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Thread Number: 15879
Speed Queen |
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| Post# 265794 2/20/2008 at 03:29 (5,909 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod) | ||
I don't think I've ever heard except the vintage Speed Queens discussed anywhere in a while. Are they still making good machines ? Or are they "farmed out,stick on my label Mabel"machines ? Even Consumer Reports never seems to mention them. Does anyone here own one and just curious on it's performance ?
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| Post# 265835 , Reply# 1 2/20/2008 at 09:00 (5,909 days old) by peterh770 (Marietta, GA) | ||
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| Post# 265865 , Reply# 3 2/20/2008 at 12:47 (5,909 days old) by tuthill () | ||
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dorms there are speed queen front loading washers in my dorms here at college and i noticed too the cycle time seems awfully shot (only 30 min or less) but the clothes are always clean | ||
| Post# 265905 , Reply# 5 2/20/2008 at 16:17 (5,908 days old) by brant_ix (Westford, MA) | ||
Not Entirely True... | ||
Post# 265916 , Reply# 7 2/20/2008 at 17:15 (5,908 days old) by mayfan69  (Brisbane Queensland Australia) |
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Speed Queen also badged "Kleenmaid" here in Oz
For sometime here in Australia, Speed Queen domestic machines have been badged under the "Kleenmaid" name and the company has had a monopoly on being able to charge (in my opinion) over the top prices for these machines, mainly due to the fact that you can only buy these machines through "Kleenmaid" retail stores. However, i have discovered that if you have a business on the side or a company, you can buy the 2 speed "Speed Queen" badged domestic washer for much less than the basic single speed "Kleenmaid" For example: the single speed "Kleenmaid" is AU$2400.00 (US$2200.00) and the 2 speed "Speed Queen" bought through the commercial distributers is AU$1600.00 (US$1469.00). So, quite a bit of a saving!! As Rapunzel has stated, these are probably the last of the real quality top loaders available here in Oz considering Maytag has all but disappeared here. If i wasn't too concerned about out water situation here in QLD, i would certainly consider one of these Speed Queens. Below is a link to the one of the commercial distributers websites showing the Speed Queen machine. Regards Leon CLICK HERE TO GO TO mayfan69's LINK | ||
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Post# 265921 , Reply# 8 2/20/2008 at 18:00 (5,908 days old) by launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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When Raytheon (sp?), sold off it's laundry and other divisons, Alliance Laundry Systems got the commercial stuff (Speed Queen, etc) and Maytag residential (Amana, etc). At the time of the sell-off, an agreement was made that Alliance Laundry Systems would not market the SQ brand for residental customers until after a certain period of years, that period expired a few years ago hence Alliance's launch of the SQ line back into the domestic laundry market. IIRC Maytag did make some noises about legal action at the time, since based on their dates Alliance was not supposed to re-enter the market, but nothing came of it in the end. One thing keeping Speed Queen down, IMHO, is the lack of a strong domestic appliance distribution system. Maytag, Whirlpool and the others have had ages to build channels, relationships, and more important brand awareness with consumers. SQ laundry appliances are very hard to find in many areas (still), and not very well known. | ||
| Post# 265923 , Reply# 9 2/20/2008 at 18:05 (5,908 days old) by laundromat (Hilo, Hawaii) | ||
Speed Queen was a Raytheon division untill Goodman went and bought Amana,Caloric,and left Speed Queen and Modern Maid "on the table".Goodman was only interested in the commercial refrigeration(Aheating and cooloing)division of Amana but at that time due to SQ ans Amana being owned originaly by Raytheon,the Amana division had already decided to have themselves enter into laundry products which were made in Racene,Wisconsin at the Speed Queen laundry factories.When Maytag bought Amana leaving Speed Queen behind,Alliance decided to purchase them.This caused a bit of a stir between companies because Speed Queen owned the factories where they made the Amanas too.Soooooooooooo,Maytag had to sign an agreement with Alliance to make their Amana washers and dryers and kept Speed Queen domestic machines completely dormant.They made thousands of machines under SQ for comercial use but none untill recently for the home.I like their top loaders and commercial front loaders
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Post# 265925 , Reply# 10 2/20/2008 at 18:09 (5,908 days old) by launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Thank You | ||
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Post# 265933 , Reply# 12 2/20/2008 at 19:04 (5,908 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia) |
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Good Saving Rapunzel!
Hey Rapunzel, Wow: you made a great saving there on that machine thats for sure! A much better price than what they are charging in the retail outlets. As for the water crisis: the pipeline won't be finished for a little while yet and we are still on Level 6 restrictions which targets 140 litres a day. Once the damns reach 40% (they are currently at 37.9%)then restrictions will be eased to 170 litres a day. Hopefully, the rain will continue and we can reach 50% capacity. Leon | ||
| Post# 265947 , Reply# 13 2/20/2008 at 22:28 (5,908 days old) by laundromat (Hilo, Hawaii) | ||
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Post# 265981 , Reply# 14 2/21/2008 at 07:09 (5,908 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie) |
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I don't understand why Speed Queen isn't available at more local retailers. The local Maytag/Frigidaire dealer had SQ until they stopped domestic production in the '90s. You'd think there would be enough name recognition that SQ could easily make inroads again. Not being a fan of fast, short-stroke agitation, SQ is one of the few top-loaders I'd consider buying. I've come to love my TL Frigidaire, except for the ridiculously low maximum water level, which severely limits load sizes---unless you tamper with the fill switch, as I do. Having said that, rollover is best with a medium-sized (about 8-10 lbs.) load, so maybe they should just reduce the tub size back to a typical 1960's Franklin machine and let the tub fill to the top. The main problem with rollover in my washer is the agitator. It doesn't stir things up enough to handle the very large load its tub can hold. The dual-action spiral really does nothing in my machine, and the four tiny, flexible vanes at the bottom of the agitator just can't handle the job. It needs a good, old-fashioned Westinghouse ramped agitator. My tiny town even has LG appliances and electronics, now! The local Whirlpool/KA dealer carries LG appliances and the local GE dealer carries LG televisions. And the appliance dealer assures me they do their own servicing, which seems to be the chief complaint of those who own LG machines. | ||
| Post# 265995 , Reply# 15 2/21/2008 at 09:18 (5,908 days old) by laundromat (Hilo, Hawaii) | ||
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The average consumer I ask always says their washer is a Kenmore but when I actualy get to see them,they are usualy 65% of the time wrong and astonished at their own ignorance(not saying they're stupid,just not at all interested in brand names of their washing machines.)of not being aware of the products they use everyday.I remember when I worked at Montgomery Ward,a customer was looking at washers and when I asked her what she was replacing,she said"G & E" I said "Do you mean General Electric?" She said "No, I said G & E. You know, Gas and Electric.That's where we bought it."After she said that and I got over the shock,I asked her to discribe the lid.She said it opend to the left and locked during spin.That told me and I explained to her that it was a White Westinghouse.Then she said"Oh yea,it says that on the controls."What can I say? This was normal!Another experience was a woman who asked me for an RCA Whirlpool washer As she was asking about it,she goes and says "You know,the one that goes up and down." I said to her"Lady,if your RCA Whirlpool washer is going up and down,you realy need to replace it!!!" She asked "What do you mean?" I said "Mam,the only washer I know of that goes up and down is the Frigidaire Jet Action 1-18."She said" Oh yea that's it! I wonder why I said it was an RCA Whirlpool?" Da!That is probably why the Speed Queen name hasn't realy ben popular recently.Another reason is that there aren't that many appliance dealers who carry them.
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Post# 266326 , Reply# 17 2/23/2008 at 14:51 (5,905 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions) |
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Years ago, the instructor at a Frigidaire school told us a story about the little old lady who came into the store he worked at, and wanted a new Frigidaire. Her old one wasn't keeping things cold any more. She didn't want a Whirlpool Frigidaire, or a General Electric Frigidaire, she wanted a Frigidaire Frigidaire!
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| Post# 266364 , Reply# 18 2/23/2008 at 17:02 (5,905 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod) | ||
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I just left...
The Speed Queen Website. They're offering 3 years Parts and Labor,5 years on the motor and 10 (Yes that's TEN) years on the transmission. Sounds like the old KitchenAid warrenty. IT'S UNHEARD OF THESE DAYS. I just started to have trouble with the daily driver. A few whiring noises. I'm going to check them out next Tuesday. I'll be looking at a top loader as my interests in Front Loaders has almost totally diminished. Sounds like they're committed to Quality and have Confidence in what they are building and selling. It's about time. | ||
| Post# 266413 , Reply# 19 2/24/2008 at 07:18 (5,905 days old) by laundromat (Hilo, Hawaii) | ||
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