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Post# 750958   4/18/2014 at 14:13 (3,632 days old) by brucelucenta ()        

Being a child of the mid fifties I grew up seeing many of the unusual makes and models of washers, dryers and dishwashers of that period of time. Most of that I just took for granted and figured they would always be around. I think that the biggest demise of these old machines came with the new age of "scrappers". These are men, and some women too, that go around with an old pick up truck looking for anything metal they can take to the scrap metal place. I know from personal experience they will do nearly ANYTHING to get their hands on what they can make a few dollars on by scrapping. I once had at least 75+ machines that were inside a fenced area with a chain and lock on the gate. A couple of guys actually cut the fence along the side, where it was not as noticable and stole nearly everything I had before the police stopped them. That stuff is lost forever along with many other machines they have gotten their hands on. By the time they got what I had inside the fence, I had turned loose of most all the really older machines that are highly sought after. But I did have a few speed queen solid tub machines and frigidaire skinny minis and many others. Old junk yards are getting to be a thing of the past since scrappers came along. I learned how to work on washing machines by going to a local junk yard that used to get all the trade ins from a store called Otasco. Otasco used to sell Philco and Leonard, which is just a Kelvinator with the name Leonard on it. They had hundreds of machines in an open field. I also got some from a local Frigidare dealer too. I used to fix them up and sell them for very little. Usually $50 per machine, sometimes less. I only saw one Apex machine there. I never did get it to work on it because it had been there a while and looked like it would be a lot of work to restore. Hindsight, but if I had gotten it I probably wouldn't have it now anyway. I now have many of the old advertisements, like the ones on the daily ads here. I have them framed and hanging on my utilty room walls. That has been enough for me now. I used nearly every kind of washing machine that I have worked on. It is interesting to go through the years and see how the machines have changed so much. It is funny too, that automatic washers started out as front loaders and now it is getting back to that. The old bendix weren't very good at washabilty or extracting water from the clothes, but the new breed of front loader is entirely different. They have terrific washing abilities and water extraction. They save a great deal on water and probably detergent too. I like the fact that there is virtually no linting at all. The new LG and Kenmore elite made by LG are HUGE in comparison to anything else on the market. The dryer is rated as a 9 cubic foot dryer, which is a full cubic foot bigger than anything else out there. When and if I get a new set that will be what I purchase. Of course if there were any like a Kelvinator or Frigidaire or Philco ect...I would get a set!!! But alas, there is not. I was lucky to have experienced working on and using so many different kinds of machines. That I will always remember.




Post# 751107 , Reply# 1   4/19/2014 at 02:24 (3,632 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

Yes,I grew up in the fifties and early 60's,too-remember the great classic machines.Scrappers are a problem-and ironically the NEW machines may end up in their trucks,soon.My main problem is SPACE--I don't have the room to hold the classics I would want.Here in the South--"Land of Rust"Old machines go to the dump or rust to nothing in sheds and barns.There are no basements here where old machines were often shoved aside to accomidate new ones.So the old machine would be waiting for some collector to find it.The householder was usually glad to get rid of it.Its enough of a problem collecting vacuum cleaners-but large machines like washers its indeed a problem for me-even though I would like to have them.The ones I remember-the old Norge "Burpalator" my Mom had when I was little.Then a GE Filter flow with the copper colored lint dish.My Grandmother and Stepmom had pregnent KN "Rotoswirls"Lets see-just there is at least 4 machines-no place to put them.Only have room for couple.

Post# 751113 , Reply# 2   4/19/2014 at 04:09 (3,632 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))        

arbilab's profile picture
They cut the fence? You're lucky they didn't SCRAP the fence. I've seen them scavenge ALL the copper out of the electrics in a brand new building before it was even occupied. Not to mention the many whose aircon quits only to find out it's not broken, it's GONE.

Post# 751120 , Reply# 3   4/19/2014 at 06:13 (3,632 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

Scrappers take wiring and plumbing from abandoned houses and buildings--then rendering them unsuable.Same with HVAC units from those places.BUT--I LOVE it when IDIOT scrappers try to take wiring from LIVE circuits!!They WON'T do it again!!That does narrow the scrapper gen pool!This was also a problem at radio stations I worked in or contacted for-one station in Baltimore called and said--"the remote tower phase and current readings are funny"So my freind and I went to see-low and behold scrappers took the copper feedlines from AM towers still on air and HOT!The site had 3 towers-on the last tower were peices of burnt skin hanging off the line-that scrapper--HOPE HE LEARNED HIS LESSON!!RF burns are WORSE than fire!The copper feedlines are really nothing more than copper water or HVAC tubing-a trip to a nearby Hechingers yeilded replacements-your knee makes a makeshift surgeloop bender.The station wasn't in the best of neighborhoods.The problem was fixed--guess to this day some scrapper has some REALLY bad burn scars on his hands!RF burns can get infected if not promptly and properly treated.

Post# 751227 , Reply# 4   4/19/2014 at 14:26 (3,631 days old) by bendixmark (Winchester Mass)        
Bendix Washability

I dont get how people here have been saying how the boltdown bendix didnt wash well.I have a 1949 deluxe and when I last had it running it washed wonderfully well,things came out spotless.I used to wash my friends mothers heavily soiled laundry in it and it did an awesome job.It was a raging ocean in there how could stuff not get clean?

Post# 751233 , Reply# 5   4/19/2014 at 15:28 (3,631 days old) by arris (Rochester New York)        
scrappers

arris's profile picture
I live in upstate NY not far from the CSX Chicago-New York Main line... last year they were replacing a lot of the track... they had the ties, rail, tie plates etc... someone came and stole every one of the tie plates they had, there was at least 5 tons of tie plates stolen, they will take what ever they can get their hands on !!!

Post# 751284 , Reply# 6   4/19/2014 at 18:27 (3,631 days old) by ozzie908 (Lincoln UK)        
Scrappers are limited to a few licensed ones

ozzie908's profile picture
because the scrap metal yards are no longer allowed to pay cash for any scrap bought and have to issue cheques which is no good to a rogue scrapper its stopped the stealing of lead from roof tops around here..

Austin



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