Thread Number: 12885
New Alliance/Speed Queen Washers & Dryers
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Post# 224057   7/20/2007 at 17:09 (6,096 days old) by djmjlcst (Bloomington, Illinois)        

Hey Everyone,

I'm somewhat new to this list. I just purchased a new Speed Queen AWS76NW washer and a Speed Queen AGS68SAWF matching dryer. I'm happy with them and they are super capacity machines. I wondered if anyone else on the list have purchased a new Speed Queen washer and/or dryer and if you like them. About the only thing I don't like about them is they are only available in white. Other than that, they are quiet and do a great job cleaning clothes, towels, etc.

I also own a 1983 Speed Queen HA7001L Almond washer thats still going strong. The only thing I've replaced was the inlet valve and that aerator device attached on the outer tub where the inlet water hose connects to. I used to have a Speed Queen AWE931 washer with the electronic touch pad control but it died when a Downy fabric softener dispenser got lodged underneath the agitator and it started leaking under the tub - probably a seal - but instead of fixing it I traded it in for the new pair I described above. Looking back on it now I should've kept it and found out from this list if it was worth fixing or not since nothing else was wrong with it.

I still have the matching Speed Queen AGE939L Almond dryer with the electronic touch pad control and it still works great. Both of these were purchased in 1991, and have given us years of loyal service. We had to replace the electronic touch pads once from a freak lightning storm that happened over 10 years ago and fried the panels on both the washer and the dryer, amongst taking out my roommates stereo receiver and cable box! Thank goodness for insurance as it paid for both replacements - $200.00 each! I only recently replaced the felt seal on the front of this dryer since it started making that metal on metal scraping noise as the drum turned. Both of the these were purchased in 1991.

I also have the old matching Speed Queen HG7009L Almond dryer that matched the SQ HA7001L washer. It had the felt seal replaced too over 10 years ago as well. This one is not currently hooked up but still works well.

I have two washers and two dryers currently hooked up and operating. My roommate and I will eventually hook up the old dryer so we'll have three operating models to use. I'll have to upload a few pictures of our laundry room set up. Nothing fancy, just functional.

I guess I'm a Speed Queen fan from way back when my Mom had a 1964 model just like the one that Unimatic1140 had recently hooked up.

Thanks for a great web site! I thought I was the only one crazy enough to love the old washers and dryers!

Mike





Post# 224085 , Reply# 1   7/20/2007 at 20:41 (6,096 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
We love pictures! If you have a digital camera, it would be great to see photos of your machines. And rest assured, there are hundreds of us crazy enough to love old washers and dryers----and new ones, too, for that matter. Welcome aboard, Mike.


Post# 225232 , Reply# 2   7/25/2007 at 20:48 (6,091 days old) by paulg (My sweet home... Chicago)        
I too bought the new Speed Queen

paulg's profile picture
I bought a new Alliance-Speed Queen pair about two years ago.
Thoroughly pleased. They are SOLID! I visited some competition at the stores and they seem so flimsy in construction.
.... and I've never had an unbalanced load in my new Speed Queen washer...
I just wish they'd made something additional - like a dishwasher or something. I want to buy more of their well-made product but have no use for another (new/everyday) washer or dryer.


Post# 225388 , Reply# 3   7/26/2007 at 10:39 (6,090 days old) by washerman8 ()        
I Purchased Two Pairs....

I purchased two sets of Speed Queen washers/dryers. I lost the first set due to a divorce. I purchased another set (models AWS52/AES68)and I, absolutely, love them. I wouldn't replace them with anything that is being sold in today's market. The washer performs very well and the dryer dries quick.



Post# 225705 , Reply# 4   7/27/2007 at 22:19 (6,089 days old) by djmjlcst (Bloomington, Illinois)        
Speed Queen Pictures!

Hey Everyone, I got the Nikon digital camera out tonight and started snapping some pictures. I'm new to posting so I hope the images are OK! Enjoy! - Mike

P.S. Is there a way to compress the image so it isn't so huge? Something on my Adobe settings? Any advice will be appreciated!


Post# 225707 , Reply# 5   7/27/2007 at 22:23 (6,089 days old) by djmjlcst (Bloomington, Illinois)        
More Speed Queen!

Here's #2 - Mike

Post# 225709 , Reply# 6   7/27/2007 at 22:26 (6,089 days old) by djmjlcst (Bloomington, Illinois)        
Speed Queen HA7001L

Here's #3 - Mike

Post# 225710 , Reply# 7   7/27/2007 at 22:30 (6,089 days old) by djmjlcst (Bloomington, Illinois)        
Speed Queen AWS76NW

Here's the 2007 edition - Mike

Post# 225712 , Reply# 8   7/27/2007 at 22:32 (6,089 days old) by djmjlcst (Bloomington, Illinois)        
Speed Queen AWS76NW

Here's the interior shot - Mike

Post# 225713 , Reply# 9   7/27/2007 at 22:37 (6,089 days old) by djmjlcst (Bloomington, Illinois)        
Speed Queen AWS76NW

Here's the lid shot. - Mike

Post# 225714 , Reply# 10   7/27/2007 at 22:40 (6,089 days old) by djmjlcst (Bloomington, Illinois)        
3 Decades of Speed Queen!

Here's our dryer setup - Mike

Post# 225715 , Reply# 11   7/27/2007 at 22:43 (6,089 days old) by djmjlcst (Bloomington, Illinois)        
Speed Queen AGE939L

Here's our electronic dryer - Mike

Post# 225716 , Reply# 12   7/27/2007 at 22:46 (6,089 days old) by djmjlcst (Bloomington, Illinois)        
Speed Queen AGE939L

Here's the interior shot - Mike

Post# 225717 , Reply# 13   7/27/2007 at 22:48 (6,089 days old) by djmjlcst (Bloomington, Illinois)        
Speed Queen AGS68AWF

Here's the new 2007 dryer. - Mike

Post# 225719 , Reply# 14   7/27/2007 at 22:51 (6,089 days old) by djmjlcst (Bloomington, Illinois)        
Speed Queen AGS68AWF

Here's the interior shot - Mike

Post# 225720 , Reply# 15   7/27/2007 at 22:53 (6,089 days old) by washerfanatic ()        

Nice going! At last, I comment on the Speed Queens. Good going on picking the set that does a REAL warm/hot wash, not dumbed down, and wise to pick Speed Queen with a long, brisk agitator, not the boring shredtator. And good for SQ on doing a very detailed manual, not the lame, boring WP style versions.

Congrats!


Post# 225721 , Reply# 16   7/27/2007 at 22:53 (6,089 days old) by djmjlcst (Bloomington, Illinois)        
Speed Queen HG7009L

Here's the 1984 dryer - Mike

Post# 225723 , Reply# 17   7/27/2007 at 22:57 (6,089 days old) by djmjlcst (Bloomington, Illinois)        
Speed Queen HG7009L

Here's the interior shot. This dryer is SNO (standing - not operating - yet)! But it still works great! - Mike

Post# 225726 , Reply# 18   7/28/2007 at 00:12 (6,089 days old) by whirlcool (Just North Of Houston, Texas)        

To reduce the file size of photos you are trying to upload do the following:

Reduce photos to 800x600
Reduce the number of colors to 256. Most people can't tell the difference, but the file size will drop considerably!


Post# 225774 , Reply# 19   7/28/2007 at 12:29 (6,088 days old) by djmjlcst (Bloomington, Illinois)        
Thanks for the advice Whirlcool!

I appreciate your message. I'll try it next time I post pictures! Mike

Post# 225781 , Reply# 20   7/28/2007 at 12:38 (6,088 days old) by irishwashguy (Salem,Oregon.............A Capital City)        
Those look great!

irishwashguy's profile picture
I am a real stickler for buying things that are totally solid and well made.They do not have the laundromat market for nothing! Congrads!
PS---do you know what the top spin speed is in the washer? How long would you say that it takes for a load of wash to dry?


Post# 225847 , Reply# 21   7/28/2007 at 21:48 (6,088 days old) by washerman8 ()        
Irishwashguy.....

The top spin speed is 710rpms, and it takes about 45 mins to dry a heavy load of clothes. I set my timer on less dry and high heat, and a load of jeans if completely dry around 45 mins. The Speed Queen dryers get hot.

Post# 225848 , Reply# 22   7/28/2007 at 21:55 (6,088 days old) by johnb300m (Chicago)        
NOT a SpeedQueen fan

johnb300m's profile picture
I don't know what it is... but my apt. complex and college dorms all had SpeedQueen machines, and they were ALWAYS broken.
What's up with that?

At the public Maytag laundromat I've only seen a very small handful of broken machines...maybe 1 every other week.

I don't know... but SpeedQueens don't impress me. Unless you can show me an "under the panel" shot of their durable mechanics and sway me...I'll stick with Maytag.


Post# 225854 , Reply# 23   7/28/2007 at 22:50 (6,088 days old) by dudleyfuddpucke (USA)        

Oh my gosh, pardon my ignorance, but did Speed Queen make Amana (or vice versa)? The interior of your 2007 model looks identical to my circa-99 LWA50AW. Right down to the agitator, tub, and even the dials on the front (although yours has more features than mine).

I didn't think too highly of my Amana when I first got it, but it still works and has never had a single service call in 8+ years. It makes me want to keep holding on to it as long as possible when I read about folks praising their $1,000+ front loaders because they almost lasted 6 years before going terminal!


Post# 225879 , Reply# 24   7/29/2007 at 04:12 (6,088 days old) by djmjlcst (Bloomington, Illinois)        
Different Strokes for Different Folks!

Well I've had very good luck with my SQ's so I'm still supporting the company.

To johnb300m; I know that laundromats and college dorms use washers and dryers 24/7, maybe your laundromats didn't have good management to get the machines fixed when they were broken - or else the owners just didn't care. Who knows? All I know is that my SQ's have always performed well for me and outside of replacing an inlet valve on the old washer and a felt seal on the old dryer, that's just regular maintenance for a machine that's 24+ years old and still working!

To dudleyfuddpucke; I believe that SQ did make Amana for awhile. I was told when SQ stopped making machines for the home market that the Amana brand was equivalent of SQ. This happened sometime during the 90's. I believe Raytheon Co. made the SQ's in the 80's and 90's and the Amana machines too. Now Alliance has purchased SQ and this is their model. It comes as no surprise that the Amana was cloned from SQ. I mean look at Maytag - whoever would've thought that Whirlpool would one day own them!

Just my .02 - Mike


Post# 225887 , Reply# 25   7/29/2007 at 06:01 (6,088 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        
Oooooh!!!

foraloysius's profile picture
Speed Queen heaven!! Thank you for the pictures. If I was living nearby I would start saving laundry and come over for a wash-in. I like the long stroke of the Speed Queen agitator. Excuse me, but I have to watch my Speed Queen video now...

Post# 226153 , Reply# 26   7/30/2007 at 08:53 (6,087 days old) by washerman8 ()        
Johnb300m.....

I had a friend that worked at a laundromat. At first his employer used the GE Filter Flo coin-op washers. After they kept breaking down, the owner switched to Speed Queen. He told me that Speed Queen broked down far less that the GE's did.

Also, he told me that customers would come in and overload the washers constantly; needlesstosay, causing the machines to malfunction. He stated some folks try to cram as much clothing into those washers because they did not want to spend an extra dollar.

If any machine is constantly overloaded, it is going to break down sooner or later. It's a given. I've used Speed Queen coin-ops since I was a kid and always had clean laundry.


Post# 226157 , Reply# 27   7/30/2007 at 09:28 (6,086 days old) by launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        

launderess's profile picture
Raytheon's Alliance Laundry division had the Speed Queen and Amana brands amoung others. When Raytheon got out of the commercial and domestic laundry business it sold off the Alliance division. Maytag ultimately ended up with the Amana brand, and Alliance Laundry with Speed Queen. A non-conpetitive agreement was reached where each would staff of the other's patch for a period of time. That is Alliance would not sell Speed Queen laundry appliances for domestic use, but only commercial. IIRC that agreement ended in 1997, or thereabouts hence the return of Speed Queen laundry appliances to the domestic market. Maytag tried various methods to stop Alliance, even legal action, but lost.

Post# 227839 , Reply# 28   8/5/2007 at 12:15 (6,080 days old) by speed_queen75 ()        
OHHHH!!! Nice

Yes thoese are nice Queens and i want a set of Queens. Djmjlcst I shure wish you could post a video of the action in them, i shure would love to see the motion of the agitator.
Oh and BTW what is the wash time on a heavy cycle? just curious to know. Thanks Lee. Bye for now


Post# 227871 , Reply# 29   8/5/2007 at 15:32 (6,080 days old) by djmjlcst (Bloomington, Illinois)        
Heavy Wash Time

Hi Lee,

According to the manual, the heavy cycle has a 15 minute wash time. I don't own a video camcorder (yet) but I'll see if I can borrow one and upload some real action shots. - Mike


Post# 227886 , Reply# 30   8/5/2007 at 18:03 (6,080 days old) by mulls ()        
FL Speed Queens

Anyone have experience with the FL'ers?Heard complaints about short wash times-I think this has been corrected,the SQ site claims a 24 min wash when set to regular.Heater now too-should be a cleaning fool!I too value quality construction over flash.
Tom


Post# 227887 , Reply# 31   8/5/2007 at 18:40 (6,080 days old) by speed_queen75 ()        
15 Mins

That is sufficient enough for a clean load of clothes, Thanks djmjlcst. That would be awesome if you could upload some real action, YAY!!!! oh how i love washing machines hehe :-).
Just wanted to ask you is it quiet during the cycle? Thanks Lee :-)


Post# 227888 , Reply# 32   8/5/2007 at 18:41 (6,080 days old) by speed_queen75 ()        
15 Mins

That is sufficient enough for a clean load of clothes, Thanks djmjlcst. That would be awesome if you could upload some real action, YAY!!!! oh how i love washing machines hehe :-).
Just wanted to ask you is it quiet during the cycle? Thanks Lee :-)


Post# 227889 , Reply# 33   8/5/2007 at 18:43 (6,080 days old) by speed_queen75 ()        
Whoops!!!!

Posted the same thing twice, sorry about that guys, computer going om the fritz here.

Post# 227971 , Reply# 34   8/5/2007 at 23:04 (6,080 days old) by pulsator (Saint Joseph, MI)        

pulsator's profile picture
How does the 2007 Speed Queen washer fill? Does it fill like the new Speed Queen coin-ops? I took this picture at Clean '05 in Orlando:

Post# 227976 , Reply# 35   8/5/2007 at 23:22 (6,080 days old) by djmjlcst (Bloomington, Illinois)        
2007 - Quiet!

Hi Lee (speed queen75),

The 2007 washer is very quiet - a lot more quiet than the old HA7001L. We have it in our basement and I keep the basement door open. When it runs I can't tell when I'm upstairs if its washing or spinning!

Hey Pulsator,

The 2007 Speed Queen fills only from the back - very much like the classic old SQ's from the 60's and 70's. It doesn't fill around the rim & from the back like the picture you took. (Great shot btw!) The old HA7001L fills on the right side of the washer - 1/2 of the stream of water flowing in the tub and the other 1/2 going around the rim.

Take Care,

Mike


Post# 227981 , Reply# 36   8/5/2007 at 23:42 (6,080 days old) by pulsator (Saint Joseph, MI)        

pulsator's profile picture
Would the agitator from the HA7001L work in the 2007 machine? I'm thinkin seriously about gettin one of the new SQ washers, just wanna know what I can and can't do with it!

Post# 227992 , Reply# 37   8/6/2007 at 00:48 (6,080 days old) by djmjlcst (Bloomington, Illinois)        
Agitator

Hey Pulsator,

No, the agitator from the HA7001L will not fit on the new AWS76NW as it has a much deeper tub (super capacity) and therefore the agitator will not reach all the way down to tub.

Thanks for asking though!

Mike


Post# 228250 , Reply# 38   8/7/2007 at 07:49 (6,079 days old) by washdayguy ()        
Thanks

Thanks for the comments and pics. SQ is a name I am mostly familiar with as a euphemism; back in my clubbing days it was used to refer to a...well never mind. I’m sure however that I have used them some where along-the-line, back when I was doing my laundry coin-op!

I checked out their web-site and was impressed by their line up; I really loved the double dryer. Anyway it would be nice to find a brand that still makes a quality product and has not been eaten up by, well say, Whirlpool. I will defiantly keep it in mind as my Amana-tag dryer is making all kinds of noise. The washer has already been replaced with a Frigidaire front loader that I am so far happy with!


CLICK HERE TO GO TO washdayguy's LINK


Post# 228504 , Reply# 39   8/8/2007 at 03:17 (6,078 days old) by whirlcool (Just North Of Houston, Texas)        

The control panel on the new Speed Queens have kind of a Staber-ish look to the design.

The electronic dryer is from Speed Queens Raytheon days. We almost bought a Speed Queen Electronic set back in 93', but ended up with a Whirlpool Electronic set instead.

Speed Queen advertises that they use metal gearing instead of plastic gearing which should be more durable.

Over the years, I have seen Speed Queen commercial washers in laundromats all over the place, they are quite umbitquitous. There must be a reason for this.

As far as Speed Queen goes, we would strongly consider a Speed Queen FL set for our next washer.


Post# 228508 , Reply# 40   8/8/2007 at 04:57 (6,078 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Nice Machines...

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Those Speed Queens look just the job, the 1983 model looks Classic and ready to do the job...

Question: What year was the first Speed Queen made with a perforated basket????

Mike


Post# 228716 , Reply# 41   8/8/2007 at 17:33 (6,077 days old) by djmjlcst (Bloomington, Illinois)        
Perforated Tub

Hi ChesterMikeUK,

I'm not sure when SQ started the perforated wash tubs but I'll guess sometime in the early 80's. I know that SQ had the solid stainless steel tubs in the 60's and 70's when McGraw-Edison owned SQ. We owned one McGraw-Edison SQ harvest gold washer and dryer set in the late 70's. We also owned another 70's model harvest gold SQ washer in the mid 80's that we bought used. This model had the solid stainless steel tub and the fabric softener dispenser that attached with the clip on the agitator cap. This top of the line model also had a water level control in addition to the famous "overflow" wash and rinse. It also had a light behind the timer that lit up when the washer was running. I wish I had pictures of this machine - I would've posted them here. Come to think of it, the perforated wash tubs might've started when Raytheon purchased SQ from McGraw-Edison but I'm not sure on this. Maybe someone else here in the group knows for sure!

Good question though! - Mike


Post# 228721 , Reply# 42   8/8/2007 at 17:48 (6,077 days old) by bobbyderegis (Boston)        

Hi Mike!
Gorgeous SQ's! I am from a Matyag household, but I always loved my aunt's late 60's SQ. They really are beautiful machines, and built so well. Good choice for your new ones, and keep those oldies but goodies!
Bobby in Boston


Post# 907320 , Reply# 43   11/16/2016 at 20:12 (2,689 days old) by bferrari (Tewksbury)        
Speed Queen vs Maytag video

I think that this Speed Quees VS Maytag Video will explain all you need to know between a great beast of a machine (Speed Queen) and all the others.






CLICK HERE TO GO TO bferrari's LINK


Post# 907357 , Reply# 44   11/17/2016 at 05:21 (2,689 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod)        

toploader55's profile picture
I had no idea the Plastic outer tubs were that flimsy.

Thanks for the vid. Speed Queen. Definitely a quality build.

Now they should build a dishwasher like Hobart used to make KitchenAid.


Post# 907377 , Reply# 45   11/17/2016 at 10:37 (2,688 days old) by brucelucenta ()        

The Alliance version of Speed Queen washers seem quite good. The ones in the 80's and 90's not so much. If you had no problems with your Speed Queen washers from the early 80's thru the 90's you are very fortunate. Not everyone was that lucky.


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