Hi! new to twin tubs - which is best model? Your thoughts...!!

[hoovermaticpete]

Hi

Been reading the forum for a while now so thought I'd say hi and ask for some sage advice.

Have very fond memories of both my grandparents' twintubs and how fun they were to use. Recently I've been thinking I want to get one to use alongside our old automatic (late 80s 9526)

Am thinking I want a 5024 or earlier with the rinse arm, but have seen a number of 5090s for sale and was wondering which was the best bet (or any other suggestions/ makes etc) in terms of parts etc and particularly whether there's any difference in spin performance. How good is it? (I seem to remember my Grandma's washing being much drier than from our automatic, but it was a while ago?). How much should I expect to pay for one?

Anyway, great forum, glad I found it

Cheers,
Pete

(PS if anyone has one they'd like to sell or can suggest best places to look for one...?)

 

[electron1100]

Twin tubs

Hello Pete

Welcome to this great website

If you look at Ebay January there is great old Hoover Twintub

Gary

 

[chestermikeuk]

Twinny Washers

Hi Pete, welcome to the club, lots of twinnys seem to be about at the moment, vintage & newer ones on ebay, check your local papers and freecycle in your area, you may be surprised at whats about, the three main brands tend to be Hotpoint, Hoover & Servis, hoover is the simplest and easiest to work on for repairs etc, although when you pick up a servis or Hottie in good nick they tend to last!!!

I also like the Hoovers with the swing arm, the T5090 was the last one produced and there are lots around, IMHO i think its one of the blandest models they ever made, much more colour n features on the previous models!!!

let us know how you get on!!!, Mike

 

[launderess]

Welcome

Check over on Yahoo. There are two twin tub groups, though things can get slow at times. Still, post a message and you'll get a response by and by.

Even if you do not have a Hoover TT yet, if you are dead keen on getting one, it ever hurts to snap up any parts you see on Ebay or elsewhere, especially "new old stock".

 

[hoovermaticpete]

Thanks and more questions!

Thanks for all your replies,
I agree, I don't find the 5090 as appealing, the earlier ones like 5024 and previous look so much more interesting and colourful to me.
As for other makes I think I want a hoover for the simplicity and I prefer the look of them, but will have a look at the others. Do they wash or spin much better?

Have seen an original Hoovermatic (3174?)with single knob on the front. Am guessing this means it has heater but no timer? Is this model still a practical proposition even at that age for parts etc? Do these still have the autorinse etc? I cant see any filler arm for the tub or the spinner, how do you operate these (I think I read somewhere that these are permanently plumbed in, is that correct?)

What is the spin like on the Hoovermatics in general, is it pretty good and would an early one like this be as fast spin as later ones?

Sorry for the barrage of questions but as I say am new and still learning! Want to make sure I get the best type for what we need.

Anyway thanks again for all your replies so far.
Pete

 

[keymatic]

Hi Pete,

With reference to your query regarding Hoovermatics..as may know the wash action is only for 4 minutes by way of high speed "Pulsator" the spinner is mid-range I would say, Hoover's weren’t the fastest but also not the slowest..they span at 2800rpm, where compared to the Hotpoint's they were 3100rpm !!

With regards to the 3174 that is on ebay at the moment..this model does have a heater, and the control knob on the front is a 4-position control going through the following sequence: Off - Motor - Off - Heater (from memory) the wash timer is on the top near the spinner..This model was the 1st twin tub that Hoover produced..parts are still available, but can be hard to come by, especially if the spin bearing went !! There is no auto-rinse and rinsing is done by hand filling the spinner with just a hose, these machines do not need to be plumbed in, they are totally mobile.

For longevity, and use on a weekly basis, I would hedge my bets on a newer machine lasting longer..although the older ones are easier to work on for simplicity, unless you have a rough technical understanding a repair bill could be high, whereby a newer machine would have more usage before things start to go wrong...however the choice is yours…and wishing you well with your searching !!

Regards
Keith

 

[chestermikeuk]

Hoovermatic 3174

Pete, the 3174, one knob on front is the first twin tub from Hoover, made here in Merthyr Tydfil, Welsh Wales!!!, none of the twinnys are plumbed in, simply wheel them to the sink and connect the hose to either Hot Tap for a quick hot fill, or cold tap to allow the heater to heat the water etc... this model does have a 4 minute wash timer, its on the top fascia near the spinner, the next model has the 3334 has the two controls on the front!!!

Once water is correct temp, switch on and pour in powder to dissolve, then (and this is where opinions divide)I usually with the pulsator spinning add the clothes until rollover is not impaired, others (Ahem!!!) add clothes to tub and then switch on, no way is best just whatever suits you!!!

Once washing complete transfer to the spinner using tongs if water too hot,& place rubber spin mat over clothes lightly pressing down...then spin only until the water stops flowing back into the wash tub saving the washwater for re-use!!!

To rinse either hose cold water over the clothes & spin 3 / 4 times until water clear, then spin up to 4 mins for final drying!!or using the auto rinse of the later models simply allow the flow of water over the clothes and switch the auto-rinse on!!! here is a pic n vid of the 3174 in action!!!cheers, Mike

 

[chestermikeuk]

Hoovermatic T5054

This IMHO is the nicest of the Hoovermatics, love the colours, style & features!!!

And if there is any doubt how fast a hoover twinny pumps the water out, just take a look, thats a deep laundry sink and it still threatens to overshoot, smaller inset sinks and you need to wedge the pipe of the rim!!! What happens if you dont is on the first page of the "Owners Initiation booklet"...Lol

 

[aquarius1984]

Jeez,

All this fun, good job Pauls not here in Crewe right now or id have to go get the Supermatic out to get me through the 3 loads I have waiting for the automatic right now.

Personally for me although being slightly more complicated to repair the Hotpoints have the edge with the non tangle spirolator and the longer 12 minute wash times for the powder to do its job.
Something inside me just never registers the 4 minute Hoover wash to be able to break down soils on whites without longer water contact LOL.

Rob (and Paul who I guess is slaving away in his office right now).

Cant find the pictures of the Hottie twinny so a pic of the Toploader will have to sufice, FilterFlo - the best lint removal system IMHO

 

[hoovermaticpete]

Hi guys,thanks again for all your responses, you're all a great source of information, and its great to see pics of your machines - look great.

I do really like the look of the original hoovermatic 3174 but think I might hold out and look at some later ones - maybe a 5124 or one of the HMDL with the chome panel (not sure what model it is?) One of my Grandparents had the 5124 (thats the one with the orange knobs etc??), the other I think had a 5054. Still tempted by the original though!

Am fairly mechanically competent, have done some fairly involved repairs on our hotpoint automatic (9526) so not too concerned about repair costs except regarding parts availability and costs.

Aquarious1984 - my mum had a Hotpoint TL like that till around 2000 or so when she got a Dyson. It was the only frontloader she would buy after the TL, as its one of the only ones that is near as practical - you can pause it to add/remove thing throughout most of the cycle as it lets you open the door if the water level is low enough.

Will have a bit more of a think about the HP twinnies - like the idea of the better spin/rinse but like the style and simplicity of the Hoovers.

Pete

 

[chestermikeuk]

Hotpoint filterFlow!!!

Good point about the Lint Filteration although one might pit it against the Servis Agitator with Snap-On Power fin and built-in filteration system!!!

Heres Darrens Hotpoint Supermatic, superb machine, extra quiet 3,100spin and of course Filter-Flow.... all designed by the Hotpoint In-House design team of the 60`s, led by UK Industrial Designer Oliver Hill...

 

[chestermikeuk]

Hotpoint in Action

7lb load, 3kw heater, 3,100rpm later models have auto flow rinsing, a ring of water jets around the spin lid, effective but slower to rinse than say Hoover which saturates pretty quick...

 

[chestermikeuk]

Orange Knobs!!!

Was it this one Pete??, did your grandparents machine have white lids or silver??

 

[keymatic]

Hi Mike, luv that 1450 Supermatic..groovy bluy lids against the matt chrome control panel...you may know or not, but did this model still have the powder clutch on the spinner, as the 1420 did and caused major probs ?

I am off to Stoke Newington tomorrow morning to pick up a Hotpoint Twin Six..the cheaper version of the Supermatic, quite nice as the owner still has the instruction booklet as well as guarantees etc..will post some pics once collected.

Keith

 

[matchboxpaul]

Good one Keith.

Dont know anything of the Twin Six and have only ever seen one picture of it! Cant wait to see some more shots of this real rarity. Was the Twin-Six the model 1410? Always been a mystery as to what this machines model number was - be great to have it confirmed finally.

The other end of the spectrum nearly from the 1450 that Mike posted pictures of:
here are the pictures of mine and Rob's Supermatic model 9410. Not the last version, but getting close!

 

[matchboxpaul]

and after it was cleaned to sparkling condition

 

[hoovermaticpete]

Mike, Yes looked very much like that one but had white lids (does that one have silver panel and lids its hard to tell on the photo on my screen?) what model is the one pictured? Still really tempted by that 3174, love the style of those early models, but like the features on the later ones. That older Hotpoint looks cool too, and the fast spin certainly appeals. Great collection you've got by the way, they all look fab.

Paul, nice work on your Hotpoint - looks great.

Well certainly got some good food for thought from you all, I guess all these models have their individual strongpoints, just a matter of preference. Decisions, decisions...!

 

[twinniefan]

A new model twin tub

Hi Pete and greetings from the land down under
Here are some pics of my Haier twin tub which I have owned for about 2 years now, as far as I am aware this is about the only T.T. available in Australia now,hope you enjoy.

 

[twinniefan]

number 2

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