rolls_rapide
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1964 Rolls Concorde
Courtesy P. Townsend, via Flickr
Courtesy P. Townsend, via Flickr
1961 Duo-Matic Twin Tub
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rolls_rapide
Well-known member
Reply #8
Matchboxpaul:
I myself had no idea about the Duomatic 'Automaster', nor the Rolls 'Robot' until this thread today!
Thanks for the Rolls 'Robot' advert. I wonder if any were ever made or sold?
Matchboxpaul:
I myself had no idea about the Duomatic 'Automaster', nor the Rolls 'Robot' until this thread today!
Thanks for the Rolls 'Robot' advert. I wonder if any were ever made or sold?
Dear All,
Great info coming out here...I did wonder what the Automaster looked like.
I found a pic in the archives of the "Concorde's" in action
Cheers
Keith
Great info coming out here...I did wonder what the Automaster looked like.
I found a pic in the archives of the "Concorde's" in action
Cheers
Keith
Am saying it again
You want to sit down and weep thinking of British housewives being saddled with twin tubs/semi automatics for so long after the war.
You want to sit down and weep thinking of British housewives being saddled with twin tubs/semi automatics for so long after the war.
rolls_rapide
Well-known member
Duomatic 'Automaster'
There appears to have been ANOTHER Duomatic 'Automaster'!
The machine in the advert posted above in Reply #6, apparently is a top loader.
Which? of November 1964 reports that the Duomatic 'Automaster' was no longer available by direct sale (Duomatic Organisation liquidated voluntarily).
However the similar Castor Queenmatic was available in the shops - and it was very similar to the Castor Unidry on test - minus the tumble drying feature.
Thus the front loading Duomatic 'Automaster' must have looked like this Castor Unidry...
Courtesy of Paulinroynton
There appears to have been ANOTHER Duomatic 'Automaster'!
The machine in the advert posted above in Reply #6, apparently is a top loader.
Which? of November 1964 reports that the Duomatic 'Automaster' was no longer available by direct sale (Duomatic Organisation liquidated voluntarily).
However the similar Castor Queenmatic was available in the shops - and it was very similar to the Castor Unidry on test - minus the tumble drying feature.
Thus the front loading Duomatic 'Automaster' must have looked like this Castor Unidry...
Courtesy of Paulinroynton
rolls_rapide
Well-known member
Here is the text about the similarities.
rolls_rapide
Well-known member
I am wondering if the front loading Duomatic 'Automaster' (Castor variant) was the one that John Bloom of Rolls had his eye on?
This might explain his Rolls 'Robot' front loader (Imperial Rex variant). Duomatic and Rolls seem to have been pretty much tit-for-tat copy-cats.
But where did the top-loading 'Automaster' come from? Was it an older model before the Castor variant?
Which? does say that the front loading version was on sale until Duomatic liquidated. So one presumes the top-loader was a prior dalliance in automatic washing.
This might explain his Rolls 'Robot' front loader (Imperial Rex variant). Duomatic and Rolls seem to have been pretty much tit-for-tat copy-cats.
But where did the top-loading 'Automaster' come from? Was it an older model before the Castor variant?
Which? does say that the front loading version was on sale until Duomatic liquidated. So one presumes the top-loader was a prior dalliance in automatic washing.
rolls_rapide
Well-known member
Duomatic 'Triumph' Twin tub
This is another advert for the 'Triumph', as in Reply #7.
This was advertised in some 1960s pop music magazine - hence the 'Top of the Pops' banner.
(Personally, I'm willing to bet that 'hip Sixties chicks' were wanting fully automatic machines!)
Courtesy of Flickr.
This is another advert for the 'Triumph', as in Reply #7.
This was advertised in some 1960s pop music magazine - hence the 'Top of the Pops' banner.
(Personally, I'm willing to bet that 'hip Sixties chicks' were wanting fully automatic machines!)
Courtesy of Flickr.
Rolls Robot
I think you are right on the money as regards the Imperial Rex (later Zanussi???) being "badged" to become the Rolls Robot, probably buying up a batch of them in rather the same way as whoever was the distributor or the Imperial branded machine.
I have the impression that Duomatic were operating in much the same way buying up batches of machines for sale of varying types - it makes me smile to see how Duomatic emphasise in their ads on how there are no gimmicks, no extras as opposed to Rolls who are offering all sorts of extras to induce the purchase.
I am hoping that Louis will have something to add to this thread as the the twintubs seem to come from Holland and an H Axis top loader seems almost certain to be European too. I did wonder if Duomatic was set up by a former Rolls employee to "play them at their own game"
As regards twin tubs Vs automatics it seems to me to be a combination of timing and manufacture. It seems to be that from about 1948 to 1973 the market UK washing machine market was driven by Hoover. Although it was a technically simple machine and indeed rather smaller capacity than competitors (Hotpoint, Servis and the new kid on the block at that time Ada) it was so heavily promoted (and on the reputation of Hoover cleaners too) taht it took the market by storm as it was also cheap (and bear in mind we had a punitative sales tax too) and would easily fit in a small British kitchens too - as the saying goes "its better than going down to a river and beating them on a rock". 10 years later Hoover do it again with the launch of the Hoovermatic - mature technology for them at the time - a premium priced machine that must have cost a great deal less to manufacture because it was still simpler than the competition. With a relaxing of credit restrictions again it took the market by storm and it was into this market place that John Bloom launched Rolls. Again the machines were very heavily promoted (and lets not forget Bloom's association with Charles Colston - the man who set up Hoover in the UK and made it a bigger company than its American owner) just as the Hoovers were with press advertising and product placement.
Aspirations were rising and it was no longer as acceptable for women to stand at a sink for hours and, even better, they did not have to wring the clotes either. One step up again. It took really about abother 15 years or so for the balance to tip in favour of FL automatics so that "Wash day? Just forget it" became the norm for the British housewife/consumer - and for a most of that time Hoover were still selling thousands of high margin twin tubs which were MUCH more profitable than automatics and it was in their interest to keep it that way, eevn though they did have a range of automatics too
I think you are right on the money as regards the Imperial Rex (later Zanussi???) being "badged" to become the Rolls Robot, probably buying up a batch of them in rather the same way as whoever was the distributor or the Imperial branded machine.
I have the impression that Duomatic were operating in much the same way buying up batches of machines for sale of varying types - it makes me smile to see how Duomatic emphasise in their ads on how there are no gimmicks, no extras as opposed to Rolls who are offering all sorts of extras to induce the purchase.
I am hoping that Louis will have something to add to this thread as the the twintubs seem to come from Holland and an H Axis top loader seems almost certain to be European too. I did wonder if Duomatic was set up by a former Rolls employee to "play them at their own game"
As regards twin tubs Vs automatics it seems to me to be a combination of timing and manufacture. It seems to be that from about 1948 to 1973 the market UK washing machine market was driven by Hoover. Although it was a technically simple machine and indeed rather smaller capacity than competitors (Hotpoint, Servis and the new kid on the block at that time Ada) it was so heavily promoted (and on the reputation of Hoover cleaners too) taht it took the market by storm as it was also cheap (and bear in mind we had a punitative sales tax too) and would easily fit in a small British kitchens too - as the saying goes "its better than going down to a river and beating them on a rock". 10 years later Hoover do it again with the launch of the Hoovermatic - mature technology for them at the time - a premium priced machine that must have cost a great deal less to manufacture because it was still simpler than the competition. With a relaxing of credit restrictions again it took the market by storm and it was into this market place that John Bloom launched Rolls. Again the machines were very heavily promoted (and lets not forget Bloom's association with Charles Colston - the man who set up Hoover in the UK and made it a bigger company than its American owner) just as the Hoovers were with press advertising and product placement.
Aspirations were rising and it was no longer as acceptable for women to stand at a sink for hours and, even better, they did not have to wring the clotes either. One step up again. It took really about abother 15 years or so for the balance to tip in favour of FL automatics so that "Wash day? Just forget it" became the norm for the British housewife/consumer - and for a most of that time Hoover were still selling thousands of high margin twin tubs which were MUCH more profitable than automatics and it was in their interest to keep it that way, eevn though they did have a range of automatics too
rolls_rapide
Well-known member
Duomatic Advert, 1962
Courtesy of Retropia
Notice the reply coupon (just legible)... it lists the 'Popular' and 'De Luxe' models!
Courtesy of Retropia
Notice the reply coupon (just legible)... it lists the 'Popular' and 'De Luxe' models!
rolls_rapide
Well-known member
Acme 'Conquest', 1963
Matches Reply #13
Again, courtesy of Retropia.
Matches Reply #13
Again, courtesy of Retropia.
rolls_rapide
Well-known member
Duomatic Twintub
Courtesy the Corby News
Courtesy the Corby News
rolls_rapide
Well-known member
Rolls 'Super 66'
Courtesy of Alamy.
Courtesy of Alamy.
rolls_rapide
Well-known member
Regarding Reply #4
It is said in Peter Armstrong's publication that the way that Bloom (of Rolls), and Elvins (formerly of Rolls, latterly of Duomatic), and the Dutch Schrouten brothers went about things, it was like watching pantomime villains in action - the way they tripped over themselves.
So much spivvery and skulduggery going on between this lot, it's no wonder it was called the washing machine wars!
It is said in Peter Armstrong's publication that the way that Bloom (of Rolls), and Elvins (formerly of Rolls, latterly of Duomatic), and the Dutch Schrouten brothers went about things, it was like watching pantomime villains in action - the way they tripped over themselves.
So much spivvery and skulduggery going on between this lot, it's no wonder it was called the washing machine wars!
At this moment I have little to contribute to this topic. In another thread I mentioned that it is possible that Rolls machines were made by the "Domestic Wasmachinefabriek" in Amerongen. There is hardly any information about that factory. However I found someone on Facebook who was once an employee at Domestic. He isn't very active on Facebook so I can only hope that he reads my message and shed some light on it.
As for the Automaster, I have no idea who made it. I will have a look through my old advertisements. Perhaps something similar was made in the NL.
BTW, in the eighties Castor was a cheap line of Zanussi products. I used one at a camping site near Venice.
As for the Automaster, I have no idea who made it. I will have a look through my old advertisements. Perhaps something similar was made in the NL.
BTW, in the eighties Castor was a cheap line of Zanussi products. I used one at a camping site near Venice.
rolls_rapide
Well-known member
Automatics
Indeed so. I remember my mum was liberated in 1980! It was fabulous. My gran was liberated in 1982.
Indeed so. I remember my mum was liberated in 1980! It was fabulous. My gran was liberated in 1982.
Dutch Schrouten brothers
Or was the name Schouten?
Or was the name Schouten?
Never mind, I found the article. Schrouten indeed. Never heard of the name before.
rolls_rapide
Well-known member
For clarification purposes...
The story so far...
Having basically imported virtually complete Schroutens' machines, with a tax-dodge by installing Hoover motors,
Peter Armstrong's book says:
"The intention now was for Rolls to assemble the machines, mainly from parts supplied by Schroutens, but using some made by themselves 'at a considerable saving'."
and:
"Bloom's account makes it quite clear that the parts to be manufactured by Rolls would be direct copies of those in the Schrouten machines."
thus:
"Schroutens' reaction was a clandestine approach to Elvins (Roll's sales director), inviting him to take charge of an operation to sell their machines direct to the public in the UK, under the name Duomatic. This would be in direct competition with Rolls Razor."
So, Duomatic Organisation was not connected to Rolls Electromatic, other than sharing the general design and some parts. They were in fact bitter rivals, Schroutens and Duomatic Organisation on one side, and Rolls Electromatic on the other.
The story so far...
Having basically imported virtually complete Schroutens' machines, with a tax-dodge by installing Hoover motors,
Peter Armstrong's book says:
"The intention now was for Rolls to assemble the machines, mainly from parts supplied by Schroutens, but using some made by themselves 'at a considerable saving'."
and:
"Bloom's account makes it quite clear that the parts to be manufactured by Rolls would be direct copies of those in the Schrouten machines."
thus:
"Schroutens' reaction was a clandestine approach to Elvins (Roll's sales director), inviting him to take charge of an operation to sell their machines direct to the public in the UK, under the name Duomatic. This would be in direct competition with Rolls Razor."
So, Duomatic Organisation was not connected to Rolls Electromatic, other than sharing the general design and some parts. They were in fact bitter rivals, Schroutens and Duomatic Organisation on one side, and Rolls Electromatic on the other.
Even more clarification
I doubt very much that Hoover would have supplied motors to a very obvious competitor however their motors where supplied by Bylock - known mainly for making vacuum cleaners - a bit of UK terminology (often Hoover - Vacuum Cleaner) may have muddied the waters.
In fact Rolls took over Bylock in 1963 so of course it crashed when Rolls went down.
Al
I doubt very much that Hoover would have supplied motors to a very obvious competitor however their motors where supplied by Bylock - known mainly for making vacuum cleaners - a bit of UK terminology (often Hoover - Vacuum Cleaner) may have muddied the waters.
In fact Rolls took over Bylock in 1963 so of course it crashed when Rolls went down.
Al
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