I am looking for information about the G.E.C.automatic front loader sold in South Africa in the early 1970s. The machine was made in England, it was quite tall and angular and it had turquoise/blue control panel with a single large conrol knob. I can find no information about it on the internet. I have a feeling it may have been marketed in the UK under another brand name. G.E.C. also sold a toploader in South Africa called the G.E.C. Gala. Does anyone have any info about these machines?
G.E.C. automatic front loader early 1970s
- Thread starter boxerct
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matchboxpaul
Well-known member
Hi Graham.
Machines badged as GEC were few and far between in the UK, though there was the one from the Which magazine report in 1967.
Was this the one?
Paul
p.s credit for the page below should go to whoever it was who posted all those Which reports a while back.
Machines badged as GEC were few and far between in the UK, though there was the one from the Which magazine report in 1967.
Was this the one?
Paul
p.s credit for the page below should go to whoever it was who posted all those Which reports a while back.
liberator1509
Well-known member
GEC 1970s
Hi Graham and Paul
If it was the 1970s there is a chance the front-load machine was either an English Electric or a Hotpoint, as GEC has subsumed both of these brand's parent companies by 1969 and had 'rationalised' the brands from three to one (English Electric was dropped and only resurfaced for specials or exclusives for certain retail chains, and Morphy Richards became a small electricals brand, Hotpoint remaining as the large white goods brand). UK originated Hotpoints under AEI ownership were of course sold as GALA outside of the UK in the 50s and 60s - this was dropped in Ireland following the GEC merger, but may have continued in other markets under GEC. AEI also licenced their Automatic design to Fisher-Paykel in NZ in the 60s, so may have licenced it elsewhere too.
Picture of the AEI Hotpoint Automatic, which was also rebranded as GALA for non-UK markets. The design remained in production for almost 40 years with only cosmetic and build-quality changes. Perhaps this was the GEC top loader you are looking for - the control panel plastic was blue! I'm sure other will supply pictures of the EE and Hotpoint front loaders of the early GEC period - IIRC some of the EE FL machines had a blue metallic control panel.
Hi Graham and Paul
If it was the 1970s there is a chance the front-load machine was either an English Electric or a Hotpoint, as GEC has subsumed both of these brand's parent companies by 1969 and had 'rationalised' the brands from three to one (English Electric was dropped and only resurfaced for specials or exclusives for certain retail chains, and Morphy Richards became a small electricals brand, Hotpoint remaining as the large white goods brand). UK originated Hotpoints under AEI ownership were of course sold as GALA outside of the UK in the 50s and 60s - this was dropped in Ireland following the GEC merger, but may have continued in other markets under GEC. AEI also licenced their Automatic design to Fisher-Paykel in NZ in the 60s, so may have licenced it elsewhere too.
Picture of the AEI Hotpoint Automatic, which was also rebranded as GALA for non-UK markets. The design remained in production for almost 40 years with only cosmetic and build-quality changes. Perhaps this was the GEC top loader you are looking for - the control panel plastic was blue! I'm sure other will supply pictures of the EE and Hotpoint front loaders of the early GEC period - IIRC some of the EE FL machines had a blue metallic control panel.
Dont forget ....
The Hotpoint 1600 that turned up in Greece (or was it Malta or Cyprus) a while back - it was branded as English Electric. It could be one of those, although an English Electric reversomat sounds like the most likely possibality. I know the one pictured has two knobs, but there were other versions with just the one
Al
The Hotpoint 1600 that turned up in Greece (or was it Malta or Cyprus) a while back - it was branded as English Electric. It could be one of those, although an English Electric reversomat sounds like the most likely possibality. I know the one pictured has two knobs, but there were other versions with just the one
Al
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