Heavy!!!
Hi Steve
This Bendix Giromat is a model G 1961 over here, I saw an add in a local rag, and spilt my tea in shock...It was owned by a Cheshire Farmers wife, now both in their mature years they looked the part of the Cheshire Set, quilted jackets, tweeds and Champagne Pink hair rinse for the lady...
Mrs. M grilled me for a couple of minutes before they would show me the machine, Would I look after it, I dont want to find it advertised again, I dont want to think of it going to the tip, You know its a very old and dear friend to me!!!
When I explained I was a collector she visibly calmed and it was just what she wanted to hear, albeit very much surprised...They led me into a centrally heated garage for the Bentley and in the corner under a covering of very expensive, new horse blankets was Bertha Bendix, I must admit I was slightly disapointed as I was thinking the smaller one Model A or the semi automatic Model D...
It still had its original hoses, copper taps, a mound of service info and spare gaskets etc...She explained that she had bought the machine when they where first married, the farm was her husbands family and as a newly married couple they had built on the farm further away from the main farmhouse, a very modern glass n wood hillside house,garage underneath,with the main lounge and kitchen overlooking the Cheshire countryside, it is a stunning house and setting...She said, My husband bought himself 1.5 acres of extra land and so I decieded to treat myself and buy the Bendix...FOR THE SAME PRICE!!!! which was £109 guineas..shows how much land and inflation have changed...LOl
They took me through to the utility to show what they had now, but where very scathing about it not being as good a machine, it was a TOL AEG...they had had a few probs with the Bendix and their original Bendix Engineer, now 65yrs of age, had chosen to retire, and as the machine was old, they felt they could not take a chance with anyone else servicing it...
We passed through the kitchen to get to the Laundry and my jaw dropped, they still had the original kitchen, pristine and immaculate condition, It was a Dark green/black wooden Poggenpohl (The ultimate German kitchen back then ) with Moffatt Split level appliances in brushed chrome, matching fridge & freezer, a breakfast bar near the full length windows for the view...
And so She definatly did shed a tear when I collected it, its in great condition and it needed new fill hoses and an oil change which Jon Jetcone did,and showed me how to do when he came last year....
