How important is mains frequency in practice?

[ConKbot]

They can be distinguished from the universal motor type since as I mentioned earlier they typically have three buttons, on, off and pulse.

Doh,  Didnt even know they made food processors. With all the attachments they make for the mixers, figured that'd bolt onto the front of the mixer 

Double Doh, cant even put my reply at the end.  Bed early tonight 

[HackedFridgeMagnet]

I guess that this thing is tuned to work at the power frequency.

Another device to watch out for is a Wahl electric hair clippers. I think the motor on these is tuned to work at a specific frequency.
A guy I know tried his USA version in Australia with a step down transformer but the vibration was so bad it wasn't usable.
Can't remember what this kind of motor is called.
 

[Richard Crowley]

I guess that this thing is tuned to work at the power frequency.

Another device to watch out for is a Wahl electric hair clippers. I think the motor on these is tuned to work at a specific frequency.
A guy I know tried his USA version in Australia with a step down transformer but the vibration was so bad it wasn't usable.
Can't remember what this kind of motor is called.

Some gadgets like that are simply giant "buzzers".  So you can easily imagine that they can gain maximum mechanical work (i.e. displacement) by tuning the mass of the moving part (the "rotor") to the mains frequency.

[Alex Eisenhut]

I guess that this thing is tuned to work at the power frequency.

Another device to watch out for is a Wahl electric hair clippers. I think the motor on these is tuned to work at a specific frequency.
A guy I know tried his USA version in Australia with a step down transformer but the vibration was so bad it wasn't usable.
Can't remember what this kind of motor is called.

Some gadgets like that are simply giant "buzzers".  So you can easily imagine that they can gain maximum mechanical work (i.e. displacement) by tuning the mass of the moving part (the "rotor") to the mains frequency.

That's pretty much what I concluded upon hearing those stories. Never tested it though, the risk of losing my espresso machine is too great.