I had a 1967 Simpson "Fluid Drive" washing machine - the second one I owned.
What are your dream machines yet to be found?
Very early Simpson Fluid Drives, very old fridges.
What are your earliest and favorite appliance memories?
My mother had a Simpson wringer Machine when I was a kid. She also had an "Early Kooka" stove with a Kookaburra motif on the oven door. I have a collection of Sunbeam Mixmasters and other Sunbeam appliances in regular use, as well as "Can-o-mat", "Ice-o-mat" and "Juice-o-mat" appliances.
What is the history of appliances you have owned?
I bought my previous Fluid Drive as spares from a repairer who referred to it as "The Rolls-Royce of washing machines".He has been a great source of advice and parts, but is now retired.
Have you ever worked on, repaired and/or restored any major appliances?
In 2007, I disassembled and rebuilt my Fluid Drive. Had the main shaft re-chromed, replaced the bearing, replaced the drain hose from bowl to pump (found the last one at the factory years ago) and generally rebuilt it. It was back in everyday use, until the bowl to pump hose perished, and I found it impossible to find or build a replacement. I worked on a refrigerator production line for three months during uni holidays in a previous life.
