Found an ASKO “Superior” washer & dryer and couldn’t beat the price!

[revvinkevin]

A friend picked these up for me a week ago and I brought them home yesterday, the best part is they only cost the gas to go pick them up, as they were free!

I know they are older, but how old are they?

After fiddling around with the controls on the washer for a while, I was able to eventually figure out what the various controls do and get it to work. One neat thing I discovered is it has a rapid advance timer! Turn the timer knob (on the left) to one of the cycle program numbers and the timer starts clicking away until it catches up and the cycle starts. Another interesting thing is you must also select a wash temp (the right knob) because if it’s at the 12 o’clock position, the washer won’t do anything, it’s like a 2nd “off” switch.

Photos 7 & 8 are the wash and rinse water levels, respectively.

Today I ran a load of “play laundry” consisting of 3 pairs of jeans, 1 shorts and an old long sleeve work shirt. This washer must only have a 5kg capacity because it was pretty full. I’ll tell you this thing moves around so much during the wash tumble, I would swear it desperately needs shocks. HOWEVER this thing also wastes NO time ramping up to full spin speed and it doesn’t really care the shocks are loosey goosey!

It’s cold fill only and yet, can do a 200°F (95c) wash! It does 4 rinses but does NOT spin after the wash or every rinse, it only spins after the 2nd rinse, then the final rinse. Spin RPM is 900 or 1400. All in all everyhing still workes as its supposed to, except the (one and only) inlet valve doesn’t close completely and continues to drip if I don’t shut the water off. Overall I like it so far, it’s a neat little washer. The dryer works too, but is a bit noisy, sounds like the rollers have flat spots.
Kevin

 

[askolover]

The foundation of that washer is like mine that I've had since 1997.  My control panel is more on the smoother side, not squared off like yours.  I think yours may be a couple of years older than mine.  We've always loved it.  It took a while to get used to the Miele when it came into service.  I saw a commercial Asko of that design once on ebay...still kicking myself for not buying it for $600 brand new unused.  It will hold a surprising amount of laundry and uses a good amount of water.  And I see it's actually Made in Sweden.  Mine doesn't spin after the wash drains out, but will burst spin after the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th and then go into full spin after the last burst finishes draining.  Ours will do a load of regular on hot cycle in an hour flat!  Never had anything come out dirty.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Asko

Morning Kevin , oh you have true askos there from the mid 1980`s , was selling these in 86. heavy & sturdy beasts, and with the famous Quatro suspension.

Good job Mark is over here at the mo, I would keep them hidden on his return ha ha..

My Asko set from 2001 are doing just fine, love them !! 95d wash, 4 rinses, 1600rpm spin in an hour on quick wash , very flexible.

Enjoy

 

[bryggerset]

I have a Völund, probably from just before the brand was sold to ASKO. It was the top model back then with the option of 1600 rpm. Spin. It has cold fill and 2 heaters. On normal, it makes a cool down and 5 rinses, with an interim spin after the 3rd rinse. It has a capacity of 5 kg.

 

[revvinkevin]

Correction on number of rinses

This morning I tried looking up the owners manual on line and was able to find it. I guess I wasn’t paying close attention during the wash cycle, because it states this washer does 5 rinses, not 4. WOW!

It’s also interesting that the button labeled “E” means “economy” but when pressed it extends the wash by 22 minutes. Not sure how extending the wash time is economical, LOL.

Thank you Mike and Harold for all the info! Nice to hear these are from the mid 80’s, they are older than I thought!

Kevin

 

[gizmo]

Hi Kevin

That machine is very similar to the Asko 12004s I had for a few years. I thought they were great.

E-button - the E-cycle extends wash by 22 minutes to compensate for you selecting a lower temperature. ( switching from 60 to 40 degrees C.)

The 5 rinses with only 1 intermediate spin was pretty normal at the time, when makers started to have them spin after every rinse, they could cut back to 3 rinses and still get better results. I thought mine didn't rinse that well, I always selected the high rinse level button and still often had to do an extra rinse/spin at the end.

 

[launderess]

Congrats on new machines!

Units are from 1980's IIRC a time when Asko, Miele and Creda were all attempting to break into USA laundry machine market.

Three, four or even five rinses are normal for European front loaders (on Cottons/Normal cycle) of this period. My Miele of same vintage has about that number and reasons were same as with commercial washers then and still now; to dilute much of soap, suds, muck out of wash before first spin.

One or more rinses before even attempting to spin also helped ensure against suds lock as froth should be largely diluted. When using hot to boiling water for washes all those cold rinses also ensured wash was cooled down enough before spinning not to cause creases.

Economy/Eco button was something Asko offered that Miele didn't (at least on washers sold in USA), but common to many other European front loaders then and even today. As noted wash time was extended in compensation for choosing a lower temp. Keep in mind most would wash cottons/normal at 140F to nearly 200F, but key thing here is activating oxygen bleach.

In Europe and elsewhere sodium perborate was the oxygen bleach of choice, but it needs temps at or > 140F to get going. It will work at 104F but needs longer time for whitening, stain removal, etc.... Addition of bleach activator in theory meant one could get "boil wash" results at 104F or 120F.

Think Asko washers of period had a thermal lock out for "Wool" cycle that wouldn't wash about 40 C regardless of what temp on dial was set. This prevented someone from shrinking their woolens by forgetting to change temp down, or other incorrect cycle choice.

Interestingly it doesn't seem as if this washer lacks an "Easy Cares" or permanent press cycle. Just cottons/whites either boiled, hot, warm or cold water. Choosing temp of 20 C should disengage heater (IIRC) giving you wash with whatever temp water comes out of the tap.

Consumer Reports of the time didn't have much good to say about any of the "compact" European front loaders. They were of course dinged because of their "small" capacity, but also IIRC CR didn't like the long cycle times either. In terms of quality and so forth Miele was first, Asko second then Creda. The last to tending to have more repair issues (certainly Creda) then Miele.

 

[launderess]

Asko - Cylinda washer history in pictures...

 

[launderess]

Here is an Asko/Asea 12000 Cylinder washer which I believe is a cousin to yours.

Have always liked Asko washers like commercial/industrial front loaders don't have boots. They also borrowed tub is separate from cabinet design as well.