Electra A3E12 Washing Machine, made 1982 by Hoover

[chestermikeuk]

Managed to collect another 1980`s Electra washing machine, it was made for the local Electricity Boards (Manweb for me) by Hoover in Merthyr Tydil, South Wales. It is based on the Hoover A3110 washer and it takes a 9lb washload, hot & cold fill, three spin speeds 500rpm for delicates, 800rpm for woollens & 1100rpm for cottons. It has 7 main wash programmes covering temps 40d,50d,60 & 95d hot whitey!!! Have a look and let me know what you think!!

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[robbie5]

Electra A3E12

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the Hoover vid. I've never seen a washing machine run through a cycle without it's panels! Hehe The machine looks and sounds really sturdy for it's age.

Thanks

Rob

 

[tlee618]

Thanks Mike for posting that very interesting video. For being 30 years old that Electra looks to be in excellent condition. Did you have to do much work on it. That is a very interesting belt on that machine.

Hope that you are planning on coming to the vacuum convention this year!!! It would be great to see you again.

Terry

 

[richardc1983]

Looks great... ur so lucky to find these machines

 

[electron1100]

OOVAH have done it again

Mike what an excellent video, as for the machine the motor sounds perfect, this is a real gem, the visual condition is excellent, like I said to you before DUMP THE VZUG have a real machine .
These machines are just so good they never fail to impress me with their excellent washing performance and of course there is the will it wont it spin balanced feature )) good old Hoover
Well done on getting it and making an excellent video
Thanks
Gary

 

[lavamat_jon]

Mike - EXCELLENT STUFF!

This has always been my favourite machine - only biased because it's what I grew up with :-D. Love the different camera angles... really does take me back, not seen one this close up working since ours went in 96.

Mum always used to wash most things on delicates (with excellent results!), and it was always my job to cancel the creaseguard and press the fast spin button which mum liked to do. Odd combination but worked for mum for years. The fast coloureds cycle was always a treat for me as a young'un when we washed towels and sheets as it made watching the machine so much more interesting .

Keep up the good work,

Jon

 

[chestermikeuk]

Hoover - Who Better..!!!

Hi Robbie, yes these are very sturdy machines, even smoother with the panels tightly on, but thought it would be good to see a bit of action as well!! did you have Hoover as family machines??

Terry, its amazing the condition some of these are still in, just goes to show a good build and a kind owner can make all the difference, those belts are pretty standard on these machines and usually last well...got it from Mark in norfolk who is an engineer and he gave it a good tune up, thats all, oh and some elbow grease!!! havnt given up on getting on a plane last minute, but as things stand today, might have to be a catch-up in the fall!!

Richard, have been very fortunate to have found many machines, but also have been looking nearly 10yrs and its making good connections...the story on this one is me and MatchboxPaul where on the quarterly visit to Mark in Norfolk collecting spares & repaired machines...for 18 months he`s had the matching dryer right at the back of his shed...virtually impossible to get to unless shifting everything out...so he was having a clearout & re-stock and asked "does it stay or go", I said well dont chuck it I`ll have it, well we have been 3 times since and it was still there, just before xmas we went to collect the liberators and yay, it was there waiting!!! I`d only been home 2 days and he mailed saying the matching washer had just turned up!! what timing is that!! Just need a metal stacking frame now!!

 

[chestermikeuk]

"OOVAH have done it again"

Lol, like is say "Who Better", and a big thanks to you Gary as well, had the postman drop off a lovely set of instructions from Devon for this washa, am just scanning them, the Electra machines & instructions always have just a little bit more features, detailing & info than the Hoover badged equivalents.

I can understand how the likes of yourselves as repairmen really like these machines, easy to work on and even now spares are available!! I love how the motors are actually overpowered for the size of the machine and the electric speed controls deal with spinning no probs....just listen when the spin speed changes the power surges through the speed controller to the motor and it zooms up and over the desired speed and then drops back....one way to know there is always spare capacity in these motors!!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Family Washer

Hi Jon, great to hear from you, hope the studying is going well!!, glad it brought back memories for you, I know what you mean about the delicate spin select & rinse hold, had forgotten you have to change to fast spin after rinse hold and then quickly press the slow spin again for the delicate spin if required...as you can see on the vid I selected prog E for 50d minimum iron but with a fast spin...LOL...but you know what, those cotton mix duvet covers had a fast spin & straight in the Electra dryer, 15 mins a cover and voila straight out on the bed not a crease in sight!!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Instructions

 

[chestermikeuk]

Instructions

for Electra A3E12 Washing Machine

 

[chestermikeuk]

Programme Guide...happy washing....

For the Electra A3E12 De Luxe (said in that husky manner as on the Hoover company video & adds = "Deh Luugze"!!!

Oh My..just look at those wash times!!!...marvelous!!

 

[hotpoint95622]

hotpoint 95622

Great machine, I could be falling for a Hoover.

Fantastic video. Great how you have captured the sound of the cams clicking in the timer, and great footage of the motor and controller.

And agene just shows, Made In Great Brittan is the best.

Lee

 

[tlee618]

Mike that sure is a beautiful set!!! What fun. It would be great if you were able to make it to Austin in June, we would all love to see you.

 

[richardc1983]

It is absolutly immaculate Mike. Really really in mint condition...

Mark in Norfolk is where I got my A3110 motor from when the so called engineer who tried to replace the bearings screwed things up. Turns out that it is the armature that requires replacing as where the bearing has gone its been grinding on the shaft and there is movement on the shaft.

Still I am using the motor I bought from Mark, it is still running amazingly... my door seal etc is yellow ish though and not looking new like yours.

I really wish some of you guys were local to me as I would pay someone money to come give my machine a good tune up.

Your machine is in mint condition though, looks like new... I would love to have a machine like that.

I have said that when the day comes to get rid of my A3110 I will be looking for another old machine as the wash quality is just 200%.

For peace of mind though I really would like it to be given the once over etc. THe pump is still noisy but it could go on for years like that.

I would also like the door seal replacing as well as sometimes it doesnt look like it is sealing as well as it should, but I dont get any leaks.

Thanks.

 

[robbie5]

My mom has always had hotpoint washers and still does stick with them!!! The first machine she brought was the new generation 95620 in 1985, which lasted well into the mid 90's.

I'm starting to appreciate classic hoover washers now, but I think you are bias to what you grew up with.

Great looking machine BTW.

Rob

 

[bertrum]

thats quite a collection you have there mike, you must have a very understanding wife?

 

[aquarius1984]

PMPL!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Made In Britain Best Of...

Lee, yes those crouzet timers are perfect, all the clicks and groans as it does its job, and well theres plenty of Hoovers about!!! your next project could be a re-incarnated oova selecto!!

Terry, yes front loaders, very much like the westinghouse we parked ourselves in front of at Bobs last year!!! I took a vid and all you can see is our feet in the door glass as we watch avidly...LOl

Rob, yes , it is what you grow up with, saying that I`m a Servis diehard but have come to really appreciate the classics of other brands etc..

Bertrum, yes the collection is growing, too much sometimes, and to part 2..not sure about the understanding bit...Lol

Aquarius1984, glad to see I can be a constant source of washing for you!!!!!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Hoover

Hi Richard, yes Marks a good scource of parts and service info etc, glad to hear the new motor is doing the job, as long as you dont overdo the vintage machines they should last, but mind that they are nearly 30yrs old!!! also if it aint broke.....dont worry!!!

Lets hope they dont start the appliance scrappage scheme like the boilers, otherwise the Appliance Police will have a field day..

 

[richardc1983]

True Mike they would...

My machine is doing well but I want to replace the door seal as it doesnt seal that well, theres no leaks but you can see water drops under the seal between the glass.

I would also like to get the insert of the door replaced for a plastic one as its rusting and looks a bit of a mess.

THe rest of the machine though is in great nic... not as good as yours though!

Do let me know if you ever decide to get rid of it!!!

Dont suppose you have got the phone number for Marks shop have you as I have emailed but got no response so thought I would give him a bell instead.

Thanks

 

[cfz2882]

LOL..loved that video-very well done with all the important
sounds captured,dig those loud snaps from the timer as the
timer motor grindgrindgrinds forward.Also many of those old
british washers have a bit of a "mid atlantic"vibe to them
-really cool machine!

 

[robliverpool]

Great Machine Mike
I just love the sounds of the motors on the older hoovers and the hotpoint. When the spin kicks in you can really hear the power from it.
Cheers for sharing, great vid
Robbie

 

[matchboxpaul]

Just brilliant!

Hi Mike.

Finally got round to signing in again, after all the recent fun and games (more soon in another thread).

The Electras look absolutely superb!

I made a point of not paying them much attention when we picked them up last month. Main reason being so that I could see them in detail at their best, after they have been cleaned.

I am glad I did!

They have cleaned up superbly and when I saw the stacked picture, when I was over at Mathew's, it brought a tear to my eye.

The video is great too! Have never thought of doing a vid without the top and rear panels on and it certainly adds a different slant to the vid. Very informative and interesting to watch.

When I see you next, you will have to take me through your movie making method - it really does produce proffessional vids.

Cant wait to see the A3E12 and D6E16 in the flesh and congrats on two great purchases.
We will have to get cut outs of Terry and June!

Cheers
Paul