Newton, IA: Washing Machine Capital of the World

(Update: The washing machine was invented in 1871 near Fort Wayne, IN.)

Satellite

"Almost one hundred years ago there were five different washing machine manufacturers in Newton....Over time, only Maytag survived, and Newton became a one-company town." It also was the headquarters of Maytag. But in 2006 when Maytag was acquired by Whirlpool, the plant, which made washers and dryers, was closed one year later ending a 115 year Maytag presence in Newton. Unlike Galesburg's closed Maytag plant, Newton was able to find new tenants for the buildings such as Trinity Structural Towers. Newton already had a company, TPI Composites Inc, that was making windmill blades. Unfortunately, both of these "green wind energy" companies are at the mercy of the US Congress to keep renewing tax credit laws. [money.cnn]

Satellite

It appears the tower plant uses rail service. So this business is a win for the IAIS Railroad as well as for the town.

Google Photo

Whirlpool evidently did save some of the headquarters jobs by creating a co-headquarters at the plant Maytag had in Amana, IA.

Update: Whirlpool makes washing machines in Clyde, OH.

Manufacturing company to invest $6M, add 57 new jobs at former Maytag Plant 2 "Global Fiberglass Solution, Inc., of Bothell, Wash"

Sam Bailey commented in Joe's posting:

Maytag laundry manufacturing plants in the U.S.: in Newton, Iowa; Herrin, Illinois; and Searcy, Arkansas; and in Mexico: Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. refrigeration manufacturing plants in Amana, Iowa (built by Amana Corporation, which was later acquired by Maytag) and Reynosa, Tamaulipas.

 A video of a gas powered washing machine. (source)
Edward JonesEdward and 75 others joined Forgotten Wheels And Buildings within the last two weeks. Give them a warm welcome into your community! Good old Maytag!
Dennis DeBruler It sounds like a hit-and-miss gas motor. This is the first time I've heard one under full load. Normally they don't have a load and "pop" just once and a while.
Rod Burnham I used to work for Maytag and once saw one with a wooden tub and a gas engine.