Asbestos clutches? (Was: Re: Washing machine technology)

In misc.consumers.house Brian Sandle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> The total economics must look at how long the clothes last, too.

> And for environmental matters, the twin tub machines, though 
> non-automatic, enable the soapy water to be re-used for coloured clothes 
> after the whites have been done. And do you Aucklanders pay for your 
> volume of waste water yet?

And the old Autowasher clutch shoes look like car brake linings. Do they 
contain asbestos? Has asbestos been eliminated, and if so what year?