"k" wrote in message ...
Thanks for the suggestions and insights.

The Speed Queen idea is kind of nostalgic, though the price is
probably prohibitive. My uncle used to have a string of laundromats
along with a commercial laundry and all he had were Speed Queens, in
the laundromats anyway. I didn't even know they made them anymore.

Thanks again.

We got a top of the line Speed Queen top loader last year and paid $599
+ tax. It was a local appliance store and we picked it up, so there was no
delivery charge.

As I said you might need to check around to find these washers. It's one
of the few vestiges of good 'ol American build quality left in the major
appliance industry. Whirlpools are absolute junk, and they make all
Kenmore models too.