British Twintub Washing Machines 1959 - 1990

[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

 

[ozzie908]

AEG Lavalux twin tub

Today due to having time on my hands I am going to try and remove the spin can from the above mentioned washer as the although its all in good working condition, the spin mount has split and so the whole can has dropped to the floor, I have been told by a good number of people that the part is NLA so it will be taken apart to see if an improvisation can be constructed. Time will tell

Austin

 

[foraloysius]

Stokvis twintub

Here is a Dutch Erres brochure as Stokvis was named in the NL. (Erres, short for R.S. Stokvis). Stokvis didn't make laundry appliances themselves, but it was sourced out to different manufacturers, the biggest one was the Dutch company Menkema.

 

[keymatic]

@austin

Afternoon Austin,

Good luck with the AEG Lavalux, they were wonderfully built machines, but a bit tricky to work on sometimes, I have two, one with the copper drum and one with the blue lining, the valve diverter always seems to stick and seize - both of mine have required this unit removing and working on, a couple of years ago I thought, "I had better free that lever up" well went to yank it and it broke clean off..oppss !! luckily someone last year was selling some spares from a Lavalux and I got another lever. Hope it goes ok.

Just sitting pondering on the Rolls concept of washing..the Impellor, so many companies jumped on the band-wagon with this method, Acme, Burco, EE, Frigidaire,Goblin..to name just a few, a good name with a cheap washing design !!

Cheers

 

[ozzie908]

@keymatic/Keith

Good afternoon to you I trust you are relieving the boredom of quarantine ? lol

After spending a good few hours getting the AEG apart I have become stumped at removing the spin can ! Its a royal PITA to get off so at present its lying on its side while I come up with another way to remove and repair the spinner seal its torn all the way off the mount.

Watch this space I will let you know how it goes.....

Have never seen an Acme or many of the other brands mentioned they could not have lasted long !

Austin

 

[ozzie908]

@keymatic/Keith

Something that would make the AEG lavalux even better would have been a reversing wash motor as that would have helped untangle the washing.

Just a thought....

 

[reversomatic]

Frigidaire twin tub by Philips

Hi all, found picture of the Philidaire. Reply 32. Nige

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?52664

 

[vacbear58]

Duomatic

Now that is a very interesting theory Matthew, and something I had never thought of, I always thought they were just varities of the Rolls/Tallent machines but of course both machines have a common ancestry.

Here is a Goblin in this Persil ad, and it does not appear to have a re-circulation nozzle



Not sure which one this is, but it has the recirculation. I think this is a later Fairy Snow ad going by Joan's rather simpler hairstyle - they went on until around 1966

 

[vacbear58]

Stokvis

Thanks for posting that brochure Louis - that is certainly a chunky agitator!

The machine can be seen in action in this Fairy Snow advert - the dialogue is absolute rubbish - the wall oven is Canadian and the washer is, of course, from The Netherlands

 

[vacbear58]

Pye

And here is yet another variation in the Rolls/Duomatic question, this time its a Pye - I think the ad is a bit of a con as it looks like they have cut in a bit of Hoover washing action to my eyes, still its yet another to add to the list

 

[keymatic3203]

Maybe the Goblin

was more duomatic descended not having a jet, plus, it appears to have a hole for suds return, or a 2nd drain hose in the corner, maybe. Is it me or does it seem to be washing in a clockwise direction too.

I think the two fairy snow adverts are both Pye twins, a quick flash of the control panel looks the same. I agree these adverts with the Randals are very corny, maybe of the time but have certainly given us a few clips of different washing machines in action over the series.

 

[vacbear58]

Duomatic

Beat me to it Matthew, I was just asking Ian the same thing, the Goblin is definately clockwise and the Rolls anti-clockwise - could you imagine the spray if it were not? Be nearly as bad as a Hoovermatic for splashing LOLOL

 

[keymatic]

@ Al

Pye twin doesn’t wash like that, well mine didn’t the last time I looked lol
Keith

 

[matchboxpaul]

Wonderful thread you have started Mike!
Really enjoying reading and catching up with its development over the last few days.

Thanks for posting the Erres Twin Tub brochure, Louis - I wonder if we had a clone of that machine in the UK, where there were seemingly a large number of machines subjected to badge engineering.

I agree with Mike and think that the TopTwin's were built in the Halifax factory, with later models built alongside the SlimStar's. I attach some more photos of Mathew's machine, when it visited my place a number of years ago ....

 

[matchboxpaul]

and a handful more, including the ratings plate - so good that a handful of these early Philips Twin tubs have been saved ….

 

[matchboxpaul]

1961 Ideal Home Laundry Report

I just hope it is legible - fingers crossed.

A number of autos to start with, but loads of twin tubs and spinners dotted throughout the pages, including the Erres that Louis posted the brochure for earlier in the thread - sold as STOKVIS in the UK.

Including the whole report for the sake of completeness ….

 

[reversomatic]

Goblin twin tub, all their own work !

Years ago we had goblin twin tub in as scrapper so I had to do an autopsy. They were all Goblins own work. The reason why the suds return hole is so large is that they used a two in one crooked drain hose like a Servis. The pulsator was belt driven similar to the Twin star set up. Motors were adapted Goblin cleaner motors either LE1 or LE2, Two separate electric drain pumps made by Woolwich. The spin side was the same as their separate spinner. The cabinet was textured plastic coated steel so they were quite rust proof. This would have been late seventies when I was at my first job so it must have quite old then. A lot of interesting machines about then. Nige.

 

[matchboxpaul]

1979 Ideal Home Tub report

Some late 1970's offerings ...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Some bigger pictures from the 1961 report.

The GOBLIN is image 10 - this the one you were referring to Nigel? and Louis' STOKVIS is image 9.

Paul

 

[foraloysius]

Paul

The Erres was sold in the UK as Stokvis.

 

[ozzie908]

Space queen sink washer

Anyone seen one of these ??