing cause my paragraph was going on forever, LOL not the thread, sorry sudsmaster!!
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Post# 16567-4/15/2002-19:22 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Hi Kirk,
I know what you mean about prices in the Gap, but check out their sale rails, some bargains are to be had. I think M&S Blue Harbour range is very stylish, some of it is a a bit dearer than their old stuff, but still very good value, plain polo shirts £12, stripy ones £15, plain Ts £8, stripy Ts £12 or thereabouts if I remember.
The 2 stage drying is one of the reasons I would like a Miele dryer which automates this by gradually reducing the temp as clothes get dryer, though with a button to keep heat on full for when one is short of time, pretty neat. It saves energy as well as protecting the clothes, I mean both the Miele system and doing it manually.
Richtoo
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Post# 16568-4/15/2002-19:35 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Victoria Wood)
MESSAGE: Kirk,
I don't think tha nappy recycling was to save money, I think she genuinely did not consider a wet nappy to be *dirty*, just to need drying. I guess we all have blind spots in our standards.
I agree, Dinnerladies was fab. I watched the first one and wasn't sure, but it turned out just fab, agree about Julie Walters, also loved Thelma Barlow in it.
The Kitty scetches may have been before you would be old enough to watch. Just checking IMDB, OMG!!! it was 1985, I don't believe it. Kitty introduced herself with the immortal line; 'Hello, my name's Kitty. I've had a boob off and I can't stomach whelks, so that's me for you'. I just VWs observation of the mundane and the minutae (sp), it really is so accutrate. This group would give her a feast of potential material, I just dread to think.
Richtoo
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Post# 16569-4/15/2002-19:41 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: Kirk,
But all the trains travel on the same crappy rails, use the same crumby stations and are beholden to whatever it is now that it isn't railtrack, or is it still railtrack, who knows.
Driving to the NEC, that is brave. I drive in Brum city centre rush hour every day, and I would not drive to the NEC. Even I prefer to get the train and walk the 5 miles through that complex, up escalator, down escalator, along travalators 2 and miles of walking. That place is something else.
How was the trade show, any really exciting new appliances yet to be released?
Richtoo
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Post# 16570-4/15/2002-19:41 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer
MESSAGE: 50 years and hours of restoration work later, the 1952 Frigidaire Filtra-Matic is once again in use for drying clothes!
I posted some pictures of her all completed and installed, along with some of the WO-65 Washer in his new home too. I was asked to post pictures of the controls for the washer and dryer and those are here as well.
Classic Appliance nuts enjoy!!
LINK: http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/gansky1/vwp?.dir=/Frigidaire+1950+WO65+%26+TR60+Filtrator&.dnm=WO65+In+his+new+home.jpg&.src=ph&.view=t&.hires=t
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Post# 16571-4/15/2002-19:52 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: LadyKen POD
MESSAGE: I believe that was Jane Wyatt from "F.K.B." Certainly a long way from the Duomatic she used in F.K.B.............
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Post# 16572-4/15/2002-19:53 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Completely mad?)
MESSAGE: Hi Ed,
I realised after that you were travelling on a Sunday. Seriously, Sunday motorway driving is fine, M25 should be OK. I would always recommend M40 rather than M1, it is much quieter. The drawback is whereas the M1 then M6 will bring you right into the city centre, the M40 deposits you on the M42 about 12 miles out. You can take any of the main roads of the M40, A435, A34, A38 etc and tehse will bring you to teh city centre, but can be awkward if you are not familiar with them. The alternative is to take M40, M42 North to the M6, get on M6 North and come into Brum just the same way as if you had used M1/M6.
Trains tend to be spectacularly bad on a Sunday due to engineeering works, also you would have to cross London from Victoria to Euston. The Tube is just awfull, terifies me, and taxis, well take out a mortgage.
Those first class upgrades sure sound appealing, will make the hassle of Gatwick quite worth it. As to Brum International customs being open, in my very limited experience never. Well the Government does have to save money somewhere you know. The roads, rail, schools and hospitals can't make all the savings.
Looking at your options, you say driver, do you mean handsome chauffer in uniform? Is there really a decision to be made here.
Good luck with your travel, welcome again to Brum.
Richtoo
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Post# 16573-4/15/2002-19:58 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: Hi Kirk,
I had noticed the new website, sorry I should have posted it here. The new website seems to have less info than the old one, I couldn't find the Persil history section that was interesting.
I know, Persil Aloe Vera, just too butch isn't it. Whatever next. Actually despite my reservations about mainstream detergents, I may give it a try just to see, I think I convinced myslef with the 'butch' comment.
Richtoo
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Post# 16574-4/15/2002-20:03 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Well, I'm in Cambridge this coming weekend, and there's a Gap store there, so I might take a look - think I deserve to spoil myself a bit!
Have you heard about the Energy Save option on Miele's vented dryers? It dries the load using room temperature air to save energy during the summer months, and automatically switches the heater back on if the air is too cool. That's a really neat idea for folks who use a dryer heavily, although I wonder how long it takes.
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Post# 16575-4/15/2002-20:04 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: This Is How We Wash Our Clothes Part 1
MESSAGE: For a while now, I have been thinking about doing a photo chronicle of some of the appliances I see in homes every day. I started with two houses and will add more as time permits. For all of the discussions we have about appliances, new and old, detergents and additives and methods of clothing care, I think it's interesting to see a sample of how others who, as you will see, are not as fussy about laundry and appliances as we are.
This is how "they" wash their clothes!
LINK: http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/gansky1/vwp?.dir=/This+is+how+we+wash+our+clothes....&.src=ph&.dnm=House+1.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/gansky1/lst%3f%26.dir=/This%2bis%2bhow%2bwe%2bwash%2bour%2bclothes....%26.src=ph%26.view=t
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Post# 16576-4/15/2002-20:06 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Victoria Wood)
MESSAGE: Now we know why disposable nappies were invented, although it wouldn't surprise me if someone, somwhere, has worked out a way to re-use them. Yuk!
I think you're right, we'd be fair game for a VW sketch. Could you imagine it?!
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Post# 16577-4/15/2002-20:09 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: Kirk,
Thinking about this, if you buy a flat rather than house, these rarely/never have laundry rooms. Usually kitchens are fairly small too. I figure that means the answer to your prayers might be a 2 bed flat with 2nd bed as laundry, would probably about hold a Neptune washer and dryer + Hotpoint TL.
Of course, if you do away with the fridge, you probably wont cook, so oven and hob can go, likewise a full DW, would only need a small countertop DW for glases and cups. That would be 3 of the average 4 fullsize appliance spots vacated and teh 4th is the washer spot anyway. Figuring the Neptune washer and dryer to need 3 euro size gaps, teh TL would fit in the washer gap, and Bob is father's brother - sorted!
The UK Neptune - I guess electronic controls make it easier for the manufacturer to reprogramme the cycle selections for different markets, the boil wash would allow it to compete head on with Euro washers. DO you think euro manufacturers will keep the boil cycle much longer - I know I am addicted to teh boil wash, but so few people use it these days, I wonder if Euro regs will force its demise?
Richtoo
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Post# 16578-4/15/2002-20:15 ||| kennywhy (Detroit, Michigan)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer (pulsating congratulations)
MESSAGE: Greg,
Great job. Your basement collection look so good. You must be proud of your work!
I'm envious, as I'm still hoping to hear from Mr. L. regarding the repair and Ohio deliverance of my long dreamed of WO65. One day soon I hope.
Just one suggestion about your '52 Frigidaire washer and dryer dials; if the white surface of the dial is not otherwise very scratched, carefully rub a small amount of flat black latex paint with your fingertip onto the cycle/time increment wording on the dial. Wipe off the excess, and they'll look like new.
Best wishes (and "Hi" to everyone else),
Ken
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Post# 16579-4/15/2002-20:20 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (My 2 cents worth....hope it doesn't end up in the pump)
MESSAGE: For all the bad things we hear about the railways, I've never had a problem with them. Some stations are actually quite nice (for example, Newark North Gate and Cambridge), and I can't remember the last time I was delayed or had a train cancelled on me. Perhaps I'm just lucky, as other folks I know have shared some real horror stories with me in the past.
Driving through Brum was rather, um... eventful. We got lost several times, ended up in some pretty severe traffic jams, and lost our exhaust in the middle of a busy road. Needless to say, I just slunk down in my seat to avoid the stares from passers-by as we drove to the NEC, rasping loudly all the way. Such fun.
The trade show I went to was last year's. Not sure if I'm going this year, as I may be on holiday. There's usually quite a bit to see there, but it's mainly geared towards buyers rather than salespeople. Some years, the turnout can be pretty bad, with some big names choosing not to exhibit. Even Bosch, Hotpoint and Dyson have declined this time round, which is a shame, as their stands are usually the biggest and best.
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Post# 16580-4/15/2002-20:29 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Completely mad?)
MESSAGE: I'm with Rich on this one, DO NOT attempt to use the trains on a Sunday. You can easily spend two or three hours waiting for connections at each station, and even then it might not actually turn up. Monday to Saturday is fine, but don't even consider it on a Sunday.
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Post# 16581-4/15/2002-20:35 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: The new website is a pain to navigate, but the History section is still there... somewhere. They seem to have lumped separate sections of info together, making it harder to find what you're looking for.
Whatever next? Most likely something like Persil with Alpha-Hydroxy Ceramides, or whatever it is they chunter on about in those annoying moisturiser ads. Because you're worth it, and all that nonsense LOL.
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Post# 16582-4/15/2002-20:36 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Victoria Wood)
MESSAGE: Well I don't know about in UK or other countries, but here in America we have services to which you can send your soiled "nappies" to be washed, sanitized and returned, much like you send shirts to a laundry. What really gets my gourd on a related note to this is these modern women that come into the store and carry on about our plastic bags and how bad they are for the environment, and then are hauling disposable diapers out of there by the gross. What's up with that?
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Post# 16583-4/15/2002-21:13 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: The flat where I live at the moment is quite old, and fairly big compared to some. Apparently, my laundry room came into existence when the house was converted into flats years ago (it was originally a large walk-in cupboard). Although small for a LR, it's nice having it separate from the kitchen.
A 2-bed flat is a definite, as I intend to stay put for a long time next time I move. The idea of the bedroom-to-laundry conversion is a nice one, and something I may consider if kitchen space dictates.
Not sure about the suggestion to ditch the oven and hob, though! As much as I like to eat out, there's no way I could do it every night, especially since I love to cook from scratch. And, of course, the dishwasher stays no matter what. Even if I hit rock bottom and ended up living in a cardboard box, it would still have a dishwasher LOL.
Good question about the boil wash. Although few people use it these days, I think manufacturers will still keep it for the benefit of those who do need it. If a company was to delete it from their products, they'd only succeed in pushing potential buyers over to another brand. After all, would you buy a washer without a boil programme? Thought not. You'd choose the competitor's machine instead.
I sincerely hope EU regulations don't escalate to the point where boil washes are dropped because of the energy use, as the next step on from that would be electricity rationing - scary. My opinion is, you should be able to use the power supplied to your home in the way you see fit. You're the one paying for it, after all.
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Post# 16584-4/15/2002-21:35 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Victoria Wood)
MESSAGE: Hiya Scott,
We have nappy services in the UK as well, although there isn't exactly an abundance of them. For the most part, I think people either wash nappies at home, or go entirely the opposite way and just buy disposables.
My mother recently said that she would still use cloth nappies if she were to have another ankle-biter today. I told her she had better not, as I'd die of embarassment LOL. But disposables never appealed to her, as it was quite literally money in the bin as far as she was concerned. Plus she liked the feeling of "doing things properly" that came from using cloth, and all the work that came with it.
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Post# 16585-4/15/2002-21:43 ||| tlee618 (Danville, Illinois)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer (I Did)
MESSAGE: Hi Greg, I sure did, enjoy the pictures that is. Both of your links were great. My that filtrator sure polished up nice. It looks like new. You did a fantastic job. I can still remember the wonderful smell in Robert's basement when we were drying a load in one. The WO 65 is a beauty as well. What caused the suds during the fill? Isn't it a wonder how others do laundry. Neat pictures hope you will post more. Take care. Terry
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Post# 16586-4/15/2002-22:01 ||| Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer
MESSAGE: Congratulations Greg on getting the pair up and running! The filtrator makes some wonderful perfume scent when its running!
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Post# 16587-4/15/2002-22:32 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (SLS)
MESSAGE: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate are similar compounds, but not the same thing.
Sodium dodecyl sulfate, Dodecyl sodium sulfate, SLS, Lauryl Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Laurylsulfate, Sulfuric acid monododecyl ester sodium salt are all C12H25NaO4S, and are all the same thing.
SLS can be an irritant, but with most things that depends on concentration. It's not advised for internal consumption because it can cause diarreha. And it can sting the eyes and mucous membranes. Guess what? So can Ivory soap.
There was a myth, that is still going on, that SLS is carcinogenic. This is simply not true.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is the ethoxylated version of SLS, is gentler on the skin, and more expensive to produce than SLS.
LINK: http://web.mit.edu/medical/hm71/hm71lucy.htm
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Post# 16588-4/15/2002-22:32 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer (pulsating congratulations)
MESSAGE: Thanks Ken - I intended to repaint the dials as well, but when I looked for black paint I was sure I had, I found none in the house or garage. Next trip to the hardware store!
Good to hear from you again - hope all is well!
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Post# 16589-4/15/2002-22:40 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer (I Did)
MESSAGE: Glad you enjoyed the pics Terry, it's so fun to be able to use them once they are done. I love the smell of the clothes in the Filtrator too!
The Wacky Wonder laundry ball cracks me up every time I see it - I can only imagine what the outer tub of that WP washer must look like, all the dirt and body oils congealing on it's surfaces - yuck! I have one of those laundry balls somewhere, I think it's in Skyler's playroom - nowhere near a washer!
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Post# 16590-4/15/2002-01:04 ||| washrfreak (Dallas)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Completely mad?)
MESSAGE: Thanks for the info - didn't think about trains on a Sunday. As for the driver - like so many things, fantasies are often better than reality. Knowing my luck, I'd end up driving while my colleague lives out HER fantasy with the driver in the back seat.
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Post# 16591-4/15/2002-01:35 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (Big Sister)
MESSAGE: Well, I found the leftovers in the fridge. The nice thing about it is that it tastes exactly the same as it did six months ago!
It's a "Big Sister" "Golden Fruitcake", from Simplot Australia PTY Limited, Melbourne. It's not as bad as I first imagined. I could eat some on a deserted island.
Still, it's good for only a few bites. After that, it's a bit much.
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Post# 16592-4/15/2002-01:42 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Completely mad?)
MESSAGE: Around here, the trains fun like British trains on Sunday, but on Monday-Friday.
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Post# 16593-4/16/2002-02:52 ||| FilterFlo (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer (I Did)
MESSAGE: Hey Greg!
Your machines look wonderful!! Delighted that you got them both up and running. You will certainly have the cleanest wash in town. AND the dryest and fluffiest!! A toast to your new pair! Jimmy, (FilterFlo)
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Post# 16594-4/16/2002-04:08 ||| gadgetmad (Birmingham, AL)
SUBJECT: GE POD (unbalance control???)
MESSAGE: I had to smile when I saw that. GEs were never the best at handling unbalanced loads, and Ive seen more than a few bang loudly and "walk" across the floor when things got rough
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Post# 16595-4/16/2002-04:24 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent) (M&S)
MESSAGE: Hi Chris,
I guess that Gran would embody the M&S stereotype, middle market, middle age & middle class.
I think M&S is definitley trying to move away from its fuddy-duddy image, I love their new Blue Harbour mens range, take a peek. It was always OK for basics, underwear, T shirts, work clothes, pull-overs, chinos, jeans etc, which pretty much covers all my needs, but the stuff is definitely more stylish now, at least to my ageing eyes!!!
M&S food is prety good too, though very pricey.
Love your Hubby's comment, sounds like something my own beloved might come out with, though in our case he was the M&S devotee and introduced me to it, being completely impoverished at the time, I was schlepping markets and charity shops.
Richtoo
LINK: http://www.marksandspencer.co.uk
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Post# 16596-4/16/2002-04:28 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Warm rinse- why?)
MESSAGE: The warm rinse option is something I have wondered about before, and meant to ask. What is the purpose of a warm rinse? It must use a lot more energy, so there must be some advantage.
I have only ever used cold rinses, except when handwashing wool when I use warm. Every euro machine I have ever used or seen only has cold rinses on all cycles. In the twin tub days, I only ever knew people to use cold rinses.
Richtoo
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Post# 16597-4/16/2002-04:55 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: Hi Geoff,
I agree, adding aloe vera to a laundry product is in all probability just marketing puff. But the idea is just too camp to ignore. I will probably try it and report back.
Actually, I really like the aloe vera plant with its pointy spiky leaves, I have 3 in a row on a window sill.
Richtoo
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Post# 16598-4/16/2002-06:39 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent) (starch and fine rinse)
MESSAGE: Peter,
I am running a starch cycle as I type, so timing is perfect. I had run out of starch so had saved teh items neding it and have just bought more this morning.
The washer cold fills to low level, which I have previously measured to be about 6 litres of free water. It tumbles for 11 mins and then goes into the fast spin, unless you select a slower or no spin option. The entire cycle takes about 18 mins. It does not heat in the starch cycle. It seems Miele agres with the Faultless reps. I find 3 heaped tablespoons of starch with a mid sized load has teh starch take very well.
Your question about 'fine rinse', my W829 does not have a cycle with this name, the closest is 'separate rinses' - fills cold to high level, starts gentle tumbling whilst filling, tumbles for 4 minutes, drains whilst tumbling, refills to high level with no intermediate spin, tumbles 4 mins and then into whatever spin option is selected including the fast spin. Cycle takes about 15 mins.
I think that the separate rinse option is designed for hand wash clothes, due to the intermediate spin, though the Miele does not do an intermediate spin on delicates anyway. The presence of the cycle is probably marketing, people expect to see it. Any of the wash cycles can be made to advance to rinses or spin, so that one could get separate rinses for cotton, min iron, delicate or handwash anyway. I must scan the manual sometime.
Richtoo
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Post# 16599-4/16/2002-06:56 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Red Letter Day!!!!!
MESSAGE: Hi Keith,
Thanks for the info on the Servis, that safety lid was such a pain.
I must admit, I had assumed my Grandmother's TT was Servis, as she has said that she thought Servis machines to be the best built and heaviest, based on her sales experience in the 50s. I will have to look more closely.
Richtoo
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Post# 16600-4/16/2002-07:00 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (OT Marmite)
MESSAGE: Hi Suds,
Thanks for the memory, I loved that Men at Work song, was it the 'Safety Dance' or somesuch?
Vegemite - bah humbug. Marmite is the real thing. I have only ever bought Marmite, and intend to carry on. I love the stuff. Never have tried Vegemite, but have heard its like a toned down girly version of Marmite.
Love Oreos though, only recently been available here.
Richtoo
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Post# 16601-4/16/2002-07:11 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Detergent labeling)
MESSAGE: In the UK detergent manufacturers list by percentage in bands, ie under 5%, 5 - 15 %, 15 - 30% and over 30%.
Looking at my Ecover powder-
15 - 30%, zeolites, carbonates (Soften water and stabilise pH)
5 - 15%, vegetable oil based soap (desolves dirt and grease), water (improves composition)
under 5%, anionic detergent and amphoteric detergent based on veg oil, nonionic detergent based on sugar (all deslove dirt and grease), starch and clay (prevent dirt settling back on fabric), citrate (water softener fermented from sugar), silicates (Soften water and stabilise pH), glycerine.
The brackets show what the manufacturer says about each ingredient.
It sure fits with what suds says about a small ammount of actual detergent.
Richtoo
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Post# 16602-4/16/2002-07:20 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent) (M&S)
MESSAGE: When I was in the UK during the last century (1993 to be exact), I visisted M & S to see what all my pommy buddies were on about. I must admit, then, they had pretty cool and trendy clothes, better than C & A, plus very reaonable prices.
Didn't M & S nearly go bankrupt in the not so distant past?
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Post# 16603-4/16/2002-07:37 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: Hi Kirk,
Yep, Persil Black Velvet, if I may quote you, does have a certain 'tarts handbag' quality aboout it. I was sent a bottle my Miele, they had a load of free full size samples abd sent me one when I phoned to ask about the best cycle for washing my fitted sofa cover. The cover is not tumble dryable, so it goves over a clothes horse. The house reeked of BV whilst it dried and the fabric kept the smell afterwards.
It does suds quite a lot, I figure that is the soap it contains, but rinses fine. I have stuck with Ecover liquid for darks and blacks as I couldn't stand that strong scent on clothes.
Richtoo
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Post# 16604-4/16/2002-07:41 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent) (M&S)
MESSAGE: Ahh C&A, Coats and 'ats. If I may tell a vulgar joke, why do underpants have C&A lables sewn in. - So that you know which way round they go.
I don't think M&S nearly went bankrupt, its profits tumbled from huge to pretty big. C&A has actually closed down, so I guess it went bankrupt - judging by the clothes they sold, I am not surprised.
Richtoo
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Post# 16605-4/16/2002-08:45 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer
MESSAGE: Wow Greg,
Its hard to believe that Filtrator is 50 years old, you've made it look like new, congratulations. I love the control panels on the washer and dryer, they are very simple and stylish.
Richtoo
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Post# 16606-4/16/2002-08:49 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Hi Kirk,
Enjoy Cambridge, a nice part of the world.
I have seen this Miele dryer feature, it is only on teh more expensive models, not the BOL T490 I have my eye on. Given that Croslee's A rate dryer is supposed to take 8 hours, I guess the Miele would take an hour or 2 less as I would imagine that Miele would have a more powerful fan. I suppose it would work well for chuck in a load in the morning and take it out dry when one gets back from work.
Actually, I sometimes point a fan at my clothes horse to speed drying, particularly when the heating is off.
Richtoo
*****
Post# 16607-4/16/2002-08:56 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Victoria Wood)
MESSAGE: Hi Scott,
We too have nappy services, though I am sure there were no such services when I was a kid.
Plastic grocery bags, well I try to be eco, but I rather like plastic bags, they save me a small fortune over buying waste bags for small bins. Well it's recycling.
Richtoo
*****
Post# 16608-4/16/2002-08:59 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: Kirk,
With you on the DW.
If boil washes are dropped in the future, I shall probably either buy an old Baby Burco wash boiler, old twin tub or go back to boiling on the stove.
Richtoo
*****
Post# 16609-4/16/2002-09:03 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer (I Did)
MESSAGE: I still cannot imagine that anyone actually believes that that "magic ball" does anything other than take up space. what a disgusting idea......ionized water indeed!!! And yet they continue to sell on ebay!!
Nice job on the restoration, Greg - you should be very pleased...
*****
Post# 16610-4/16/2002-09:04 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer (I Did)
MESSAGE: I still cannot imagine that anyone actually believes that that "magic ball" does anything other than take up space. what a disgusting idea......ionized water indeed!!! And yet they continue to sell on ebay!!
Nice job on the restoration, Greg - you should be very pleased...
*****
Post# 16611-4/16/2002-09:04 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer (I Did)
MESSAGE: I still cannot imagine that anyone actually believes that that "magic ball" does anything other than take up space. what a disgusting idea......ionized water indeed!!! And yet they continue to sell on ebay!!
Nice job on the restoration, Greg - you should be very pleased...
*****
Post# 16612-4/16/2002-09:07 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: Multiple Posts
MESSAGE: Sorry for that "trifecta" earlier - today is a weird computer day!!!
*****
Post# 16613-4/16/2002-11:21 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: My my my,
Hyacinth would be appalled, drinking tea from a mug!!
Louis
*****
Post# 16614-4/16/2002-11:24 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: Kirk,
Like you I have started trying other detergents than Ariel. It's a big step, but also very enjoyable, especially learning new scents. Although I like certain detergents, I don't think I will be drawn from Ariel totally. BTW, could it be that the Persil with Aloe Vera is especially about a new scent?
Louis
*****
Post# 16615-4/16/2002-11:41 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer
MESSAGE: Hi Greg,
Great pictures and you've done a wonderful job. A few questions. What are the reset buttons for? How long are the increments on the timer of the washer? BTW, I do think this really classic set belongs next to eachother, I think you should do some rearranging in the laundryroom!!
Louis
*****
Post# 16616-4/16/2002-11:47 ||| DADoES (El Campo, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (Men at Work / Men Without Hats)
MESSAGE: The Men at Work song referencing Vegemite was "Down Under."
"The Safety Dance" was by Men Without Hats.
*****
Post# 16617-4/16/2002-11:47 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: This Is How We Wash Our Clothes Part 1
MESSAGE: Oh Greg, you're really bad! It's wonderful that you are spying for us in other people's laundryroom, but don't get into trouble for this. Louis
*****
Post# 16618-4/16/2002-11:47 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Oh Loios, fantastic, you get 'Keeping Up Appearances' in your part of teh world too. You may have guessed, I am rather a fan of Miss Patricia Routledge.
I love the opening credits to KUA, especially the shot of her unloading the DW wearing Marigolds, taking a milk bottle out having washed her milk bottles in the DW before returning them.
And there was another brand name used as a generic, that we missed in the previous discussion. Marigolds, a brand of rubber glove, though is often used to mean any domestic rubber glove.
Richtoo
*****
Post# 16619-4/16/2002-11:53 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Victoria Wood)
MESSAGE: We have those nappie services here, but it's not a good business, most people buy disposable ones anyway. I think critisizing the plastic bags makes somewhat up for their use of disposable diapers.
*****
Post# 16620-4/16/2002-12:02 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Warm rinse- why?)
MESSAGE: Hi Rich,
Warm rinses have their origin in the days that real soap was used for doing laundry. Real soap rinses out better with warm than with cold water. I have an old package of Persil at home that also says to do the first rinse in warm water and the second in cold.
At this moment warm rinses have indeed only use for woolens, it's best to rinse woolens at the same temperature as they are washed in. That's why I only wash woolens on cold in a European machine.
Louis
*****
Post# 16621-4/16/2002-12:09 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent) (starch and fine rinse)
MESSAGE: On my W715 the "Behoedzaam spoelen" which is the same as the fine rinse on the American machines, works the same as Rich describes. My Miele however doesn't have the possibility to skip part of the cycle. The manuals are all on the dutch Miele site, but I guess it's rather a bit of a trouble to do a course in Dutch for reading these manuals.
*****
Post# 16622-4/16/2002-12:20 ||| chaskelljr2 (Washington, D. C.)
SUBJECT: RE: GE POD (unbalance control???)
MESSAGE: Gadgetmad:
I have to agree with you there. Handling unbalanced loads were never a strong suit for the older belt-drive GE's. At least, not the ones that were in our family. Nor the ones at my neighborhood laundromat either for that matter. At least, every time most of our Kenmores went out of balance, they would shut off during the spin cycle and then the off balance buzzer would sound. But with our GE's???? All they would do is bang very loudly against the cabinet. And if things REALLY gotten off kilter, they would just walk across the floor then. And then they have the audacity to say that their machines feature "unbalance load control"?? Man, I had to laugh at that very loudly. That was funny as shit, I don't care what nobody says about that. "Unbalance Load Control?!?!?!?!?!" Huh!!!!!! "Out Of Control Unbalanced Load" is more like it.
--Charles--
*****
Post# 16623-4/16/2002-12:21 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Hey Rich,
I'm not that far from you! KUA is one of my favourites. "I want my own bottles back!" There is however a special reason for me to be interested in this series. My mother is a bit of a Hyacinth. My mother is a little older than Patricia Routledge, but she used to look like her quite a bit. She also had the same raincoat and the same hat Hyacinth and stepped out the car the same way she did in the series. No need to tell you that my mother is actually not a very good listener too...... I haven't taken up needlepoint yet and I'm still looking out for a Tarquin LOL.
Louis
BTW, I also like a few other british comedies, especially "Waiting for God" was one of my favourites.
*****
Post# 16624-4/16/2002-12:50 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: My opinions regrding agitators (Victoria Wood)
MESSAGE: Exactly! They're perfect for that and I use them for carrying a multitude of things! Good idea not to use more than you need, but there's that whole double standard with some...then on the other side of the spectrum, you have the people who insist on putting the plastic packs of plastic diapers and other items into still MORE plastic bags...
*****
Post# 16625-4/16/2002-12:50 ||| surgilator (North Hykeham, UK)
SUBJECT: Email from Hotpoint
MESSAGE: Hi all
I emailed Hotpoint a few days ago asking about their Sprialator washers, and their reply came back today.
"Hello
Your details were passed to our marketing department. I am sorry there are
no plans to reintroduce a spiral agitator top loader model as it was a
sector of the market where sales were declining.
Regards
Racheal Steels
Sales Information Centre"
Bad news then.
Surgilator
*****
Post# 16626-4/16/2002-12:58 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Warm rinse- why?)
MESSAGE: Your Majesty, that is interesting to learn, both about the woolens and the warm rinses. Regarding the latter, we knew there must have been a reason. For Rich's interest/benefit, I should mention that there was a time in America where you could not buy a machine with a cold setting of any kind, wash, rinse or otherwise. To this day, many persons including myself continue to use warm rinses for whites and non permanent press items.
QEOM
*****
Post# 16627-4/16/2002-13:00 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Warm rinse- why?)
MESSAGE: Thanks Louis,
We always used Persil in the TT in the 70s and early 80s, never realised that one should first rinse with warm, always used cold. Mum only ever did one rinse anyway, I always did 2, but I guess 3500 revs shifts most of the soap anyway.
Even today, the Ecover I use contains soap as well as detergents.
Richtoo
*****
Post# 16628-4/16/2002-13:00 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Red Letter Day!!!!! (or Thorday)
MESSAGE: Hi Keith
Welcome to the club, good to have another UK collector...I`m sure you will find it a wealth of information.... though you answered a question for me as well with the 111 info....
for some reason also thought that the wash and spin tubs where SSteel like the washdeck and not enamel.... got quite a surprise....
Now make em jealous and tell them how many "Thor Automagic" and "Parnall Spinwash" machines you have as well as all the others.....
Cheers, Mike
*****
Post# 16629-4/16/2002-13:02 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (Men at Work / Men Without Hats)
MESSAGE: Thanks,
I wasn't sure I had it right, those names are so similar. Actually, I really liked both of theose songs, but as the better half would say 'you would'.
Richtoo
*****
Post# 16630-4/16/2002-13:21 ||| gadgetmad (Birmingham, AL)
SUBJECT: RE: GE POD (unbalance control???) ((Kick-out switch and buzzer method))
MESSAGE: Charles:
Yeah, and then there's Maytags, which have a kick-out switch the way the old Kenmores did, but no buzzer. Never have followed that logic. I guess all this is from the days when it was just assumed that most users were women working in the home who would be somewhere in hearing range if the machine should stop...
Speaking of, anybody remember the movie, "Accidental Tourist?" To my recollection, Whirlpools have *never* used the switch-and-buzzer method, but there's Bill Hurt busting his leg when his Whirlpool washer starts knocking after the load goes out of balance, and then this buzzer sounds. He gets alarmed by the noise and slips down the basement stairs. I almost missed the next scene sitting and pondering that.
*****
Post# 16631-4/16/2002-13:23 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer (& Laundry)
MESSAGE: Hi Greg
Another great restoration.... and laundry room fit for a convention!! the hard work has sure payed off.... how many more machines can you fit in???
Is the Filtrator dryer a condensor??? if so does it use air/water fan cooling system or what....all these things are down on my list to look at this time at the next convention...
*****
Post# 16632-4/16/2002-13:24 ||| gadgetmad (Birmingham, AL)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Warm rinse- why?)
MESSAGE: When doing white cottons, I use 2 warm, deep rinses in my top loader because Ive found everything comes out whiter that way.
*****
Post# 16633-4/16/2002-13:26 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: I sort of enjoy the other characters on KUA, but Hyacinth annoys me to the point of desperation. I suppose that's the point. She is a bit one dimensional, though, with rarely any redeeming human qualities. Even when she appears to be doing some act of kindness, it usually devolves into how it helps her image.
*****
Post# 16634-4/16/2002-13:32 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Warm rinse- why?)
MESSAGE: But Your Majesty,
Modern detergents rinse out much better with cold than with warm water. Perhaps you should try using cold rinses.
QLOTOC
*****
Post# 16635-4/16/2002-13:35 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Warm rinse- why?)
MESSAGE: Richtoo,
My Persil is much older than 20 years, I don't even know if it's pre- or post-war. The Persil from the 70's and 80's just needed cold rinses.
Louis
*****
Post# 16636-4/16/2002-13:40 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Warm rinse- why?)
MESSAGE: Thank you, Your Majesty, perhaps I will try that, and with good results will be able to save some energy as well! Do you know any of the basic particulars as to why that is the case?
QEOM
*****
Post# 16637-4/16/2002-13:45 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Suds, from the perspectives of some folks, there is some truth to what you're saying, and I think the main point of her character is to make us laugh, but there are some aspects to Hyacinth's ways that a little more of would do some a world of good.
*****
Post# 16638-4/16/2002-14:05 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Warm rinse- why?)
MESSAGE: I don't know exactly why this is, perhaps Sudsmaster knows more about this.
*****
Post# 16639-4/16/2002-14:44 ||| keymatic (Surrey.U.K)
SUBJECT: RE: Red Letter Day!!!!! (Automagic...)
MESSAGE: Hi Mike
Thanks for welcomming me to the club!! Yeah the Servis 111 is a nice machine with the steel surround, and use my quite often.
Well regarding the Thor's I currently have 1 x 1955 model with control on the front, mint condition and 2 x of their last moels they made for the British market. These were quite unique in that they had foot pedals as the controls, they went from left to right Wash . Stop. Spin. One of these is in parts and the other in not to bad condition, although it does need soom work doing to it.
I also have in my collection a Parnall Spinwasher, this was a semi-automatic launched in Britain around 1963 also in good working order!!
Speak to ya soon.
Regards
Keith
*****
Post# 16640-4/16/2002-16:42 ||| appliguy (Vienna Va.)
SUBJECT: RE: This Is How We Wash Our Clothes Part 1 (Did that new Whirlpool Dryer come from Best Buy?)
MESSAGE: Gansky,
Do you know if those people bought there new Whirlpool Dryer at Best Buy? The reason I ask is because I sell appliances at the Reston Va. Best Buy and when my moms 1979 Whirlpool Imperial 70 gas dryer bit the bullet about a month ago (it looked very much like the second Whirlpool dryer) my folks asked me to order them the same dryer thats in that picture only in gas. The Imperial's ignitor coil wouldn't glow it would just spit sparks and even though it was the first time the dryer broke down my folks felt they got their monies worth and decided to take advantage of my employees discount and buy a new dryer (they paid 269.40 on sale for the Imperial on November 26, 1979 at the local Memco store). I was sad to see the old Imperial go but I have to admit that the new one is really nice and dries the clothes noticably quicker than the old Imperial. Of course I know it probably won't last as long as the Imperial but still as far as new dryers go it is pretty slick.
*****
Post# 16641-4/16/2002-16:55 ||| DADoES (El Campo, TX)
SUBJECT: Vintage Washer Sighting -- Twin Peaks
MESSAGE: I was watching the "Twin Peaks" season one DVD a couple nights ago, first episode.
Leo Johnson shoves a laundry bag at the wifey Shelley with instructions to "wash 'em NOW." A vintage Maytag top-loader on a platform outside the house. She tosses in the load, discovers a bloody shirt, which she stuffs in a chest-of-drawers that just happens to be outside beside the washer.
Later, Leo gets perturbed about a missing shirt when cleaning out his truck, goes around the corner to the washer. Opens it, rummages through the load, doesn't find the shirt, slams it shut and gives it a good kick, where it sits rocking and jiggling as if the spinning load is now out-of-balance.
*****
Post# 16642-4/16/2002-18:46 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer
MESSAGE: The reset buttons are for motor overload protection (circuit breakers.) I think the timer increments are 1 minute - but I'm not positive - I don't have a timer diagram for this model.
I knew you would mention that they aren't together - LOL! I really need to do some rearranging soon, but I'm not sure what machines would work best in what places. I have four sets now, the '54 Speed Queen, which has a gas dryer and really is best where it is for gas and vent, the '49 Westinghouse set and the 67 Maytag set. Since they all deserve to be together, the choices are tough. I do agree they should be together, so I would appreciate any suggestions!
*****
Post# 16643-4/16/2002-18:56 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: This Is How We Wash Our Clothes Part 1 (Did that new Whirlpool Dryer come from Best Buy?)
MESSAGE: They bought the new dryer (electric) at Nebraska Furniture Mart - see link. They have the largest selection and best prices in the area. The 450,000 square feet of retail space on a 77 acre "campus" of buildings and warehouses can take the better part of a day to tour. I have no idea what they paid for this model though.
$269 for a new dryer is pretty inviting as the new coil and labor would have been about half that cost alone.
LINK: http://www.nfm.com/pages/hist_dep_appl.html
*****
Post# 16644-4/16/2002-19:05 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer (The rooms are full!!!)
MESSAGE: Hi Mike -
My laundry rooms are full! I already have 7 machines in the garage awaiting restoration or adoption - anyone want a gold '68 Frigidaire Rollermatic??
The filtrator is a condensor dryer - it uses a fan to pull cool warm air around the tubes of the unit below the drum. The warm moist air is drawn toward the cool tubes and the moisture condenses on inside the tubes and drips in to the pan below it. I think Robert had posted a cut-a-way diagram of how this works, but I don't know where to find it.
*****
Post# 16645-4/16/2002-20:36 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Warm rinse- why?)
MESSAGE: I think cold water suppresses foaming more than warm or hot water, so it may help with rinsing if there is a lot of foam.
*****
Post# 16646-4/16/2002-20:47 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Warm rinse- why?)
MESSAGE: interesting; thanks!
*****
Post# 16647-4/16/2002-23:00 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Hi Gizmo - me too!)
MESSAGE: Yep, I am also pretty pi**ed about the discount card announcement. Then again, nothing surprises me anymore. I honestly think that getting a good deal or real value for money is becoming consistently more difficult. When I can't use the card anymore, I will just have to turn into a 'skank old ho' when it comes to supermarket shopping - no more loyalty from this little vegemite, Coles can fold up and perish for all I care. I think that we are following some very disturbing trends in this country, that will lead most people down the proverbial garden path, headed by our fearless leaders from both political camps.
Your soap trick sounds quite labor intensive and very nostalgic. I am sure your home-made powder smells good too. I also wash most of my clothes within the temperature range that you stated. I was never that comfortable with running cold tap water only for washing, even though I had expected the wash results to be worse than they actually turned out.
Are you building a mud brick house or are your walls made of compressed earth?
*****
Post# 16648-4/16/2002-01:31 ||| washrfreak (Dallas)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: I thought Patrica Routledge was even better in Hetty Wainthrop Investigates. Though, perhaps, not as much fun.
*****
Post# 16649-4/16/2002-01:38 ||| washrfreak (Dallas)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: It's the people around her that annoy me. The fact that they put up with it -- esp. Richard. You just want to slap him. And Elizabeth - not being able to leave her house or say no to coffee...
*****
Post# 16650-4/16/2002-01:41 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer
MESSAGE: Hmm, don't have any suggestions yet. Perhaps you should post a plan of your laundryrooms here and some washers and dryers on scale so we can print out the whole thing and start rearranging for you LOL.
*****
Post# 16651-4/16/2002-01:47 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: I liked that series as well. Although she makes a wonderful Hyacinth she can show more of her talents as Hetty Wainthrop.
*****
Post# 16652-4/17/2002-02:22 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Thank you, that was the name of that other show she's in that I couldn't remember the name of. I've seen that one a couple of times and while she is quite a different sort of character there than in Hyacinth, she is very good in it.
*****
Post# 16653-4/17/2002-02:25 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer
MESSAGE: Your Majesty, there is a large section of Greg's basement that does not yet contain any washers. I'm hoping in time the bug will bite hard enough that it, too, will fill up with these wonderful machines, much like the other two rooms and garage has. The room of which I speak is adjacent to the guest room, enabling the guest to see and dream laundry dreams...
QEOM
*****
Post# 16654-4/17/2002-02:30 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent) (OT TV)
MESSAGE: Loved it,
The BF liked to call it 'Heterosexual Wainthrop Investigates'.
Richtoo
*****
Post# 16655-4/17/2002-02:31 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer
MESSAGE: Excuse me, Your Majesty, you are probably aware by my using her incognito name, but I was referring, of course, to the Corn Princess' basement.
*****
Post# 16656-4/17/2002-03:37 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap
MESSAGE: These air-raid shelters that you mentioned, are they left-overs from the paranoid fifties or a new wave of dooms day preparations, based on the belief that cockroaches will inherit the earth? And do they come with state-of-the-art laundry facilities? Is there still money in building such things (air-raid shelters)?
*****
Post# 16657-4/17/2002-04:02 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (Big Sister)
MESSAGE: LOL! Sudsmaster, don't put yourself throught the Big Sister experience, especially if it has been sitting in your fridge for the last six months. I was actually being tongue in cheek (nah, no way, couldn't have been), when I posted that other thread. I only like my fruit cakes to be of the girls blouse variety (maybe a little less emphasis on the 'girls' bit). The truth is, I like my fruit cakes, beefy, lean and hard - there, now I've said it and I don't mind if they are a mouth-full either.
Home-made fruit cakes get my thumbs up though, but then anything home-made, if done well, is superior to stuff off the shelf. I do like self-saucing x-mas puddin's though. Nice, hot and steamy (no pun here), they are usually soft and moist and a treat to eat.
Those Big Sister numbers are designed to outlast their purchasers by at least a century, if left in their original, unopened container/wrapping. That is why they are usually used for wedding cakes or deadly missiles during the split-up. They will often outlast the marriage. My sister still has pieces of her wedding cake of 4 years ago and, I am sure, they are still good enough to eat. The piece I took home I squashed and ended up having to fish out of my ear. I slept on it (had it under my pillow wrapped in a serviette), 'cause it is said that this way one will dream of ones LOVER to be! Anyway, I am sure I saw him in my dreams, but couldn't remember in the morning what he looked like and somehow the piece of fruit cake had found its way into my left ear.
Now, that little story about the Oreo sounds fascinating. Did you friends leave it at the sardines? We have a similar game here in Oz, often played by pubescent (hormonal) private-school boys, called 'soggy Sao.' Apparently its a game of speed and dexterity - I wouldn't know though. I am the product of public schooling and we didn't play those games.
*****
Post# 16658-4/17/2002-04:49 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap
MESSAGE: Well, actually I should have worded my post a little differently and said vegemite 'instead' of strawberry jam and chocolate sauce, rather than 'over.' The three definitely don't go together as a taste sensation.
When I was first introduced to Vegemite, I actually thought that it was something like Nutella, a chocolate/hazlenut spread, imagine my face when I greedily stuffed a big spoonful down my gob, lol, it came out twice as quick as it went in. My first reaction was that it tasted like stock concentrate (the stuff one buys in cubes and makes broths out of), it can be used for that purpose. It definitely is an acquired taste, no doubt about it. Now I actually like it and it doesn't go to waste with a bit of avocado or a slice of melted tasty or morzarella cheese, thinly spread though. Vegemite is supposedly very healthy too, full of minerals and vitamins and much, much more. Marmite on the other hand doesn't enjoy much popularity here, firstly its English and we are still desperately trying to shed our Colonial shackles and it tastes icky. Bloody poms always try to copy everything that we do, but they never get it right.
That Men at work song, what was it called again? "Chunder Down-Under?" or whatever - so not cool. I was fully into the new romantic, new wave/experimental, poufy big hair music - like a Phlog of Seagulls, Devo, DAF, Siouxy and the Banshees, The Eurythmics, Spandex Ballet, The The, Wall of Voodoo, etc. and later there was House/Acid House/Garage and vitam E, vitam C, vitamin L, vitamin S and vitamin D. Those were the days when I could still slip into my sequined lycra gear without using vaseline and go out dancing all nite. But that is now all in the past, at least untill I finish my degree and can afford to go to the gym again and who knows what kind of music will be popular then.
*****
Post# 16659-4/17/2002-05:01 ||| mooney6au (Sydney, Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Red Letter Day!!!!! (how do I view the pics?)
MESSAGE: Mike,
I've been away and just catching up on the posts. I tried to visit your link and see the pics and I get a message saying the page is not accessable. Can you help.
Greg (a Wilkins Servis fan)
*****
Post# 16660-4/17/2002-06:09 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Red Letter Day!!!!! (Servis Nostalgia!!!)
MESSAGE: Hi Greg
I put the pics in an abum on the TwinTubEmporium Yahoo site, if you havnt already, sign in as a new member (you need to be logged into a yahoo group account to view)....
I`m hoping the family machine you where asking about is the one I have found....Servis Model M 1951... or it could be the later Servis Superheat 1957.....enjoy....
Cheers, Mike
p.s. We`ll be putting these machines through their paces next week with plenty of pics as Scott is arriving from the States for a week.....
*****
Post# 16661-4/17/2002-06:22 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Red Letter Day!!!!! (Servis MK1 Controls)
MESSAGE: Hi Louis
The controls on the MK1 Twinny are from the rhs...Spinner & Heater switch, spin..heat... or spin/heat together.... then middle is the wash timer up to 12 mins.... then to the left is that lovely little heater guage showing cool / Medium/ Hot---boil.... the slider underneath is the mechanism to engage the pump to empty the washtub...
My Mum had the next model in white,the MK2 which had the deeprinse/flowrinse facility...
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Post# 16662-4/17/2002-06:46 ||| arrrooohhh (Sydney Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Red Letter Day!!!!! (how do I view the pics?)
MESSAGE: Hi Mooney!
You need to go to Yahoo Groups. (The new format for Yahoo Clubs) and join the twin tub emporium. You are really going to to love those Servis Twin Tubs!
They are so much like the Wilkins Servis my Nan had. How I loved to sit on top of that machine and watch it go around when I was just a wee little lad!!
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Post# 16663-4/17/2002-06:52 ||| arrrooohhh (Sydney Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap
MESSAGE: WOW! Something we actually agree on.
I love Siousxie with all of my heart! I love Siouxsie and the Banshees music and play there CDs all the time. Her voice is fantastic and I lover her lyrics and the detail and thought that goes into them when so much music today is just la la la. I think she is quite beautiful.
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Post# 16664-4/17/2002-06:52 ||| arrrooohhh (Sydney Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (Siouxsie)
MESSAGE: WOW! Something we actually agree on.
I love Siousxie with all of my heart! I love Siouxsie and the Banshees music and play there CDs all the time. Her voice is fantastic and I lover her lyrics and the detail and thought that goes into them when so much music today is just la la la. I think she is quite beautiful.
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Post# 16665-4/17/2002-07:00 ||| arrrooohhh (Sydney Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Red Letter Day!!!!! (Servis Nostalgia!!!)
MESSAGE: Woo Hoo! Cant wait!
I just want to say to you Mike how much I enjoyed you r pcis!! Looking forward to more.
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Post# 16666-4/17/2002-07:02 ||| arrrooohhh (Sydney Australia)
SUBJECT: POD
MESSAGE: Hi To all my appliance friends out there!
Good to chat to you all again.
Regarding todays POD General Electric. You just gotta love BOL! Not even a filter flo.
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Post# 16667-4/17/2002-07:07 ||| arrrooohhh (Sydney Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: I really like KUA as my uncle in England is the male equivalent of Hyacinth. He is such a snob its unbelievable.
In Australia I have a Hyacinth like Aunty who lives just five minutes away from my other Aunty and Uncle who are just like Daisy and Onslow, sitting around in front of the telly and never cleaning anything. They have interesting times together and thank goodness they all live six hours away up the coast!
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Post# 16668-4/17/2002-07:33 ||| jasonl (New Orleans, LA)
SUBJECT: RE: POD
MESSAGE: I think they all had a filter-flo because it had the dual-action pump (recirc/drain). I do like the "aircraft suspension" system. Dang what kind of aircraft were they talking about? Valujet? My aunt's Filter-Flo sounded like a plane crash whenever it spins. "BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG"
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Post# 16669-4/17/2002-07:45 ||| steve1-18 (Grovetown, GA)
SUBJECT: Someone's a year older???
MESSAGE: Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday DEAR 'UNI'
Happy Birthday to you
(AND MANY MORE.........)
Steve
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Post# 16670-4/17/2002-08:05 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: Someone's a year older???
MESSAGE: Happy Birthday Webmaster!!!
Have a great day and many more - Happy Birthday to Neal tomorrow too!
Greg
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Post# 16671-4/17/2002-08:10 ||| gizmo (Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (Fruit Cake)
MESSAGE: Funny it should be that one.
I have "discovered" exactly that fruit cake in the last few months and love it. I always keep a fruit cake in the pantry (no jokes please) and generally have a dark fruit cake, but tha Big Sis golden fruit cake makes a nice change. Maybe it didn't travel well. They also had a "choc-cherry fruitcake" which a friend brought when dropping in on me recently. It was truly vile. Absolutely inedible. You shouldn't keep it in the fridge, it keeps best at room temp. It goes crumbly if kept too cold. Though I doubt it would last six months at room temp. It wouldn't hang around more than a week in this house.
Of course I shouldn't admit to keeping BOUGHT cakes. But at work I make several fancy cakes a day, when I get home the last thing I feel like doing is baking cakes. At least I sometimes get to bring cakes home if they haven't sold.
Best Wishes.
Chris.
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Post# 16672-4/17/2002-08:12 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (Miele disagrees with me? How could you?)
MESSAGE: Wow! What, have you been disagreeing with me all this time? I forgave you for calling me a troll, what is your beef? Ah, I forgot, your a Pom, I shouldn't be wondering at all. Bloody smelly bunch of whingers you lot are.
Well, how do you know that Siouxie is still beautiful? This is the 21st century and she was popular 20 years ago - I don't even think that any amount of Botox can iron out 20 years of ageing that effectively. Is she still around?
My favourite Siouxie songs are: Wheels of fire, Dear Prudence (she did that one much better than the Beatles), Spellbound, Overground, och actually, I like all her music - basically. The lyrics in most of her songs were a little abstract, but that was pretty much an eighties thing anyway. I think it came with the teased hair.
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Post# 16673-4/17/2002-08:33 ||| gizmo (Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (OT Marmite)
MESSAGE: Yeah, me too.
I am a Marmite eater. I grew up eating Vegemite, it is basically the same but from memory Marmite has a lower salt content. Marmite is cheaper too. Vegemite is made by Kraft which is owned by Philip Morris, the US tobacco company. So in Aus there is a trend to Marmite and alternatives.
There is a gazillionaire in Aus called Dick Smith now promoting a range of Aus made products under the Dick Smith Foods label. He started out over twenty years ago with a single electronic components shop in Sydney. The business grew till there are DSE stores alll over the country. He sold that business to Woolworths but the name continues. He had a string of other business ventures and became a very rich man. He recognized that many famous Australian brand names were being bought by multinational corporations and the profits from those products went overseas. He says the spur to him starting the DS foods business was discovering that Vegemite and the two main Aus brands of peanut butter, Kraft and Eta, are owned by Philip Morris. He has an ethical objection to supporting a tobacco company. He wanted to produce an alternative to Vegemite in Aus but couldn't get supplies of base ingredient, which is yeast waste left over from beer brewing. Kraft had all supplies tied up. I have heard though that "Aussie Mite" may be available soon. His company isn't a producer itself, it uses small Australian-owned companies, many of whom make generic products, to make a "premium" product under his brand name. He also has matches sold as "Dickhead" matches. (Redhead matches are an old Aus name, now made in Sweden.)
Marmite sold in Aus comes from New Zealand.
I tried another one, "Mighty Mite" or something, I can't remember, it tasted like axle grease. Mum has "Promite" which is worse, but she can eat her own cooking so she has no taste whatsoever.
Dick Smith doesn't have Laundry detergent, but we do have Big Kev's products..........
Chris.
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Post# 16674-4/17/2002-08:36 ||| chestermikeuk (Chester, UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Someone's a year older??? (Guess Who!!)
MESSAGE: Hi Robert
All the best on your birthday!!!
Heres hoping you find an Apex Birthday Gift!!!
Cheers, Mike
*****
Post# 16675-4/17/2002-08:36 ||| PeterH770 (Atlanta, GA)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer
MESSAGE: In the living room, next to the TV...
-ph
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Post# 16676-4/17/2002-08:37 ||| PeterH770 (Atlanta, GA)
SUBJECT: RE: Someone's a year older???
MESSAGE: Have a wonderful, Washamatic day, Robert! All the best to Neal also!
-ph
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Post# 16677-4/17/2002-09:06 ||| gizmo (Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Mud house)
MESSAGE: Well...
I'm intending to build with "poured earth". It's sort of a cross between rammed earth and mudbrick.
Tha frame has posts of 250 mm thick. I will put up formwork on each side of the posts and pour the mud mix directly into place. It saves all the extra handling of making bricks, stacking them to dry and then building them into the wall. The disadvantage is you have to get the mix just right or it shrinks and cracks as it dries. As we have very reactive soil (high clay content) this may be a problem. If so I will place dividers into the forms so that each pour is divided into mudbrick lengths, each can shrink individually as they dry. When the next layer is done, the gaps in the lower layer are filled. A bit more fiddly but still less trouble than mudbrick. This variation is called "in-situ mudbrick". To complicate matters further, I will be pouring the walls with about 50mm of polystyrene sheet in the middle of the walls. So the walls will be two 100 mm skins of earth with 50mm of polystyrene in between. This is a new thing, so the building inspector is very interested and is helping me and offering suggestions. I'm doing it because it gets very cold and damp here (by Aussie standards) here, in warmer climates the earth walls are great without the added insulation.
When the mudwork starts I expect to have some spectacularly dirty clothes to put through the Asko, the F&P and some of the old toys in the garage.
Chris.
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Post# 16678-4/17/2002-09:25 ||| gizmo (Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (Miele disagrees with me? How could you?)
MESSAGE: At the risk of copping one of your famous vicious tongue-lashings (or is it keyboard-lashings)...
You appear to be confusing Arrrooohhh with someone else.
Arrrooohhh is an Aussie and didn't call you a troll, in fact no-one did,the person actually suggested your online behaviour was as if you were a troll, but they were sure you weren't really. (I don't even know what a troll is, except in the fairy-tales)
Cowering under the computer desk in anticipation.....
Chris.
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Post# 16679-4/17/2002-10:23 ||| peteski50 (New York)
SUBJECT: RE: Someone's a year older??? (Happy Birthday Robert!!)
MESSAGE: Hi Robert,
I hope you have a JetAction Birthday
Peter
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Post# 16680-4/17/2002-10:32 ||| rapidry1000 (San Francisco)
SUBJECT: RE: Someone's a year older??? (Happy Birthday)
MESSAGE: Robert
Have a "Live Action Day"
Happy Birthday
Rapidry1000
*****
Post# 16681-4/17/2002-11:21 ||| Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Someone's a year older???
MESSAGE: Thanks for the Birthday wishes everyone! I will send the word on to Neal too.
Apex this year? Ya Never Know!
*****
Post# 16682-4/17/2002-11:23 ||| jasonl (New Orleans, LA)
SUBJECT: RE: Someone's a year older???
MESSAGE: Happy birthday to you
You live in a zoo
Oh wait a minute. I saved that song for Ross
Happy Birthday to U...ni from me, Sir Frigemore, The General and Little Lady :-D
*****
Post# 16683-4/17/2002-11:26 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: Someone's a year older???
MESSAGE: Is that today or tomorrow?
Anyway, happy birthday Robert!!! Have a nice day and see you at the convention.
Louis
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Post# 16684-4/17/2002-11:30 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (Siouxsie)
MESSAGE: Great to see you here arrrooohhh! Sounds like you were listening to pretty much the same music we were, back in the day! I like "Siouxie" (always loved the spelling of the name) and all those folks Mr. Bubbles mentioned.
*****
Post# 16685-4/17/2002-11:32 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: POD
MESSAGE: So that's what it is, BOL. I have never seen a GE that looked like that, and it struck me odd that there was no filter pan. Others will also be interested to note that there is no cold water setting.
While I suppose a pump to accomodate the filter flo was perhaps a bit more expensive, it seems to me that the company would have spent more in the end making a special effort, so to speak, to have to have two different pumps and leave the filter flo off just one machine when all the others had it...
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Post# 16686-4/17/2002-11:38 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer
MESSAGE: Great idea, Peter! Front loaders are especially suited for this location!
*****
Post# 16687-4/17/2002-11:41 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Someone's a year older???
MESSAGE: Hi Robert, happy birthday to you and Neal!
Scott
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Post# 16688-4/17/2002-11:48 ||| eddy1210 (Vancouver, B.C. Canada)
SUBJECT: RE: Someone's a year older???
MESSAGE: A great Canadian HAPPY BIRTHDAY, eh ....
Thinking of you up in the great white north.
Eddy
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Post# 16689-4/17/2002-12:29 ||| golittlesport (California)
SUBJECT: RE: Someone's a year older???
MESSAGE: Happy birthday Robert and Neal! How cool you get to celebrate your birthdays at the same time.
*****
Post# 16690-4/17/2002-14:13 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: Seriously, I took the cap off the bottle, took a sniff and reeled back. It's not unpleasant, quite the opposite IMO, just several hundred times stronger than I expected! I always use an extra rinse with every load, which helps to keep the scent down a little. And, if it's been washed with Black Velvet, it doesn't get a Bounce sheet in the dryer!
Although it does suds up quite a bit, it's not enough to hamper the wash action. It seems as though it foams up only so far, then maintains the froth level without creating further suds.
*****
Post# 16691-4/17/2002-14:26 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Crosslee dryers don't exactly have airflow to blow your socks off. It's very slow indeed, and you can't feel much "gust" from the end of the vent hose. Not the fastest of dryers, although they are very quiet. God only knows why Bosch has their BOL dryer private-labeled for them by Crosslee... it's cack.
I think these ambient-temp energy saving dry cycles are intended for exactly the sort of situation you suggest. Either that, or for starting at night before you go to bed. All a matter of planning your laundry accordingly.
An electric fan is also useful for speeding up drying afer cleaning a carpet. I normally dry-clean with the Vorwerk for the most part, but shampoo them once a year with the Vax. Using a fan cuts the drying time down to a couple of hours at the most, versus the three or four hours it would usually take.
*****
Post# 16692-4/17/2002-14:28 ||| DADoES (El Campo, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: Someone's a year older???
MESSAGE: Happy Birthday Uni!
*****
Post# 16693-4/17/2002-14:38 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune
MESSAGE: Baby Burco wash boilers are still produced, and I think catering equipment firms usually stock them. Not sure if they're actually produced by Burco (are they still around?) or whether it's just another company which has rights to the name.
Speaking of Burco, I remember the dryer we had when I was a little 'un. It was Burco with a drop-down door, which my nan bought my mother as a wedding present, and lasted about 18 years before the motor finally burnt out. The lint filter was very unusual - basically a long cloth bag on a metal rod - and slotted into a square opening in the front of the machine, through which the dryer vented into the room. And the drum was perforated all over, not just in the back. Never seen one like it since.
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Post# 16694-4/17/2002-14:41 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: LOL! My excuse is that I have rather big fingers, and find cups really fiddly to handle. A mug just "feels" more comfortable.
What REALLY annoys me is to see someone using a cup or mug for a cold drink. Use a glass!
*****
Post# 16695-4/17/2002-14:54 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: Surprising how fun it can be, isn't it? I'm growing especially fond of the various Persil liquids now, and the difference in scent really makes a nice change. I'm looking forward to seeing what the Aloe Vera powder smells like.
I think I'll always keep regular Ariel as my whites powder, although next time I'm going to switch to the Alpine variety, as the regular scent is starting to become cloying. I won't be buying Ariel Color next time, either, as it only comes in the regular scent.
*****
Post# 16696-4/17/2002-14:59 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Yes! The dishwashered milk bottle shot always cracked me up as well. And the one where you see Hyacinth sticking a stamp on a letter, using a ruler to make sure it goes on straight.
Onslow's house isn't an exaggeration, either. There's a housing estate a stone's throw from where my parents live, where each garden has a Ford Cortina sitting on bricks, and an old settee on the overgrown lawn. Mmmmm, nice :o/
*****
Post# 16697-4/17/2002-15:02 ||| Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: Frigidaire Tub Nut Wrench
MESSAGE: There is a very important Frigidaire service tool on eBay. This tool is used to remove the 1.5" tub hold down nut used in all Frigidaire Unimatic, Pulsamatic, Multimatic and Rollermatic washers from 1947-1969. For anyone who is a collector of the actual machines, this wrench is an important tool to have...
p.s. 1/18's use a different tool for removing the nut.
LINK: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2016973756
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Post# 16698-4/17/2002-15:07 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Email from Hotpoint
MESSAGE: Bugger.
Oops, pardon my French and all that. But seriously, I speak to customers on an almost daily basis, who are devastated to hear that they can't buy one of these machines new from the factory any more. The American washers aren't always suitable replacements, so I often end up suggesting to people that they check the secondhand market instead.
*****
Post# 16699-4/17/2002-15:14 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent) (OT TV)
MESSAGE: Hehehehehe!
*****
Post# 16700-4/17/2002-16:06 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: Kirk,
A friend of mine brought Non biological Persil from the UK on visit a few weeks ago. I'm actually quite impressed by the way it made my whites even whiter. I would consider changing to it if it was available overhere. Unfortunately our Persil comes from the German manufacturer Henkel and not from Lever. And Lever's Omo is not as good as your Persil.
Louis
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Post# 16701-4/17/2002-16:59 ||| PeterH770 (Atlanta, GA)
SUBJECT: RE: Frigidaire Tub Nut Wrench (1.5 is for a 1-18)
MESSAGE: Now, wait a minute... I just purchased a 1.5" strike wrench that does indeedeedo fit onto the tub nut of a 1-18. I thought the older machines had the 1.75" nut, the same that is used with the new GE machines...?
-ph
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Post# 16702-4/17/2002-17:40 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: Louis,
Persil Non-Bio really is good stuff. I tried the liquid recently, and was pleasantly surprised at how well it actually cleans. The powder and tablets should be even better, as they contain a bleaching agent.
One of the things I like best about Persil powders is that Lever constantly make the formulation more and more concentrated as time goes on. The cartons get smaller, but the number of washes remains the same. Having less filler means it doesn't seem to goop up in the dispenser drawer, either.
*****
Post# 16703-4/17/2002-17:46 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (OOOPS! What a stuff-up)
MESSAGE: You are so right gizmo. Of course I know who arrrhhhooo is, but for some reason I thought I was responding to Miele, LOL -how silly of me.
Well, that'll give some of the readers here something to snigger about. Golly gosh, I am actually sitting here blushing. I don't think arrhhhooo will ever forgive me now and you are right, he didn't call me a troll either, that was mein Herr and I know he didn't (?) mean it.
I've been out on clinical, coming home quite late and having to do assignments. I have been very tired and there are always a zillion posts to read through, it seems that the people on this forum have nothing better to do with their time. Had there only been half the number of messages, this wouldn't have happened.
Arrrhhhooo, if you read this, I know you think of me as a horrid thing that wants to inflict violence on you, but I am really a nice person. I like washing machines, what more proof is there of my niceness? I am soooo sorry about this tiny mix-up. Bubbles sends you a big making-up kiss, okay ;-*. And yes, Siouxy is (was) gorgeous.
Gizmo come out from under your desk so I can give you one too, X - just don't turn into a frog, okay?!
*****
Post# 16704-4/17/2002-17:50 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (OT Marmite)
MESSAGE: Isn't Marmite made from animal products rather than vegies?
*****
Post# 16705-4/17/2002-17:51 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (OT Marmite)
MESSAGE: Neither. Marmite is mined.
*****
Post# 16706-4/17/2002-18:04 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: RE: Frigidaire Tub Nut Wrench (Tool #12171)
MESSAGE: The '58 tech-talk manual lists tool #12171 for tub nut removal as does the '79 1-18 tech-talk, #12171. I measured my #12171 and it is 1.5"
Don't know nothin' bout no new GE's......
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Post# 16707-4/17/2002-19:11 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Hi Kirk,
I never knew Bosch had their BOL dryer made by Croslee, it beggars one question - Why?
Must admit, my AEG 330 dryer gives a very good blow, you can feel it right accross the yard comming out of the vent.
Richtoo
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Post# 16708-4/17/2002-19:20 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: Kirk
Check the Persil Aloe Vera carefully, I think it may contain bleach. From the website, 'This new Persil contains Aloe Vera extract, well known to be gentle on skin, for a touch of natural care. This has been combined with Persil Non-Bio's dermatologically tested formulation'. Sounds to me like its bog standard non bio which contains bleach with added aloe.
I looked for it in the supermarket (Safeway) yesterday, but they did not have it. I wonder if it is widely available yet.
Richtoo
*****
Post# 16709-4/17/2002-19:28 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: No, I know he Onslow's house isn't exagerated, there are similar even on my road (long road, respectable at each end, scruffy on the central part, guess which part I live on).
Actually many years ago a friend lived in similarly shabby place, maisonettes (BOL Duplexes for the benefit of non UKers). A rather interesting feature of this particular estate was a communal laundry block in the middle of teh central yard. It featured a green barrel style washer just like the one on Prisoner C Block H, don't know the make. Of course, said washer had been used for unspeakable purposes - one certainly would not have been able to wash clothes clean in it. But then I should not have been shocked, the stairwell walls were similarly decorated. Positively made Daisy and Onslow's estate look posh by comparison.
Richtoo
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Post# 16710-4/17/2002-19:37 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Email from Hotpoint
MESSAGE: Your pardoned. Great word isn't it, so usefull. I remember when i was a little bugger-ups asking my parents what the word meant as all the other swear words had meaning - I went on to name the words and give their meaning to illustrate my point. Cowardly buggers cliamed that it was just a swear word and had no particular meaning.
Some years later, after comming out, I used teh word in front of my sister and her friend who was teh local vicar's daughter. I was greeted with 'ahm, YOU should't use that word, we know what it means and it's disgusting.' I did not persue that conversation.
If only one of teh US manufacturers would take the bull by the horns and stick a heater in their TL for the Euro market, can't be that difficult, they could really fill that gap in the market. I am guessing that you meant the US washers were not suitable due to lack of suficient hot water or lack of boil wash.
Richtoo
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Post# 16711-4/17/2002-19:43 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (OT Marmite)
MESSAGE: Hi Bubs,
Good job I try to check my typing, I actually typed Hi Buns, Freudian do you think.
Marmite, bless the stuff, does not contain any cute little animals, I would not eat it if it did. It is the crap that is scraped from the bottom of the barrels after making beer, but then I like saurkraut even after a German family took great delight in telling me how it is cabbage rotted for 6 weeks in the cellar.
Richtoo
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Post# 16712-4/17/2002-19:50 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: I think the reason behind it is that it lets Bosch offer a dryer around the £170 price mark. The next model up is made by Whirlpool, selling for around £240, and is a much better dryer. Only thing is, you can get the same dryer cheaper with the Whirlpool badge on it.
True Bosch dryers, with the square door going up to the control panel, start around £330-£340. A lot of people won't pay that for a dryer, hence the private-labeled models made for Bosch by other manufacturers.
*****
Post# 16713-4/17/2002-20:04 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: Yep, it definitely contains bleach, so there's no way I'd use it on coloureds. At the moment I'm trying to finish off a huge carton of Ariel Color, and will most likely end up using Persil Colour liquid when its gone. Black Velvet will probably be a keeper, too, as I have a lot of black gear.
I reckon the aloe powder should be available soon, as the new packaging for all the other Persil varieties is already on the shelves. Perhaps the supermarkets are just waiting for stocks to arrive now.
*****
Post# 16714-4/17/2002-20:28 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: OK, you asked me to guess, so I'm going to err on the side of caution, and guess that it's one of the respectable ends. Naturally, that would go without saying :o)
Thing is, you get good and bad in every area. Heck, you get good and bad in the same BUILDING. Perhaps this is a little presumptious of me, but I consider myself to be respectable - quiet as a mouse, and I keep my flat clean and tidy inside and out. But then there's the couple who live downstairs, who I can only compare to the Wayne and Waynetta Slob characters in the Harry Enfield sketch. Noisy, filthy pigs the pair of them.
You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your neighbours. There's a lot to be said for living in the middle of a field LOL.
*****
Post# 16715-4/17/2002-20:49 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: Someone's a year older???
MESSAGE: Robert - best wishes for the big day - you could also have an "Automagic" day!!!!
*****
Post# 16716-4/17/2002-20:50 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Email from Hotpoint
MESSAGE: LOL! Sounds all too familiar, as I'm notorious for letting such words slip out when I shouldn't. Oh, well, it's not like they've never heard it before.
The reason I said American TLs are often unsuitable as a replacement for those with Hotpoint TLs is mainly the cabinet size. They also need a 2" diamater standpipe to drain into, whereas standard British waste plumbing is only 1 1/2" diamater. Another major turn-off for many people is the "unusual" programming style, and the lack of high temperature washes.
When the Hotpoint TL was discontinued, we were guessing that it would be replaced by a US-made GE, but we ended up with another Euro horizontal-axis TL instead. They might be big in Europe, but customers here really don't like them, and lose interest as soon as you show them how to open the drum.
*****
Post# 16717-4/17/2002-20:51 ||| angus (Fairfield, CT.)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer
MESSAGE: Particularly when either the TV is broken or there is nothing good on - there is nothing like watching a load of bright colors!!!
*****
Post# 16718-4/17/2002-20:52 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (OT Marmite)
MESSAGE: Personally, I prefer the stuff that comes from the top half of the barrel. You can't get a party going with Marmite LOL.
*****
Post# 16719-4/17/2002-21:27 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Mud house)
MESSAGE: Wow gizmo,
That sounds fascinating. Is the entire house going to have solid walls or are you only constructing the outside walls of mud? Are the interior walls standard frames with gyproc plastering? Do you only mix in straw or do you also add some other binding agent to the mud mixture (apart from water of course)? Once you have finished with the outside are you adding another waterproofing agent (in addition to polystyrene), to guard against damp?
What do you think you'll enjoy more, the mudwork or the washing?
I find this fascinating. I have seen pics of rammed earth houeses and the end result is nothing short of stunning, particularly when different colored layers of earth are compressed together. Once the walls have dried and a clear gloss coating is applied, it looks like exotic marble or sandstone, very nice stuff.
In Sydney we have too many brick-veneer homes, too many red and orange houses with red roofs and too much of the same architectural styling as well. I love to see something different. There is a mudbrick house not very far from my place. It has sandwash rendering and incorporates large timber beams, so that the home looks a little like a post and beam construction, but it actually is not. This house looks very earthy, rustic, warm and inviting. I think that alternative building methods ought to be encouraged more, particularly when it comes to energy-friendly and ecologically sensitive designs. Unfortunately though, councils are moving in the opposite direction. Urban consolidation and greater housing density means more restrictions to building styles and materials used. There is also the 'snob value' aspect, which tends to limit people's imaginations in coming up with interesting and unusual designs. People here are too busy trying to keep up with the Joneses to maximize on their property values. It has gotten to the point where postcodes here determine ones worth as a human being - I kid you not. I have heard that Melbourne is the same?
Hay bale buildings are also quite fascinating. I think there are a couple of private homes in NSW, built with that method. The insulation efficiency of such a home would be excellent. Although, I can't help thinking of the 'Three little Piggies,' when hay bales come to mind.
I'll tell you what I love though. I absolutely adore timber. To me that is the apex of all building materials and my favorite architectural styling is the traditional Queenslander. I love the sweeping varandas with the ornate cast-iron work. Fancier homes have very interesting roof lines, lovely bay-windows and the tin roofs are absolutely wonderful during a monsoonal downpour. I lived in Cairns a few years back and adore it up there.
Up in the Daintre there are quite a few beautiful timber homes, designed to fit in with their natural environment. A friend of mine has built himself a beautiful beach front house on stilts. It is all timber inside out, has a central two storey atrium and a nautical theme. He used thick hemp rope and brass fittings to create a banister for the stairs. The central atrium is topped by a hexagonal cuppola that has stained windows and my most loved feature is his high-gloss mango wood floor. He took a mango tree and sliced it, then he just laid down the slices and, voila, he now has something truly unique that would cost an absolute ransom if done by a professional flooring company. BTW this guy has one of those light-construction Westinghouse TL washer, with the large plastic lid, a polyprop. tub and the black controls - the man has no idea.
Ultimately, when I get out of Sydney, this overpriced, overpopulated, hell-hole full of superinflated egos, I'll be moving back to FNQ. Maybe incorporating a little spritzer to Darwin, I want to experience the wet-season up there. Apparently it is one of the best places, world-wide, to witness spectacular thunderstorms. Of course Katherine is definitely the main motivator for going to the NT.
Where you are its supposed to be very beautiful and very unique. Unfortunately, I haven't yet travelled much beyond Canberra. Friends of mine from Brisbane actually managed to get to Tasmania, but suffered from hypothermia through most of the trip and the locals were a bit odd down there too.
When I get time, I'll pinch my parent's Winnebago and do the Great South, especially the Great Ocean Road. At least that way will I have my own heating with me at all times.
*****
Post# 16720-4/17/2002-21:30 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (OT Marmite)
MESSAGE: Don't tell fibs, because some of the others might actually believe you.
*****
Post# 16721-4/17/2002-21:33 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (OT Marmite)
MESSAGE: Very true Kirk! Mind you a bunch of non-alcoholic vegans could probably go wild over the other stuff.
*****
Post# 16722-4/17/2002-22:06 ||| appnut (Temple, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: Someone's a year older???
MESSAGE: Robert, a very special happy birthday wish from me. I hope you do some extra laundry the frigidaire way to celebrate--and with your favorite phosphated/scented detergents & softeners. That way you'll make a Frigidaire suds cake, don't forget to put a candle in it and blow it out before the throwin gout of water!!!
*****
Post# 16723-4/17/2002-22:09 ||| appnut (Temple, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: Someone's a year older???
MESSAGE: Yes, and my bestest to Neal to. Glad you have someone special to celebrate with this year.
*****
Post# 16724-4/18/2002-02:36 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Thanks Kirk,
I agree about the problem with higher costs for a dryer. It took me some thinking before paying a similar figure for my AEG dryer. One expects a dryer to me much cheaper than a washer as it has less parts and is much less complex.
Richtoo
*****
Post# 16725-4/18/2002-03:23 ||| gadgetmad (Birmingham, AL)
SUBJECT: RE: Someone's a year older???
MESSAGE: Unimatic: Hope this is the start of a great year for you.
*****
Post# 16726-4/18/2002-03:56 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (OT Marmite)
MESSAGE: For me, Marmite is something I get a craving for once a year, then I'm done with it for the next twelve months. Having said that, you can now get Marmite-flavoured crisps over here, which I've grown a little too fond of. With my propensity to pile on the podge if I'm not careful, perhaps I should throttle back on them a bit LOL.
*****
Post# 16727-4/18/2002-04:11 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Perhaps it's just a British thing. European and American dryers often cost around the same as the matching washers, and they don't complain about the price. Not so with us, but then I don't think Brits place as much emphasis on matched pairs.
Still, I'd sooner mismatch than have a Crosslee-made dryer to go with my Bosch washer. At that price range, I'd get a Hotpoint instead. Their dryers are actually pretty good, and are built ten times better as well.
*****
Post# 16728-4/18/2002-04:13 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Someone's a year older???
MESSAGE: Many happy returns, Robert. Thank you for all the wonderful work you put into this site, and I wish you all the best for the coming year :o)
Kirk
*****
Post# 16729-4/18/2002-06:38 ||| tlee618 (Danville, Illinois)
SUBJECT: Hope that you enjoyed your special day!
MESSAGE: Hi Robert, Hope that your special day was a happy one and that the APEX is right around the corner for you. Good wishes to Neal too. Terry
*****
Post# 16730-4/18/2002-08:34 ||| gizmo (Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (OOOPS! What a stuff-up)
MESSAGE: ribbet ribbet
Chris
*****
Post# 16731-4/18/2002-08:45 ||| gizmo (Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (OT Marmite)
MESSAGE: Marmite Igredients : Yeast, Sugar, Salt, Mineral Salt (508), Maltodextrin, Colour (caramel), Herbs, Spices, Mineral (iron), Vitamins (niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, folate, B12).
Sanitarium Health Food Company
1 Sanitarium Drive
Berkeley Vale
NSW 2261
Australia
Product of New Zealand
Extra Trivia Points...
Marmite is actually the original yeast extract spread, despite Vegemite being the Aussie icon.
An Australian chap (forget his name) decided to produce a locally developed alternative to Marmite which was at that time imported from the UK.
His name for the product was Pa-Will. It was a sad pun on the name Marmite. (ma might. Pa will.)
Pa-Will was quite successful and the company was sold to Kraft who changed the name to Vegemite.
Chris.
*****
Post# 16732-4/18/2002-08:47 ||| gizmo (Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Yes, theres nothing quite as satisfying as a good blow, is there?
Chris.
*****
Post# 16733-4/18/2002-09:03 ||| gizmo (Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Mud house)
MESSAGE: The mud walls will be the outer walls, plus a "feature wall" in the lounge room. All other walls will be conventional stud framing with plaster. Upstairs there may be a timber dado wall to 1500mm high or so. But that may come later.
The mud walls will be treated with Tech Dry or Mudguard, which are sealants especially designed for earth walls. It makes the outer surface of the earth water repellant without altering its looks. The shiny sealants which look like cling wrap over the wall tend to bubble and flake off over time so I'm avoiding them.
I'll definitely enjoy the mud work better. (Sorry)
I agree with you about the sausage factory homes in the suburbs. Although I am not a very artistic person I am making an effort to have a bit of craft and flair in this house. The Hubby and I intend to grow old together in this place so we want to make it something special.
Chris.
*****
Post# 16734-4/18/2002-09:09 ||| gizmo (Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (OT Marmite)
MESSAGE: Sudsmaster dear I think you are confusing it with Kryptonite.
Chris.
*****
Post# 16735-4/18/2002-09:16 ||| gizmo (Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia)
SUBJECT: Trading Post ad
MESSAGE: Here is an ad from the Melbourne Trading Post this week:
Fisher and Paykel washing machine. Going but confused. $64.
Also someone else is advertising a Miele Eurotech washing machine, 18 months old for $750.
Nice try. Eurotech machines are bog basic generic front loaders made in Italy. They are NOT Mieles.
Chris.
*****
Post# 16736-4/18/2002-10:07 ||| appliguy (Vienna Va.)
SUBJECT: RE: This Is How We Wash Our Clothes Part 1 (Did that new Whirlpool Dryer come from Best Buy?)
MESSAGE: Gansky,
I think you misunderstood me about the price of the dryer. $269 is what they paid for the Imperial 70 in 1979. For the new one they paid $336 with my employee discount
*****
Post# 16737-4/18/2002-11:29 ||| PeterH770 (Atlanta, GA)
SUBJECT: RE: Frigidaire Tub Nut Wrench (Tool #12171)
MESSAGE: From the archive...
Post# 12732-1/27/2002-09:36 ||| Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: It's an appliance weekend! (striking wrench)
MESSAGE: I don't think the 1-18 has 1.5" tub nut Peter, the Unimatic, Multimatic and Rollermatic's do, but they changed the size of that nut for the 1/18. If they have them down there you should try a catalog-store called Granger, you need a "striking wrench".
There is also a photo album out there somewhere for a Unimatic restoration where the caption in the pic says the wrench is the same as the GE wrench, but I cannot find any Frigidaire restoration albums out there...
-ph
*****
Post# 16738-4/18/2002-11:41 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: I have indeed the powder with the bleach. The Persil is not as compact as the Ariel. For a normal wash I still need 118 ml of Persil while I only use around 66ml of Ariel.
*****
Post# 16739-4/18/2002-14:05 ||| Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Frigidaire Tub Nut Wrench (Tool #12171)
MESSAGE: Well it definately sounds like there is some confusion about the size of the Frigidaire tub hold down nuts. I don't have a 1/18 so I have nothing to measure. I do know that there are two different wrenches that have slightly different nut sizes. I've seen them both of them together, and compared both, and one hex opening was slightly larger than the other. I was told that the 1/18 uses a different size nut, but with what Greg just read out of the 1958 and 1978 Tech Talk, who knows. All I know is that wrench on Ebay should definately be brought into the family.
*****
Post# 16740-4/18/2002-16:11 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (Mining for goodies)
MESSAGE: And, pray tell, what is the harm there? Are you worried they might buy some bogus Marmite Mining stocks with their life savings, which were being accumulated to purchase the last working Unimatic on the planet?
;-)
*****
Post# 16741-4/18/2002-16:14 ||| Sudsmaster (San Leandro, CA)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (OT Marmite)
MESSAGE: Oh, it's a government conspiracy. The truth is it's all mined by hobbits.
*****
Post# 16742-4/18/2002-17:09 ||| PeterH770 (Atlanta, GA)
SUBJECT: RE: Frigidaire Tub Nut Wrench (Tool #12171)
MESSAGE: Goot Lawd, we all is confoosed up in here! I got a bid on it over there up in Ebay, so if I win it, it'll put all this ignuce to rest once an fo all...
-ph
*****
Post# 16743-4/18/2002-18:14 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: And here was me thinking that I'd better not say anything smutty, despite thinking it LOL.
*****
Post# 16744-4/18/2002-18:34 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: Oops, perhaps I should have elaborated a tad more. UK Persil was updated yet again only a couple of weeks ago, and further concentrated. A normal soil dosage of Ariel in medium-hard water (like mine) is 190ml, where the newest Persil only needs 130ml. Obviously, the dosing ratios vary according to water hardness, which is probably why Ariel goes further for you.
Is the Ariel sold in the Netherlands different to ours? Over here, the lowest dosage recommended for Ariel powder is 95ml, which is for light soiling in all water types. 66ml is a tiny amount, unless it's an "ultra"-type powder. We can only get big-box Ariel over here now, as the compact powder has now been replaced by tablets.
*****
Post# 16745-4/18/2002-18:53 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Mud house)
MESSAGE: Hi Chris,
It sounds wonderful, do you have pics of the construction and will you post pics of the finished house please. I love good modern architecture, experimental techniques and there is still so much to learn from old techniques too. Are you using any other interesting technologies on your house beside the walls?
So much modern housing (in the UK) is quite frankly piss-elegant and naff. The volume builders build 'pretty little boxes', basic boxes with what the trade knows as 'gob-ons', ie bits of mouldings and details to differentiate the boxes from those built for the social sector.
The link below is to the styles offered by one of our larger volume builders. Typically these house styles would be built up and down the country. Prices can be very high and standards of finish very low, due to sub-contract labour, lack of supervision and desire to maximise profits. I looked at some about half a mile from my house, 5 bed detached, about £500,000 and finish carpentry around doors, fitted wardrobes etc was appaling.
Here's hoping you and hubby will be happy in your new home.
Richtoo
LINK: http://www.bryant.co.uk/homes/hsfr.htm
*****
Post# 16746-4/18/2002-19:13 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Hi Kirk,
Is that because Hotpoint gets its dryers built by Bosch? Hotpoint used to (still does?) get its DWs made by Bosch.
I take you point about Euro and US dryers versus the UK attitude, but the fact still remains that a dryer is a much simpler piece of kit, single drum, rather than drum and tub, no water connections or drain, just heater and fan. The motor must have less work to do in a dryer, so can be lighter duty, as the load it has to turn has been spun to remove excess water and there is no free water adding to the load.
Of course, most UK dryers have far simpler timers, ie turm to 120 mins and leave to bake, rather than propper automated drying.
Mmm, mismatched pairs, something I have been guilty of from time to time. I bought crappy Creda washer, 12 months later bought matching (though quite good) dryer with automated drying, washer dies and is replaced with AEG, dryer lasts another 3 years or so before dying and being replaced with AEG dryer to match washer. Last year, AEG washer died and was replaced with Miele, but the AEG dryer is still going. I am torn between wanting to keep it going, I can replace fans etc myself, and wanting to replace it with a matching Miele dryer, £500 I could spend on something else. BF does not give a toss what they look like, so long as they are quiet, and likes to save money.
Why is it that men like to have clean clothes and the house clean, but get mightily pissed if they have to hear the washer, dryer or vac running, or if you are devoting time to these jobs and they think that time should be given to them! (OK, I'm not in best of moods with the miserable old bugger at the momment, in case you hadn't guessed)
Richtoo
*****
Post# 16747-4/18/2002-19:27 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: Hi again,
Do you know, I only noticed this week that compact powders had disappeared and big boxes were back. I have not bought conventional brands for some years, and so had stopped looking at them. I was looking this week to find the Persil Aloe Vera to try, and it was all big box powders, liquids, capsules and those bloody awfull tablets (remember my rant about those, I won't repeat it).
My fav Ecover has been reformulated, but luckily is still a compact powder. It was non-bio bleach free powder, with separate bleach powder (pure sodium percarbonate) sold alongside. Now it comes in non-bio or bio powders with bleach, no bleach free available. So what about colours, a liquid is available, but to me this is a light duty product as it is just detergents and no alkaline agents. I am pleased that Ecover is doing a bio powder, I had been buying its bio tablets and crushing them, but I am pissed off at the inclusion of bleach, I liked to add my own as I could control the dose effectively. I bought all the boxes on Sainsbury's shelves (3), Waitrose only had the new stuff and Safeway can keep theirs, as they charge 70p (over US$1) a box more than the Waitrose. Once I run out of bleach free powder, I will try the liquid, maybe liquid with washing soda, failing that own brand colour powders (generally the own brands are not tested on animals) I may even have to buy Persil Colour or Arial Color (is it still spelt the US way?)
Richtoo
*****
Post# 16748-4/18/2002-19:31 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Mud house)
MESSAGE: New houses over here are awful. I spent a very brief spell as an estate agent (what a mistake that was, but I digress), and dealt mainly with new homes. Probably the reason why I wasn't suited to the job is that I just can't get excited over developments where the houses all look like a row of identical shoeboxes.
If you want a decent amount of space in a new home, you either have to pay **BIG** money, or build yourself. But even then, you still get walls that are thin enough to p*** through. The worst thing I ever saw was a Georgian-style house with PLASTIC pillars on either side of the front door! The total fakeness of it all was incredibly tacky.
*****
Post# 16749-4/18/2002-19:35 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent) (OT )
MESSAGE: Of course, I don't understand what you or Chris could posssibly mean, being of the purest mind and body.
Reminds me of a, to me, amusing story at work. I worked with ladies of a certain age, and I remarked on a colleagues initials, saying how unfortunate to have the initials 'BJ', both looked blank and enquired if it was something rude, a minute later one started giggling and asked if it meant what she thought it meant, the other was still totally puzzled. I suggested she ask her son. This was the same colleague who told me how she had heard the local radio DJ talking and laughing about the number 69 bus, in all innocence she remarked the number 69 is rude isn't it and asked why. I declined to explain.
Richtoo
*****
Post# 16750-4/18/2002-19:39 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Someone's a year older???
MESSAGE: Robert,
Hope you are having / had a great day. Happy Birthday, or to paraphrase Margot if I may, my sincerest felicitations.
Missing you from here, I hope things are going well with you.
(If you guys all know Hyacith and Mrs Slocumbe, you must know Margot.)
Richtoo
*****
Post# 16751-4/18/2002-19:47 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Mud house)
MESSAGE: Oooh Kirk,
You really can keep up with me, maybe even beat me on the rudest turn of phrase, was your dad in the navy too, that's what I blame mine on.
The fake pillars, well, opposite my parents 1920's semi, large new houses were built in the early 70s. Quite good simple design, still look OK even now. One of them has installed Roman style pillars around the front door, on a modern 70s house. Don't get me started on 'We've bought our council house' stone cladding, shutters and wishing wells!
I guess it boils down to the market moving to the lowest common denominator for reasons of economy of scale, and follows through to so many aspects of life including the boring designs of many modern appliances compared to some of the earlier wonders we see here.
*****
Post# 16752-4/18/2002-20:00 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Hotpoint dryers are made in the UK by GDA, and come from the factory in Yate, which I believe is near Bristol (???). The design of the dryers has changed little over the years, probably because it's tried and tested and works well. Credit where it's due, Hotpoint make quite good dryers, refrigeration and cooking appliances, even though they're not anything incredibly fancy.
The dishwashers, on the other hand, are made by Bosch... for the time being, anyway. Bosch recently lost the Hotpoint dishwasher contract, and production will eventually be switched over to Merloni. BAD idea in my opinion, but that's what comes of mergers.
I see your point about why many folks don't worry too much about having matched washer/dryer pairs. Of course, there's also the fact that many folks only use the dryer during the winter months, when wet weather makes it impossible to line dry. In those situations, a dryer is merely a standby, therefore it's not always worth spending muchos cash on one.
Funny you should mention your other half being none too pleased at the sound of the washer or vacuum running. My mother always hears "Is that bloody washing machine on AGAIN?" from my father, as like me she has it running every day. As she says, it's either that or no clean drawers for the rest of the week LOL.
*****
Post# 16753-4/18/2002-20:12 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: I think Persil dropped their compact powders in the late 90s, when they started making tablets. Ariel only discontinued theirs about a year ago at the most, but like Persil, now only offer tablets as an alternative.
Generally, liquids are best suited to oily, greasy soils, and powders work better on clay-type soils such as mud. Of course, that may differ with the eco brands, as their composition is rather different to most major brands.
You might want to check out Sainsbury's own-brand detergents. I'm pretty sure they include an "eco" line, which may offer something missing from the revised Ecover range. Surely Ecover isn't the only company who caters for that particular sector of the market?
*****
Post# 16754-4/18/2002-20:16 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent) (OT )
MESSAGE: We believe you, thousands wouldn't LOL.
My mother is terribly naive about these things, in fact it's one of her most endearing qualities. Often she'll hear something on TV, and ask my father what it means. He'll just look at her as if to say, "You are kidding me, aren't you?" Upon hearing the explanation, she usually ends up wishing she hadn't bothered to ask!
*****
Post# 16755-4/18/2002-20:46 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Mud house)
MESSAGE: Actually, he is! Not one to mince his words, which has kind of rubbed off onto me, too. Funny thing is, a lot of people tell me I talk "really posh", although I think that might be due to differences in accent. Being from the South, I stick out like a sore thumb here as soon as I open my mouth.
My parents live in a semi also - their house is red brick, whereas the adjoining neighbours have stone cladding. It looks very odd from the outside, to say the least. But it doesn't bother them, as it's not something you notice when you're indoors.
*****
Post# 16756-4/18/2002-22:55 ||| appnut (Temple, TX)
SUBJECT: RE: New for 1952 - The Frigidaire Filtra-Matic Dryer
MESSAGE: Yes, a load of bright colors has it all over the NBC Peacock. In fact, a load of bright colors tumbling should be their new moving color logo.
*****
Post# 16757-4/18/2002-23:55 ||| washrfreak (Dallas)
SUBJECT: RE: Someone's a year older???
MESSAGE: don't forget Audrey (Forbes-Hamilton).
*****
Post# 16758-4/18/2002-00:37 ||| fanfare (Idaho)
SUBJECT: Unimatic Question
MESSAGE: Can anyone tell me how the old Frigidaire Unimatic mechanism changed from agitation to spin? It seems to happen too quickly to be a reversing motor, since there is no pause. I assume it is solenoid activated, but am not sure. Just curious. Thanks!
*****
Post# 16759-4/18/2002-01:20 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Mud house)
MESSAGE: Interesting Link mein Herr,
Some of the homes don't look too bad, but are a little plain for my liking. Personally, I am a bit of a traditionalist. Not at all into modern architecture, too minimalistic for me. I like things to look busy, I need a lot of stimulation and plain simple things just don't do it for me.
Give me proper Queen Ann or Victorian architecture, Baroque, Elizabethan half-timbered (post and beam), American New England architecture i.e. the Saltbox style, love shutters and the windows with little panes, Gambrel roofs do it to me every time and of course a garage needs a cuppola with a weather cock on top.
Love old-style Queenslanders and Californian bungalows from the 30's, of which there are quite a few in Sydney. They have these gorgeous pressed metal ceilings with fruit and vegie motifs and they are very high, with very ornate cornices. Also love the gorgeous cast-iron fireplaces that come with these homes.
A good house has a big porch and a lahaina. A living space open to the outside, that is insect proofed with screens and allows one to bring the great outdoors into ones living room, but that can be shut off from the elements if needed.
Anyway, attached is a link for one of my favorite building styles - the traditional Queenslander. Have a peek.
LINK: http://www.traditionalqueenslanders.com.au
*****
Post# 16760-4/18/2002-01:43 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Mud house)
MESSAGE: And of course there is the Homeworld site, which will give you a look into contemporary Australian homes for suburbia. There are other development companies like this one, and display villages like Homeworld are spread around Sydney, particularly in areas where new tracts of land have been opened up for development by them. Companies like Homeworld offer land and home packages for sale and organize finance as well.
Usually new developments are marketed as complete estates with their own schools, their own shopping malls, recreational facilities and so on. Some of them are open and others are closed (i.e. they have 24/365 security).
Enjoy!
*****
Post# 16761-4/18/2002-01:45 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Here is the link)
MESSAGE: I am getting old.
LINK: http://www.homeworld.com.au
*****
Post# 16762-4/19/2002-02:53 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: Hi Kirk,
Yep there are a few Eco lines, Bio D (or is it Big D?), contains bleach, Down to Earth which contains bleach and bleach activator. I will look at Sainsburys, its powder, I think contains bleach, but it may have a liquid suitable.
To combine the reply with another post if I may, fancy me guessing about your Dad's background and our Dads having the same background, sailors really must be a coarse lot.
Richtoo
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Post# 16763-4/19/2002-03:02 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: I reckon that whoever invents the silent washer and vacuum cleaner will become very rich.
Notice how, whilst they moan about the washer and vac, they would not dream of actually uising them. Some time ago, some muck on the landing was really annoying him, he kept commenting on it so I deliberatly did not vac it, so he decided he would vacuum the landing. He asked where it was kept, how to put the hose in and the pipes on, where to plug it in, how to turn it on.... We had had the vac over 12 months and he hasn't used it since, we had the old one 10 years and he *never* once used it. He did use our first vac once, I caught him vacuuming the carpet with the dusting brush whose bristles fell out shortly after.
If I need him to use the washer, if I'm away for a while, I have to leave detailed written instructions on load, cycles, and detergent.
He does unload the DW, but his loading has to be seen, one woulld only get a third of the capacity used left to him, ie plate, gap, gap, plate.
Richtoo
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Post# 16764-4/19/2002-05:37 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (Mining for goodies)
MESSAGE: Well Sudsmaster,
You know what they say. "In America anything is possible!"
Have you ever read the Flashman Series, by George McDonald Frazer?
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Post# 16765-4/19/2002-05:40 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (OT Marmite)
MESSAGE: Hobbits are cute, I wonder if they fit into a 13 lbs top load washer and would they shrink in hot water?
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Post# 16766-4/19/2002-05:58 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: Lux soap (OOOPS! What a stuff-up)
MESSAGE: Well gizmo,
If I kiss you again, will you turn into a fairy tailed prince?
Lets try it :o*
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Post# 16767-4/19/2002-06:05 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: One thing you might want to try is the Ecos detergent, as mentioned by Sudsy Rich. Apparently it's plant-based, and available in both powder and liquid forms. I did see a post here, giving details of a UK distributor who can supply by mail order, so if anyone can elaborate on that, it may be something worth trying.
Don't you just hate it when you find a product you really like, and then the manufacturer decides to give it the chop?
Perhaps it's no surprise that both our fathers are sailors LOL. Mind you, some of the things I've heard my father say have even shocked me, and that's not exactly easy!
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Post# 16768-4/19/2002-06:09 ||| Mr-Bubbles (Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Mud house)
MESSAGE: Sounds great gizmo,
Hope everything goes according to plan. Having been involved in two of my parent's owner-builder projects, I know how challenging it can be.
Tell me, do you actually have a couple of Aussie automatic vintage washers? Like the ones out of those CR reports from 1963 and 1971? We have an appliance wholesaler who operates out of a warehouse nearby and I have been keeping my eyes peeled on the trade ins that he accepts, but so far nothing extraordinary has found its way onto his backlot.
Best of Luck!
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Post# 16769-4/19/2002-06:12 ||| arrrooohhh (Sydney Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Mud house)
MESSAGE: Hi Chris. That really sounds facinating. I magine its like one of those homes in Owner Builder magazine.
What is the outside design? A long ranch style? Verandahs all the way around. I love lofts with dormer windows.
I really am facinated by houses, as much as with washing machines. I wanted to be an architect but I hated tech drawing at high school. With a passion. Killed any motivation I had to be an architech plus I met a few and they were real wankers.
My personal favourite is the old federation style homes. Haberfield and places like that have heaps of them but they cost so much money esp with this ridiculous property boom. None of these people care about the houses anyway its all just money money money. Bankstown used to have a large number of californian bungalows but most off these have been torn down to become ugly poorly designed blocks of flats. The worst case was this incredibly beautiful house in Meredith St. in Bankstown. It was one of those 30's style ship houses with a garden to match. It was really near to my Nans house and my Mum said when she was growing up that people would come from everywhere to look at this house and its beautiful gardens. The owner died and it became derelict and now the ungliest block of flats are there. I cried the day it got pulled down.
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Post# 16770-4/19/2002-06:15 ||| arrrooohhh (Sydney Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Mud house)
MESSAGE: One has to admit that project homes today offer much more variety than they did in the 70's and 80's when it was all those hideous red brick Neeta homes that fill the streets of Georges Hall, North Rocks, Greystanes and Winston Hills.
Did you hear that Parramatta council has put Winston Hills on heritage listing to preserve its 1970's atmosphere?
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Post# 16771-4/19/2002-06:23 ||| arrrooohhh (Sydney Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Mud house)
MESSAGE: My Uncle used to work for Bryants.
Not the snobby one.
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Post# 16772-4/19/2002-06:27 ||| arrrooohhh (Sydney Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Bryants)
MESSAGE: I think the houses are quite cute. constantly amazed at the small room sizes though!
I personally am sick of the fake federation houses that were so popular a few years ago. Just take an ordainairy brick box, add a ducth gable and bull nose verandah and voila! a ferderation style home. One builder though had the decency to offer a steeper roof pitch and the option of higher ceilings making things look a bit more authentic.
The popular style now is cement rendered "tuscany" style.
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Post# 16773-4/19/2002-06:27 ||| kirk280980 (Lincoln UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Well, I suppose there is a silent vacuum cleaner of sorts, in the form of a central vac. With the canister being located away from the living quarters, you don't actually hear it. But it's not something you tend to see much over here, except in really expensive custom-made homes.
You'd love watching your other half try to use a Kirby. Have you ever used one yourself? Easy once you know how, but it definitely takes some learning to begin with. When I had one, I let my brother borrow it, and spent ages showing him how to use the belt lifter, height adjuster and attachments. Still couldn't get the hang of it, so in the end I had to go round and do it for him.
I used to leave notes on how to use the washer when I was in a house share with a couple of pals. My mother does the same thing for my dad, although nine times out of ten she just ends up telling him to leave it, and that she'll do it when she gets home LOL.
Loading a dishwasher does take some learning, but once you're used to it, everything automatically slots into the right place, and you work out how to fit in as much as possible. Took me an hour to load mine the first time I used it, though.
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Post# 16774-4/19/2002-06:31 ||| arrrooohhh (Sydney Australia)
SUBJECT: POD WIn 10000
MESSAGE: I would one of each of those washing machines!
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Post# 16775-4/19/2002-07:14 ||| washrfreak (Dallas)
SUBJECT: RE: POD WIn 10000
MESSAGE: So you choose the most expensive one, then use the $10,000 to buy the others (and a place to put them).
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Post# 16776-4/19/2002-08:36 ||| gizmo (Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Mud house)
MESSAGE: Hi Richtoo.
No, no pix as yet. It really hasn't been done before, not exactly as I'm planning it. The alleged architect who designed this place built his own house with insulated mud brick, using two skins of thinner than usual mud bricks, with wheat straw between for insulation. It will be a bit trial-and error, I'm afraid. I will certainly be taking some photos of it, on a film camera not digital as I don't have one. One day I will spend the time to get scanning to a Yahoo album organized, but it will be a while. There aren't enough hours in the day. The hubby actually got elected to council about a couple of months ago so our life is a bit topsy-turvy at present.
Interesting technologies??
The house will have solar hot water and solar/wind power. We have that too on our present house but it is an old dump, it will be better in a house designed to be efficient. The waste water will be treated by a Dowmus composting system, a "wet composting" system that treats all waste that would normally go into a septic tank. That is already installed. The fridge will be installed into a ventilated alcove in the kitchen, there is a vent tube under the floor slab that takes cool air from the gully behind the house and vents it below the fridge condenser coils to help stop heat collecting behind and around the fridge, thus improving efficiency. (that has been done before nearby) The laundry will be set up for two washing machines. Plus a couple more in the shed. Every boy needs a shed.
Chris.
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Post# 16777-4/19/2002-09:31 ||| gizmo (Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Mud house)
MESSAGE: Yes, it is like many homes seen in Owner Builder mag. I read it regularly, though it tends to be all the same after a while.
I found an ad in OB mag which has a website with photos similar to our design.
Go to www.postbeam.com.au, then select photographs, then select loft. The photo of " loft home 45 degree roof pitch with attic dormer" is very similar to ours. The loft photo is sort of similar, too. If you love lofts with dormer windows you would love our house. If you read OB mag you will see ads for Peter Lees architect, we got a book of his plans and his articles inspired our design, though we used a different architect. We really designed it ourself, and got it drawn up by the architect/wanker. He was a pain, made so many structural mistakes which fortunately the building approval process picked up, I ended up buying a copy of the Timber Framing Manual and going over all the timber size calculations myself, which is what we employed the so-and-so for in the first place. Still, the exercise gave me a much greater understanding of how it alll goes together and what task each component performs.
The poured mud idea came from written articles and a lecture by Bob Rich, who has written several books on earth building, and a good book on basic woodwork called "woodworking for idiots like me" which was handy, too.
Before we moved to the bush we lived in Richmond, inner suburban Melbourne. Our home there was a 1926 californian bungalow, two bedroom. It was in a group of under thirty homes all built about the same time, using plans provided by the State bank. They were all very similar and remarkably all were very original apart from some "modernization" carried out i nthe 1950's to a few. It was a gorgeous preserved pocket in a suburb that generally had a rough mix of original but dilapidated homes from before the turn of the century to ugly three srorey flats of the 1960's. At the end of the street there was the old doctors residence, a gorgeous and larger Cal Bung style home on a treed double block. It has been demolished in the last two years and has been replaced with a hideous monument to the architects lack of appreciation of the area or the amenity of the surrounding residents. All built from rendered concrete blocks with plenty of "gob ons".
The "slums of the future" school of architecture.
Oh, dear.
Chris.
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Post# 16778-4/19/2002-09:57 ||| gizmo (Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (vintage washers)
MESSAGE: No I'm afraid I no longer have any "vintage" washers. I had two Keymatics, I gave one which I had fully restored to the Salvation Army (they had a giant new "thrift Store" near our Richmond house and I thought they might like it for a display as they sold reco appliances to raise funds), the other was in pretty rough condition and I had extensively modified it to run on 12 volt DC (non-automatic) so when I no longer needed it I dismantled it, kept a few useful parts and (gulp) took the rest in for recycling. I had a couple of Wilkins Servis twins and several Hoover twins, I didn't think much of the Wilkins so they went, and the Hoovers weren't really vintage but I have kept one in excellent shape and have the other one ( a roughy) outside in the weather. No vintage Auto's I'm afraid. When the house project is a little more advanced I will scour a couple of recycle centres again.
I have several "interesting" washers not normally found in Aus, including a Hotpoint 9560 which was a TOL front loader in the late eighties (noisy, rinses poorly, takes ages and spectacularly unreliable) and a Philips TLFL (don't remember the model number) made in France. It is a little screamer, one of my favourites. Two Simpson Delta Tens which need new bearings (or need throwing out) and a dead F&P gentle Annie, kept for spares for Mum's washer. Plus a couple of other front loaders (Philips and Bendix - 1980's models) Plus the Asko and F&P in the laundry that I use regularly.
Chris.
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Post# 16779-4/19/2002-11:15 ||| Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Unimatic Question
MESSAGE: The Unimatic's motor runs at 1140rpm and does not reverse. To shift into spin a solenoid is energized...
LINK: http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/frigidaire1140/vwp?.dir=/WI-57+Restoration&.src=ph&.dnm=Unimatic+Mechanism+Pulsation.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/frigidaire1140/lst%3f%26.dir=/WI-57%2bRestoration%26.src=ph%26.view=t
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Post# 16780-4/19/2002-11:28 ||| foraloysius (Groningen, The Netherlands)
SUBJECT: RE: Persil wesbite updated
MESSAGE: Yes, the Ariel overhere is an "ultra" powder. The lowest dosage is 44ml. We also have the tablets, the liquids and the liquitabs. It's been quite a while that I saw the big boxes overhere.
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Post# 16781-4/19/2002-11:42 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Rich, would a perfect world have hubby helping out more with the domestic chores, or are you happier handling things yourself, your own way? Though I am single, I am so picky and set in my ways that it be probably best I handle my own domestic duty.
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Post# 16782-4/19/2002-11:51 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Mud house)
MESSAGE: Chris,
Thanks for the link, I like the look of that house, it has a good simplicity about it, and it looks very good in amongst the trees like that. The other house designs on the sight are smart too, as well as this sort of 'simple but following the traditional' style I also rather like the ultra modern glass boxes that one sometimes sees in magazines.
I am comming to the conclusion that Aus and UK English are more similar that US English, particularly the vulgar words. I don't think that the W word is used in US, but it is very popular in the UK and I see Aus too, great word isn't it. I guess it is due to when the bulk emigration from the UK happened at what language was in use at that time.
I am enjoying hearinng about your new house, please keep us posted.
Richtoo
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Post# 16783-4/19/2002-11:59 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Hi Scott,
Thanks, you are right, I do refer things done my way. He does cook brilliantly though (I taught him!!!), though I confess he is a much better cook than me now. I do wish he would do the garden though. Left to me, I would design an attractive but absolutely minimal maintenance garden and possibly even pay someone to what was needed, he claims to like gardening, and wants a more labour intensive design, but does not do it.
I must admit, I do sometimes envy my single friends, but then again I would miss him like hell if I did not have him, we have been together for nearly half my life. (For those familiar with UK homophobic & discriminatory law, we were just very good friends for the first 2 years, believe that)
Richtoo
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Post# 16784-4/19/2002-12:08 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: UK Neptune (Mud house)
MESSAGE: Hi again Chris,
Congrats to your Hunny. What has the world come to, openly gay councillors, mutter mutter mutter? Actually, an ex of mine is a local and out councillor, things really have moved on, and about bloody time too.
Pity about the camera, I guess we will have a long wait for those pics, scanning is time consuming and tiresome, and you must be very busy.
I think I remembered that you had solar already, that is so slow to catch on in the UK, I wonder why. We are seeing more wind farms though, they are so beautiful.
I will have to web search on the Dowmus system, I am not familiar with this. Your fridge ventilator reminds me of teh old Roman underfloor hot air central heating system, a variation on the theme.
Agreed about the shed, though I use the attic and laundry room as mine and leave the actual shed to himself. I am planning on getting a decent work bench set up for the attic, even puffs can enjoy power drills and saws (I nearly said power tools but thought better of it).
Richtoo
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Post# 16785-4/19/2002-12:14 ||| gansky1 (Omaha, NE)
SUBJECT: A Unimatic Tub Full of Water....Heart Stopping Horror!
MESSAGE: I started a load of wash in the '57 Control Tower last night and gazed in awe as the clothes rolled over and over in the warm sudsy water for a few minutes and then went off to bed. This morning when I got up, I went down to move them to the dryer and when I opened the lid, my heart dropped. The tub was still full of water and I could tell by the clothes still on the sides of the tub from the first spin that there had been no rinse agitation or obviously, final spin. I tried to reset the timer dial for the rinse agitation and got no response. After some experimenting with the timer, I found that if I held the pointer "just so" I was able to get power to the motor to spin out the water and pump it out of the machine. Good thing I already had a new timer waiting the in the wings, but since I have to take the panel apart anyway, I'm going to take the chrome pieces off the machine tonight and take them to be re-chromed which will take about four weeks. Good thing too that I have another unimatic running so I won't go into withdrawl for 1140 rpm spins!
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Post# 16786-4/19/2002-12:23 ||| herr-miele (UK)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Hi Kirk,
Central vacs, sore point. Someone spent ages researching them and planning the pipework; easy to install when your house is stripped back to the brick and all floors have been removed. Someone else could not see the point and considered £500 to be a lot of money, we were spending thousands.
We have reached a compromise. I pay a fantastic person to run the Miele around whilst we are at work. Previously at teh weekend when i got the vac out is was 'do we have to listen to that', but if I suggested a cleaner, it was dismissed as the house was in to bad a state before we renovated. (I have seen 2 other houses that our cleaner does and they are worse than ours ever was).
Kirbys, wellI have drooled over one in teh flesh, and read teh manual from cover to cover. A woman I babysat for had one, plus 2 boisterous boy sprogs, 2 beautiful ginger tom cats and a house fully carpeted in dark green plush. There was not a hair or crumb on that carpet, I know, I checked. The thought of the BF using one, LOL.
I hope your brother is as obliging when you need a lift in the car. You struggled with those gears and controls.
What I don't understand with teh DW is taht he unloads it so sees every day how I loaded it, but still does not learn. Its not that he does not want to load it, he frequently loads as he is cooking, and I have to reload when he isn't looking.
Richtoo
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Post# 16787-4/19/2002-13:01 ||| scott55405 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Drying Cotton Clothing (a vent)
MESSAGE: Kirbies are wonderful for vac'ing carpets and such, but stick to the canister Mieles and etc. for your hose and attachment cleaning, it's a much better method.
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Post# 16788-4/19/2002-14:54 ||| golittlesport (California)
SUBJECT: Robert's Apex
MESSAGE: Here is an ad for sale on Ebay of Robert's (Unimatic) dream machine...the Apex automatic. Everyone keep an eye out!
LINK: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2017280808
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Post# 16789-4/19/2002-15:00 ||| Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: A Unimatic Tub Full of Water....Heart Stopping Horror!
MESSAGE: Boy, I don't know what I would do without any Unimatics Greg, the time it takes for me to do our laundry would double.
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Post# 16790-4/19/2002-15:01 ||| Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)
SUBJECT: RE: Robert's Apex
MESSAGE: Yup, that was the machine I had once, and destroyed due to my "newbie-ness" in washer restoration.
Signed,
booo hooo :(
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Post# 16791-4/19/2002-16:58 ||| surgilator (North Hykeham, UK)
SUBJECT: Back to the Floor
MESSAGE: Hi all,
Sorry haven't posted for ages, my internet has been down, probably because of the total $#!+ company called ntl. Anyway, did anyone here in the UK see Back to the Floor tonight? This week was in the Hoover hoover factory, and it was quite interesting. The manager went onto the workshop floor, and it was funny to see that, although he was the boss, he didn't have a clue on how to put the damned cleaners together!
from surge
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