An "All Fabric Automatic" - Introducing the Servis Mk41H!

[supermaticjames]

Hi everyone,

Although it's late I just couldn't end the day without introducing one of my newest acquisitions. This is a very special machine and I'm absolutely honoured to have one in my possession, honoured but surprised as it found me rather than I found it!

This and another machine (I will get around to it in due course) were being stored for the last 20 years by a lovely engineer in Devon until "the right person came along" e.g. a collector. Last weekend, I was discovered, arrangements were made and today the anxious wait was over.

The story was that this machine came into the engineer's possession after a family had bought it in the sixties as part of a kitchen revamp that never happened and the machine stood unboxed but unused for many years. They must have removed the removable top section of the agitator, the fill hoses and the instruction manual but never put them back in as the machine is without those bits.

If anyone at all, even our Australian friends has a spare top section for this style of Servis top loader I would be very happy to buy it off you.

The cabinet needs a respray but the drum is literally factory fresh and none of the aluminium alloy parts inside the machine have oxidised, I just can't get over how these people spent a lot of money back then on an automatic washing machine just to have it sit there!

The drain hose and tub seal are perished and I would most welcome advice on a suitable tub seal replacement. The tub moves independently from the cabinet unlike a Hotpoint top loader so the seal has to be more like that on a front loader.

Is anyone able to decipher the serial number to get an indication of what month it was built?

I'm going to fit a plug tomorrow and try it out!

James

 

[mattywashboy]

That's is the holy grail of Servis top loaders for sure congratulations and I sincerely hope you manage to find what you need to fix it. I'll have a scout around some Aussie parts dealers and see what I can see.

Best of luck and congratulations again

Matt

 

[triumphdolomite]

Well done James, a fantastic find. I can't believe that I'm actually seeing the real thing. Looking forward to seeing your progress with this. Please don't keep us in suspense with the other machine, especially if its as exciting as this one!
Ian

 

[alanlondon]

Fantastic news

Well done James indeed, I am very happy that one has been found, let's hope it's like buses now and one or two more come along ;-) Such a long wait to see one other than in a brochure. For the second part of the agitator, I wonder if you could use one off a twin tub, perhaps as an interim measure? Super news to start off the weekend. Congratulations, Alan

 

[supermaticjames]

Afternoon everyone,

So yesterday I found a suitable vintage plug and fixed it to the end of the mains cable that was untouched for 50 years since it left the factory in Darlaston. I then removed the front panel to fit a temporary drain hose and free up the belts and pulleys before hesitantly pouring hot water into the sump of the machine to prime the pump and selecting the a spin portion on the dial.

Dramatically, a cloud of dust streamed out of the motor and the drum started to gather speed! It's amazing how it just works without any fuss after sitting unused for 50 years! There is one minor hiccup however, the timer can be a bit choosey on advancing but I think the little gears and cams inside it just need freeing up and some lubrication as it probably dried out.

Naturally the next step was to fill it up halfway and see how it agitates as well as check for leaks. I was very relieved to see that it didn't leak and that it did the usual wide-sweep Servis agitation. Hiccup #2 surfaced and it appears that the heater won't come into action. I doubt it's failed so I think the problem lies with the timer. I will do some circuit testing just to be sure.

Hopefully this incoming week I'll get some paint and make a start on making this machine beautiful again.

Hi Matt, thank you very much for the kind offer to look for parts! The Aussie equivalent was called the Mk22 I think.

Hi Ian, when the engineer contacted me I was expecting a Servis wringer washer so I was quite shocked to see pictures of a Mk41H in my inbox. I will post some pictures of the Bendix LTA today. It's safe to say it needs a lot more attention than this one.

Hi Alan, the rarer machines are out there it's just a matter of someone finding you or vice versa. Thank you for the kind words and I'll try the twin tub top section today but I don't think it will work.

Regards,

James

 

[alr2903]

James, very nice to see the pictures. Congratulations on your finds.  I always enjoy seeing the machines marketed beyond the USA.  The Servis agitator looks to provide a vigorous wash action.  Your Bendix combo is nice as well, as you said the last of the older style machines.  Best of Luck.   A

 

[alanlondon]

More pics please

Hi James, would love to see some pics of inside and the control dial (or even a video?). When I was about 14 I saw in the local paper 'Servis automatic for sale' and convinced my mum that it would be good for spares for her front loader and low and behold when my father and I got there it was in fact a Servis Toploader, not an All Fabric one, rather it had the main dial and then three dial switches to the right and I think the facia was brown, but it was a long time ago (37 years ago to be precise!). We balanced it on the roof rack of my dad's car and tied it on with string, that was the longest drive home I can tell you, we both expected it to fall off at any moment! I hooked it up with a garden hose and put it on a wash, first thing was that it poured water from under the tub, next to the support tube a drainage hole I seem to remember and perhaps a bung had fallen out, but I put a pencil in the hole and stopped the leak, it then went on to fill and heat, agitating (stirring) the water ever so often, but I realised after a while the timer should have moved on as the water was nearly boiling on a cool wash. To me the issue of the timer not advancing at that time was out of my depth to mend or fiddle with (now realise that most likely it was just the advance timer motor there were two), so I advanced it to spin manually and looked in the back and to my amazement saw the gear box rise and turn - this was just heaven for me at that age to see such mechanics. So it then sat in my parents garage for a while and then one day I took it completely apart, even the gear box (was amazed when I opened it up and was covered in oil...) and the whole things went in many pieces to the dump, to my lasting regret.

Anyway as I said yesterday very excited that a UK Toploader from a manufacturer of the time has come to the surface for posterity.

Good luck again and keep us all up to date with your progress.

Cheers, Alan

 

[chestermikeuk]

Servis MK41H 1966 - 1968

Congratulations James on acquiring the Holy Grail of UK top loaders, at least we know it existed. Great to finally see one inside & out and that it still works, am sure you will have it sorted in no time. Servis UK introduced this model in March 1966.

Questions Questions ; Have you sorted the problem with the heater? also does the gearbox rise up when spinning as Alan suggested in the later model? and is their any name / type / model printed on that particular gearbox?

Cheers, Mike, Link is to Leon`s model in Australia.

New Addition: 1965 Aussie made Wilkins Servis Mark 22 All Fabric Automatic

Hi Guys Here is another addition to the collection which arrived a few weeks ago. It's a 1965 Wilkins Servis automatic based on a UK design. The machine is in working order but does need some holes in the outer tub patched up before putting it through a complete cycle. The owner still had...

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[chestermikeuk]

Servis Toploaders

Hello Alan oh those memories, I can just smell that oil from here !! I think you describe the servis MK55 the very last UK built washer launched in 1970, my dads cousin had one, I sooo remembering visiting with my nan and it being in the corner of the kitchen, I peaked the lid and saw a black agi AND this filter flow box and powder dispenser in the top back. It looks like the model in the Persil Housewifes visit Servis advert...do you have any pics brochures or manual info at all ?

 

[gansky1]

Good luck with your new baby!

What a cool machine - I love that blue tub!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Servis MK41 version 2, 1968 - 1970

The later models benifitted from having variable washtime, variable temperature control and spin speed as well as options, and according to the advert the 2 stage agitator which makes the chances of finding another one James a little better !!

The Dawning of a new era....

Hi Guys, Just received some new literatue/information - the Servis line-up for 1969/70 - this pamphlet shows the revised All-Fabric Automatic with the new revised console. I haven't seen many pictures of this machine as its production i believe was quite short lived before Servis introduced...

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[alanlondon]

Remembering the past...

Hi Mike, I am racking my brains to remember mine, but I can tell you that it had the blue agitator with snap on and off piece. Also it did circulate water through a pull out comb piece which was on the right hand side to the front of the machine not at the back. Also I'm fairly sure, well positive that it had no boot at the top just a pipe from the top of the tub, straight down to the bottom for any overflow flood situation! When I look at Leon's in Australia, the inside is the same as I remember. Looking at that picture you've posted, I sort of remember the control panel as that, but not 100%, but I guess that could be as a few grey cells have gone... Unfortunately, I have no photos or anything left other than my memory now.

It's funny because I was going to make a post to us all here in the UK (just as James found one) to suggest a sort of team effort to find any Servis Top loaders out there and pool our resources together, perhaps we could divide the county up and advertise and suggest options to each other ( or things that have or are being done already?). I couldn't keep one at home, but would happily work for the greater good ;-)

Can we have some pics inside please?

Cheers Alan

(Am in not so sunny Tenerife, so thought I would take a look at my favourite website)

 

[supermaticjames]

UPDATE

Hi everyone,

Sorry for being so quiet over the past week or so! I spent most of that time dismantling the machine and considering my options for painting the panels.

After one failed attempt I was very nearly about to part with a sum of money to get the machine professionally resprayed but I don't quit too easily so I changed my tactic and tried again. This time it's going perfectly and I'm not far off from finishing as I currently have three panels resprayed and ready for polishing! I know I'm not a professional by any means but my work looks acceptable and at least I can proudly say "I did that".

Alan, thanks for sharing your story. Sounds like there were a few mechanical differences between my machine and the later one you had. The timer in my machine only has one motor and the gearbox doesn't appear to rise to spin. It does sound like there is some sort of centrifugal brake on it though. I wonder could I get away without fitting a boot on mine. It only appears to be effective when the machine is agitating as it deflects any minor splashes back into the tub but when it comes to spinning all the water is forced to the walls of the tub and never goes near the tub opening at the top.

Hi Mike, I love that advert! The featured machines appear to be the Mk41H? I think my machine was built in December 1966 at the earliest as the temperature selector was stamped "11.66" which I assume is November 1966. That Mk55 looks nice with the black fascia but I think there's something so sixties about the blue LOL! The problem with the heater was the temperature selector switch, from lying for nearly 50 years in the same position a few of the contact springs had disintegrated therefore the contacts didn't return to their resting position as the knob was turned. I took a chance and googled the number on the back of the selector and found that a new one can still be got for £7.20 so one of those will be ordered for this incoming week.

I can't wait to get it all sorted out as I hate having machines in bits!

James

 

[sesteve]

Hi James

It's looking good -can't wait to see the final result. Have you got a picture of the tub gasket? I was wondering if you could use a tub seal if you need to try and close the gap between the top and drum? Does this have suspension or dampers like the hotpoints? I can't see any on the pictures.

Keep up the good work
S

 

[matchboxpaul]

I am playing thread catch-up!

Hi James.

Remember a few years ago, when you were crying out for some unusual machines! Well, I think its safe to say that 2016 looks like being your year and we are only just approaching half way through it!

Incredible finds you have had, commencing with your admission to the Slant Front Keymatic Club, then managing to saving one of my personal favourites in the form of the blue Philips AWB126 '707'.
Now you continue with an LTA and finally a flippin' Mk41H Servis toploader!

Not only a Mk41H, but an unused one which, although externally blemished, is mechanically mint.
Absolutely bloomin incredible.

I know you have posted a few videos elsewhere, but could you pop a few on YouTube too for us to have a gander at?

Please continue to post updates here too as, with this machine being sooooo very rare, its is great to finally have the possibility of seeing detailed photos of one.

Paul
p.s cannot wait to see the machine, post the respray - those panels you have done look great!

 

[matchboxpaul]

and here is another image of the follow on model - the Mk41 (no 'H') ...

 

[supermaticjames]

Hi Steve,

I managed to find a suitable seal yesterday in the form of a Hotpoint WML540 door seal. I had stripped my mums machine after it gave up the ghost last year and ironically the seal was a perfect fit after I trimmed it a little. I'm very relieved, as it means no splashes will be allowed to escape the tub.

The suspension on this is quite unique, no friction dampers like a Hotpoint but four very short but thick springs support the chassis from above near the base. They are hard to see in the pictures but one is just under the sump hose leading to the pump. Although I've not checked, I think the very bottom of the chassis rests on a snubber underneath.

James

 

[supermaticjames]

Hi Paul,

It's unbelievable to look back and think that I was once that eager newbie hoping that Liberators, Keymatics and the likes would turn up for me. I'm on the right track to getting there I think!

I must get a few videos taken of the Philips 707 and this to upload to YouTube, I've got myself a new iPhone with more memory and a better camera so I have no excuse now! The videos on Facebook were just brief and to the point so bear with me and I'll upload something this weekend. I miss seeing you and Rob on Facebook BTW!

Without further ado, here are some pictures of the completed panels followed by a couple rebuild pictures.

I have to admit that I was a little emotional yesterday evening when I stood back and saw how the machine was taking shape! I'm both proud of my paintwork and relieved that it turned out okay.

The new temperature selector switch will be here tomorrow so hopefully I'll be doing a maiden load this weekend all being well.

Thanks so much for posting that lovely publicity shot of the Mk41H! It's so smart looking. The Mk41 on the other hand looks a little plain but I do like the chrome strip going across the front.

James

 

[alanlondon]

Well done James!

Many thanks for more photos and the progress you are making with the panels, which I must say look very good indeed. So interesting to see the photo of the machine with no sides, from that photo I now know for sure that the top of the tub of mine was different, it had a plastic top probably 6 or 7 cm high that accommodated the recirculation pull out comb. Also a pipe was attached to this at the top that just hung straight down to the base (for any over flow situation). The actual gear box and the four short springs I remember well and the whole set up of the workings look to be the same as I recall . On mine when it started spinning a helix screw on the main drive of the gear box pushed up the gear box, off the base of where it was resting and allowed it to become free of a circle of friction pads. When the spin was over and the power to the motor cut the helix screw was released and the gear box came down on the pads again (only a centimetre or two) to brake quickly the tub. Mine didn't have the slide mechanism to raise and lower wheels (I assume that's what that is?).

Such an interesting thread, thanks for sharing.

Cheers, Alan