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From the article: >Anyone who has tried to buy a car or home appliance lately knows the chip shortage is still pretty bad. Are people building some cheap wash

From the article: >Anyone who has tried to buy a car or home appliance lately knows the chip shortage is still pretty bad. Are people building some cheap washing machines without chips in them? That might be harder for cars to get away with, but come on, washing machines?

CTDOCodebases 5y ago
Maybe there are people buying them and parting them out.
- eddyfromtheblok 5y ago
  I talked to a used washing machine purchaser who quoted what my washing machine that was used for 2-3 years would be worth. (spoiler alert: not much at all, you're better off buying used) He told me to check out how unreliable Whirlpool washers are, check it out: https://www.designnews.com/corrosion-outbreak-whirlpool-machines https://www.designnews.com/corrosion-outbreak-whirlpool-mach...
matthewmacleod 5y ago
Building "washing machines without chips in them" would be more complex, costly, and time-consuming.
- bluGill 5y ago
  Washing machines without chips existed 60 years ago. Chips are a number of advantages, but mechanical timer washing machines can still be found in operation. (I'm not sure if they are still made, I suspect yes)
  - raxxorraxor 5y ago
    The people that could build mechanical clocks are probably long dead by now, we would need archaeologists to find their fossilized remains. Maybe they left some note somewhere.
    - buescher 5y ago
      We'd just be having a gear shortage or something. The people who can build mechanical clocks are either working on other things or making high-end wristwatches. There are still people inventing new watch movements.
  - derbOac 5y ago
    Yes they are still made. Speed Queen sells them in the US although they try to encourage customers to buy ones with electronic controls and offer a longer warranty on them.
  - a9h74j 5y ago
    We just gave up a machine from the 1950s. The installer for the new machine looked in amazement that the old unit had still been working until recently (a Kenmore). Looking to legislate parts availability for ca 5 years is a step, but IMHO it isn't nearly enough for the long run.
  - userbinator 5y ago
    Indeed, I still use one. The timer contacts need cleaning once in a very long time (depending on usage) but it's been quite reliable and if something breaks I can probably make or find a replacement relatively easily.
rini17 5y ago
Before chips there were delicate mechanical contraptions in washmachines to drive washing cycles. They weren't cheap either.
- jotm 5y ago
  The ticking was rather pleasant to the ear
jotm 5y ago
Crank washers coming soon. Very energy efficient, environmentally friendly, fully custom cycles.
VLM 5y ago
simple timers are not eco and not greenwash. Its actually just as bad as cars. Fit for purpose is no longer a requirement for sales, but uses less water or uses less electricity is a requirement for sales.

CTDOCodebases 5y ago

Maybe there are people buying them and parting them out.

eddyfromtheblok 5y ago
I talked to a used washing machine purchaser who quoted what my washing machine that was used for 2-3 years would be worth. (spoiler alert: not much at all, you're better off buying used) He told me to check out how unreliable Whirlpool washers are, check it out: https://www.designnews.com/corrosion-outbreak-whirlpool-machines https://www.designnews.com/corrosion-outbreak-whirlpool-mach...

matthewmacleod 5y ago

Building "washing machines without chips in them" would be more complex, costly, and time-consuming.

bluGill 5y ago
Washing machines without chips existed 60 years ago. Chips are a number of advantages, but mechanical timer washing machines can still be found in operation. (I'm not sure if they are still made, I suspect yes)
- raxxorraxor 5y ago
  The people that could build mechanical clocks are probably long dead by now, we would need archaeologists to find their fossilized remains. Maybe they left some note somewhere.
  - buescher 5y ago
    We'd just be having a gear shortage or something. The people who can build mechanical clocks are either working on other things or making high-end wristwatches. There are still people inventing new watch movements.
- derbOac 5y ago
  Yes they are still made. Speed Queen sells them in the US although they try to encourage customers to buy ones with electronic controls and offer a longer warranty on them.
- a9h74j 5y ago
  We just gave up a machine from the 1950s. The installer for the new machine looked in amazement that the old unit had still been working until recently (a Kenmore). Looking to legislate parts availability for ca 5 years is a step, but IMHO it isn't nearly enough for the long run.
- userbinator 5y ago
  Indeed, I still use one. The timer contacts need cleaning once in a very long time (depending on usage) but it's been quite reliable and if something breaks I can probably make or find a replacement relatively easily.

rini17 5y ago

Before chips there were delicate mechanical contraptions in washmachines to drive washing cycles. They weren't cheap either.

jotm 5y ago
The ticking was rather pleasant to the ear

jotm 5y ago

Crank washers coming soon. Very energy efficient, environmentally friendly, fully custom cycles.

VLM 5y ago

simple timers are not eco and not greenwash. Its actually just as bad as cars. Fit for purpose is no longer a requirement for sales, but uses less water or uses less electricity is a requirement for sales.