Hmmm... Zanussi offer; to take or not to take?

[supermaticjames]

Hi all,

Well no luck with classic front loaders as of yet, apart from my lovely Hotpoint WD61 of course! Anyway, an engineer I'm friendly with has claimed a working Zanussi from the 1980's and he is of course offering it to me. I don't what it is yet so I'm not sure yet about what to do. I wouldn't say I love Zanussi's, I never really latched onto them, I did do some looking around here and watched some videos and yes they've grown on me a little. If it's an induction powered one or a Jetsystem I might just consider taking it on but the problem with me is that I don't have alot of storage and I can only have 3 automatics hooked up at once. What should I do? Take a dive and try something new? Where were UK Zanussi's made?

James.

 

[vacbear58]

Zanussi

James

Zanussi machines were made in Italy.

If the price is right go for it. There are others who know the brand better than I into the later 1980s, but if it were a 218T or 918 these have a reputation for lasting well, my own mothers 218t was stil going strong at 17 years old - still could be for all I know. If you check recent postings Matt In Dover's Electra GL2 (i think that is the model), manufactured by Zanussi was even older. And I think (Matchbox)Paul has at lease one Hotpoint which was manufactured by Zanussi, again of 1970s vintage. Parts should be relativly easily available if needed, Zanussis were very popular in Northern Ireland

Al

 

[supermaticjames]

I think there is no price tag! I might go for it just for the thrill of trying out something unknown! It works, but I don't the model yet. I hope it's a good one. I noticed Zanussi seems very popular around Ireland, theres a longstanding retailer in Letterkenny. My Aunt in Antrim had a Zanussi too but it was a 90's model.

I think I'll give it a go... If they were good enough for Hotpoint during those few years in the 1970's then they'll be good enough for me! Why Hotpoint never bought from another Brit manufacturer beats me?

James.

 

[fl1012]

Get It!

If you fancy an old machine that you can leave stored up for a few months & then just dust off, plug in & go then i reckon an 80's Zanussi is hard to beat.

I've got two, a 1984 Z9292T, which is a 1000rpm model with induction motor, and a 1986 or 1988 (it escapes me at the moment) FL1012 with brush motor (also 1000rpm).

The induction motor of the Z9292T makes it the overall most fun machine of the pair (i love how the timer & motor are so quick that sometimes it changes direction on tumbles without hardly stopping) but the timer noises on the FL1012 kindof make up for any lack of excitement from the actual washes.

If you can get hold of an 80s Jetsystem (one of the first) then i'd bite the guys arm off. I bought one of these on eBay a while back but when it turned up it leaked. The seller (abit of a handyman/repairman) took it away to fix & then it got taken away as scrap by mistake. Gutted was not the word.

I've attached a video of the Z9292T doing a rinse, just incase you're curious. I figured i havn't put any pics or videos up for ages, which is what it's all about i guess.

Liam

 

[supermaticjames]

He says it's an early 80's machine. Washcraft or S-series I assume?

James.

 

[matchboxpaul]

Hi James.

Backing up what Al and Liam have said, I would go for it.

1980s would equate to the S-series (of which the S218T is the commonest, but there were other very rare versions too), Washcraft or the two generations of grey fascia FL's.
All of them good machines and all of them weight a ton!

Fingers crossed its a nice-un for you.
Paul

 

[supermaticjames]

Well, it's an S218T. In good condition with a manual. I'll get it over the next week or so. Is it a bottom of the range model or what? 800rpm I think?

James

 

[matchboxpaul]

Hi James.

Counting down the days to delivery!
Really pleased for you - the S218T is a very nice machine, from the mid range (I think) of the Zanussi offerings of the time.
Thing is that this entire series is something of a mystery, with a fair few mystery model numbers and yet few photographs.
Apart from the S218T, the late 70s/early 80s range is very secretive.

Roll on its arrival.
Paul
p.s the screen grab below is from an advert circa 1979 and shows the matching dishwasher to the S218T. Havent the foggiest idea what the washing machine is though, with a grey stripe across the midpoint of the fascia. Anyone able to solve?

 

[aquarius8000]

What does it look like? Glad your getting it, I am getting a hotpoint wt960 in about 2 weeks or so's time!

 

[newwave1]

S218T

Was my Uncle's trusty Zanussi for many years until it was replaced with a hideous diplomat (merloni servis) washer dryer without my knowledge!!

It was a fab machine with some very high water levels.

You can't go wrong with an 80's Zanussi. They have been one of my favourites for many years and have owned a few in the last few years too

Darren

View attachment newwave1++11-5-2011-16-44-41.jpg

 

[supermaticjames]

What gets me though...

On a picture here of someone else's machine there appears to be no clutch attached to the induction motor.

James.

 

[fl1012]

Great Model.

Would really like to find one of these. Unfortunately they're as rare as rocking horse poo now. I don't think they were ever amazingly common & even with the very solid build quality, i suspect the majority will have suffered corrosion through age & been scrapped.

There is a video of one on eBay somewhere - i believe the water levels reach 3/4's of the way up the door on Synthetics 'cool down' at the end of the wash - the eco-brigade would lay an egg!

As far as i'm aware, yes, it was an 800spin model. The model name works something like this:

S - Model Range
2 - ?
1 - 1 option button
8 - 800rpm spin
T - Thermostop - this holds the timer when the heater kicks in & the program will not advance until the correct temperature is reached. This is instead of the simpler but less accurate method of timed heating that some machines used at the time.

My Z9292T also has Thermostop, but some of the Washcraft range still did without it. These are identified by a model number without a T at the end.

Can't wait to see it

Liam