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Post# 783275   9/12/2014 at 16:57 (3,503 days old) by washman (o)        

of the new SQ. This lady got a set to try 27 years ago. SQ came out and delivered a new set. FF to 1:24 if you are interested in the new machine. Very brief so don't blink.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO washman's LINK





Post# 783291 , Reply# 1   9/12/2014 at 17:35 (3,503 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        
Let's meet Sylvia...

Thats the video I posted a few days earlier...

Post# 783295 , Reply# 2   9/12/2014 at 17:47 (3,503 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)        
So Similar

mrb627's profile picture
Surprising how similar the design is to the 30 year old machine.

Malcolm


Post# 783299 , Reply# 3   9/12/2014 at 17:58 (3,503 days old) by washman (o)        
And Malcolm

that might be a good thing! :)

Post# 783305 , Reply# 4   9/12/2014 at 18:32 (3,503 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
all I can say is she just happen to luck out.....thats a Raytheon machine, prone to seal and belt failure, very few survived, especially that long.....

but don't understand, this was Raytheon owned back then, and today, Alliance is honoring a replacement?.....

didn't McGraw-Edison have something like a lifetime guarantee on the transmission and stainless drum of the SolidTub Speed Queens....

Do you think Alliance would honor that warranty now?

I love how they have these secret test markets, that no one hears about.....they only put ONE machine, in ONE household as a test?.....even Maytag did this with the Neptune 3000 when it came out, but that included just about everyone in a small town, and most of their employees who was building these....

not that it can't happen, but something doesn't seem kosher about all of this....


Post# 783313 , Reply# 5   9/12/2014 at 18:52 (3,503 days old) by washman (o)        
So what you are saying Yogitunes

is something is rotten out there and it's not on Denmark?

Post# 783405 , Reply# 6   9/13/2014 at 05:29 (3,502 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        

I suppose there are more testers than Sylvia (I just love that name), but she's been selected for that video because of her charisma. And probably because her machine survived.

Post# 783421 , Reply# 7   9/13/2014 at 07:52 (3,502 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
for one thing, I am ALL about SQ and Alliance, McGrawEdison as well....Raytheon killed them, in design and durability.....

but the thing is, this wasn't an Alliance product at that time....makes you wonder why their picking up on somthing that Raytheon did way back then....

if they want to highlight something spectacular, I have SQ solidTubs from the 60/70's, still working.....but even better how about Robert's collection, and especially Jon Charles and the '57 he just restored.....granted it needed some rebuilding, but again, that it can come back to life, and is in excellent condition, AND tack another 30+ years to Sylvia's....

who knows, there may have been 50 test machines put out there, and ONE survived, is that really good odds?...

all I can say is that they found this, and are running with it, their using the name "Speed Queen".....but thats not Alliance's original design, or even created by them, they took it over how many years later...unfortunately kudos goes to Raytheon...although, may not be a bad thing, Alliance took the design from Raytheon, and had to do improvements, plus build the reputation back up...very risky in todays market....

yet, we have all seen ads over the years of Maytag's in homes across America, tried and true, and not just for a test market...

hell, even parts for that Raytheon machine are scarce, if not NLA...is Alliance gonna start supplying them again?

didn't you find it funny that on the other side of Sylvia' sink is a Maytag washer?


Post# 783422 , Reply# 8   9/13/2014 at 08:05 (3,502 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
Videos by Speed Queen....dated Mar 7, 2014...and they still refer to that tranny as an 'EverSmooth'...













Post# 783424 , Reply# 9   9/13/2014 at 08:09 (3,502 days old) by appnut (TX)        

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I'm surprised the electronic control panels last this long without a failure. 


Post# 783429 , Reply# 10   9/13/2014 at 08:25 (3,502 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)        
Electronic controls

mrb627's profile picture
My cousin has a digital Amana set from 1996, never had an issue with either electronic control.

Malcolm


Post# 783459 , Reply# 11   9/13/2014 at 11:00 (3,502 days old) by Murando531 (Augusta, Georgia - US)        

murando531's profile picture
Electronics were much higher quality years ago. They used more substantial components and took more care to shield them from moisture and heat. My grandma's Lady Kenmore Solid State board never gave so much as a hiccup, and I'm sure where ever that washer is now, it's still running strong.

I can only hope that the quality of the SQ's electronics hasn't suffered the way other manufacturers have.


Post# 783831 , Reply# 12   9/15/2014 at 08:57 (3,500 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Electronics Were Much Higher Quality Back Then

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Hi Andrew, I love much of what you write, but having been a Service Technician from 1975 through current and being an authorized servicer for Maytag, Whirlpool, Kitchenaid and a few others, I could not disagree more, on many early electronic KA DWs [ the KUDSS20 through 21 and 22s ] we saw almost a 100% failure rate before they were 5 years old. On the WP LFA9800 Washers and similar KMs again VERY HIGH failure rates, same with the first WP electronic DWs SHU9900. The first MT electronic stack washers and dryers LE-G 1000 also had constant problems with boards and touch pads.

While these early boards were larger and stronger and in many cases easier to repair the failure rates were through the roof, this is why it is so rare to see any that survived.

An interesting side note, my next older brother Jerry is a quality control engineer in the electronics field and he interviewed with Speed Queen in Ripon about 20 years ago. They were very interested in someone that could help them with all the problems they were experiencing with the washers and dryers like the one that started this thread. My brother came away from SQ horrified at how they were using and treating the circuit boards that these machines used. They offered him the job but he chose not to move to Ripon Wisconsin and SQ discontinued electronic washers and dryers soon after for the residential market.


Post# 783841 , Reply# 13   9/15/2014 at 10:28 (3,500 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

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I really like the look of the new electronic Speed Queen console. Looking forward to seeing one in person---or at least the manual---to learn what the machine offers in terms of cycle flexibility.

One mischevious question: Will Sylvia make a similar commercial for the Maytag seen on the other side of her laundry sink at 1:27 in the video? She washes five loads a week 52 weeks a year. She doesn't say all of them were washed in the Speed Queen.



Post# 783852 , Reply# 14   9/15/2014 at 11:42 (3,500 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)        
Maytag

mrb627's profile picture
I wonder if that is the machine she was using when she agreed to be a tester for SQ 3 decades ago...

Malcolm


Post# 783893 , Reply# 15   9/15/2014 at 16:27 (3,500 days old) by gusherb (Chicago/NWI)        

We had a 1998 Amana washer that was a turd from the get go. I too would like to know how hers lasted so long unless of course she's been using that Maytag all this time.

Our Amana was noisy as hell in the wash cycle, the water level selector broke just weeks after getting it. It finally kicked the bucket after 8 years when the motor quit.




Post# 783917 , Reply# 16   9/15/2014 at 18:53 (3,500 days old) by appnut (TX)        
John is more than correct

appnut's profile picture

Back in 1977, I was working for a company who had a division that was supplying many of the components used in the appliance electronic control panels--the early electronic Lady Kenmore appliances and Whirlpool ones.  I heard horror stories.  We had "numerous" programmable thermostats and were refurbs at the employee stores.  When it came to begin buying my own appliances, I ran as far away from digital control panels as I could.  I even went out of my way to make sure my first microwave--I had to have Litton--it was the biggest capacity available and that's what I needed--and made sure I got as high a model in the line-up without electronic touch pads.  It lasted for over 23 years and it was used heavily--not just heating up, but real, actual cooking. 


Post# 784045 , Reply# 17   9/16/2014 at 12:00 (3,499 days old) by kb0nes (Burnsville, MN)        

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I have to agree that the best electronic controls will be the latest ones. The electronics field has progressed greatly and we learn from our failures, improvements come with experience. The thing to fear isn't the electronics, its the cost cutting measures!! And I have a hunch that those cost cuts will likely make modern mechanical timers inferior to the timers of the olden days.

I hadn't heard of Jerry interviewing with the Speed Queen folks but it all fits. In fairness Jerry has always been highly critical of many commercial electronics. He has ragged on a lot of the stuff I have worked with. His professional life has had him working doing QA for a NASA contractor, Control Data and Cray. All of them use electronics that are a few cuts above what is really needed in a commercial product. I don't think we need quiet the same grade PC boards in a washer as a space craft needs!


Post# 784048 , Reply# 18   9/16/2014 at 12:22 (3,499 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

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Phil-- Can you imagine the cost of putting NASA-grade PC boards into a home appliance? On the plus side, it would certainly put an end to the whole "crappy electronics" mantra. It would be great to see the board outlive the rest of the appliance.

Totally off-topic: It's been a long time since I seen someone use the term "ragged"! I used it frequently back in the day. "Quit raggin' on me!" Funny how slang slips into and out of daily language. I was working on a percussion piece with a group of college-age guys and said, "OK, who's going to play the ratchet?" The guys nearly fell over themselves laughing, since ratchet means something else entirely these days, LOL.


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Post# 784140 , Reply# 19   9/16/2014 at 23:59 (3,499 days old) by murando531 (Augusta, Georgia - US)        

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I can see your point combo52. Perhaps the electronic appliances I was exposed to were the lucky ones to actually survive for that long. I guess what I meant was exactly what kb0nes pointed out perfectly; cost cutting. If they would pay attention to the basics and put high-quality components into the control board systems as Frigilux said, though maybe not quite NASA-grade, the electronics would most certainly outlive the rest of the machine. I have high hopes for the SQ's because of their reputation for quality, but it's Samsungs and LGs and new Whirlpools that I'm wary of because for the most part aesthetic appeal is taking the place of function and longevity.

Post# 784165 , Reply# 20   9/17/2014 at 06:14 (3,498 days old) by washman (o)        
In 20 plus years

of dealing with "business class" POS systems, I can certainly say in that arena overall quality and longevity has gone the way of the cassette tape.

I can remember IBM model 70, model 60, even the valupoint machines that would last and last and last. The old TI 880 printer was a tank, after thousands of pages, you MIGHT have to change the print head.

We now push Dell machines, the Optiplex series and they are garbage. Not at all uncommon to place service call for a motherboard. PSU last on average 8 months. Their flat screen monitors are scarcely better.

HP and Dell laser printers are a five star joke. Sure they SAY they have a life cycle of 20,000 pages but I have yet to install one that made it to the halfway point w/o a fuser or roller biting the dust.

Sure, SQ can put high quality electronics in there. So can every one else. Problem is, who is going to pay for it? You honestly think the cheap american moron is going to see any value in that?

We've been beaten over the head for so many years now that cheaper is better I can't imagine SQ bucking that trend and sourcing commercial grade electronics lest they price the machine beyond reach of the cheap minded consumer.


Nice concept. But I'm glad I have my mechanical machine that has a timer switch that I can buy and replace myself.


Post# 784169 , Reply# 21   9/17/2014 at 07:08 (3,498 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

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For many SQ fans, the big question concerning electronic controls may be "can I still raise the water level to fill the tub?" Guess we'll find out when the new models roll out.

I rarely need to set the water level past Medium---which is level the tub fills to on the highest setting from the factory---but that may not be the case for others. On the rare occasion I do set it to the maximum level (tub fills to top), I'm glad that option is available.


Post# 784179 , Reply# 22   9/17/2014 at 08:11 (3,498 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        

@washman I guess, who would have bought a SQ before would do this as well with the new line.
Electronic control boards are not overly hard to replace. Just as well as with a timer, you first disconect any wire to it, remove it from the machine. Than you fit the new one in and reconect all wires. The only thing that you have to do further is programming the board. And every but one manufacturer in the EU supplies a manual for the reprogramming. Only Indesit boards need a special reader and matching chip card. So I guess who could replace a timer could replace a board as well.
And I can only ask again: Why would SQ risk its reputation for high water level wash and durability? Until now, these were the only real selling points.


Post# 784188 , Reply# 23   9/17/2014 at 09:20 (3,498 days old) by washman (o)        
hard to say henene4

I'm not privy to their business plans. They never sent me a memo outlining how and why. I'm just taking a guess of sorts.

I agree, the electronic boards, depending on design, are not hard to replace. But they are expensive, at least according to what I have read.

I think I saw a NIB timer for my SQ fetching $60 US on Ebay. Somehow I doubt a control board for any machine will be that cheap.



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