Recommend posting on "laundry room" forum and/or "electrical wiring" forum.

Thanks, will do.

In a word, no.

""A 2007 consumer report shows that clothes washers we are using right now had one of the lowest repairs in 2007"""

Interesting

Thanks for all comments!

weedmeister, I came to the same conclusion :

I checked the wiring from the washer to the breaker in the house breaker box. Washer and dryer are in a closet in the 'den' room and all the 115 Vac wall outlets are connected to that breaker. I checked that by turning all the lights, computer, etc. on and operating that breaker. In addition to the washer others on that circuit are a desk top computer, printer, wireless router, several lamps. None of these ever got effected by washer operation, i.e. lights flicker, even at the time the washer motor seemed to burn out.

I explained the scenario to a friend of mine who is an electrical engineer, who thinks that this is a washer problem.

A lot has changed since 1974 including who manufactures what. Sounds like the China syndrome.

Yes, the replacement motors are made in China. But probably all other washers also have parts made outside the US.