Hitachi Washing Machines

[dubstar85]

When i was younger i used to have a brochure for Hitachi products from the late 80s/ early 90s. They had some pretty smart looking front loading washing machines. Very solid looking and were all fully electronic. I just want to see if anyone has any information about them. I always thought they looked really familiar so want to know if they were made by somebody else. If anyone has any pictures of them that would be a bonus too! Cheers!

David

 

[seamusuk]

Hey David

They were indeed great - under the Hitachi disguise they were actually the last "proper" Servis Quartz machines!

Seamus

 

[newwave1]

Ahh yeas the hitachi servis! heres a piccie from my collection! That i believe mike picked up on ebay! they went to a full 60cm cabinet with these ones!

Darren

 

[dubstar85]

Thanks guys! Now all i need to do is try to find one on ebay... in Scotland haha

David

 

[seamusuk]

Hitachi??

Hey Darren...

Erm that is a Servis lol - I forgot to mention that the Hitachi versions are indeed 60cm wide.

Seamus

 

[newwave1]

Lol seamus i no but its the close alternative, its only pic i have that is vaguely similar!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Hitachi Program 1300

Hi David / All

Hitachi comissioned Servis UK (as was) to build their new entry range of Laundry Appliances for the UK market....which for me proves that Servis machines where the best of the best in regards to electronic machines, (after all Servis did produce the Worlds First Computer Controlled Machine, The Selectronic in 1976)...I couldnt see Hitachi risking their reputation etc....

They had two washers 1100 & 1300rpm, a washer dryer similar to the one above , and a matching tumble dryer, which had been revamped...instead of the Halo of Heat design they reversed it with a lint filter in the door etc and the air venting underneath, it was an even more powerful airflow than the mutivents if that was possible, and very economical to run...

Servis where due to convert all their machines to the 600mm style when alas they where bought out....

 

[northernmary]

my grandmar had an hitachi auto-set 1100 just like the one in the photo apart it was brown and white! it was a good washer i liked the drum with the arrow design ( if i remember correct)

northernmary xx

 

[dubstar85]

Thanks for the photo mike! I guess they were not that successful because Hitachi stopped making them. Or maybe it was because of the Merloni take over?

My Neighbours had a Quartz (with a stuck in Economy button) and replaced it with a Merloni Servis (I think! It was about 1991). It was an electronic machine too and had a interesting distribute. The motor would pulse the motor, each pulse longer and longer until the machine reached distribute speed. It always seemed to lead to balanced spins. It looked quite smart. the buttons were in a row along the bottom of the control panel.

Still though, the Hitachis must have been serious machines! As were the quartzes!

David

 

[gansky1]

I like the Hitachi with the "dispenser" sitting on the top! Did that come with all models?

 

[chestermikeuk]

Programme 1300

Hi James, thats right the Hitachi used the Servis "Chevron" drum design, it was used on the last quartz models, did you ever use your grans machine??

Hi David, very successful machines, outsold every other machine in our store!!!it was to do with the Merlioni takeover that they didnt continue, all the tooling was here at the Servis UK plants...now imagine an up to date of this model 8kg with Flexi Programming....we can dream!!!

Nowthen Greg, only comes with certain models when requested...lol....At this time Servis used an add campaign featuring "The Servis Genie" now he could dispense as much detergent as he wished....he was plastered on billboards on the sides of houses/ billboards.....He is featured in the "Billy Elliot" film on the side of one of the houses when he`s dancing in the street.....

Cheers, Mike

 

[aeg03]

Remember those plastic doors used on Servis machines. This was on the machine we had when I grew up. The plastic 'bowls' were made in a factory in High Wycombe where I grew up and am based.

A family friend had got a supply of these 'bowls' an used them for cooking, washing veg etc.

 

[northernmary]

yeah mike i did use my grans washer! I liked the detergent dispenser long and thin! Lol I remember the long 95oc wash’s and the steam coming from the outlet on the back of the machine and the smell of persil non-bio

northernmary

 

[rp2813]

Here in the U.S. you'd buy like a Hitachi or Panasonic radio back in the 70's and 80's and usually they'd include a brochure on their other products, depicting small and large appliances. But the large items like washers and dryers weren't ever for sale here in the U.S. that I'm aware of except perhaps by special order. Back then, Americans may have been buying lots of Japanese cars but U.S. manufacturers were still producing high quality washers and dryers and gave consumers no reason to defect to a foreign made brand, the way I see it. How things change.

 

[newwave1]

Well well well. Like buses you wait and wait then finally one comes along! Unfortunately this beaut is in suffolk, too far for me!

Darren

Pardon our interruption...

 

[zodawash]

Hey Hitachi

Ooohhh that is so tempting! I can't remember the last time one of these was on ebay.

Steve