Accidental mini wash-in

[liberator1509]

Hi all

Rich, Mathew and myself met up on Saturday at Rich's to have a chat and a look at the machines - I brought some laundry so it sort of turned into a mini wash-in!! Totally accidental and not really planned, so please don't feel left-out - do get in touch if you're down this way (or indeed live nearby and want to say hello!).

Thanks to Rich and Mathew for a fun afternoon - and specially to Rich for letting us have a go with his collection (and for minding my 9605 while I work out where on earth I'm going to put it...). Only one vintage machine for me alas - unless of course a 1509/10 turns up - I'll find space anywhere for one of those!!!

Enjoy

David

PS - this is my first time using flickr, so I hope it works, and the sequence makes sense...

 

[newwave1]

Looks like you guys had a blast!!

Darren

 

[appnut]

COOL!!!!!

 

[bajaespuma]

Is that Dyson the one that has the split drum that rotates in two different directions?

 

[revvinkevin]

Dyson Contrarotator.....

I don't mean to step on anyones toes here... but I read in another thread that yes it is, but no it doesn't (anymore). When he got it home it had a problem and would not "contrarotate". The Dyson service tech said he could repair it at a large expense, or "do a fix" to lock the two drums together at a small expense.... he opted for the latter.

On the "Accidental mini wash-in"... Wow, great photos, thanks for posting them! Looks like you guys had a really great time!

BTW... yes, American jeans prefer cool or "just warm" water when being washed, not hot... as you discovered!

;-)

 

[toggleswitch2]

Wonderful and fun!

 

[autowasherfreak]

I would love to see a video of the Servis Supertwin in action. Looks like everyone had a nice time. The pictures are great.

 

[liberator1509]

Hi all

Yeah it was great fun! We'll try a video sometime maybe - might be pushing the technology, but worth a go...

 

[jonvance1990]

I want that beautiful Servis Super twin tub. I wanna see how dry my clothes can get in the spin dryer.

 

[gansky1]

Those Hotpoint t/l automatics are just fascinating - thanks for the "under-the-skirt" pics!

 

[jetcone]

Nice nudie shots!

I can't believe that flexible coupling drive made it across the pond!
Don't ya just hate it when they put the pump ON TOP of the motor and not UNDER IT!

A duh!!!
That spiraclean is some agitator! They really turn the clothes over!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Wash-In

Hi guys, looks like a grand time was had by all, The servis 108 is one of my favourite machines, it had all the features, wash, heat, rinse & spin all at the same time, the indicator lights and the ability to use the pump frother when washing!!! only issue is that second inner spin safety lid!!!

Whats better than one Hotty top loader!! how loud is that spin brake...Lol

David, great pics but none of the operators!!!, cheers, Mike

 

[matchboxpaul]

Hi David & Richard.

Wonderful machines there guys - loving in particular that 15690. Am soooo pleased that an example is out there in safe hands.

That 108 is pristine too. Unfortunately a bit too big for me and Rob to be able to accommodate at the moment, but we will own our own Supertwin one day (are there any Laser 115's out there?).

Paul

 

[liberator1509]

Hi all

Thanks for all the messages...

The supertwin is fantastic - it took a little bit of work under-the-hood to get it going, but we got there in end and the machine really is pristine. Mike - there was much discussion about the possibility of 'temporarily' removing the inner lid on the spin-side - it is a nuisance. Rich has a great machine, and I'm tempted to see about getting one - my fav was the supertwin 70 - the black and white machine. Jon - the supertwin spins at 2800rpm (I think...) so things do come out quite dry (though of course the spin can is not very wide).

Jetcone and Ganksy - the Hotpoint TLs are super machines - such a shame they fell victim of low sales and the final 'nail-in-the-coffin' of EU efficiency ratings. Water consumption (and heating costs) aside, the Spiraclean Gryator and Filter Clean system give brilliant results, and the rinsing is excellent.

The pump always puzzled me - it is the exact same set up (though tweaked of course) as the very first AEI Hotpoint 1500 top loader in the 1960s and was always a weak point - quite normal for the pump to fail every five or so years. I could never understand why they didn't use a separate electric pump in the later models - would have meant much less wear on the clutch too (which of course has to slip through each of the pump-out cycles - unlike the GE Filter-Flo washer, the UK machine has static drain and clutches tended to go as often as the pumps). Mike - the brake on my machine isn't too noisy (relatively lol), but then it is a bit worn - it coasts slowly down even when the brake comes on!

Paul - the 15690 is great - we had one of those back home too and its great to see one again. It does need some work (anyone out there rebuilt one of these from ground up?), but it is great that Rich has it and will be able to keep it safe. I'd love it, but am going to wait for THE 'proper' purple Liberator Top Loader - the 1509/10 to turn up somewhere!! To be honest though, styling aside, as daily-drivers the New Generation 9 series top-loaders are actually better than the earlier machines - better with both rinses agitated etc. For build quality, I'd say that the very first machines (1500 through to 1502) were better and more robustly built than the later machines.

The one part of the story I don't know is how or why AEI Hotpoint copied the GE design - GE had a 50% share in UK Hotpoint in the 90s, and Hotpoint did market some GE appliances in the very early years (30's and 40s) - I guess the American design must have been licensed - surely they couldn't have pinched the design ideas...they are almost identical! Interestingly, GE Filter Flo washers and dryers were sold in Ireland from the 1970s through to the late 1980s and were serviced by Hotpoint, but I don't think they ever made it to the UK. I'm hoping to find a pair when I move back later in the year.

Once again thanks for the interest - would be great to hear from other fans/collectors of the Hotpoint TL out there - we might have a complete set of models between us!!

David

PS - Mike - we're very shy down here in the West Country...maybe next time!!

 

[robm]

Thanks for posting, it was great to see the Servis in action. My mother had this machine but I have very vague memories of it! I don't think the top was that lovely stainless steel though, I seem to remember white.

Wash-in's are great! I just wish we all lived closer that's all.

Rob