Thread Number: 51289
Speed Queen distributor here in Queensland all new showroom 		[Down to Last]

automaticwasher.org's exclusive eBay Watch:
scroll >>> for more items --- [As an eBay Partner, eBay may compensate automaticwasher.org if you make a purchase using any link to eBay on this page]
Post# 736726   2/21/2014 at 05:50 (3,706 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        

mayfan69's profile picture

By virtue of being invited, due to buying 2 Speed Queen machines through my business registry, tonight I attended the SQ distributor's opening of their all new showroom and warehouse here in Queensland.

 

Nathan (Brisnat81) and his partner Michael came along as my guests.

 

We came away very impressed with their showroom, with working displays and their warehouse and mock laundry set up.

 

Nathan had a very interesting conversation with one of their account manager's, with the question about heater's in their domestic front loader's: the response was Alliance have been made aware of this feedback from the Australian market (which they want to grow) and it's being 'considered' and 'a possibility'. They've been made aware of the differences between the US and Australian markets and this is direct from customer feedback.

 

First pic: mock commercial laundry set up

 

Cheers

Leon

 

 



Post# 736727 , Reply# 1   2/21/2014 at 05:52 (3,706 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
Inside the mock laundry

 mayfan69's profile picture

Inside:
Post# 736728 , Reply# 2   2/21/2014 at 05:54 (3,706 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
Inside the main showroom....

 mayfan69's profile picture

The 'Imperial' pair.....very nice!
Post# 736730 , Reply# 3   2/21/2014 at 05:56 (3,706 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
The Imperial pair and AWNA62

 mayfan69's profile picture

The Imperial pair and the current AWNA62 for the Australian market
Post# 736731 , Reply# 4   2/21/2014 at 06:00 (3,706 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
Advertising

mayfan69's profile picture

Some advertising slogans: a lot of Australian's still have Maytag's and Kleenmaid's (re-badged SQ's) going back 20+ years, so good thinking to tap into that market.
Post# 736733 , Reply# 5   2/21/2014 at 06:02 (3,706 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
More advertising

 mayfan69's profile picture

More...
Post# 736734 , Reply# 6   2/21/2014 at 06:03 (3,706 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
Money shot

 mayfan69's profile picture

Money shot of the AWNA62
Post# 736736 , Reply# 7   2/21/2014 at 06:06 (3,706 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
SQ Wringer

 mayfan69's profile picture

SQ wringer: apparently, this came from the US and the transport was more expensive than the machine itself!
Post# 736737 , Reply# 8   2/21/2014 at 06:07 (3,706 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
Wringer money shot

 mayfan69's profile picture

Wringer money shot...
Post# 736738 , Reply# 9   2/21/2014 at 06:09 (3,706 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
Old advertising material

 mayfan69's profile picture

Bought off ebay.......
Post# 736739 , Reply# 10   2/21/2014 at 06:11 (3,706 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
Commercial machines

 mayfan69's profile picture

Commercial machines
Post# 736741 , Reply# 11   2/21/2014 at 06:13 (3,706 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
This sign

 mayfan69's profile picture

I love this sign....
Post# 736742 , Reply# 12   2/21/2014 at 06:16 (3,706 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
Stacked pair

 mayfan69's profile picture

The domestic F/L stacked pair...
Post# 736743 , Reply# 13   2/21/2014 at 06:19 (3,706 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
Point of sale

 mayfan69's profile picture

Some more point of sale material...
Post# 736744 , Reply# 14   2/21/2014 at 06:19 (3,706 days old) by washer111 ()        

Great documentation of the SQ dealer! Good to see you were invited to the show :)

 

All these machines are quite beautiful, I have to say I'm impressed. The Imperial set pictured appears to have wonky badges though... Maybe just an old photographic "trick."

 

My only negative point is the dumbed-down TL machine... I can't believe they simplified the controls so brutally!

*EDIT* I notice the sales literature for the TL machine includes the U.S. product with the timer (and lesser warranty) still. Slight "Oops" exclamation there.
Post# 736745 , Reply# 15   2/21/2014 at 06:21 (3,706 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
Money shot

 mayfan69's profile picture

Money shot of the Imperial dryer
Post# 736748 , Reply# 16   2/21/2014 at 06:25 (3,706 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
The Imperial

 mayfan69's profile picture

The Imperial doing a quick 'rinse and spin'....courtesy of Nathan
Post# 736769 , Reply# 17   2/21/2014 at 08:52 (3,706 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)        
Imperial Dryer

 mrb627's profile picture
Interesting that your Imperial Dryer is not the TOL model here in the States.

No Extended Tumble.

Malcolm

Post# 736777 , Reply# 18   2/21/2014 at 09:48 (3,706 days old) by washman (o)        
Brilliant!

 What an impressive display!

Post# 736800 , Reply# 19   2/21/2014 at 13:24 (3,706 days old) by Supersuds (Knoxville, Tenn.)        

supersuds's profile picture

Thanks for posting, Leon!

 

I can see why Australians would like internal heaters, with limited/no central hot water available. I hope that an American company (for once) will be flexible enough to listen to the needs of potential export markets.

 

Dumb question: Do they still make wringer washers, or is the one on display a vintage model?
Post# 736803 , Reply# 20   2/21/2014 at 14:01 (3,706 days old) by brisnat81 (Brisbane Australia)        

We had a great time.

The imperial washer has an RRP of over $4k. The commercial Miele of the same size with options and a heater is $6k. The account manager is very aware that in the front load market they are currently flogging a wounded horse.

The main reason the heater is important in au is the 2 hour plus cycle times which she said are necessary to achieve the 80% dirt removal score needed to get a water rating (ie the wash water will be cold well before the cycle is over) and the fact that Aussie houses legally have to have tempering valves on the hot water supply that limit the temp to 47degC.

The fit and finish on the imperial set is definitely more commercial than domestic. The stickers are wavery. The dryer handle doesn't fit in the hole properly. The stainless panels are wavery and have lots of hard solid edges. They look impressive from a distance but not like $4k worth of impressive from up close.

I got to play with the HEtoploader for the first time. For the wash it fills up with normal levels of water, but it has intermittent wash and soak periods. I wasn't with it for the rinse but I assume it is grey water rinsing as the usage tag claims only 107l for the entire cycle.

We had a great night. Thank you again Leon for the invitation.

Cheers

Nathan

Post# 736813 , Reply# 21   2/21/2014 at 15:23 (3,706 days old) by washer111 ()        

I would like to see a water heater in the SQ lineup, but it isn't something that is too critical with our (almost) boiling supplies of solar-heated water, if people were willing to alter the ideas about doing laundry - If you want "Warm," you'll select "Hot," and if you require a "Hot" wash, you'll want to temper the wash-bowl first.  

Quick Note on tempering: When we got the new water heater installed, the government regulation seemed to only require a tempering valve for the bathroom and perhaps kitchen areas of the house, but the laundry was exempt. That's in Western-Australia - so maybe Queensland is different in that aspect. 

 

Another Quick-Question: Is Grey-Water rinsing where the machine only partially drains and refills, or is it the spin-rinse program many machines of today have?
Post# 736818 , Reply# 22   2/21/2014 at 16:04 (3,706 days old) by brisnat81 (Brisbane Australia)        

Hi washer111

Technically you're correct about tempering. It only needs to be limited to 47degc in the bathroom.

However unless you redesign the plumbing on an existing house or specifically request a complex design on a new house the plumber just sticks on valve directly on the tank outlet.

You also need to remember that almost all appliances state the hot water inlet should be no more than 60deg C so you still need to temper solar hotwater anyways.

Cheers

Nathan

Post# 736836 , Reply# 23   2/21/2014 at 18:10 (3,706 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
Wow, thanks for all the great photos! That stainless steel front-load pair is sweet.

Post# 736896 , Reply# 24   2/21/2014 at 22:49 (3,706 days old) by KenmoreBD (Mass, usa )        
Re: the wringer

 I have seen that same wringer washer at two local speed queen dealers in new england. I think it is some kind of dummy /demo display speedqueen sends the dealers.


Andy

Post# 736909 , Reply# 25   2/22/2014 at 00:09 (3,706 days old) by Supersuds (Knoxville, Tenn.)        
SQ wringer

 supersuds's profile picture
Ah, should have known. At first glance it looked new!

Post# 736963 , Reply# 26   2/22/2014 at 08:43 (3,705 days old) by rapunzel (Sydney)        

Quote - "I can see why Australians would like internal heaters, with limited/no central hot water available."

Hi John,

That would have been the case 50 or 60 years ago. You will find that Australian homes have pretty much the same hot water setups that you get in the US. Rheem water heaters have been available in Australia since 1939 and 80% of households still use top loaders that are directly connected to a hot water outlet. Unless you were thinking of Austria - which, apparently, is an easy mistake to make. Austria, Austraya, I can see where you are coming from.


Here in NSW this is what they say re tempering devices for sanitary fixtures. The requirements are: Min water storage temperature Hot water must be stored at a minimum of 60oC so as to inhibit the growth of legionella bacteria. Maximum delivery temperatures: Every new hot water installation to sanitary fixtures used mainly for personal hygiene purposes (that is in bathrooms and ensuites) must deliver hot water at a temperature not exceeding - (a) 43.5o C for early childhood centres, primary and secondary schools and nursing homes and similar facilities for the young, aged, sick, or disabled; (b) 50 o C in all other buildings, including new houses.



This post was last edited 02/22/2014 at 09:07
Post# 736968 , Reply# 27   2/22/2014 at 09:14 (3,705 days old) by rapunzel (Sydney)        

On the issue of Speed Queen going down the dumbed down path for the laundry illiterati in the US - we can only hope that they will make special machines for Australia (pronounced Austraya, but is not Austria). For every pre-set prgram and automatic sensing function they should have an override to manual. F&P have this feature on all of their TOL machines, so it can't be that hard to do. Maybe somebody could suggest this to Speed Queen since they may not have thought of it?

Post# 736978 , Reply# 28   2/22/2014 at 11:30 (3,705 days old) by thor (Buenos Aires)        
Export models

 Nathan, are all these export models "true" 220V/240V/50Hz units, meaning they are manufactured for this line voltage and frequency, or are they just regular 115V/60Hz units with a step down transformers installed at the Factory?

Thanks,
Emilio

Post# 737001 , Reply# 29   2/22/2014 at 14:03 (3,705 days old) by thor (Buenos Aires)        
Gas dryer

 Nathan, I forgot to ask if a gas (natural) dryer is sold which matches the AWNA62 washer.

Thanks,
Emilio

Post# 737009 , Reply# 30   2/22/2014 at 14:53 (3,705 days old) by brisnat81 (Brisbane Australia)        

Hi rapunzel

I agree on the options front. A cycle modifier knob for normal and short, plus a heater on off switch.

With the heater on, cold is 30degc warm is 40degc and hot is 60degc.

Then they've got enough functionality to get it up there feature wise in the non us markets to justify the enormous cost.

Emilio, I'm not sure about the internals. The neptunes have a transformer that runs them here. Perhaps the SQ is the same which is why they've not attempted localization even with the higher voltage. The TL machines are true 240v. I've never dug into a front loader though

I assume there are stil gas dryers but Leon might have a better idea than me.



Post# 737027 , Reply# 31   2/22/2014 at 17:15 (3,705 days old) by washer111 ()        

The NSW Government is starting to raise my blood pressure about keeping water stored at 60º again.... I did raise that issue before, in a "rant" manner. If the government didn't mandate such hot temperatures, it would save quite a lot of energy, whether that be Gas or Electricity. Although I don't get why this mandate doesn't affect Heat-Pump units. The one's I've seen can only go as hot as 48º (120ºF)...

 

I would also be interested to see whether the SQ is truly 240v, or merely stepped down. That might explain in depth why we (don't) have the water heater... I assume some fancy relay setup to overcome that, if they persisted with the transformer.
Post# 737041 , Reply# 32   2/22/2014 at 19:15 (3,705 days old) by rockland1 ()        
Speed Queen

 Very nice presentation! Another QUALITY product made in WISCONSIN, USA!

Post# 737043 , Reply# 33   2/22/2014 at 19:24 (3,705 days old) by chetlaham (United States)        
Thanks!

 chetlaham's profile picture

How does the AWNA62 compare to the American design? The rim looks different. In the advertising literature it shows a direct drive pump, did they do away with the electric one?

 

Fascinating to see the foreign designs!  
Post# 737046 , Reply# 34   2/22/2014 at 19:36 (3,705 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)        
Perhaps...

 mrb627's profile picture
Alliance is working on a resource saver model that will recirculate rinse water during low speed spinning. Which I would prefer to the partial drain system I have heard about.

Malcolm

Post# 737092 , Reply# 35   2/23/2014 at 00:55 (3,705 days old) by Supersuds (Knoxville, Tenn.)        

supersuds's profile picture
Thanks, Olav. I seem to remember a discussion of 1960s Australian toploaders with internal heaters that talked about limited availability of hot water in Australian homes, and when Leon mentioned a need for the new Speed Queens to have heaters, I added 2+2 and got 6!

Post# 737207 , Reply# 36   2/23/2014 at 16:58 (3,704 days old) by mielerod69 (Australia)        
Inner workings

 mielerod69's profile picture
Hi All,

here is the model on our shop floor with the front cut out to show the workings. The motor is assembled in Mexico and the AU version has an electric pump.

Post# 737282 , Reply# 37   2/24/2014 at 01:03 (3,704 days old) by chetlaham (United States)        
Electric pump?

 chetlaham's profile picture

I have seen it before, but why does every single export machine have an electric pump? Is it a listing requirement outside of the US?

 

Also, anyone have a tech sheet wiring diagram, I wonder how the pump is configured with the machine, ie can the machine be advanced into spin drain.
Post# 737293 , Reply# 38   2/24/2014 at 02:26 (3,704 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
Electric pumps....

 mayfan69's profile picture

This was discussed in this thread unless you missed it.....

 

 

 

 

CLICK HERE TO GO TO mayfan69's LINK
Post# 737321 , Reply# 39   2/24/2014 at 07:35 (3,703 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
New Speed Queen Distributor

 combo52's profile picture
Great thread Leon, Hopefully the new distributor will do well, it looks like they invested some money in setting it up nicely.

I also love that vertical blue SQ sign, I put a call into our SQ sales rep to see if we can get one for our new showroom.

I am sure that electric drain pumps are not required outside the US Robert, but even in the US only SQ TLers and two WP DD stack machines still have a main motor driven water pump. It makes little sense to use over TEN TIMES more electricity to drain a washer 800 watts vs 80 watts, and best of all the separate drain pump not only makes belt changes a simple do-it-yourself operation on SQ TLers but should also make the belt last much longer as well.

I love the claim on the TL washers placard where it says Energy Efficient 1/2 HP motor, this is one the oldest tricks in the advertising world, take one of your worst features and call it an advantage, LOL. Conventional split-phase motors use 3-4 times more power to run a washing machine as the now more common 3 phase inverter style motors.

Fortunately SQ does not do this very often. These inflated and contrived claims are what really started to turn me off to Maytag in the early 1970s when I was working for them. I sat through many sales and service meetings listing to MT people telling us how the HOH dryer was the best dryer ever designed and built while all the while they had already planed on scrapping the whole design in favor of a more WP-SQ-GE-WH style dryer.


Post# 737470 , Reply# 40   2/24/2014 at 19:24 (3,703 days old) by washman (o)        
I know what HOH stands for

 Halo of Heat. No hot spots according to Maytag.

Post# 737577 , Reply# 41   2/25/2014 at 11:08 (3,702 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Speed Queen...

 chestermikeuk's profile picture
Looks like a grand time was had by all, ta for sharing the experience guys, all you need is your vintage washers and your wall panels on the other side of the room Leon!!



Post# 737616 , Reply# 42   2/25/2014 at 18:12 (3,702 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
Nice thread guys

 jetcone's profile picture

Love seeing the Aussie versions of my machines! And that showroom is Boss, I don't know of one here stateside does anybody else?

 

 

Did you notice of the side panels in the Imperial pair were also SS? I saw a new set recently and they had gray painted steel now.

 

 
Post# 737621 , Reply# 43   2/25/2014 at 18:25 (3,702 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
Side panels of Imperial pair

 mayfan69's profile picture
Hi Jon

I'm pretty sure the sides of the Imperial pair were stainless steel as well, i can't recall grey painted steel.

Nathan might be able to remember as well...

I was saying to Nathan i'd like to have an Imperial washer at least, but even at wholesale price, it would still be approx AU$3800.00.

Cheers
Leon

Post# 737735 , Reply# 44   2/26/2014 at 02:49 (3,702 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
HI Leon

 jetcone's profile picture

$4K is what they cost about here as well. I'm surprised they aren't more due to shipping. Are they assembled in Oz? 

I remember my first trip over in '81 and finding american two door refrigerators were a very hot item on the Oz market. They were going for upwards of $10k when over here they were $2K. I couldn't believe it! 

I think you now build two door fridges don't you?

 

 
Post# 737747 , Reply# 45   2/26/2014 at 04:13 (3,701 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
Imperial price....

 mayfan69's profile picture

Hey Jon

 

I didn't realise the price of the Imperial's was the close to those in the US....a bit surprised at that....they're not assembled here. Certainly there's more of a price disparity with the TL's: I managed to buy the TL at wholesale for AU$1550.00, where I understand the TL in the US is about US$750??

 

As for fridges: Australia no longer makes fridges at all: Electrolux recently closed the factory here and they're now imported from Thailand.

 

Cheers

Leon

 

 
Post# 737889 , Reply# 46   2/26/2014 at 17:35 (3,701 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
Ewuew

 jetcone's profile picture

So sorry to hear no fridges made there, how odd! Everyone there needs refrigeration! I find that odd!!

 

 
Post# 738154 , Reply# 47   2/27/2014 at 21:09 (3,700 days old) by rapunzel (Sydney)        
It's not odd at all...

 ...we live in a Mary Poppins economy and China provides.

Post# 738160 , Reply# 48   2/27/2014 at 22:30 (3,700 days old) by washer111 ()        

When I last checked several months ago, I thought F&P were still manufacturing (fridges) in Queensland... Perhaps things have changed since then?

The DD was made in Mexico, for anyone interested. Perhaps that explains their 80% non-failure rate...

 

Our Westinhouse Oven and Induction Cooktop were down in New South Wales or Queenland, and they are from 2011.
Post# 738165 , Reply# 49   2/27/2014 at 23:15 (3,700 days old) by rapunzel (Sydney)        

Didn't F&P close their Cleveland plant?

Post# 738168 , Reply# 50   2/27/2014 at 23:32 (3,700 days old) by washer111 ()        

I thought it was still open - but they may very well have. Perhaps I should make a visit to a "BigBox" and see what I can see...
Post# 738181 , Reply# 51   2/28/2014 at 00:16 (3,700 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
F& P

 mayfan69's profile picture

Nope, the F&P factory is closed....all imported from Thailand now.

Forum Index:       Other Forums:                      


Comes to the Rescue!

The Discuss-o-Mat has stopped, buzzer is sounding!!!
If you would like to reply to this thread please log-in...

Discuss-O-MAT Log-In



New Members Click Here To Sign Up.



                     

automaticwasher.org home
Discuss-o-Mat Forums
Vintage Brochures, Service and Owners Manuals
Fun Vintage Washer Ephemera
See It Wash!
Video Downloads
 Audio Downloads
Picture of the Day
Patent of the Day
Photos of our Collections
The Old Aberdeen Farm
Vintage Service Manuals 		Vintage washer/dryer/dishwasher to sell?
Technical/service questions?
Looking for Parts?
Website related questions?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy
Our Privacy Policy