Winner of Continental Girbau's Oldest Washer Contest announced



Coco and Louie Lin, owners of Sunshine Laundry – a vintage, mom-and-pop corner laundry in Philadelphia – are the winners of Continental Girbau's Oldest Washer Contest. The contest debuted as part of Continental Girbau's 15th anniversary celebration, according to Continental President Mike Floyd.


Coco and Louie Lin's Sunshine Laundry in Philadelphia showcases a rare trio of Golder Girbau's–washers that have been in operation for over 30 years!

At Sunshine Laundry, there are eight washer-extractors spanning three decades of Girbau history. A rare trio of 30-pound capacity Golder Girbau washers – manufactured in the mid- to late- 70's – represent the workhorse ancestors of several of today's Continental Girbau models.

"The Golder Girbaus are over 30 years old and still running strong," said Russ Arbuckle of Wholesale Commercial Laundry SE. "That's a real testament to the quality of these machines." In addition to the three Golder Girbaus, the unique neighborhood laundry is also outfitted with three, 40-pound Girbau washer-extractors, exported to the United States under a private label 23 years ago. These six older Girbau machines sit near their newer counterparts – two 30-pound capacity Continental Girbau washers. The laundry is truly a museum of Girbau history.

The laundry's previous owner, Montha Thong, discovered the old Golder Girbaus for sale at a neighboring coin laundry. She called on Continental distributor Russ Arbuckle of Wholesale Laundry Equipment Co. to inspect the washers prior to their purchase. "After I saw the condition of the machines, I was in shock," said Arbuckle. "The Golder Girbaus ran great despite three decades of continuous use." Arbuckle assessed their condition and advised the upgrade of minor parts – allowing Thong to vary vend price. He also replaced a door solenoid and gasket on one of the washers.

"This didn't surprise me," said Arbuckle, of the upgrades. "There is always a large amount of wear on those parts." Despite the antiquity of the washers, new parts were easy to find and install. Girbau makes a point of manufacturing interchangeable parts, which work for old and new product lines.

"One of the neat things about the Continental line is there's so much interchangeability with parts," said Arbuckle. "It's kind of neat when you can get parts for a 30-year-old piece of equipment. There aren't many manufacturers out there who offer parts for a machine this old."

Since their installation, the Golder Girbaus have run smoothly alongside their other Continental companions. "Anytime you have a machine that is reliable and doesn't break down often, you're saving money," said Arbuckle of the Girbau line. "The aggravation level is considerably less, and in a business where production is the name of the game, a quality machine quickly translates into profit."

A testament to quality and a tribute to great service, Arbuckle asserts that Continental Girbau products continue to surpass the competition. "The product line is one of the best in the business and their people are the best in the business," said Arbuckle. "I don't think anybody else even comes close."

Backed by a manufacturer that turns out durable, long-lasting products, Arbuckle said it's no wonder Girbau ensures that parts made today fit the bill for machines made years ago. It's not often, however, that a single laundry captures Girbau's history so well.

For more information about Continental Girbau, visit www.continentalgirbau.com, or call 800-256-1073

Continental Girbau, Inc. is the largest of 12 subsidiaries of the Girbau Group, based in Vic, Spain. Girbau laundry products – marketed throughout 90 countries worldwide – meet rigorous environmental and safety standards established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Girbau S.A. holds both ISO9001 and ISO14001 certifications. Ever focused on laundry efficiency, Continental Girbau is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGB), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.