And then I’ll buy a washing machine

Definitely not a Vintage Thing

When my washing machine went wrong I thought no problem – if I can fix my old cars then a washing machine will be a mere bagatelle.

But I learnt that I have no enthusiasm for mending washing machines. They don’t have engines or wheels and all look the same to me. To cut a long story short, I bought a new one after having got as far as taking the back off to confirm that the belt wasn’t broken. On principle, I would have liked to have fixed it but do I want to spend my time doing something I don’t enjoy when I could be doing something more fun? Well, would you?

Now it’s incredible – but true – that some people view cars and motorbikes in the same way. They treat them as domestic appliances or fashion accessories that say something about them as a person.

There may be someone somewhere who feels about washing machines the way I do about things with engines and wheels but frankly I doubt it. You can’t go on holiday with a washing machine. They don’t have washing machine races. They don’t have washing machine sections at Classic and Vintage Steam Ups. I could be wrong here but there is no National Washing Machine Museum, anywhere.

I once met a very attractive young woman and I have the feeling that when she asked me if I had a washing machine then she wouldn’t have come to stay with me if I’d said no. But she might just as well have asked about a fridge or a toaster or any other domestic appliance. Put another, I do not feel sufficiently moved to preserve my old washing machine.

Washing machines are entirely for convenience’s sake and don’t move the body or spirit. I once had a neighbour who would ride around on her twin tub because it allegedly “balanced out the load” but I think that must have been the exception rather than the rule. They don’t do anything except wash clothes – unless they are washer dryers, of course.

But what I can’t understand is how people just regard cars and bikes as domestic appliances. I suppose steam engines were just bits of industrial equipment but not anymore. I think now everyone can understand their majesty. Maybe we have to lose the washing machines of yesteryear before we can appreciate them fully and then there will be a dramatic rise in demand for classic washing machines.

I can’t see it myself. I think that is a little too weird but also understand that is how someone people regard me.

I think it all comes down to enthusiasm. I have no enthusiasm for washing machines and that seems natural. I have loads of enthusiasm for cars and bikes and that seems natural, too.

Some people have no enthusiasm for anything. In fact they seem to view enthusiasm as a kind of madness and live in fear of it, ridiculing it whenever it comes their way. I think they’ve got something missing. They must lose out on so many simple pleasures.