Australian Kelvinator Semi- Automatic

[fluidriver]

Found this old thing sitting by itself in a warehouse which was full of old jukeboxes! They were amazing bits of 50s, but the owner wanted premium prices.

Don't know anything about Kelvinator washers - they were mainly famous for their fridges ( I used to make 'em) and I've seen the brand on fans and radios, too.

 

[fluidriver]

Kelvinator semi-auto 2

This is the interior - it has a hole through the lid, presumably for filling.

With a timer for wash and one for spin, it's certainly basic!

 

[mayfan69]

I have the earlier version

I have the earlier version of this machine

As per below

Leon

 

[jetcone]

Wow we don't see those here

A Kelvinator with a perforated tub! Unusual for sure,I would love to have a "spinner" model as ABC called them. You could wash as long as you want!

Cool machines!

Thanks for the pics.

jon

 

[jetcone]

I wonder if

people spun drained or just did a stationary drain or just let the water flow into tub with the drain open for rinsing?

Leon, how do you do your wash in this machine?

 

[gyrafoam]

I think there must have been a version of Leon's machine marketed in America as an automatic as I remember a very similar console on some Kelvy diaper washers.

That perf.tub is an interesting twist-----gravity drain option?

 

[mayfan69]

Hole in Lid...

Hey Steve and jon,

With regards to the hole in the lid...its not for filling....there is actually a seperate hose and inlet for filling.

"Simpsomatic" explains the hold in the lid from a previous thread.....

Here is how the hole in the lid works, ingenious really. It is for a manual suds return since this machine is semi-automatic. First you spin out the wash water, this machine is like the old Frigidaire models where the pump is always running. You would need a double laundry tray so if you continued with the rinse and final spin of the first load you had somewhere to dispose of the rinse and spin water. Time to "save suds". Put operation knob in spin and start machine briefly with timer. The pump would spit out any residual water in the bellows and when you shut off the timer a syphon occurs that puts the wash water back into the outer tub. Once all the water is in the outer tub you take the drain hose and put it through the hole in the top of the lid, set the selector to wash, set the timer and the machine will pump the water in the outer tub to the wash tub. The process eliminates the laundry room cleanup if you left the lid up through the process. Much the same as Frigidaire suds saver we remember with the the spring loaded ball at the end of the drain hose.

I haven't tried it yet.

Leon

 

[easyspindry]

Great find

Hang on to that machine. There are people here in the US that would kill to have that machine and that wash action. It's phenominal.

Jerry Gay

 

[mickeyd]

people like me, Jerry! ;'D

Said it before--how cool it is, both ironic and comic that the Aussies have the most unusual flora and fauna, and, as we've come to learn, the most unusual
mechanickista, at least in terms of washers.

Also noteworthy how prevalent sudssavers were: yesterday the Velvet? and now the Kelvi. I love it.

Also also, Leon, thank you from the bottom of my heart. In my short 2&1/2 years here, you're the first person to mention the very unusual Frigi spring loaded ball hose, something I dream about and would also kill to have. Are the Aussie versions square like the Yank ones so that they fit perfectly squarely over the tub?

 

[goblue]

beautiful kelvy. makes me wish i was down under.

 

[peteski50]

Kelvinator!

Interesting with a performated tub. Was all the euro models like that?
Peter

 

[jetcone]

So Leon

that perforated tub must sit in an outer solid tub since you have to take the additional step of wash-pumping the water back into the tub from the outer tub?

Jon

 

[simpsomatic]

Jon,

Yes, the perforated tub sits inside the solid outer tub.....Surpisingly enough this is the exact machine my aunty Hilda traded her pastel green Turner Sapphire for. It was built like a tank.

 

[fluidriver]

Semi-auto Kelvie

Here's a close-up of the control panel.

What are the major weaknesses with this type of machine?

Should I get it?

Probably a big heavy old lump!

If anyone locally is interested, its fairly close to me in Adelaide. Let me know.

 

[gyrafoam]

IMO those old Kelvy's were great machines. In spite of the unusual type of agitation they had great "roll-over" and washed really well. Seems to me like anyone with a serious collection would want a Kelvy in it, so I don't think I'd let that fish get away!

 

[jetcone]

Alan

Just grab it for now and play with it. When I strike it rich and get my house in Buderim I'll swing down! and haul it back up there!

Cheers
jon

 

[mickeyd]

"Should I get it?"

I'd be running to catch it. Gotta love that hole with the hose in it. How can you resist that perfect aqua agitator with no known cousins?

 

[mayfan69]

Yes, you should get it

I agree with everybody else Alan, you should get it.

Considering these types of Kelvinator's are rare now, it's worthwile getting it.

Cheers
Leon

 

[arrrooohhh]

Wow! Beautiful machine. I have only every seen these in advertisements.

Of course it needs to be saved.