1957 Pink Hotpoint Dishwasher, Oven, Stove Top

[tomturbomatic]

The top rack was raised or lowered depending on whether the little metal tag faced forward to to the rear. The little tab in the center of the upper rack read:

Roll-R-Rack
This end to front for tall glasses
Reverse the rack for large plates

There were steps formed in the wires that formed the front and rear ends of the rack that were offset at different places. Turned one way they sat in the frame higher for taller plates and if the rack was reversed, it sat in the frame lower for taller glasses. I showed this to some friends about their HP in 1968 after they had been using it for 13 years.

 

[1952crestwood]

Hi Everyone!

I sure do remember you lebron and yes, it really does seem like eons ago since we "met" through this group. Time goes by so fast. You, like everyone on here, are so nice and so helpful. I wish I could have found one of these locally but the DC area just seems almost devoid of vintage dishwashers, most especially these Hotpoints. Don't know if it's because there is too much transiency with people moving in and out, and things getting updated so fast that all the old stuff is way too long gone now, or what.

Thanks for the explanation, Tomturbomatic. I knew about the little tag (that I now see is missing on this one I am getting) but thanks to you, I now know the mechanics of how the turning of the rack made the difference in height. That was funny about those people having their Hotpoint for 13 years and you showing them how that rack worked. I know my Aunt's had the tag, but I think in her case, the "tag to the front" position worked with her dinner & glassware every day and there was never a need to change it. She used the same two sets of Melmac every single day and the same sized Tupperware tumblers & glasses, and it all fit ok, so the rack just stayed as it was.

I agree with you Bajaespuma. Hotpoint wall ovens were great looking units. I especially liked the one that was part of the set because it has a nice big window. I'm hoping that someone will buy it and the cook top from the seller to give them a good home.

I have several pics that the seller sent me, and I will post those.

 

[1952crestwood]

Upper rack shot.

Kind of strange about the instruction tag being missing but I guess the original owner might have removed it because she felt it was scratching something.

 

[1952crestwood]

Lighted indicator dial

Maybe not as large or dazzling as the beautiful washer/dryer control panels, but I'm looking forward to seeing this repaired and lit up someday.

 

[1952crestwood]

The interior shot

In looking close I think my impeller has a big chip out of the top of one of the rounded top blades, and the little door for the detergent cups is missing. From reading the brochures/manuals on these that are posted in the manuals section there is a little reservoir for the "wetting agent" to go. On the 1956 version it was in the bottom around the right front corner area. Can't be sure, but it looks like it might be one of those round things in the door on this one. I hope the Calrod unit is ok as I figure that might be hard to find.

 

[1952crestwood]

Even with it's issues...

I am SO excited about getting this unit and will post more once it's safely here to our garage.

 

[1952crestwood]

OH! I forgot the mention the cool coincidence...

About a week ago, Appliguy called and said to check out the manuals section of the group because there was some info on the kind of Hotpoint I wanted posted there. Sure enough I found both the 1956 and 1958 documents. In the 1958 brochure, there was a pink one identical to the one I am buying and......not a week later.......here I am virtually owning the one in the picture.

I just love these kind of almost mystic coincidences.

 

[norgeway]

Hey, 1952 crestwood....

I see in your profile you have a Norge wall oven cooktop set...I sure would love to see a picture of it, As much as I love Norge, I have never seen their built in stuff!!!If you can post a pic, Thanks...Hans

 

[chris74]

Missing detergent compartment door

Shouldn't be that much of a problem because this dishwasher won't pre-wash, will it? What you should make up your mind about is the thing with the wetting agent. If it leaks during the main wash you won't have dry and sparkling dishes at the end of the cycle 'cause the drying efficiency wouldn't be that high, I believe...

 

[appnut]

this dishwasher won't pre-wash, will it?

Yes it does.

 

[tomturbomatic]

The machine provides 2 washes

The machine does a 1 minute shower from the top center of the tank before the drain closes and the First 5 minute wash begins. That is followed by a Second 5 minute wash. It is possible that the one of those gel pacs or some tablet would work in the absence of a working dispenser, but I don't know for sure. This is the least of problems with the machine.

Please do not try to operate the motor with the broken impeller. The imbalance in weight between the whole side and the broken side can ruin the motor if it run like this.

The rinse agent dispenser is not a mandatory accessory if you have soft water and if it does not work and you have hard water, you can use one of the solid rinse agents.

Check with Larry at Modern Parts to see if he has any parts for this machine.

 

[1952crestwood]

Oh, good info, Tomturbomatic! Thanks.

I never thought about the imbalance issue. I won't plug it in or attempt to run it until I get a replacement impeller. I'm so glad you mentioned that since I was thinking of testing it out one day. Once I get this home, and sell off some of my other vintage things to help pay my budget back for this and the trip costs, I will contact Larry as you suggest.

I suppose those detergent pack things might work but aren't those formulated for the longer wash cycles of today's machines? As this has the two separate five minute wash cycles, I wonder if the pack would only partially dissolve in the shorter 5 min run, then still be available to "wash" during the first rinse cycle. The more I think on this, the more interesting the questions become. I'd love to read more input from folks on what they think on such a scenario. Since, I'm not going to risk the motor getting whacked on account of that imbalance thing, I will likely start hunting up a replacement dispenser door so as to make it all a moot point.

Fortunately the unit won't be pressed into service anytime soon, and will mainly be stored for future use, so I have lots of time to address these issues. However, I will start buying the replacement parts soon as I find them since I don't figure there are all that many parts still available for these.

You've likely already found that I posted some cell phone pics of my Norge built ins to your email, Norgeway. When I can get my better camera out to the garage for better pictures of the set, I will post them on the Super forum.

Thanks again for all the great input, tech help and support.
Robyn

 

[xpanam]

Water fill

Hey Tomturbomatic. It looks like they change to a side fill at sometime. Look at the photo on the right side of the tub from reply #24? And reply #22, looks like just a cap on top?

 

[tomturbomatic]

My dishwasher like this fills from the top. The instruction manual says it fills from the top and I think if we had a good picture of the outside of this machine, you would see the copper tube running to the top center of the tank. I don't know what the square thing is. It was not until HP went to the GE style machine, I think, that they stopped filling from the top. In later years, it was a spray from the front corner, but it was from the top.

 

[xpanam]

I thought all HP-DW Filled from the top too! but look at the picture from reply#24 post. What is the inlet on the right side of the tank for? The one with the two screws?

 

[1952crestwood]

I will try to take pics when I get it home....

of all these question areas and see if they can be answered. I am wondering about all the ones that you guys have brought up myself. I thought the feeder tube for the upper spray nozzle ran up the outside of the unit and connected on the top, outside of the tub. I'm wondering if by '58 they enclosed it between an outer shell and an inner tub shell (?). I'm kinda enjoying this "search for the great whats-it" (as in the movie "Kiss Me Deadly") when it comes to all the little mysteries that the pics I have now don't show. Just comparing this one I have bought to other pics I have collected over the years, I can see some changes between the 56, 57, and 58 models, even though they are basically the same as far as racks, the impeller and general outer appearance. Door Handle styles, placement of the Hotpoint badging, and differences in the upper rack frame design are the things that stand out to me most. For instance the name badge on this one is on the door under the handle, whereas my Aunt's 56 and (I believe) a 57 model had the Hotpoint Dishwasher ID on that wide horizontal vent hood over the door. The placement of the wetting agent dispenser went from the floor of the tub on the 56 models to what appears to be the door on my 58. Saturday is getting closer and I'm getting more excited all the time. By the time I do the 12 hour drive on Saturday it might take me a day to recover enough to take and post the pics, but I'll get on it as soon as I feel human again.

 

[chris74]

I think the newer gel pacs...

...are formulated for short cycles at lower temperatures meanwhile. But five minutes is of course a very short period. Solid wetting agent, yes but do one put it in from the start? There is no solid Jet-Dry over here in Germany so I can't tell...

 

[tomturbomatic]

There are TWO five minute washes so maybe the little brick of detergent would last through the total of ten minutes. The solid Jet Dry is in a little basket maybe 1.5 inches deep and 1 inch wide that is clipped onto the upper rack.

 

[1952crestwood]

Question for you Tom....

From what I have seen in the below video, the little door I am missing covers the detergent for the second wash and allows the first rinse period to complete. Then through weight imbalance, the door rotates and uncovers the detergent for the second wash. If I were to use these solid detergent packs, and with no door to protect the detergent (meant for the second wash) would there be any undesired result of the intended first wash & rinse periods basically becoming one long wash period, while the second wash & rinse period just being one long rinse?

 

[tomturbomatic]

The cycle is not rinse, wash, wash, rinse. It is spray, wash, wash, rinse, rinse. Like most machines with a cycle that begins with a wash, the part of the dispenser holding detergent for the first wash is uncovered. I don't know how fast the little bricks dissolve, but if they dissolve slowly, one might work for both 5 minute wash periods. But before you deal with that, you need an impeller. You also need to see if the motor is any good. HP dishwashers had shitty motors. I know where two are that have not run in years because the owners got tired of replacing the motors which were annoyingly loud when they did work.