British Twintub Washing Machines 1959 - 1990

[sesteve]

Thought I’d add in some pictures of the Colston Ariston twin tub - the last incarnation of the Colston twin tubs but without the split washtub lid. The spin dryer on this has a clockwork safety catch on the lid and a plastic dog clutch on the spin drive which probably is the reason why the Colston machines remain elusive.
I love the drain hose arrangement on this version I’ve attached the link to a video of this machine in action

 

[sesteve]

And here are the instructions for the Colston Coronet. Also the plastic dog clutch

 

[foraloysius]

Reply# 76

Thanks for sharing the brochure of the last Philips twin top. Beautiful simple design! Was it made in the same factory as the Slimstar?

 

[mickeyd]

Twin Tub Binge Reading :'D

These exclusive, Royal Doultonesque, Hyacinth Bouquet "Brochures" are so wonderful, I can't get enough of them,
and that odd little Colston--what an alluring creature ! Thanks for the vid, Steve.

A few more things need another reading before I can grasp it all, but I'm not clear on the Philips riverflow rinse: is it conducted in the wash tub, overflow style,
or in the spinner like the Hoover auto-rinse? One of the pictures looks like a wash tub, but my perception could be off. Enlightenment please. How fascinating.
So much variety.

 

[chestermikeuk]

British Twintub Washing Machines 1959 - 1990

Fabulous brochure Steve, Keith & Paul, much bedtime reading, now its all 50 pages of small print no one understands in 6 languages.

Bring back the pictures, diagrams and over the top marketing I say !!

Loving the silver and blue of the AAC870, last incarnation of the Philips, just looks so classy.

Louis as far as I know it was, in the |Ada/ Philips factory in Hipperholme, Halifax taken over by White Knight who are just about to close it !!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Philips Toptwin Twintub Washing Machine 1962 - 1974

Evening Mickey, now when I said over the top marketing we have all gasped at this,

RiverFlo Rinsing, basically the spin can is pear shaped with holes in the base, the spin and wash pump run constantly as soon as you switch mains on, you MANUALLY hose either warm or cold water over the clothes,
like the video, water saturates and drips through but drains out of the spin can and is pumped away before you even spin. When the water is clear you then spin dry !!

There You Go, manual hose and spin !! BUT it gets better

The Toptwin control boast "Silent Friend" controls, presumably because they hardly make a sound when being used ha ha..so there we are.

The marketing department must have been on herbal tea instead of Tetleys and thought "How can We Sell This" - But We Loves Them For It !!

So now you can rest easy and sleep well Mickey !!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Colston Ariston

Glad its all working Steve, the Colston Ariston certainly has a place on the podium, just noticed the details like the hose storage, the little details that make it.

Heres the link to when we visited Steves place and started the repairs on it.

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?79395

 

[ozzie908]

@keith Hoovermatic

Its in need of a respray but its working perfectly fine. Sadly I do not have a black ribbed hose but I can live with that

Austin

 

[keymatic]

Hi Austin,
I guess after 50yrs a bit of a respray is minor, good to hear its still working all ok. I had to put a new hose on mine, i did find a grey ribbed hose which is quite good. I did have to put some sealant around the side near the base of the spinner can as it was pitted and thought it may corrode further if it wasn’t sealed.
Keith

 

[reversomatic]

Frigidaire twin tub by Philips

Great thread thanks Mike . I seem to remember seeing Frigidaire badged Philips twin tubs. The controls were mounted top right front of cabinet .A small rectangular dark blue,green panel with just 2 knobs. Wash timer and motor or heater . I think these were the some of the last machines as it had the 2 drain hoses out of the back the wash 1 having the ball stopper on end. The most common fault on the Philips twin tubs was pump failure due to them running continuously. Such a common fault that you could buy a pump overhaul kit impeller, seals and bearing bush, and a sod to fit. Regarding the G.E.C. space saver twin tub I once had the deluxe model the difference being that it had a variable thermostat for the heater and aluminium spin can instead of galvanised steel also pumped the water into to an outlet in the left hand top side of wash tub instead of hooked drain hose, A poor machine, single motor directly driving spin can with belts from it driving pulsators and no brake . Also heater and motor switches were interlocked so that motor and heater could not operate together. Wish I still had it though it was rare then 40 odd years ago when I was about 20. Regards Nige. P.S must not forget Rolls twin tubs, the Ford Anglia of machines for the commoners but still great and British.

 

[chestermikeuk]

British Twintub Washing Machines 1959 - 1990

Evening Nige, thanks, but Im only the starter catalyst , you guys provide all the gloss and information !! And am loving all the new information,

Nowthen, you mentioned that Frigidaire badged Philips twintubs, I hadnt realised that, thought they where Rolls etc, Please look at Keiths (keymatic) thread number Post Reply #75,
Keith has sneaked a pic in without explaining it and nobody appears to have picked up on it, Is this the Frigidaire twinny badged by Philips that you mean..

I`ll make it easier, here it is...

 

[anthony]

The frigidaire twin tub

had a few inherent faults .the washer lid had a plastic hinge that snapped after a few weeks use .the flimsy knobs broke easily [when going out to repair one of these i would often find a pair of pliers inside for switching on when the knobs had broken ,When asking the customer if they would like new knobs they would say dont bother they will only snap again] water would seep into the spin switch arm till it eventually seized and snapped off usually in the on position .The ball on the hose inevitably fell off .they went through spin bearings like i go through socks and no matter how much you tightened up the nuts holding the wheels on they would fall off constantly.All faults i look back on some 45 years later with much fondness

 

[optima]

Colston

Twin Tubs

A Big thank you for this superb Thread & to Stephen for posting the Classic Colston Coronet Instruction Booklet. I am absolutely loving it!

 

[keymatic3203]

Keith's Fridgidaire

is the rolls version, Impeller wash action, Fridgidaire spinner. the Philips version I think was more like the basic Philips with the dials on the front where they are on Keith's Fridgidaire. Of course I can't remember where I may have seen a photo of one. Also, My old friend John told me he had an Electra branded Philips twin tub at one time, as a side note he had problems with the spinner switch.

But also, Looking at the Morphy Richards twin tub, yes likely a rolls clone, but looking again could this actually be a Duomatic clone. My thoughts are prompted by the brochure pictures, no re circulation jet in the wash tub, two hoses shown on back view, pulsator in the sketch looks ribbed more like the hoover, though obviously smaller, and it has a removable spin surround.

Mathew

Keith, do you have any images of the wash tub of the English electric twin star, I know it's not like the rolls, the base is angled and the pulsator is belt driven, so a similar shape as the Servis power glide but again a smaller and faster pulsator.

 

[chestermikeuk]

British Twintub Washing Machines 1959 - 1990

"All faults I look back on some 45 years later with much fondness" Ha Ha ...

Morning Anthony, do you think they where downgraded for Frigidaire or would this have been the same for all Philips Twintubs as well ?

How many Philips Twintubs did you service over other brands etc when you worked for HC Troldhal service agents ?

I really love the look of the sleek Philips AAC870 & the Frigidaire, but equally the sleek Topline control panel.

 

[chestermikeuk]

British Twintub Washing Machines 1959 - 1990

Morning Craig, glad you`re enjoying the thread, did your family have the Colston Coronet Twintub then ?

Pic courtesy of MatchboxPaul !!

 

[chestermikeuk]

British Twintub Washing Machines 1959 - 1990

Morning Mathew oh right was thinking it could be the Philips 870 badged etc, ah well, there are that many variations its easy to mix up, have never seen a Morphy Richards but do like the spinner lids & hinge position, almost Servis esque !!

Keith can you show us more pics please of the Frigidaire including inside and rear panel, Inquisitive minds eager to know.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Acme Twintub Washing Machine

Another twintub we have yet to come across is the Acme model, this was a big heavy twintub with gearbox using what must have been a first, the Agi Impellor, made in white plastic.
It has a powerful 2.7kw heater, a two speed wash action, Normal for Cottons, Gentle for Wollens / Delicates.

The spin empty is through a swing arm (same as Acme De-Lux spinner) on the top of the twintub and can be moved in any direction to return suds to the washtub or swung over the sink for rinsing.

Pictures courtesy of Trevor Howsam Film Prop Suppliers..

 

[chestermikeuk]

Acme Twintub Washing Machine

And the Ideal Home Report 1963 courtesy of (MatchboxPaul) , also did Philips make the Brunlec Twintub ?

 

[keymatic]

#frigidaire mastertwin

Morning All,

Busy morning with conference calls etc, with regards to the Mastertwin, it is just like the Rolls, the impeller and drain grid are in the same position as in the Rolls, one thing I did notice Anthony mentioned was the "ball on drain hose" the machine I have doesn't have this set up, albeit it does have a drain hose for the spinner side, but not for the washer side as there is a re-circulation jet which is the method to empty the wash tub.
Mike; The machine is currently at mother's so I cant access that easy with the current Covid-19 situation, the back of the machine from memory is quite plain, just drain hose and power cord, I will get a pic when I'm next over there, tub shot attached. Weirdly Frigidaire promoted their wash action was "Impell-action" (Impellor)

Matthew; I have had a look and I have a few bits on the EE Twin Star including some service information, few pics attached. EE did make a few different styles of "Twinstar" over the years.

Cheers