Classic UK Appliances - September

[vacbear58]

MK Cooker Control Switch

Further up the thread I posted a cooker control switch, well this was by far the most popular model, from the early 1960s. It got a styling update in the 1970s but fundamentally it was the same. How this worked was that the front panel was removed leaving the switch assembly. This was mounted into a large box, buried in the wall. Then the panel is screwed back on. the front panel was quite a bit bigger than the mounting box.

There is a lot of space around the switch but it did allow for the thick cables needed for a cooker

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271982365425?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[vacbear58]

MK Cooker Control Unit 2

This is fundamentally the same unit (and about the same age) with the same purpose but in a smaller surface mounted box. It must have been a bugger to wire up.

I should have mentioned that they were also available without indicator lamps

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271982365429?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[vacbear58]

Just when you thought i had goen away ....

I am back with more.

Lets kick off with this 1960s kitchen. I do not like it as much as some I have posted on here, I suspect it was custom made for the house and probably was expensive back in the day.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111769832420?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[vacbear58]

1970s Kitchen

The Moffat oven indicates that this is from the early 1970s, by the way the Moffat hob is not contemporary with it but must have been added later. This is a UK manufacture rather than Canadian Moffat by the way so the oven elements are on the sides of the oven rather than top and bottom. The AEG dishwasher is probably the nearest thing we had to an "electric sink" - never something that was popular here and it does stand out somewhat in the whole kitchen. Mind you the reaction I have when seeing it is "Want Want Want" but of course it is far too far away from me. I love the green floor tiles too ....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161826489894?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[vacbear58]

1980s Kitchen

Typical mid 1980s kitchen. The Built in fridge is a bit unusual in that it has a décor panelled front rather than a solid door. Personally I think this is a better arrangement than the current style of hiding a (smaller) fridge in a cupboard. More interest in it than I would have expected

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171926027784?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[foraloysius]

A Creda on this side of the Channel

http://link.marktplaats.nl/m967328380

 

[vacbear58]

Creda In Holland

Louis

I am sorry I did not see your post. I did not thank British style cookers would be very popular in Holland or anywhere on mainland Europe to be honest. But maybe it was taken over by someone British who moved to Holland

 

[vacbear58]

1980s Zanussi

Not much time left on this one I am afraid.

I think this is the first time I have seen the term Boilwash on a washing machine

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281801814345?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[vacbear58]

Eastham Burco

The larger of the two Eastham Burco dryers - I do not know whether Burco manufactured these or not, the drum seems to be of unusual construction.

Mid 1970s

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391267490177?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[vacbear58]

Parnall Autodry

This was the first model of this long running series of dryers - must be late 1960s and looks in good condition

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141769810606?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[vacbear58]

Flatley

A cheaper, late 1950s alternative to a tumble dryer. heather in the bottom, the damp clothes were hung from the rails - does not look very safe to me although I believe they were quite popular. I think it is expensive for what it is. My memory tells me they were about the size of a small wringer washer

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391244228339?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[vacbear58]

Creda Debonair Autopump

Mid/late 1970s I think - nice little machine

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231693866395?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[vacbear58]

Electra

This looks like it might be a later version of the Debonair above

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221890254875?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[vacbear58]

Speed Queen

Don't see many of these over here

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181878415745?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[vacbear58]

Another Zanussi

I think this might be late 1980s

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161831767129?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[vacbear58]

And another

Late 1980s or early 1990s I think. It unusual to see an dial to regulate how intensive the wash is

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271990789978?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[launderess]

Those Flatley Driers

Would never be allowed today, very unsafe. But as with many other things they served a purpose at the time so there you are then.

http://www.1900s.org.uk/1950s-60s-flatley.htm

These Flatley driers were simply small condensed versions of the huge cabinet driers with racks found in commercial laundries, steamies, wash houses and great houses. Worked on the same principle; heat rose from the bottom and via convection dried laundry and was carried off at the top.

Problems arouse if anything was placed too close to heating elements it could not only scorch but catch fire. If the latter happened wouldn't be long before everything inside the dryer began burning with unit following. Worse if the thing was near drapes or whatever that could burn....

 

[vacbear58]

Laundress

Thank you for the link, some interesting reading there, and not just about the Flatley dryers. I recall our neighbours having one when I was growing up, paired up with a Hoover 307 wringer washer - that would have been 1965 - 1976.

 

[vacbear58]

Full set

Tricity oven, Creda Hob, Tricity Hood. I wonder if the hob was a somewhat later addition as the oven and hood are slightly older. All looks in good condition

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291566989775?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[vacbear58]

Miele Oven

Seller says 1980s but I suspect 1970s

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301744664486?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[vacbear58]

Moffat Hob

From the same seller as the Miele oven above. This is definitely mid-1970s and if it is contemporary with the oven then ages it more accurately. It is not THAT rare LOL

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301744658355?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[vacbear58]

Later Tricity

The stainless Tricity oven above was the early 1970s version of this oven, this is the late 1970s, in this case with black glass doors but it was still available in stainless too. Its unusual to find then still with the rotisserie attachments. Shame its in Armagh as that will severely limit its market

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271990542572?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[foraloysius]

Miele oven

The dark dials with the yellow pointer were introduced on Miele appliances in 1976. Older ones had white/greyish dials with a black background, a silver inlay and a red pointer. Here's a page from the 1975 brochure. The newer styling was probably used from 1976 - the mid eighties.

 

[vacbear58]

Carron Oven

I have posted several of the Carron range style cookers but this is the first time I have seen one of these wall ovens. I have seen these in an advertisement from the mid 1970s and so know that it was also available in single oven and gas versions. I owned one of these myself in the mid 1980s and actually it was not a bad oven but the lower oven was not thermostatically controlled so it was essentially just for warming or as a grill. It is also slightly larger than the Tricity/Creda/Neff contemporary ovens, but not quite as large as a Moffat.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171943305232?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[vacbear58]

Miele

Thanks Louis, it is so helpful when other members can add to the communal pool of knowledge.

I would be very interested in doing a comparison of appliances between British and other European markets - I have always felt that, because we are an island and certainly in the 1960s and 1970s, the British market developed somewhat differently from other European countries although I think they converged again in the 1980s and 1990s. And not just Britain but it would be interesting to see how appliances and designs in Holland for example, compared with other European countries

 

[foraloysius]

Comparison

Alistair, I agree. It would be interesting indeed to compare. I noticed too that the British market developped differently than the market on the continent, albeit that there were big differences on the continent too, including Scandinavia.

As for the NL, our market was rather similar to the German market, with Germany being our biggest trade partner. Ofcourse we had Philips, but in the seventies most other (and smaller) appliance manufacturers had gone.

 

[triumphdolomite]

Flatley Dryers

That take me back, my Mum was still using a Flatley upto about 2000. But not I suspect in the way it was intended. Every week when she had finished the ironing all the clothes were packed into the Flatley and you weren't allowed to wear anything until they had been subjected to two hours 'airing'. All bedding was treated to the same treatment before it went onto the beds. I can still remember the smell of that extra hot laundry now. I still have the lid, it's in the garage filled with oil absorbing granules under the Dolomite!
Ian.

 

[launderess]

...finished the ironing all the clothes ...

Proper ironing technique requires things be aired after the process to carry off any remaining moisture. If this isn't done not only is there a chance of mold/mildew but things can muss again easily.

Back in the old days linens and whatever would be draped over a horse and placed near a range or other source of heat. That or would simply be hung on hangers or over a horse and allowed to rest. Of course if you had an airing cupboard you were all right.

When bed and table linens along with much clothing including everything but the most dainty undergarments were made from heavy stuff, no amount of ironing got everything totally dry. Well you could try but there was the risk of scorch. So you ironed things until done enough then let nature take care of the rest.

 

[ozzie908]

Nylon sheets ....

and Flatley drying cabinets do not mix well at all, The sheets melt into a blob and make a right mess...)

Austin