After so recently relating the death of our kitchen range, it pains me (and my wallet) to inform you of a further loss. Our dear washing machine, Maytag 712, has passed. Born in Newton, IA in 1989, Maytag served two families faithfully until succumbing in June to a sudden transmission failure.

The old Maytag Washer
A last picture just before they carted it out. RIP, old friend!
The tag from the old washer
Long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far, away, Maytag was a competitor of Whirlpool. Now they’re the same company.

Remember the Maytag Repairman?

Maytag TV commercials used to feature the Maytag Repairman. He was supposedly the loneliest guy in town, because the Maytag washing machines never broke down.

The Maytag Repairman
Gordon Jump as the Maytag Repairman

That was pretty much true of ours. I think we replaced the pump once. But we used it for 28 years. And it wasn’t new when we got it. It came with the house, and the previous owner gave the manual and receipt. She bought it in 1989, so it was 35 years old. No wonder it gave up!

Sadly, when the agitator ceased to agitate we discovered that nobody sold the parts we needed to fix it. So off we went to the appliance store again.

From what I gather, we won’t see anything like 35 years from our new one. They don’t make ’em like that anymore!