Thread Number: 52892
QUESTION.....who made the last wringer washer in US history?
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Post# 752178   4/23/2014 at 18:28 (3,627 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)        

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I recall having read somewhere that the last wringer washer made in US history was made from Speed Queen in the summer of 1990...is that correct?
Was just thinking about this now and catched my curiosity to know better and if it's really so...





Post# 752184 , Reply# 1   4/23/2014 at 18:41 (3,627 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        

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Kenmoreguy 70, Mark, recently  gave the Maytag last production date of 1983, if I recall correctly, and the Speed Queens were made very late, too. Maybe Washman has that date. Crosley made wringers into the 90's and they may have been the last hold-out.  That's all I know for now.


Post# 752209 , Reply# 2   4/23/2014 at 19:45 (3,627 days old) by washman (o)        
check here

www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/T...

Post# 752215 , Reply# 3   4/23/2014 at 20:10 (3,627 days old) by washman (o)        
or check here.

www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Washing-...

Post# 752226 , Reply# 4   4/23/2014 at 21:20 (3,627 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Last SQ Winger Washers

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Were made around 1994, A good customer of mine drove all the way from Washington DC to Philadelphia Pa. to buy one of the last ones available to replace her 1964 SQ WW. The new one did not hold up real well as they were cutting corners on the build quality. I did at least four service calls on the newer SQ WW.

She finally gave up on having a WW and bought a SQ FL washer from us around 1997 and has never had a problem with the new SQ FLer.


Post# 752418 , Reply# 5   4/24/2014 at 17:03 (3,626 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)        
Thank you!

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So, 1994 is the final verdict,I knew someone on here may have known it more accurately.
Washman, yes I think that is the source where I have read that from,
You know, the wondering came all of a sudden after I watched the wringer washer thread, I remembered having read that, but never thought more or questioned myself and of course did researches about this to have this confirmed.
The last wringer washer made, it's a part of history too, not much surprised it was SQ.....speed queen always cared about the satisfaction of everyone indistinctly, even of those that at the dawn of the 90s were unusually still wiling to go with a wringer, this says much to me.., unlike many others they keep looking beyond profits, that's why they have my deepest admiration and estimation.
I know it sound like a promotional message, but that's what I think.
Please don't judge me.....LOL



Post# 752421 , Reply# 6   4/24/2014 at 18:10 (3,626 days old) by e2l-arry (LAKEWOOD COLORADO)        
I'd always heard . .

That the fear of lawsuits stopped production too. In the old days if someone got hurt in the wringer, it was chalked up to their own carelessness. But by the 80's the TV was full of ads from ambulance chasing lawyers telling people NOTHING was their fault and they'd sue anyone or better yet, manufacturers that had even deeper pockets. Granted, some times people do get hurt due to a faulty product or bad design, but with these seedy lawyers telling the great "unwashed" pun intended, that they'll make them rich not mentioning that if the case is won, the law firm gets at least 1/2 the settlement.Society really took a turn for the worst. And one way or the other, we ALL pay!

Post# 752425 , Reply# 7   4/24/2014 at 18:58 (3,626 days old) by brucelucenta ()        

You sure got that right!!!!!!!!

Post# 752427 , Reply# 8   4/24/2014 at 19:04 (3,626 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
Well I'll be damned. The Speed Queen Conventional lives

mickeyd's profile picture

If you read Washman's first link you'll see we've gone over this thoroughly 7 years ago. FREDDIE,  READ THE LINK; it's one of our old threads and it's really good.  But the surprise is that the last poster was right.  Conventional Wringers are still being made in Saudi Arabia, and available through a well-known Aworg haunt, Lehman's.  Of interest is that they no longer come with a pump, which on both my SQ's is the weak link. And the price -- over 900 bucks. Read the comments. Really enlightening, esp. the price versus a high tech green machine.

 

Love to get a close-up of the weird looking blue logo on the front of the machine; it sure  ain't Speed Queen's. 

 

New ones are STILL HERE! Amazing.



CLICK HERE TO GO TO mickeyd's LINK



This post was last edited 04/24/2014 at 19:22
Post# 752452 , Reply# 9   4/24/2014 at 21:13 (3,626 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
Thar she be, all the way from dry Saudi.

mickeyd's profile picture


Post# 752535 , Reply# 10   4/25/2014 at 06:33 (3,626 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)        

kenmoreguy89's profile picture
Yes, Michael, I did read Washman's first link, but there, lot's of different informations shared regarding the very matter I wanted to know...
You know, even though I became a member only in 2010, I follow this website since the erly days, 2002 or so, proof of that is that I have a couple of ring collectors with pages and pages of threads that I found being of major interest ( to me) that I was usual printing and read carefully and with calm at home, you know, I was a child, internet was not in every home, and hi-speed connections were still science fiction, at least over here...
As for new threads, there are still though many thread I didn't read or simply forgot the existence of, among old ones, especially years of college spent in a priests boarding school with no TV or internet access....my teenage, has been pretty eventful and no roses...
Never came to read this thread before infact...like I do miss to read many others.
Sure, is interesting to know the existence of Saudi Arabian SQ, WW, who would have giessed? Saudi arabia, sounds like "No way," news...
I can see how in that country, as it is pretty much in every country or loacation where, water pressure or supply may be a problem, these kind of machines or configuration for these reasons, are still going strong...
Similarly to what happens in South America, where wringer machines, or manual machines, including the wringer-less round washers, ie "Lavadoras redondas" are still being produced and sold...
Funny or particular is that if there was a place where I'd have guessed SQ WW were still produced at today's date, it would have been Mexico, or Brazil, not for sure a country that far from the US like Saudi Arabia...that is of course a news...interesting almost unbelievable news!
But, as per thread title, I wanted to know the last wringer washer made in US history...not worldwide..

Do not get me wrong, even in the US there are of course still people interested in using wringer washers, just think of Amish people or ones in very rural areas, I'd get one myself as well, even though the most,just prefer to go with an automatic if they can...
So I thought it being the main reason for which the production of WW has been stopped...in the US.
I am sure, that the concern of "easy" lawsuit in the 80s was a reason also, just cannot think of it, being a so important reason, which is pretty beyond the limits of normality, for how I do see things....
I mean it's pretty absurd, isn't it? Clumsy people, and use this adjective as synonym for something else... who get injured using wringers suing manufacturers for this, sounds like a childish, idiotic reason at best to be so general and important.
Sure is that safety requirements got more slective during the time, but sounds like absurdity....
I am prone to think it has been a combination of factors....much or less "important"
But...
I may be wrong....










This post was last edited 04/25/2014 at 07:24
Post# 752548 , Reply# 11   4/25/2014 at 08:49 (3,626 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)        
Got some researches on this new aspect...

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Found this article.....it's as intestesting as it's unbelievable.....
ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdf...
I am shocked.... Really shocked...I'd have never thought possible something like this.
Over the really large, unbelievable number of injuries, it's what appears being the common opinion to these accidents and faults that leaves me stunned, is simply immature, crazy.
It's against any logic assuming one is talking of people with normal mental abilities.
To me sounds like a joke, one of those articles you read on satiric journals, obviously there is something wrong with people...even back in the 80s..... But never imagined it.
So you cannot use a wringer washer properly, you're careless or clumsy and it's fault of safety release that didn't work? You let your 4 year old child play with the machine, he loss his hand or worse and it's maker's fault?
How is this possible to happen in a normal country? How people can think this is normal? How is possible one may even open a cause like this without being told to grow up? How a judge in a normal court house determine a maker's fault and not determine that users and people should pay attention to themselves, being responsible for their own negligence as an adult is expected to do, so simply say them to wake up?
I am shocked.....really shocked.




This post was last edited 04/25/2014 at 10:43
Post# 752564 , Reply# 12   4/25/2014 at 11:15 (3,625 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        

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Hello Dear Freddy ~

 

The image of you as a little boy trotting off to the library to download and copy threads from Automatic Washer and then go home and punch out the holes to fit them in your three ring binder......IS FABULOUS!!!....... And I love it.  I'll be thinking about it many times on my bike right today and smiling big. So thank you Freddy for a great treat and a wonderful, truly satisfying story.


Post# 752568 , Reply# 13   4/25/2014 at 11:45 (3,625 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)        

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You're welcome?
I suppose I am meant to say this, am surprised you are thanking me for this...
Glad that you enjoyed for some reasons this story....
You know what...
Most of the time I realize I am too verbose and blabbermouth and end talking about stuff that really few if no-one would care of, and I let me transport and drive in speeches that are not much inherent, but it's stronger than me...I am chatty, I kow that....
I realize that too late..
I suppose this was one of those cases....
But glad you enjoyed it for some reasons...




This post was last edited 04/25/2014 at 12:14
Post# 752582 , Reply# 14   4/25/2014 at 12:47 (3,625 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
Childhoods of washer people

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It's just that you're the real thing, only a younger version. We older guys only had CU & CR bound magazines at the library, while you had the gold mine of  Automatic Washer' s archives--you lucky dog! I always appreciate hearing people's history; the appeal is universal, and we all have unique ways of sharing those histories. (Also fun for me to watch your command of written English growing in leaps.)

 

Because of your thread, I followed Washman's link which led  me to the Lehman's store, a well-known on-line vendor here, and with this  era  in history being  a global market one,  brand new wringer washers--Speed Queens, no less, (well, SQ's more or less ;'D)--are still available for purchase here in the USA.  That's very comforting to know.  If I knew this, I had forgotten about it.

 

At least threes member of our club, Bradross, Timwringer, and LarryE2LP, use wringer washers exclusively. There may be others, and forgive me gentlemen for forgetting who else. GeoffD has mostly wringers, Stan, too, I think, Garyabcomatic, and a whole bunch of guys in the UK all use wringer washer regularly. Me, too. 

 

You also mention that wringers are being made today and in use in other countries as well; I didn't know that. I wonder if the day will ever come when they vanish from the laundries throughout the world, or if there will be a resurgence with diminishing water supplies.

 

While it was sad but inevitable to read that the great preponderance of injury orrurred among children aged 1-4, and 5-9, from the charts in your alarming link, it was enlightening to see how many brands of wringers were produced in their heyday, and that Maytag, Kenmore, Speed Queen were so far ahead in popularity, all three nearly tied around 150, with Norge a close second at 75. Little wonder why we find them now in that exact order.  Ah !--Mathematics. 

 

Luckily, I  do not have any firsthand knowledge of anyone in my lifetime who was injured by a wringer, but I can understand how it could happen to a child.


Post# 752590 , Reply# 15   4/25/2014 at 13:33 (3,625 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)        

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Thank you Michael, I am embarassed, always thought to be hated by everyone here....but it's just me, take or leave..
Thank you!
I knew about lehmans, some time ago a member took a ride in Amish county and posted pics of the lovable shop they've...really beautiful...
But was not aware they carried arabian speed queen...gosh, it still feel weird, saudi arab speed queen..who would have guessed!
I'd like a wringer washer too, infact time ago I've found a nice maytag for sale here, but had to say no since I live in an apt and do not really inow where to fit it in order for it to reach a sink or tub where rinse...
Bathroom is too small, and the kitchen too...the sink is close to the wall, angular..
I do see me using it quite often too if only I could...
Regarding wringer washers still produced elsewhere...seem to remember that i have found new wringer machines still being sold online somewhere in south america or perhaps asia, forgot exactly where, they were an unknown brand, sure is that down there manual type configuration is still going strong for many people...
Just look online typing "lavadora redondas",GE, whirlpool etc still produce them for south american market...
But they miss the wringer, I do assume that now whoever prefer using these manual machines have a separate spinner device to spin clothes and return suds....and rinse...
Unfortunately and very sadly for today's people mindset I do rather see twin tubs to be used in the case you mention, just like is happening and is happened in the countries that since always got problems with water, even though we've to be honest in saying they do usually require some efforts in order for you to get a well rinsed load...
Both TT and WW have prons and cons with them, and I think they equalize...




Post# 752591 , Reply# 16   4/25/2014 at 13:35 (3,625 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Wringer Washers Were EXTREMELY DANGEROUS APPLIANCES

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And could never be sold today in the US and Europe and probably most of the rest of the civilized world. Thousands of Americans were badly injured by using WWs over the years they were popular.

If they were to sell them today some sort of sensor system would have to be used to keep your hands away from the powered rollers, but there are far too few people who would ever buy a manually controlled washer to ever make it worth building them today.


Post# 752602 , Reply# 17   4/25/2014 at 14:47 (3,625 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)        

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Yes John, I think the same....
I do see people hurting themselves with a pasta machine nowadays, let alone a wringer washer....
Other than that, most people would never go with a manual machine in Europe or USA, actualy for many it would be weird if someone would....
Regarding dangerousnes, lots of stuff were and still are dangerous, once there were wingers, nowadays there are oven windows, kneaders, irons etc.....
I would not be surprised to see someone suing black&decker for the iron that left turned on and burned the house...
Or suing sunbeam because it was not written in the instruction to do not let your son licking the beaters still attached on the plugged appliance..
Oh yeah right, now we have all auto shut off irons...wait a few years and the feature will become mandatory!
How much for safety screen on your KA mixer?
Gotta confess that me too I forgot it turned on, but if my house would have got on fire, I'd have never thought to blame others than me...
Generally yes,of course, most of stuff of the past did have safety devices that noadays would get goose bumps to bureocrats and regulators..
I have seen how where I work they wanted us to change the stand drill machine as it didn't have a screen to stop it, screen that is anyway useless and an encumbrance...
Everything today must be fool proof...people got fools.
But everything may become extremely dangerous if you think of it....of course if you ask me whatever I consider safer to use among an automatic and a wringer I'd say automatic...
I do see how in an era when a wringer washer was all you had nobody would have ever thought to sue someone for his own faults, or anyway complain about it, and I see some people asking for safer stuff, here comes during the time safety release in wringers, obviously it wasn't enough....
Accidents happens, some in a sillier way than others..
For sure, I do see that in an era where most machines were automatics the common opinion about a machine that may broke your hands was different, was something very strange to hear, and sure I do see how in the 80s this may happen...so people were prone to see an accident like this caused by a washer much more differently than it may have been in the 40s or 50s....
But I don't feel positive keepinf defending the fools....otherwise we will end to live in a world customed for them...
Regarding suing, that adds to it, I tend to forget that the world we live in is crazy....everything is possible and happens without we even realize what's going on..
I just want to avoid that foolishness gets defended, rather than condamned for what it is....
Do not want to live in a world of
Stella Liebeck
Amber Carson
Kathleen Robertson
Carl truman
Terrence Disckson (yes a real dick-son)
Arthur Friedman
Etc......
Here is why I get controversial.....














This post was last edited 04/25/2014 at 18:25

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