There’s a bronze statue of an unemployed Maytag repairman in Newtown Iowa where they manufactured Maytag washing machines. Here is another view of the same statue in the snow. I was in Perla’s Appliances Plus Store in Swissvale, picking up a grill plate for my new stove they delivered last week and saw this statue of the lonely Maytag repairman. Turns out there are other figurines of the same theme in existence and are popular collectibles. I asked to blog it and they said fine by them, thank you! Do you remember Jesse White the character actor who first played the Maytag Repairman in a commercial in 1967?? There is a Youtube video of a Maytag Museum in Eaton CO if you want to see the collections of washing machines, some powered by gasoline and one actually has a meat grinder attachment. Wringers, rollers, drums, agitators, tubs, automatics and rack and pinion gearing, motors and spin cycles. But since the Maytag needed so few repairs, their authorized repairman was taught to carry a deck of cards to play solitaire as he was called so infrequently! 
A meat grinder attached to a washing machine?!?
“Sorry, but I accidentally grinded your trousers dear”
I love it! I love taking a picture and then discovering a world of information behind it. This makes me think of an antique item that has a history or papers of authentication which increases its value. Great job!
That is awesome. I think I got into the wrong profession. I should have been a Maytag repair lady.
So sad
I know they replaced Jesse with new repairman but none measured up. Jesse was a hard act to follow. He was the Maytag repairman, just as Mr. Whipple sold Charmin.
That’s even better than the commercials.
Great. Newton, Iowa; another place to seek out for a pic. Who knows, maybe . . . cardboard Ruthie will make it there this year. 🙂
Shuey
That’s great! I remember those commercials. I’m not far from Iowa – about 20 seconds north, in fact! We live on the state line road…house in MN, mailbox in IA!! All in all, not too bad a place to call home. 🙂
Hello rutheh, I Love your blog and am glad to pass the Versatile Blogger award on to you! See here: http://wp.me/p1kP6q-tq I hope you enjoy it and find other great bloggers to reward with it too, with appreciation, Christine
Oh that is so nice of you. Thank you Christine. Oh my.
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I’m glad they have solved my ever-pressing conundrum of how to do my wash and my meals at the same time… (Reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer makes dinner in the shower…)
Nice photo – For a moment I thought he was on his phone speaking to a customer until I realised he pre-dates cellphones.
So what is he doing with his hand up to his face?
How does/did this sell washing machines?!
The idea is that the repairman is so bored with his job cause he never gets a repair call if you buy the brand Maytag,
Very cute – I am British so I don’t claim to know US humour, but it has a ‘New York’ humour feel to it. Would that be right?
I think “mildly amusing” the better category than humorous in any country! It is a bit retro and the statue looks like the actor who got well known in the commercials. People my age are nostalgic for a time when you bought an appliance and it LASTED forever. Or almost. thanks for stopping by my blog. I look forward to following yours.
Hi there! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I truly enjoy reading through your articles. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same subjects? Thank you so much!
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