Did Granma Have A Hamilton too?

[peterh770]

I do have a pic around here of my grandmother taking stuff out of her early Hamilton dryer somewhere, but first...

 

[peterh770]

It appears that whatever this new pic importer thing that showed up when I started transferring these has the size too big.

 

[peterh770]

In all her glory...

 

[peterh770]

Open wide... This machine is 31 inches wide...

 

[peterh770]

And now some logos for Jon Charles...

 

[peterh770]

This one is one clue that this is a very early model...

 

[peterh770]

The look of the timer and temp are another clue that this might be a very early model. Red bakelite knobs, chrome escutcheon with red imprints. Note that the timer knob is a dual pointer knob. There is actually 2 identical cycles, but only one indicator. No having to turn the knob backward to select the time; just rotate so the opposite side points to the time you want...

 

[peterh770]

Interesting how the temp markings are off balance...

 

[peterh770]

This is a gas dryer. I don't have a gas line run in my laundry room...

 

[peterh770]

I see your sunny face through the open door...

 

[peterh770]

This could be a problem. I found this when loading the dryer into the car to take to storage...

 

[akronman]

Hamilton pictuers

I'm not into dryers anywhere near as much as washers, but this old Hamilton is wonderful! Keep the pics coming!

 

[peterh770]

The lint screen is missing, as is a cover for the fan compartment. That little, teeny weeny fan drew the air through the drum, through the (missing) lint screen and sent the gassy, humid air out the exhaust on the top of the dryer through a 3 inch duct.

 

[peterh770]

Reminder sticker for users such as Unimatic1140 and Jet... I could not get a good pic of the model/serial plate (my eyes couldn't focus, my hand would not be still)...

 

[mickeyd]

The SUN E DAY is bright and fun and SO OLD......

reminding you with every load can that dry clothes will be abundant even in a blizzard or a hurricane, just in case you forgot how lucky you are to own a dryer.

Interesting, efficient timer.

The temp control must actual with High being more than half way from what the engineers considered Medium, all graduated, like a stove dial, ya know? Guessing they all were back then.

 

[peterh770]

One more thing: my sister in Rochester, NY got this for me for Christmas after finding it on Craigslist. She held onto it for about 2 years until I drove home and got it.

 

[combo52]

EARLY HAMILTON GAS DRYER

Hi Peter the vent on top of the dryer is where the combustion products from the gas burner vent, the hot humid linty air are blown out the front at the bottom through the now missing lint screen. This dryer was the only home gas dryer that I ever saw that used a heat exchanger. Tom and I have had one or two of these but I have never gotten around to trying one out, I am sure it would be pretty slow as a % of the gases heat would vent out the flue without going through the load of tumbling clothes. However if you have smelly gas it might help that problem.

 

[lebron]

Hey Peter, nice dryer! If you don't mind posting that vintage pic of urs I wouldn't mind seeing it.

 

[peterh770]

John:
I'm confused over the blower at the bottom. I understand that this vents from the bottom into the room, but from where did it pull? Are you saying that there is no fan to pull hot humid air from the drum, kind of like a Filtrator -- hot humid air just naturally "drops" out of the drum and the fan is there to dissipate it?

Never mind... I think I see it does draw from the drum...

 

[jetcone]

Thanks Peter

will get on those logos tomorrow!

NICE Hamilton! Love the speakeasy slit window these had

 

[alr2903]

Thanks Combo52

I wondered about that little 3 inch exhaust pipe, that makes perfect sense about the heat exchanger. alr2903

 

[a440]

Too Cool!

Peter,
What a great Gas Hamilton! It would really be fun to clean this one out and give it a try.
I find it so interesting that it had a heat exchanger. I wonder if this is the reason for the smaller fan. To NOT movie the air too fast. Does anyone know if the fan pulls the air from the left up and over through the drum, or blow air from the right into the drum?
I love the heat control. Seems like it is just like a gas valve on a gas stove.
Very nice score by your sister!!
Don't you have a "Baby Bendix" gas dryer? Is your Bendix also a Hamilton built dryer? Is the set up the same?
Sorry for the all the questions and thanks for the pictures.
Brent

 

[peterh770]

I think Steve B got my baby Bendix, and then I think he passed it on to someone else...

IIRC, the Bendix was different, with the heat entering from the front top right of the machine, exiting from the front bottom left and exhausting out the back. Lint screen at the bottom of the machine...