70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12th October 1948

[chestermikeuk]

Well another seven decades has passed so quickly from the official factory dedication and opening ceremony for the Hoover UK Washing machine factory built in Pentrebach, Merthyr Tydfil, South wales, UK, The original factory is now used by the Hoover European Group (Hoover now owned by Candy Italia) , no production takes place but is used as the warehousing and distribution hub for the UK.

The state of the art factory was purpose built following the closure of many coal pits and with regeneration monies from the government of the time. Indeed a purpose built railway line was made running west out of London to carry dignitaries of the day. The picture is of the opening day with dignitaries reception tents to the left, a covered walkway from the railway platform and bandstand for the celebrations.

Thread Link is to our 60th anniversary celebrations !!

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?19243

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12th October

Official evening reception card, with a dedicated radio programme on the BBC !!

The link is to the local history site of Merthyr Tydfil, all rights and a big "Thank You" to AlanGeorge editorial team and website which contains fascinating pics and comments from the official opening and year.

http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/hooveropening.htm

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12th October

Here are some recent pics following a tour around the old town. These are from the railway station and platform from which the dignitaries would have arrived on and walked under the covered walkway to the factory.

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12th October

And recent Hoover Head Office building pics, view from the road and sports field grounds !!

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12th October

The first washing machine produced at the time was the single tub with hand wringer, consisting of an aluminium washtub capable of holding 4lbs of clothes. It used the famous revolving Hoover Pulsator to whirl the clothes through the washwater for thorough cleaning. A hand wringer then squeezed water from the clothes for drying.

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12th October

Here is the Hoover 0307 Wringer Washer from 1948 in action, pics and video. My Aunt Alice had one of these nifty washers, I remember when she got a new Servis MK70 twintub her son , my cousin Paul, took the motor out for a school project and made a paint sprayer with it. He now has a commercial paint spraying equipment and is using his skills to respray our vintage machines !!

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/11/1948

"Her Majesty" Queen Elizabeth 2nd of the United Kingdom has attended the Hoover factory, seen here with Mr Felix Mansager, Chairman of Hoover Ltd on the 25th anniversary.

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

So we start to arrive on the 12th to celebrate our favourite appliances.
From the left, Jon (LavamatJon), Mikey (MikeyMatic), Danny, Steve (SESteve), Mark (Mark_Siges), Mike (ChesterMikeUK), Mathew (Keymatic3203) and Jack...Al is behind the camera and busy in the kitchen.

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

Of course official t-shirts to show both Hoover and MadeInMerthyr,an exciting community engaged public art project developed in consultation with staff and students at Merthyr Tydfil Collegel

John (AutorinseJohn) Steve (SESteve) Mikey (MikeyMatic) and Danny donned t-shirts ready for the "Hoover Washing Machine demonstrations ..
#MadeInMerthyr

http://www.seeneon.com/made-in-merthyr

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

Here we see the first of all Hoover Washing Machines produced from the Merthyr factory.

First Wringer Washer, Hoover 0307, 1948
First Hoover Twosome and SpinaRinse, 1957
First Hoovermatic Twintub, 1957
and First Automatic, Hoover Keymatic, 1961

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

And here with lids off and Ready for Action...

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

Hoover 0307 Single Tub , 1948

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

Hoover TwoSome,from 1957, consisting of Hoover 1312 single tub and Hoover 3004 SpinaRinse spin dryer. its paired here with a hand wringer as most Twosome Sets we have collected the owners had an earlier washing machine then added the spinner.

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

Mathews (Keymatic3203) lovely Hoovermatic Twintub first model from 1957, a revolution in washday and the twinny sold all over the world and was so popular with British housewives it made them the last in the world to move over to automated washing machines.

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

And finally the first automated washing machine, The Hoover Keymatic, which revolutionised washday, a slope fronted tub, hot and cold fill, uses a Keyplate to select eight wash programmes, also uses the famous "Hoover Boiling Water Pulsator, a pulsator disc as used in the single tubs and twinnys for a more vigerous wash action.

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

Team Hoover have been busy renovating our Keymatics , and two cabinets are back minty fresh from the sprayers (my cousin Paul as mentioned above) , will do a comprehensive thread later !!

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

Meanwhile in the kitchen Al is rustling up culinary delights....

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

Here are the Hoover single tubs which make up the first, middle production and one of the later and last styles. The beautiful model on the LHS was brought up by Nigel (Reversomat) and donated to the collection,
it is brand new, never been used and even has the wringer tied up in yellow cotton thread. Thanks Nigel..

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

Here with the worktops placed behind the wringers which act as a clothes catching tray..

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

Time for lunch, Carrot & Orange or Mushroom soup, fresh bread rolls, pork pies and mushroom n veg pasties !! YUM, the usual teas and coffees by the urnful..a selection of Als made coconut tarts, chocolate & peanut crunch fancies, Lemon bites and Tea cake made by Ian.

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

Time to getb the T-shirts on for official pics lol, here you go Spike thanks for sorting out the delivery, a big thanks to Mikey for ordering !!
#MadeInMerthyr

 

[combo52]

What A Great Celebration For Hoovers 70th

Thanks Mike and Al and others for sharing your celebration of Hoovers 70th, this should have made the national news in the UK, what a great idea.

 

Over here I guess we missed Whirlpools 70th anniversary of building their first automatics [ some time in 1947 ] but I guess that the 70th anniversary of Maytag's first automatic should be coming up some time next year [ 1949 ] Maybe we will have to get some of the Maytag boys working on that for year.

 

John L.

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

Well what to do with a static original Hoover Shop Store sign, Steve, Miekey and Danny went searching for lights and came back with a string of neon lights with various colourways, I think it sets it off just great, Thanks Guys !!

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

And of course no celebration without cake, Big Thanks to Mikeys partner Matt for whipping up a yummy Red Velvet Cake for our Hoover Celebrations 70th..

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

"More Cake Vicar"

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

Al makes the pic from the kitchen..."Thanks Al"

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

After three....

 

[chestermikeuk]

70th Anniversary of Hoover UK Washing Machines, 12/10/1948

After all that breathing in and re-arranging its time for drinks, Mikeys in charge of the fizz. Als getting dinner ready.