(57) In a laundry washing machine having a tub and drum assembly supported in a housing defined by circumferential walls, a bottom member, and a top closure member, the circumferential wall of the housing is formed of two shell sections releasably connected to one another and to the bottom member. The upper portions of the shell sections are joined to one another by a cross-bracket releasably secured thereto and formed with means for suspending the tub and drum assembly from above, the top closure member being preferably formed as a working table top releasably secured to the shell sections. The bottom member carries further operating components of the machine and means for supporting the tub and drum assembly from below. Any one of the shell sections may be demounted for giving access to the operating components of the machine, the remaining shell section in this case cooperating with the bottom member and the cross-bracket to act as the carrying structure for all of the operating components.