Wayback Machine Wednesday

In the 20 years years, I have been the appliance trade I have seen a lot of changes. To those of you have been doing this for what may seem like forever, we salute you! Here is a short stroll down memory lane.

Creative Commons license on image.

You know you are an old timer when...

• You remember when W.L. May was located on the park blocks in downtown Portland.
• You did research, it meant using film cards and quick books, not computers.
• You have serviced a GE clam shell timer.
• You had the borrow the customers phone if you needed to make a call from the field.
• You know what a wigwag is and have replaced a lot of them.
• You remember having to give a model number when ordering parts for Whirlpool warranty, and they would be shipped to you at no charge,
• You remember the days before computer boards in appliances.
• You have worked on a wringer washer and had no trouble finding parts.
• You knew that the parts numbers for a washer would start with a 2 from Maytag, a 2 or 3 from Whirlpool, or a WH from GE.
• You could do sealed system repair without the licensing by the EPA. 
• You remember when Roy and Chuck were rookies.
• You remember when Frigidaire started adding a 5300 to the beginning of their part numbers.
• Your first service van now qualifies as a classic car.

What else can you remember about the "good old days"? Tell us about it in the comments.