I thought members might be interested in an article that appeared in Ideal Home (a home design & improvement magazine) in 1963
British Rarities
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Page 2
The Parnall is a real rarity - it has its ancestry in the Thor Auto-magic although without the dishwashing basket. I am amazed that they did not sell in larger quantities as it was a similar price to Hoovermatic, Hotpoint Supermatic & Servis Supertwin (the market leaders). I suppose it was simply as a result of much lesser marketing (Hoovers & Hotpoint frequently appeared in soap powder adverts) and the percieved need for plumbing in - a big deal back then
The Parnall is a real rarity - it has its ancestry in the Thor Auto-magic although without the dishwashing basket. I am amazed that they did not sell in larger quantities as it was a similar price to Hoovermatic, Hotpoint Supermatic & Servis Supertwin (the market leaders). I suppose it was simply as a result of much lesser marketing (Hoovers & Hotpoint frequently appeared in soap powder adverts) and the percieved need for plumbing in - a big deal back then
Page 3
Burco were better known for Washboilers, the English Electric looks to Westinghouse for its design
Burco were better known for Washboilers, the English Electric looks to Westinghouse for its design
Page 4
Two gas heated models on this page. The Calor I believe to be French. Ironically propane gas cylinders in this country were often sold as "Calor Gas" - I don't think it had anything to do with the washing machine, which was electric
Two gas heated models on this page. The Calor I believe to be French. Ironically propane gas cylinders in this country were often sold as "Calor Gas" - I don't think it had anything to do with the washing machine, which was electric
Page 5
Brunlec, Acme & Stokvis (was this Danish?) - all names from the past
Brunlec, Acme & Stokvis (was this Danish?) - all names from the past
Beautiful!!!
Page 6
The GEC look scool, but apparently the L shaped wash drum was not so effective as the washing tended to bunch up in the corners
The GEC look scool, but apparently the L shaped wash drum was not so effective as the washing tended to bunch up in the corners
Page 7 (last page)
Drting machines - not again the English Electric "Westinghouse"
Drting machines - not again the English Electric "Westinghouse"
matchboxpaul
Well-known member
Fantastic article, Al!
I know that Mathew would be envious of Mrs Freeman and her English Electric Liberator.
A machine from his childhood, he has the dryer, but is on the hunt for the washer.
What is it about the word 'Liberator', that makes any machine that it adorns so bloomin difficult to find!.
Fingers crossed one will surface for him.
Paul
I know that Mathew would be envious of Mrs Freeman and her English Electric Liberator.
A machine from his childhood, he has the dryer, but is on the hunt for the washer.
What is it about the word 'Liberator', that makes any machine that it adorns so bloomin difficult to find!.
Fingers crossed one will surface for him.
Paul
Liberators
Hows this for a new angle on a manager/secretary relationship - and in "luxury" Bri-Nylon too!
Hows this for a new angle on a manager/secretary relationship - and in "luxury" Bri-Nylon too!
Wonderful pictures, thanks for sharing!
Stokvis is Dutch, it was a company from Rotterdam. The full name of the company was actually the name of the founder, R.S. Stokvis. His initials were later used for the new name the company got later: Erres. R.S. and Erres sound about the same in Dutch. Erres was later taken over by Philps. I have no idea about when that actually happened.
Stokvis is Dutch, it was a company from Rotterdam. The full name of the company was actually the name of the founder, R.S. Stokvis. His initials were later used for the new name the company got later: Erres. R.S. and Erres sound about the same in Dutch. Erres was later taken over by Philps. I have no idea about when that actually happened.
hoover1100
Well-known member
haha that article really shows it's age
"A woman should not have to bend down to pick up heavy equipment."
It's hard (for someone of my age at least) to imagine a family not owning a washing machine of some sort, whether that be automatic, twin tub, wringer or whatever, but ofcourse that was often the case in those days, I know my Grandma got by with just a Creda Debonair Spinner and the sink until the early-mid 70s when she got a Hoovermatic.
In a way as much as I appreciate how much easier doing the washing is now, there would be something nice about having all that choice of types of washing machines again, some real wacky designs back then like that GEC twinnie, and ofcourse the original keymatic, I still can't get my head around what the pulsator action in that must look like!
We just don't know we're born these days!
Matt
"A woman should not have to bend down to pick up heavy equipment."
It's hard (for someone of my age at least) to imagine a family not owning a washing machine of some sort, whether that be automatic, twin tub, wringer or whatever, but ofcourse that was often the case in those days, I know my Grandma got by with just a Creda Debonair Spinner and the sink until the early-mid 70s when she got a Hoovermatic.
In a way as much as I appreciate how much easier doing the washing is now, there would be something nice about having all that choice of types of washing machines again, some real wacky designs back then like that GEC twinnie, and ofcourse the original keymatic, I still can't get my head around what the pulsator action in that must look like!
We just don't know we're born these days!
Matt
mickeyd
Well-known member
How crazy is the machine with the spinner INSIDE the washtub
This is fabulous stuff. What freedom of engineering. The ladies' reports on the machines are over-the-top funny. And how 'bout Mrs. Shea's giant tweezers to feed the clothes to the wringer. I'd love a pair.
Word for the day and forever:TURBULATOR, so much more accurate than pulsator to describe the spinning vaned disc in our twinnies.
Thanks so much for this entertaining enlightening washer lore.
This is fabulous stuff. What freedom of engineering. The ladies' reports on the machines are over-the-top funny. And how 'bout Mrs. Shea's giant tweezers to feed the clothes to the wringer. I'd love a pair.
Word for the day and forever:TURBULATOR, so much more accurate than pulsator to describe the spinning vaned disc in our twinnies.
Thanks so much for this entertaining enlightening washer lore.
launderess
Well-known member
Not "Tweezers", But Tongs
And yes, one has a pair (purchased NIB), of vintage wash tongs.
Wash tongs were the later incarnation of "wash sticks" which were used for ages to fetch laundry from the "berlin pot" (as Mammy would say in "Gone With The Wind").
Rubber or rather latex/neoprene gloves that could keep Madame's hands from feeling very hot water are rather a new invention. At best the "Playtex" type gloves from the 1950's or so did keep one's hands dry, but you still felt hot or boiling water.
In the UK at least those laundry tongs were either given away or could be purchased when one got a twin tub washing machine. All the better to fetch one's washing between tub without getting one's hands wet or damaged from boiling hot water.
L.
And yes, one has a pair (purchased NIB), of vintage wash tongs.
Wash tongs were the later incarnation of "wash sticks" which were used for ages to fetch laundry from the "berlin pot" (as Mammy would say in "Gone With The Wind").
Rubber or rather latex/neoprene gloves that could keep Madame's hands from feeling very hot water are rather a new invention. At best the "Playtex" type gloves from the 1950's or so did keep one's hands dry, but you still felt hot or boiling water.
In the UK at least those laundry tongs were either given away or could be purchased when one got a twin tub washing machine. All the better to fetch one's washing between tub without getting one's hands wet or damaged from boiling hot water.
L.
electron1100
Well-known member
A different World
Thanks Alistair for posting these articles, christ childhood memories!...........My mum had the GEC "L" shape washer
The whole presentation is so rational and comforting.....not like todays aggressive styles.
And of course the variety of machines, all designed by engineers not kids sat on a computer, so nice
Thanks
Gary
Thanks Alistair for posting these articles, christ childhood memories!...........My mum had the GEC "L" shape washer
The whole presentation is so rational and comforting.....not like todays aggressive styles.
And of course the variety of machines, all designed by engineers not kids sat on a computer, so nice
Thanks
Gary
Washes with Electric, Boils by Gas..
was the slogan!! nice one Al, nowthen Bri-Nylon sheets..oh a winter warmer with all that static electricity, coupled with the wincyette & flanellette bedwear sparks would be flying for all the wrong reasons!!!
Many of the Servis wringer washers had provision to house the "Wash Tongs" in the door of the machine when not being used..
I was always fascinated with the gas heated washers, one of my Aunts was given a big wringer washer when she moved into their first house!!big agitator and then this long flexible gas pipe to heat the water...another aunt had the more modern Servis Supertwin with "ServisAir" gas burner to heat the water!!! amazing to think these where still about in 1963..
was the slogan!! nice one Al, nowthen Bri-Nylon sheets..oh a winter warmer with all that static electricity, coupled with the wincyette & flanellette bedwear sparks would be flying for all the wrong reasons!!!
Many of the Servis wringer washers had provision to house the "Wash Tongs" in the door of the machine when not being used..
I was always fascinated with the gas heated washers, one of my Aunts was given a big wringer washer when she moved into their first house!!big agitator and then this long flexible gas pipe to heat the water...another aunt had the more modern Servis Supertwin with "ServisAir" gas burner to heat the water!!! amazing to think these where still about in 1963..
Hi Paul,
I have that exact pair of English Electric "Liberators" I was given by a friend who lived in Clapham, and they belonged to Lady Dashwood of Kensington..The Dial-a-fabric idea is quite nifty !!
One for Mike...I recently found out that the GEC "Double Plus" twin tub had a two-way wash action, the wash tub went one way and then agi went in the opposite direction..do you have any info ?
Al, I think the Parnall Spinwasher, did sell quite well in it's hayday, but the components weren't great, hence they didn't last well, saying that I have had 2 of them and 3 Automagic..
Regards
Keith
I have that exact pair of English Electric "Liberators" I was given by a friend who lived in Clapham, and they belonged to Lady Dashwood of Kensington..The Dial-a-fabric idea is quite nifty !!
One for Mike...I recently found out that the GEC "Double Plus" twin tub had a two-way wash action, the wash tub went one way and then agi went in the opposite direction..do you have any info ?
Al, I think the Parnall Spinwasher, did sell quite well in it's hayday, but the components weren't great, hence they didn't last well, saying that I have had 2 of them and 3 Automagic..
Regards
Keith
aquarius1984
Well-known member
Keith,
Could you post some pictures of these machines you have? Im getting rather curious about these older ones having never seen any of them in the flesh.
Would be fab to see them!
Could you post some pictures of these machines you have? Im getting rather curious about these older ones having never seen any of them in the flesh.
Would be fab to see them!
Washers
Hi Keith, great to hear from you, now dont tease use you know we need pics, pics & pics & you must have more literature and rare machines than all of us...LOl..would love to see the Liberators..
I have a pic leaflet of the GEC twinny in one...do you mean the spinning discs moved one way, stopped and then moved the other way?? rather like the Maytag A50 twinny??
I take it you got the last Panall spinWash that was on ebay then?? good on ya glad it was saved & not crushed!!!
Hi Keith, great to hear from you, now dont tease use you know we need pics, pics & pics & you must have more literature and rare machines than all of us...LOl..would love to see the Liberators..
I have a pic leaflet of the GEC twinny in one...do you mean the spinning discs moved one way, stopped and then moved the other way?? rather like the Maytag A50 twinny??
I take it you got the last Panall spinWash that was on ebay then?? good on ya glad it was saved & not crushed!!!
GEC Twinny in One!!!
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