Bendix semi automatic .

[slowspinspeed]

I'm new to this type of website but i could really benifit from a little help .I have had this old Bendix for a few years and have had a do a bit of refurb bearings ,seals, hoses ect. It stands in my kitchen and is bolted down.The problem is i cann't get a valve seal for the pump .The part that's needed provides a seat for the mushroom valve to sit on .When you turn the dial to drain the bowden cable pulls the mushroom valve away from the seal and water then water flows into the pump and then into the sink.At present i have to put a bung in the drain hose to stop it constantly draining the tub. I have made a couple of seals but they never really work.I wonder if one of the chaps in the States will be able to help.I will try and put a few more pics on if anyone is interested.The machine is a really fab little piece of 1950s engineering and thanks to Mike King i have managed to find out more about how to look after it thanks to his help and knowledge.

 

[sudsmaster]

Huh, that's interesting. Didn't know that Bendix made a washer with that style cabinet. When you say "semi-automatic" is that by design, or because of the pump seal problem?

I would imagine that a seal for a 30's-40's Bendix would work in that machine, but perhaps someone else knows more.

By the way, you don't have to start a new thread to post more photos. Just post them as replies to this thread. Cheers.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Bendix Semi-Auto

Hey Darren, welcome to the club, lovely looking Bendix, lets hope the guys can help with it....hows the sudz, have you managed to control them with your very softened water???

See you email about posting the other fab pics in your own album...

I love this machine, its a semi automatic so you can do all sorts with it, even spray rinses for as long as you like, now tell me another machine FL you can do that on,

Hows the Servis MK2 twinny?? and the Maytag Top Loader doing??

Cheers, Mike

 

[newwave1]

Wow! What a hidden gem! I wouldn't have had a clue this exists in my hometown!:O

Would love to see more pics of it!

Darren

 

[decodriveboy]

Maybe Its Dryer Mate?

Or pretty darn close....

 

[brisnat81]

Another Semi Auto FL

Hi Guys,

Beautiful looking machine. I love how its so sqare and curved at the same time. The Powerhouse museum in Sydney has one of these, although its in storage rather than permenant display.

I've got a FL machine that is a Semi auto. It has no electric controls, you turn the power off and on at the wall. To change from Tumble to Spin it moves the motor up and down and thus adjusts the tension on the belts. So it could spray rinse as much as it likes Its been off with a Metal working hobbiest for almost 6 months now, he's trying to rebuild the seal/bearing box, which being made of aluminium has just disintergrated. I have my fingers crossed that I'll get it back intact by christmas.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Bendix

This machine is totally semi automatic, you have to turn the tap on and off, (and dont forget or we know what will happen!!!) then switch on the motor and heater, watch the temperature guage rise until desired temp is reached, its colour coded, not critical...then time the wash....switch to drain and then drain out the water, switch to spin for as long as you like""" then turn on water to rinse, you can even spin rinse, which really kills sudz as Darren has a water softener and even half a wash tablet is sometimes too much...

Heres a pic of the pump area which shows the cable, this moves when you slide the grey control on the top, moving the ball valve and letting the water flow out...the pump is engaged all the time with this machine, so when the motor is on, the pump is working, BUT the valve usually stops the flow of water...

The problem is the force of water all the time puts extra pressure on the seal and thats why they fail...any thoughts guys...I`m not sure you had any semi auto machines...Did You??

That dryer would be the nearest match Bob, and perfect for this 9lb load machine!!! Nathan, now whats this machine you mention ??is it a Bendix??

 

[brisnat81]

Its a Naco

It was manufactured by the NV Appleton Company in Brisbane. The brand still exists today, but for the last 30 years, its been about Building products such as Louvre window frames etc.

The Spin belt is connected directly from the motor to the tub pulley. The Tumble belt is connected through an overdrive pulley, with a second belt going to the tub.

In the Tumble position, the motor is raised up, which removes the tension on the spin belt, and tightens the tension on the first tumble belt.

In the Spin position, the motor drops down, which releases the tension on the wash belt and tightens the tension on the spin belt.

The unusual part is that it appears to be all aluminium. The Tub, Tub Plate, Basket are all aluminium, I guess I'm lucky that its only the bearing box cover that has disintergrated.

It is gravity drain, and that is controlled by the tap in the lower left of the machine. The machine looks messy, but its just flaking paint. I havent had it painted yet, because I'm waiting to see if the bearing box can be repaired.

 

[brisnat81]

Chute and Drum

.

 

[brisnat81]

Hoses connect at the top,

But the aluminium fittings have correoded away. New copper ones will be soldered in place.

The whole outer cabinet comes off with 6 screws and then the machine is fully exposed.

 

[aussie-plugs]

OMG ...

My aunt in Melbourne had this machine in the early 60's. I remember seeing it in the laundry and wanting to know how it worked and what you could see if you lifted the lid. I have a feeing hers was canary yellow (sounds crazy, I know, but's that's my childhood recollection). It was replaced with a Bendix around the same time my mum changed from a gas-fired copper to a Bendix. Funnily, I haven't seen anything about this particular model on the forums, except for the machine in this wanted ad. Does anybody collect them? Know anything about them?

 

[jetcone]

Sure do collect them

I've got two sitting in the basement.
this one is restored to showroom mint

 

[jetcone]

Slowspin

what kind of door boot do you have on that machine? Is it an electrue part or a Qualtex part? Do you have the part number?

jetcone

http://qys

 

[aussie-plugs]

1960's Bendix Bingo!

That's the one! When were they made? What were the production dates? The only differences I can see is that yours doesn't have the plastic cover for the soap hopper (divides into half, 1/3 and 2/3 sections for detergent measurement before dosing), nor the "hot/warm" lever around the "water miser" left-hand dial for controlling the water heater. Is yours designed for hot/cold supply, or cold only? I got one of these machines and semi-restored it when I moved out of home, but unfortunately it died and I couldn't do anything more with it. On that one, the "hot/warm" lever controlled the inlet water mix (Mum's must have been designed for cold only, I guess). I replaced it with a Hoover, then an Italian Philco/Bendix and now have an Asko. Fantastic to have finally seen my childhood machine on this forum. Thanks!

 

[gansky1]

Very nice machine!! I love the controls.

This advertisement from 1950 is pretty close to the time we had that cabinet style here...

 

[jetcone]

nh

that is a 1956 Bendix. That is when that machine was made.
The timer to the right has the water temp control worked into the cycle. Depending on what you want hot or warm you turn the timer dial to that start setting. The left control is the water miser with infinite level control for those oddly shaped items and loads.

jet

 

[jetcone]

As Greg

can attest to Nothing cleans like a bendix!

Unless its a kelvinator or a frigidaire or a lady kenmore combo or an ABCor......

 

[chestermikeuk]

Bendix

Ohhhh, You cant beat a Bendix Slap...Nowthen, Can Anybody answer Darrens original question::

Did you guys ever have a semi automatic with the pump set up as above!!!Any advice welcome for him!!!

Cheers, Mike

 

[tomturbomatic]

The Bendix tumbler was also made as a semi automatic in this country with no fill valve, but it was the earlier style machine. It had a special fill hose with a flattened metal adapter on the end that locked into the soap chute on top so that the hose did not have to be held in place during fills.