ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS - Please Read This...

[unimatic1140]

Hi everyone, so about a year and a half ago I had mentioned in thread postings on both aw and Vacuumland that I was thinking about retiring from running the websites. I first launched Automaticwasher in 2001 (originally as classicappliances.com, renamed to automaticwasher.org in 2004). Vacuumland followed in 2007, and Automatic Ephemera in 2012.

Now, after nearly 25 amazing years, the time has come for me to pass the torch. After considering several options, I was approached by Groupbuilder—a company that specializes in managing forum-based websites. They bring the tools, infrastructure, technical knowledge and team needed to support and grow the sites well beyond what I could do on my own. GroupBuilder has been so very nice and have impressed me every step of the way, and I have full confidence they can carry our washer and vacuum communities forward for many years to come. Frankly, if something terrible had happened to me, the sites would have gone offline within a couple of months—but now, their future is secure, and believe me they’re in very good hands. It’s very important to me that
all the work I have done over the last 25 years to share the history of automatic washers, other appliances and vacuum cleaners, etc. not die out with me.

But I want to assure everyone that this isn’t a goodbye from me. It’s been a true joy being your webmaster, and I’m not going anywhere. I’ll still be active here just as I always have and on other social media appliance groups, making washer videos from my collection, producing new reproduction rubber parts, and diving into new creative ideas to enhance our shared passion for vintage washers, dryers, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, and other appliances.

If you’ve enjoyed our websites over the years, I hope you’ll keep supporting them just like you always have. So, with that, I’m now officially retired. Please join me in giving a warm welcome to Alan—I couldn’t be more excited about our new administrator. Thank you all again—a big hug to everyone here!"

 

[Alan]

Hi all!

My name is Alan, and it’s great to meet you all!

As Robert said I’m here to keep the lights on and make sure everything is working properly. I will mostly be in the background, but I am more than happy to help with anything you need help with as you adjust to the new software. I know it’s new, and I do expect questions, so please let me know what you need a hand with and I will make sure to give detailed instructions.

I’m grateful to be here and look forward to getting to know everyone! From everyone on my side of things, thank you for having me!

 

[ilovehoovers]

I'll miss the old design, but this is so much more streamlined! And finally we have notifications!

 

[bagintheback]

Thank you for the update Robert! I loved the old design and thank you for your many years of service as our webmaster. It's all archived on the wayback machine so it's not gone forever. I'm very happy to hear the site is in good hands and set up for the long haul! I've seen there's a few vacuum groups on Facebook but I try to avoid that site and much prefer it here.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Hi Robert,

I am sorry to see you are now retiring (I wish you all the best in your future endeavors), but I do thank Alan for taking over your position here, and I wish him all the best here!

And so far, I like the new look of this forum!

~Ben

 

[eurekaprince]

Hi everyone, so about a year and a half ago I had mentioned in thread postings on both aw and Vacuumland that I was thinking about retiring from running the websites. I first launched Automaticwasher in 2001 (originally as classicappliances.com, renamed to automaticwasher.org in 2004). Vacuumland followed in 2007, and Automatic Ephemera in 2012.

Now, after nearly 25 amazing years, the time has come for me to pass the torch. After considering several options, I was approached by Groupbuilder—a company that specializes in managing forum-based websites. They bring the tools, infrastructure, technical knowledge and team needed to support and grow the sites well beyond what I could do on my own. GroupBuilder has been so very nice and have impressed me every step of the way, and I have full confidence they can carry our washer and vacuum communities forward for many years to come. Frankly, if something terrible had happened to me, the sites would have gone offline within a couple of months—but now, their future is secure, and believe me they’re in very good hands. It’s very important to me that
all the work I have done over the last 25 years to share the history of automatic washers, other appliances and vacuum cleaners, etc. not die out with me.

But I want to assure everyone that this isn’t a goodbye from me. It’s been a true joy being your webmaster, and I’m not going anywhere. I’ll still be active here just as I always have and on other social media appliance groups, making washer videos from my collection, producing new reproduction rubber parts, and diving into new creative ideas to enhance our shared passion for vintage washers, dryers, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, and other appliances.

If you’ve enjoyed our websites over the years, I hope you’ll keep supporting them just like you always have. So, with that, I’m now officially retired. Please join me in giving a warm welcome to Alan—I couldn’t be more excited about our new administrator. Thank you all again—a big hug to everyone here!"

Thank you Robert for all your hard work over the years!!! Vacuumland has been such a wonderful internet home for me and for that I will be eternally grateful to you!!! Enjoy your well-deserved retirement! The new look is awesome!!! EurekaPrince Brian in Canada

 

[human]

Thank you for all you've done for this site over the years, I've been a member here since early 2013, and have found it an enjoyable and informative site and community. I wish you all the best.

 

[aussie-plugs]

Enjoy your retirement, Robert, and thanks for all you've done. The site has been a wonderul place for all these years under your guidance and I'm sure it will continue to develop under Alan's care

 

[hygiene903]

Thank you Robert, for creating Vacuumland and all the work you've done to maintain it over the years! Congratulations on your retirement and enjoy your much deserved rest! Welcome aboard Alan, I'm sure we will be in capable hands going forward. As for the new design, it will take some getting used to, but so far, so good. However, I must say that I miss the main page graphics and Vacuum of the Day.
Jeff

 

[blackheart]

Thank you Robert, your work has enabled many of us to find like-minded individuals, and learn things we may have never found elsewhere.

 

[panasonicvac]

It's been a real pleasure Robert! And Alan, thanks for taking over and I'm curious if you own a vacuum collection yourself?

 

[portable]

Thanks for everything you've done over the years, Robert. You've built a site that many people use as a social, research and technical connection to the world of vacuums, and friends.

 

[durango159]

Thank you Robert for all of your hard work, dedication and creativity over the years for building and maintaining the sites. It has been a great forum. I am very happy for you to be able to retire and glad that you were able to pass these huge forums onto what sounds like great new ownership. Welcome aboard Alan! Thank you for carrying it on!

 

[paul]

Hi everyone, so about a year and a half ago I had mentioned in thread postings on both aw and Vacuumland that I was thinking about retiring from running the websites. I first launched Automaticwasher in 2001 (originally as classicappliances.com, renamed to automaticwasher.org in 2004). Vacuumland followed in 2007, and Automatic Ephemera in 2012.

Now, after nearly 25 amazing years, the time has come for me to pass the torch. After considering several options, I was approached by Groupbuilder—a company that specializes in managing forum-based websites. They bring the tools, infrastructure, technical knowledge and team needed to support and grow the sites well beyond what I could do on my own. GroupBuilder has been so very nice and have impressed me every step of the way, and I have full confidence they can carry our washer and vacuum communities forward for many years to come. Frankly, if something terrible had happened to me, the sites would have gone offline within a couple of months—but now, their future is secure, and believe me they’re in very good hands. It’s very important to me that
all the work I have done over the last 25 years to share the history of automatic washers, other appliances and vacuum cleaners, etc. not die out with me.

But I want to assure everyone that this isn’t a goodbye from me. It’s been a true joy being your webmaster, and I’m not going anywhere. I’ll still be active here just as I always have and on other social media appliance groups, making washer videos from my collection, producing new reproduction rubber parts, and diving into new creative ideas to enhance our shared passion for vintage washers, dryers, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, and other appliances.

If you’ve enjoyed our websites over the years, I hope you’ll keep supporting them just like you always have. So, with that, I’m now officially retired. Please join me in giving a warm welcome to Alan—I couldn’t be more excited about our new administrator. Thank you all again—a big hug to everyone here!"

I thought I'd seen 2006 VL posts in the archives.

 

[huskyvacs]

"I was approached by Groupbuilder—a company that specializes in managing forum-based websites. They bring the tools, infrastructure, technical knowledge and team needed to support and grow the sites well beyond what I could do on my own."​

I would have went with VBulletin for a forum setup. It's more familiar to us old heads that have been on the internet since the 90s and it's not over-cluttered with buttons. I just hope this company won't do anything bad to the site.

 

[kirbylux77]

First of all - Robert: Thanks for maintaining this website, designing it and putting up with all of us for all these years! Lord knows we have made your job "interesting" over the years! And not necessarily in a good way LOL.

Alan - First of all, welcome aboard! I am sure you will do a fantastic job as our new Website Administrator. Yes, I must admit - I prefer the old look we had. But, you certainly did a good job designing our re-designed website!

Can I make a couple suggestions? 1. Could we bring back the "Forum Archives" button that used to be at the top of the Vintage and Contemporary categories please? I personally found it easy to look by year in the Archives. 2. Is it possible to put the Search Bar at the top of the Vintage and Contemporary categories please? I have used the thread title search bar a couple times, and found I didn't get acceptable results when I used it. The old search bar would usually work really well, and pull up LOTS of results from the Archives. I actually gave up on my 2nd search and just did a Google search for what I was trying to find, and only today did I see the Search at the top with the magnifying glass. That did work well though

Have a good week and look forward to seeing your reply.

 

[Alan]

I will be putting the archives back. Please be patient with me on that one. It's on my growing list of things to do!

For the second suggestion, you're asking for a search that only searches that forum. Is that correct?

I appreciate the kind words and the warm welcome! It means a lot to me.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

I will be putting the archives back. Please be patient with me on that one. It's on my growing list of things to do!

For the second suggestion, you're asking for a search that only searches that forum. Is that correct?

I appreciate the kind words and the warm welcome! It means a lot to me.

Alan,

I appreciate that (bringing back the VL and VCCC archived posts). Keep up the good work!

~Ben

 

[hooverhunny]

Robert, thank you for all you've done for the community over the last 25 years. Your websites were this young bucks open door into the magical world of appliance maintenance/repair. Inadvertently, you lit a fire in my soul, and I'm sure the souls of others. Thank you for passing the torch, I'm excited to see Alan carry it forward. Best of luck in your personal endeavors and I hope retirement is relaxing!

 

[rivstg1]

I will be putting the archives back. Please be patient with me on that one. It's on my growing list of things to do!

For the second suggestion, you're asking for a search that only searches that forum. Is that correct?

I appreciate the kind words and the warm welcome! It means a lot to me.

Alan that previous search would pull from the forum AND outside the forum for any related articles. There was actually two search fields, and they were quite helpful.