>Guess that would do it. Our old machine is what I believe is called a 'top-loader' - a design now almost completely replaced here by the 'front-loader'. My interest in domestic machinery is, at best, minimal but it occurs to me that, based on my limited exposure to such devices in their natural habitat, the 'top-loader' is still prelevant in the U.S ?

Mostly... though I haven't seen too many of them washers. In the store, they top loaders are about 50% or more of what's shown. We didn't like the rod in the middle, which puts too much mechanical strain on the garments, and basically loses the buttons. We bought a front-loader.