A Beautiful Window Lid Thor in France for our Euro Friends

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Unimatic1140

Unimatic1140

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Check this out, the European Thor machines came with a round window lid, I love that!

We used the washer until 1975 or so for washing dishes. It retired not because of any failure, but because we were fed up
with filling the dishes in and out. I turned it on very briefly this summer (it wasn't connected to a water inlet - so I prefered not
to insist) and both axes still turn appropriately in each command position. In 1972 it was converted from 110 to 220 V,
and so it still could be used now.

CONACT: Bernard at [email protected]

9-26-2007-09-55-22--Unimatic1140.jpg
 
WOW!

So does the dishwasher insert work kind of like the Youngstown Dishwasher with water spraying out from the center tube or does water come up from the bottom as well. I'd use love to see it loaded as that would probably answer the question.
 
I'm almost positive the Thor was also produced in Europe as well. I have seen the window lid before, but I have only seen this on machines from across the Atlantic.
 
Thor in Europe

I believe it was built in the UK - the September 1960 issue of 'Which?' magazine tests it, and says it was built in Britain (the only non-UK washer tested was an AEG twin tub).

The machine tested was the later type controlled by foot pedal, the Thor Automagic 260H. Interestingly, it was available with a heater in the UK - not the case in the USA I suspect! I think they were built by a company called Radiation over here, who also built the Eureka Ten-Ten vacuum under licence, and the Thor was also available until the mid 60s in a more modern cabinet, called the Parnall Spinwasher.

As far as voltage is concerned, the French Thor looks like the 1940s version, and certainly in the UK we had many different voltages around the country until the 1960s - I have fifties and sixties Hoover UK appliances that were built to run at 110 volts and 200 volts. I imagine it would have been the same in other countries too.

Hope this explains this machine a bit, and I do hope someone saves it, as those Thors are almost non-existent in Europe now!

Si
 
WOW that is an amazing machine...

What are the actual French words?

When did 220v begin replacing 110v (as ordinary line voltage)and when was conversion complete?
Whose idea was it and in what country did it begin?

Too bad the entire world is not on 220v 60hz, which they say is the best of both systems.
 
Ross help us !!!! sounds like God help us, doesn't it

I can make out

Appuyer ----mmez

essorer

-
-
I
N
G
E

And across from the latter, lavissage--I THINK-- which means wash

I wonder if Ross has the matching text in English. The washtub and agi look identical to his, inner rim and all.

Where is the fill spout and how exactly does the dishwasher work?

Get the dictionary out, Stevie
 
Toggles,

My French ain't what it was, but I can make out 'Laver' (wash) on the left, and 'Vaisselle' (dishes) on the right.

As far as voltages are concerned (in the UK anyway), until the formation of the National Grid in 1926, electricity was generated by local power stations, in a variety of different voltages and frequencies. 240 volts/50 Hz AC wasn't completely standardized in the UK until the early 70s, so appliances were usually available in different voltages until the sixties. One part of South London (Camberwell) used DC mains until the early seventies, whilst another part of south London (part of the town of Croydon) used 205v AC until the 1960s.

Nominally, the UK (and Europe) are all on 230v now, in theory but not necessarily in practice!

It was the same in the USA - in the book I'm getting this info from, apparently parts of south California were on 50Hz until 1948, and some mid-west and eastern regions had 25Hz mains.

I always check the voltage of something newly acquired, especially if it's pre-1960s, I'd hate to see a motor run at twice it's intended voltage!

Si
 
Hi Si

I got the magnifying glass out and the left side clearly shows an I N G and probably an E. Someone will figure this out; that's why this club is so cool.
 
Hey Mickey,

The 'Laver' is on the middle of the red bit of the control panel.

I think the INGE is 'Linge' - linen.

I'm gonna try to figure out the rest now!
 
essorer = to dry

I think 'arret' (stop) is between that and Laver on the left?

'appuyez' translates as 'support' on babelfish (i'm cheating) - any guesses?
 
Hey Fellow Clubbers

I just now saw Northwesty's post about the machine being so far away in France and wondering about the shipping........

AND I HAD A WILD EUREKA

All interested active members could share the cost of shipping and we could let Robert or Greg or Jon or Ross house it to be shared at Wash-ins and/or taken on loan for a season or so by interested parties. There is no question that we would all work it out fairly. You know this !We, the Club, get the machine, and everyone wins! Whadda ya think?
 

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