How to change an American Lady that had become a German Hausfrau into some "bella ragazza d'Italia"


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Thread Number: 45084
How to change an American Lady that had become a German Hausfrau into some "bella ragazza d'Italia"

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Post# 660928 2/18/2013 at 13:07 (4,078 days old) by whirlpolf ()
Checkrate/Likes 1 in other words: How to move a Whirlpool BD for Euro power grids to Italy. Some of you will remember an older thread here with Freddy having discovered a Whirlpool BD plus matching dryer on "Quoka.de" (the German craiglist if you will) www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/T... I contacted him and offered my help. Thought at first "let's do some translating on the phone and that's it". But when I saw "pick-up only" in the ad on one hand and Freddy so eager to get that thing on the other hand: The whole affair grew to be full-fledged logistics job. Fine, I thought, let's get it on. Never have I wasted minute thinking what a jungle of transportation methods and companies there is. It took me hours and hours of phone calls, skyping Freddy all along. Hardly any firm agreed to "house moving single items abroad." Finally I found out there are basically just two: iloxx.de and cargointernational.de. Both can handle heavy, bulky or unusually shaped objects, the former venturing in the "Waschmaschinentransport" market with their ads. But somehow they sounded a bit too sly to me, their soft-spoken callcenter ladies trying to lure me into making a contract (but they calculated on the machine only, not the pallet, the packaging and the extra weight.) So the initial 199,- soon rose up to some 249,- plus insurance plus this and that, The more often I called, the more precise the data was, the less attractive got their offers (the prices still going up each time). "Too sleek, too windy, to shaky with exact figures" I thought and found "cargointernational.de". A different world! A simple 1-2-3 web surface, straight-away answers on the phone: That lady (and you get the same person each time you call, not some random and different one), she really took her time explaining all to me and warning me about things that I hadn't thought of first. Calculating the washer with a pallet, then calculating it with packaging and slightly higher weight, finally using their freight calculator online: It was always 179,- each time plus 7,- insurance up to 500 value. Wham-bam, done. I knew how to pack it, how it would be shipped, I knew what to do. Relief! But here is the full story: Using some cheap drawings that I made I could get all the transport details together. 179,- for 1 machine or 299,- for both. Freddy said, he'd like the washer only. Then I took to arranging convenient dates for seller, for Freddy, for myself and for my friend that would help me. And last weekend we finally managed to get his beautiful Whirly ready for dispatch (see link) As by today, all is paid for, the "cruise" travel for our Lady WP BD is booked. Enjoy the show ;-) Joe CLICK HERE TO GO TO whirlpolf's LINK

Post# 660929 , Reply# 1 2/18/2013 at 13:21 (4,078 days old) by whirlpolf ()
Checkrate/Likes *It needs to be added* that the seller is a very friendly and extremely patient person: On my first phone call she didn't believe the "washer collectors" story and asked: "hm... don't they have washers down there in Italy?" But then: Who else would have had the zen-like calm to withstand me calling once or twice a week from January to February? When we arrived, the first thing she did was to offer us coffee or a glass of water. While working she peeked out of the front door whether we were alright or if we needed anything. Even in the end she gave us a hand cleaning up. What a lovely person! She has to move out to a different location so please let's all wish her good luck on her new ways. Thank you and cheers! Joe

Post# 660937 , Reply# 2 2/18/2013 at 13:45 (4,078 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)
Checkrate/Likes You already know Joe I don't know how to thank you enough for all what you did! It's hard in life to find people as kind and generous as you're! You've been an Angel! Hope we can keep in contact! Also of course wish to Frau Schlotter the best since she has been such kind also. Looking forward to have machine here. Thank you so much again! Be you blessed!

Post# 660939 , Reply# 3 2/18/2013 at 13:48 (4,078 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)
Checkrate/Likes Love the picture show! Thank you for posting!

Post# 660940 , Reply# 4 2/18/2013 at 13:51 (4,078 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)
Checkrate/Likes Is the 1989 date I can read on the back control panel the date of purchasing/manufacturing??? That would make the machine my same age!

Post# 660941 , Reply# 5 2/18/2013 at 14:36 (4,078 days old) by whirlpolf ()
Checkrate/Likes *hmpf.... 1989* Freddy, I am out of my wits: That could be either of the two. I didn't have that close of a look, the only thing I remember is a label "US property" - which is quite true as during the 80s and 90s the US army made all those firms (GE, Whirlpool and others) manufacture their BOL and MOL models as a 220 V version for shipment to Europe. Especially in the Frankfurt area (where I was living back then), there were hundreds of Whirlys, GEs and Lady Kenmore machines all around. That is how I got mine, it was on "Das Inserat" (the regional newspaper version of nowadays "quoka.de" = the web portal for all those small ads newspapers in Germany). That was how I got my GE Filter Flo and my Kenmore Lady Kenmore 70s series with Dual Action Agitator� Yours seems to be a remainder of that flood of 220v army machines for American soldiers and their families. (One of the few that are still around). I remember a friend from those times, he said: "Oh that is easy: You just fill in that form, what you need, the brand and the model (restricted model list, no fancy stuff, just basic models), for how many persons in the household and it will be shipped or taken here via air freight". He showed me one of these sheets: For GE washers they had only 1-speed models with 2, 3 or 5 cycles. For microwaves Panasonic was the only brand that they were accorded a digital display with (all other microwaves could only be had with a turn-knob timer and this "pling" bell) Questioning him about how the American army handled the lack of hot water lines in German laundry rooms, he shrugged. (Europe has self-heating washers all over). There was no substantial statement whatsoever. Meaning: They all were washing on cold cycles only (just as our selling party did with your Whirlpool machine). I found out later that he had trashed his Kenmore for a Miele (5 kg volume back then). I chuckled and said: "nice! good washing! but only for small baby clothes, not for a man" So much for different washing / appliance habits.

Post# 660947 , Reply# 6 2/18/2013 at 15:04 (4,078 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)
Checkrate/Likes Oh US property, like my SQ W&D, similar story of my Speed Queen set from US Navy base in Sicily then.... Never seen american automatic machines here of before 1990....you're lucky! In the 90s there were alot of dealers here in Northern Italy carrying american refrigerators and washers of Whirlpool, Maytag and Kenmore brands....later even gas dryers... I find your friend's statement a little weird, I mean stating it would be good just for baby clothes would be kinda strange being such a big machine to wash only "baby clothes", not sure what he mean't with the sentence "not for a man" then.... But I can understand he traded his one for a Miele or any self heating one.... if I had not the possibility to get hot line water I'd have probably done the same... More likely I'd have tried to get an Hotpoint top loader from UK or a Servis self heting one from Australia, but that of course it's just me, or my mother also (easier to have made a hot water line)..... probably your friend didn't even knew these machines, also expensive and hard to be find and or imported... Thanks for your detailed explanation as always! This post was last edited 02/18/2013 at 15:31

Post# 660966 , Reply# 7 2/18/2013 at 15:38 (4,078 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *The Lady WP BD has a cruise booked...* Hopefully not on Carnival... LOL! Freddy, looks like this is finally coming together! We, of course, expect maiden wash pics when she arrives. Joe, it sounds like you have the patience of a saint to deal with all the trying calls. This just means good Karma coming your way. RCD

Post# 660967 , Reply# 8 2/18/2013 at 15:38 (4,078 days old) by whirlpolf ()
Checkrate/Likes haha ;-D First it was a typo: Not me said that, but him. So you took it the right way anyhow. Don't worry about his statement, it was a harmless pun: He was just used to dropping his army fatigues and camouflage clothes into the big US washer and they would sail down flat towards the bottom where the agitator fins are. Then he expected the pile of clothes to be saturated, drowned and floating in a Rhine river's mass of water. The first time he saw the small Miele drum he thought that might be a kiddy toy, the more so as frontloaders do not fill up to the upper brim. Somehow he expected the long legs of his fatigues to hang out of the porthole, not fitting into the machine. Of course he learned quite quickly that all of it was just some prejudice and heated low-level washing can do just as well. Btw.: My friend (of today, the one that helped me packing) would like you documenting the unpacking the machine when it arrives in (quote:) "the land of lemon blossoms" ;-)))

Post# 660968 , Reply# 9 2/18/2013 at 15:43 (4,078 days old) by whirlpolf ()
Checkrate/Likes *RCD, I second that* ...might even want to be drooling over maiden wash vids! ;-) Thanks for the karma thing, thank you.

Post# 660974 , Reply# 10 2/18/2013 at 16:14 (4,078 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)
Checkrate/Likes Yes of course, that's all about points of view, but your friend was speaking about the Miele or the Kenmore? Because I've understand he was speaking about the Kenmore with the "baby clothes sentence" and it just didn't have a sense.... if he referred to the Miele it does have a sense then, of course being used to a large kenmore basket having to deal with a 5kg is quite strange at first, of course someone used to a top loader would watch at it as a " washer for the Barbie"....my average wash size requires two full loads in a 5kg machine... I can understand his statement if so.... Anyway, I would never use a machine with just cold water.... at that point if I had no choiches I would prefer having a front loader self heating indeed as I said than having a top loader that can use cold water only.... I do not want to disappoint you, but likely I will not able to post a video for long since the machine is destinated for the house I'm about moving.... at my father's farm exactly, I will park it in the garage of our condo for awhile, of course I'll test motor on spin to see it is working but cannot do more than that for now! Sorry! If I decide to bring it in the apartment it will require 6 stairs of hand transportation, plus bring to garage the filter-flo...can't do that now. I will gladly tape the moment of unpacking for your friend though, just consider that my video maker skills are just not as good, so keep on hand a barf bag, because you'll get alot of seasickness watching that! LOL P.S I could see you changed profile pic! Nice Harley on Background!

Post# 660987 , Reply# 11 2/18/2013 at 17:15 (4,078 days old) by Jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)
Checkrate/Likes *Joe* what a nice guy you are to do all that for a fellow member ! Loved the huge gettting huger tower and then finding out she lived right under it!! I couldn't sleep at night under that, especially a stormy night!! Yes Freddy we'll need some kind of picture documentation when it arrives

Post# 663410 , Reply# 12 3/2/2013 at 04:25 (4,066 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)
Checkrate/Likes Hi all!!! The machine finally arrived in it's new home and to it's new owner (at least owner's messy garage). I just fell in love with this machine! And it is all thanks to Joe and his infinite patience and kindness! You're an angel!!! Machine is just perfect and it's packaging was superb! Thank you infinitely Joe! I'm looking forward to move in the new house and install this machine as daily driver in my own house there. I will keep Speed Queen and Filter Flo to use for B&B laundry (we will open a B&B there).... I could just take a few pics, not a video as my phone memory is not so much, better so I say, I ve not great video maker skills and I was alone during unpacking, it would have ended up in a messy shacking video making you sick. Here some pics: This post was last edited 03/02/2013 at 04:46

Post# 663411 , Reply# 13 3/2/2013 at 04:26 (4,066 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)
Checkrate/Likes Starting unpacking

Post# 663412 , Reply# 14 3/2/2013 at 04:27 (4,066 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)
Checkrate/Likes .

Post# 663413 , Reply# 15 3/2/2013 at 04:29 (4,066 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)
Checkrate/Likes We're almost done:

Post# 663414 , Reply# 16 3/2/2013 at 04:30 (4,066 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)
Checkrate/Likes Just a little more "work":

Post# 663415 , Reply# 17 3/2/2013 at 04:31 (4,066 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)
Checkrate/Likes Dah Dah: (Sorry for the crappy pic, on the phone looked nice)

Post# 663417 , Reply# 18 3/2/2013 at 04:35 (4,066 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)
Checkrate/Likes Lid open:

Post# 663418 , Reply# 19 3/2/2013 at 04:38 (4,066 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)
Checkrate/Likes Everything included: (Bleach dispenser inside to be put on again)

Post# 663424 , Reply# 20 3/2/2013 at 05:31 (4,066 days old) by Jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)
Checkrate/Likes *A happy* new home is found. enjoy!

Post# 663425 , Reply# 21 3/2/2013 at 05:31 (4,066 days old) by Jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)
Checkrate/Likes *A happy* new home is found. enjoy!

Post# 663431 , Reply# 22 3/2/2013 at 07:02 (4,066 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)
Checkrate/Likes Reminds me of how a 1970's Maytag set is my brother-in-law & sister-in-law's washer & dryer in Israel! (The voltage for both washer & electric dryer had to be converted, of course...) As for gas appliances, they are usually fueled via. a propane tank, one per appliance, such as a range, dryer; it never gets cold enough there that you wouldn't plug in an electric heater., and water heaters are typically electric... As for water heating for that Whirlpool washer in Europe, why not just get a small, dedicated electric heater for it, or a tank-less gas one? -- Dave

Post# 663432 , Reply# 23 3/2/2013 at 07:07 (4,066 days old) by whirlpolf ()
Checkrate/Likes ha! fantastic! good to see that everything went ok. Enjoy many happy washing hours. Joe

Post# 663436 , Reply# 24 3/2/2013 at 08:16 (4,066 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)
Checkrate/Likes Dave, all the machines I own runs on 220 volt 50hz, no transformer needed...all american toploaders as long as for american appliances imported from US and sold from dealers have 220 volt power supply. My Filter-flo was purchased in USA and was specifically requested to run 220 volt 50hz, infact 220 volt parts were manufactured in USA too ( in case of filter flos in Canada, my filter-flo machine is Made in Canada) for machines to be sold in Latin countries where they have 220 volt and so in EU market too... Some machines imported directly from privates from USA of course do have 120 volt 60hz as you told if not requested or possible differently, not a problem, a transformer fix it all, hertz difference is not a problem, you do not even notice...as I could see in washing videos. There was just a NIB Kenmore oasis on sale imported from a private last month... it was a 115-120 volt imported privately, he was selling it with a transformer included.... others do that because importing american machines privately if you have people who can ship from USA, relatives or friends, would cost less than buying one here....that's what we did years ago when we had our Filter-flo. A price for an american machine is about 1500 to 1700 euros from dealers... Lots of money!!! Regarding water heaters, everyone who purchase an american top loader or (double fill) machine ( top loaders agitator machines are getting so popular here) do connect them to gas heaters in lack of an hot water line, and it's rare you do not have it in proximity of laundry areas (no-one use electric heater anynmore as here in Italy is too expensive to run), in condos you connect them hot water line from the condo, otherwise you put a gas insta-heater...cheap to run and functional stuff... My machines are connected to hot water line from condo heater, I get water from 60°c to 70°c hot. In the new house I will have a gas heater for house heating that produces instant hot water (about 80°c), a Vaillant probably as we have at seaside house, have still to choose it. But we are thinking to purchase also another wood furnace for house heating and hot water, my father has it in the other building of the farm (3 story depandance) where he is located, this huge thing produces 80°c water and store it in a tank with a 10% heat loss.... a tank last for about 3-4 days... Wood consuption is hight though, but we have plenty wood available there....otherwise we can always run the gas heater. We now have a huge gas tank grounded.....so gas last for months and months... This post was last edited 03/02/2013 at 08:39

Post# 663437 , Reply# 25 3/2/2013 at 08:17 (4,066 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)
Checkrate/Likes Joe: Thank you alot again! Hope I move soon so that I can take a washing video to show you!!!

Post# 663438 , Reply# 26 3/2/2013 at 08:17 (4,066 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)
Checkrate/Likes Thank you Jon! I will!

Post# 663448 , Reply# 27 3/2/2013 at 09:35 (4,066 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)
Checkrate/Likes Unfortunately I did remember wrongly about the bleach dispenser....it is missing as Joe just let me knowm not a problem. So question to you, to me looks like this would be the right dispenser for this machine, I do not use any bleach but I like to have it in perfect shape... Do you think it's the right one? The dirt rim in the panel looks like had this shape, also the hole looks it the one this fits into: http://www.ebay.com/itm/WHIRLPOOL-WASHER...

Post# 663450 , Reply# 28 3/2/2013 at 09:46 (4,066 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes Freddie - Congratulations on getting a dream machine!! The dispenser bezel you show in your link is not the correct one, it is used on Direct Drive machines. Here is one that will fit however, and its new. You'll have to check into shipping to Italy with the seller, but this is the proper dispenser bezel for your machine. The part number is 352821. Good luck with your endeavors with this washer, I hope you get to really enjoy it! Gordon CLICK HERE TO GO TO Kenmoreguy64's LINK on eBay

Post# 663453 , Reply# 29 3/2/2013 at 09:51 (4,066 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)
Checkrate/Likes Thank you alot Gordon!!!

Post# 663454 , Reply# 30 3/2/2013 at 10:04 (4,066 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)
Checkrate/Likes Just purchased the dispenser, shipping was $ 16 to Italy. Thank you again for link and wishes!

Post# 663455 , Reply# 31 3/2/2013 at 10:18 (4,066 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes That's excellent Freddie - I have had several machines of this era and most of the dispensers seem to have yellowed and broken. Now you'll have a nice brand new one. I am really glad that auction was on ebay - sometimes these things are 'hit or miss'. I expected to find a used one, but not a stock of new ones. Again, congrats and enjoy! Gordon

Post# 670701 , Reply# 32 4/5/2013 at 16:01 (4,032 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)
Checkrate/Likes The bleach dispenser is arrived last week, it was missent to Australia!!!! Damn postal service! At least they resent to the right country and address! It fits perfectly the machine! Thank you again Gordon for link and wishes!

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