lol Are you refering to the Whiteway washing machines by any chance? When I built a three level geodescic dome (very efficient building on almost any count), including basement. I used several old whiteways to make hoists including one rotating crane that could pour concrete and lift steel 6 metres out - that also included an old mangle found in the harbour mud. The motors and reverse gears were the most useful parts. When the triangles were bolted together to raise the dome most people on the street came to help. Three winches were hoisting triangles up to the action while another raised the whole dome as each course of triangles was added, but that was a chain hoist.

Noel