British Twintub Washing Machines 1959 - 1990

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@anthony

Afternoon Anthony,

Great to hear the first hand experience of the Frigidaire Jetamatic washer, on that subject my Mastertwin has independent wash and spin motors.

The whole machine is an square-ish oval shape with worktop to match. As you said basically a Rolls washer side with a Frigidaire spinner side.

Cheers
Keith

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Hi all.

Loving the Hotpoint brochure Steve - is there a date on it at all? With it having the 1502 in it and being the older style brochure with fold out pages, i'd hazard a guess at 1967? Mike has a slightly later brochure containing the all the same models, but in a newer style and moving away from the fold out pages style, which I've dated as 1968. Curse Hotpoint for not putting dates on their literature! lol.

Mike - many thanks for checking out the model number of your green Supertwin and apologies for the delay in responding to it. Haven't looked for a while and it slipped my notice until now.
I wonder if green was a later addition to the range, hence it being MK27, whereas at least the red version appeared as a Mk19 and maybe the blue and the yellow?

As for on the telly - the UK Decimal coinage public service film, also has a Frigidaire MasterTwin on the kitchen ....

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Hi Anthony.

'The later Frigidaire TT was indeed a Phillips clone but i am not sure about the earlier model of which there were two'

The earlier pre-MasterTwin twin tubs were Models WTS (Standard - unheated) and WTD (DeLuxe - heated). I attach a photo of the WTS model, with it's blue background to the dial and I presume that the heated WTD model would have had two dials and the black background to the dials that you mention.

Both the WTD and WTS look to have arrived on the scene circa 1965, with the original MasterTwin around 1967 and a model called the 'De-Luxe' around 1968, with the later MasterTwin De Luxe around 1973.
The MasterTwin De Luxe in 1973, would tie in with the introduction of the 'new' Philips AAC870, upon which it was based?

Regards
Paul

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... automatic labelled Mc Enzie [never seen one since ]

Hi Anthony.

Don't want to divert the thread too much, but I don't ever remember anyone mentioning the brand McKenzie on the forum before.
I attach the only picture I have of any of their offerings, in the form of the 'Biomatic TWINFILL' ....

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Back to twin tubs

Does anyone know who provided these twin tubs for a number of the elctricity boards at all?

They were sold through the Midlands Electricity Boards and MANWEB at the very least, but I don't know who provided them.

Cheers
Paul

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The frigidaire twin tub

nice to see a surviving Frigidaire mastewrtwin complete with its lid.Your right Paul.there were two models [you have jogged my memory a little ] The machine without the heater was the one that had a spindryer motor driving the wash impeller .Obviously made to a budget.If i remember rightly underneath where the induction motor would have been there was a flywheel attached with a v belt connecting the motor pump and flywheel .They were [in my opinion a much better machine than the later Phillips clone which was rather flimsy and cheap looking .the very fast spin dryer was much quieter and efficient than the Hoover models of the day and had a nice enamelled spin can .That McKenzie is the later updated version of the ones i worked on [probably cost a bit more ]As i said earlier its pump was very much like an early Indesit the pump being driven by the other end of the main wash motor and accessible through the round hatch on the front .theres that tel tale small door just like the indesit .Found Sid Abbot having his breakfast in front of the TT this morning

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Frigidaire Twinnies

Hi Anthoney , glad we got to the bottom of the "Who Made Which Frigidaire Twinny" ha ha, I think the Philips version looks the smartest IMHO, and great to know in the rolls version the original Spinner was used. fab spinners they are.

Hope the hand injury recovered well, my worst nightmare a plug in the wrong socket, thank goodness for plug in circuit trippers although unless a fault it would not have helped you in that moment.

Great to know the Frigidaire Jetamatic had a powerful heater, heres a pic with the "Fill & Heat" on the first timer position. I must check if the water capacity was more than the Hotpoint toploader . I did love seeing those turquoise thumpers in the self serve Frigidaire Launderette when as a kid with Nan getting the velvet winter curtains dry cleaned.

Did you do much work on the Frigidaire french produced H-Axis Top loader with tumble dryer ? (in 3rd pic)

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the Frigidaire top loaser [french ]

Sorry to say i never got my hands on one of those .getting back to the jetamatic .I was never impressed by its performance .Although the agitation process was quite vigorous under a full load it did not work well [we would often do load tests with say a full load of towels ] the machine would be loaded up to say the top vane on the agitator and then soap powder was sprinkled directly onto the clothes switch on [usually with a screwdriver stuck in the lid switch]the machine would fill and start to wash now although the thing was thumping up and down as it should the load would barely be moving .Simply by removing one towel the roll over would work perfectly so although the machine was not overloaded its not true to say it can wash a 9 Lb load .the spin was very average and the water usage was astronomical by today's standards .In my opinion the Hotpoint wins hands down and unless my memory is playing tricks on me i am sure the Jetamatic was a lot bigger than the Hotpoint.I was given a Hotpoint top loader around 1977 [I had just got married and we only had a twin tub ]and after using it for a week or two i was thoroughly impressed. My wife at the time was enthralled at what it could do to a load of dirty nappies .She loved it consequently when we got divorced she took it with her
 
"Bless This House"

I've been watching most of the episodes recently on ITV3 and CCXTV. CCXTV is a few series behind.

In the early series, there is generally only a wooden folding clothes horse where the washing machine would later sit.

Series 2 Episode 2 'Love Me, Love My Tree', features the Indesit L5 automatic - with a square flap for the pump/filter access - for one episode only - as far as I can see.

Then it is back to having no machine and the wooden clothes horse again.

The Frigidaire Mastertwin makes its appearance in Series 3 Episode 1.

There is an episode in Series 5 (Episode 8), where the 'kids' bring a tramp home, and wash his clothes in the Mastertwin, breaking it in the process. The spin dryer section is referred to as a "tumble dryer".
 
British Twintub Washing Machines 1959 - 1990

Heres a short video showing the Hotpoint 1400 Supermatic Twintub (Hotpoints first from 1959) and the Spin Guard accessory. There was a slight gap between the spin drum and outer can so it was possible to lose small items inbetween
while transferring from the washtub.

Here is Mathew (Keymatic3203) with his Hotpoint Supermatic demonstrating the use of the Spin Guards, love the colour and matches the filter flow perfectly.

 
Thanks, Mike ~

Love the turnover, the steam, the ship-like port window on the spin hatch, the instant suds-return. Such cool wonderful little washers. Everything's so fast and energetic. HOO-RAY for Hotpoint!
 
Afternoon Walter,

Hotpoint first introduced the Filter clean action when the original Supermatic was launched in 1959, with regards to the access panel on the spinner side I believe this first came out on the 1420 Hotpoint Supermatic - consumers obviously found small garments slipping between the spin can and outer drum.

Keith
 
English Electric Liberator Twintub

Hi Keith , yes it is one smart looking twintub, whats the timeline as to which came first the EE or Hotpoint 1420 ?

Very different with the jazzy lids and the spin open cover for checking the outer can. Love the brush filter as well. Is the one Kevin Cox has with red agitator and brush filter a later model then ? (pic courtesy matchboxpaul)

Walter thats great & how we all learn, everyone pooling their knowledge, and always more to lean as well !!

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AEG Lavamat

While the thread say British Twintubs, the AEG is included as it was sold here and many are still about. Its a very sturdy twintub, with an aluminium washtub and a heavy copper spin can. The spinner drive is very unique,
the brush motor is horizontal with a rubber wheel on the end, this sits against a rubber flywheel attached to the spin can. It also boasts 3 motors for wash, spin and pump, love the large clunky pump lever feels like driving a tractor ha ha...

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Morning Mike,

Umm good question, I would have thought the 1420 came first (1964/5) and then when the merger happened between GEC/AEI/English Electric (1967/68) that's when EE could have acquired any left over machine parts from the old Hotpoint Supermatic 1400.

Hotpoint restyled the Supermatic from the 1400 to the 1420 and when this was again restyled to the 1450 1967(ish) all the redundant 1400/1420 parts were then pushed to EE and the Liberator was introduced as the machine's main structure is virtually identical to that of the 1400 & 1420.

With regards to Kevin's 4151 as pictured, this must date from late 60's possibly early 70's ?

Regards
 
Liberator Twin

Mike/Keith
The Liberator Twin was introduced in January 1966. There is a piece for the launch in English Electric and Its People for this month giving details of the new machine. It gives spin speed of 2850rpm which I guess is the same as the 1420, were the 1400s the same?
Interesting that it predates the EE/GEC/AEI merger by a good few years, I can only assume EE contracted production out to Hotpoint perhaps. Certainly there are only a few cosmetic differences on Darrens to the 1420 Mum had. Sloping control panel, no suds return, different lids and the lift up spin deck was grey on the 1420. It even smells the same when its working hard.
Something I've not thought of before, was the Twin Star still in production along side?
Ian
 
English Electric Liberator Twintub

Just catching up here, Mike and company.

This one surprised me at how well it turned those sheets, and delighted to see what a precise and expert wringer Matthew is. Are there two pumps at work in this machine?

When I find the pix & vids, I'll show you how, for a few years, Lady K's had a filter exactly like the EEL Twin tub and Wringer. And the Lady K's came after the EEL's. Guessing Whirlpool copied it, the bloody pirates, LOL.
 
Hi Ian,

Interesting information that comes out of these discussions, i just had a look at some of the information I have and it looks like the EE “Twin Star” was launched in 1964, although I believe there were earlier versions. In all the brochures & literature it was on sale the same time as the Liberator. I guess it gave EE foot in both camps - agitator & high speed disc washing methods, this may have been why that put their name on what was predominantly a Hotpoint Supermatics machine.

There several differences as you say lids etc, I wonder if the suds return hole is covered up with the long name plate. I would say all the internal machine is the same as 1420 but cosmetically they changed a few exterior features.

Just need to find that elusive 1420 now !!!

Cheers K
 
EE Liberator

Great information guys, have just checked and appears the Hotpoint 1420 came out in 1963 and had a 2,850 pm spin.

And the English Electric as Ian states was 1966 with a same 2,850 spin speed.

Main difference as well was the filterflow on the Hotpoint from central outlet and EE using the earlier Hotpoint tub with outlet in the corner for the brush filter .

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The EE TWIN TUB

It’s funny the liberator twin has the same wash deck as the 1420 and there is place for the filter flow nozzle ......the valve box is the same as well so will get some photos when I get home ....
The EE is a great machine and lovely to use ..... not a brilliant design but still good for its time
 
1420 v Liberator....

Hi Darren,

I was going to say, i bet it you look where the filter clean nozzle sits on the wash deck, i bet there is a cut out for it, the top surround is basically a 1400/1420.

I bet under that long washing guide panel there is the sudz return hole in the metal surround.

Keith
 
Brush Filter Video ~

Bet those extended fins on the Hotpoint could really make some powerful currents; its's just like the early GE style, but that poor AEG Lavamat's wash action--not in the same league as the British TT's.

One very warm winter day, I pulled out the Lady K to wash outside. Here's a vid of the cylindrical brush filter Whirlpool/Kenmore pirated from English Electric Liberator.

 
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