Australian-made Simpson "Fluid Drive"

[fluidriver]

I thought I may have been the only person in the world who rebuilt his 1967-made washer, until I found this site!

My everyday use washer is a Simpson brand Fully Automatic Fluid Drive. It has a fluoro light in the control panel, which showed me it was no ordinary washer when I bought it as a replacement for another, earlier Fluid Drive I'd had for about 15 years.

It's pretty much the same as the "Speed Queen" marketed in the US.

I took it all apart last year and had the main shaft re-chromed, replaced the bearing, replaced the hose from the bowl to the pump (found the last new one in Australia, I reckon!),replaced the belts and generally made sure it was running like new.

I should be able to keep it going for as many more years as it has been already, and the water consumption is better than some new ones.

Looking forward to any comments.

 

[DADoES]

Love those Aussie machines!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Simpson

Hi Alan, welcome from the other side of the world, love your machine, the control panel looks fab and with lights as well, any chance of a pic of the tub & agi?? we had a timeline window on our UK Hotpoint but it used dials to control it.

Have you used any Servis Wilkins machines??, cheers, Mike

 

[fluidriver]

Tub and agitator photo

Here's a pic of the interior.

Haven't had any personal experience of Wilkins Servis,Mike, but I have heard of them.

 

[mielabor]

Wow, there is some heavy scrubbing going on with those corrugated tub walls...

 

[toggleswitch]

I hate to say this..... but I COME ALIVE when I see beauties like this. Thanks for posting!

Funny how the U.S. and Australia are both former British colones on opposite ends of the world, and are alike in so many ways...

Including washers!

 

[blackstone]

If you need any parts for this machine, I have Speed Queen parts available, including pump and fluid drive. You can have them for shipping costs, whatever that would be. Got a picture of the machine without the front panel? The parts are left over from our store. We sold and serviced Speed Queens, especially after Blackstone stopped making appliances in the mid 1970s.

 

[mayfan69]

Another Classic Fluid Drive Restored!

Hi Alan,

Great to see another Aussie saving one of these great machines. I currently have 6 Simpson Fluid Drives in my possesion, including 2 of this series. I have a Semi Automatic Simpson Fluid Drive on its way. Another Aussie member, Arrrrooooh, recently bought one like yours off Ebay for AU$5.00!!

Attached are some pics. Ive been able to get a number of parts to keep these machines going for years to come.

If Chestermike reads this...I have a lead on a Wilkins Servis "Mark 22" Model 3....you'll find it in the manual i sent you...just awaiting pics to be returned.

This is a 1963 2 Speed Fluid Drive.

Cheers
Leon

 

[mayfan69]

2nd Fluid Drive

This is the one i have like Alan's.

 

[mayfan69]

3rd Fluid Drive

This is the 1968 Four Speed Programmed model i recently bought.

 

[mayfan69]

4th Fluid Drive

This is the 1968 Fully programmed Fluid Drive

 

[mayfan69]

5th & 6th Fluid Drives

These are 2 more Fluid Drives that recently got delivered to my place...another 1966 model like Alan's and a 1970 Four Speed programmed model.

 

[rickr]

I love the look of those Simpson machines! The chrome, the large fancy font, the pushbuttons, the hooded lighting, the timeline, the ribbed solid tub, just everything about this model is just way too cool!! I would LOVE to own one of these beauties!

Thanks for the pixs, Fluidriver. And may your fantastic Simpson keep on washing!

 

[rickr]

WOW!! They ALL are just awesome! I do wish I could find one of those babies in the US! Our Speed Queen is ok, but the control panels on the SQ are too conservative by comparison. The Simpsons design just blows the SQ away.

Thanks for posting these machines. I love the vintage brands that were built in the US, however it is really nice to be able to see these vintage toploaderstoo.

 

[gansky1]

This must have been a popular model? I can see why, it's just stunning!

 

[fluidriver]

Fluid Drive opened

I love the way that by removing just two front panel screws, then two at the top/ back will reveal all!

There isn't much that a serviceperson (or I) can't get at when this is done.

Took me about three months on weekends to carefully disassemble, clean and rebuild this baby.

When I had finished, I took it back inside on a trolley, and when attempting to lift it upright, it slipped and the very corner of the heavy chrome control panel landed on my right big toe, and I ended up in emergency to have X Rays to determine if there was a break. Luckily there wasn't, just bruising. And a smashed wall tile! Who says we don't suffer for our craft?!

 

[victoriapark]

Memories of the Simpsons

I love the design of these machines and they had a reputation for being trouble free and long lasting. My mother had same machine as yours Fluidriver for a long long time and on the rare occasions it needed repairing the technicians told her to never get rid of it.

Good on you guys for preserving these gems.

Mayfan69 : I remember some of the semi automatic Simpsomatic machines so I am looking forward to your pics when you take delivery.

It would be terrific to see some videos of these machines in action.

Greg

 

[arrrooohhh]

WOW I love these machines

Welcome to the club Fluidriver.

I have just recently got the exact same machine as you. it was on ebay and I am told it works, the old lady was using it till Christmas time, but I have not checked it myself. I live in a unit and it went straight into my garage, so it will be a while before I ever get to play with it.

What you say about water effiency is right, according to Choice tests this machine used 26 gallons of water to complete a cycle which my calculations say should be about 117 litres of water.

I also have a 1970 model that is the Maytag-esque one with perforated tub I have added a picture.

What we need to do is pool our resources together and write a procedures list of what to look for and what needs replacing or maintenance to keep these machines running. I do not have much technical know how but I apprieciate the pictures. I am saving all the pictures I want to put together a Chronology of Simpson machines from the earliest to the latest.

 

[fluidriver]

There are more of us than I thought!

Thanks for your reply, Ash.

Your idea about a procedures list is a good one I would be happy to help with. In my experience, the part most commonly needing replacement is the solenoids for the diverter valves, and the valves themselves. I'm running out, and the machine does drip some water from one of the hoses during the wash cycle.

My source of old household goods- an auction house- has recently closed down, and I'm not sure whether I will be able to find any more...

Here's another photo from the machine in question, prior to restoration. The wiring is neater now.