Hoover Automatic A3236

[timon90]

Hey!

Any here who have some info about the Hoover Automatic A3236?
I have one, but is not sure about the age of it.
What spinspeed does it have?

I love this machine...mine is working, but leaks a bit from the door seal. It's like chewinggum

 

[robm]

Hello Tom

What a fantastic machine to still have working, it must be at least 30 years old.

I believe that this machine would have spun at around 770rpm but I may stand corrected.

Does the button control the spin time (half spin, full spin)?

Rob

 

[timon90]

Thanks..I had a feeling that it had ca 800 rpm. It has a really nice sound!! The thing I have done with it to get it working, was replacing the capacitor (taken from a Hoover New wawe1100), and change the motor brushes. God as new! A bit loud-as it should! The only thing that should have been changed is the doorseal, and the hose from the detergentdrawer.

 

[74simon]

To date it

if it's a UK machine (built at Merthyr), you can figure out its age by the serial number, which should be on a black sticker/plate at the back. The first four digits correspond to the model number, ie they will be 3236. The next digit means the year it was built, so '6' would be 1976 (or 86/96 in a later machine), and the next two denote the month it was built, ie '09' would be september. This applies to most UK built Hoover appliance from 1967 onwards by the way.

It looks fantastic! And such a rarity too...

 

[timon90]

I got so curious by the age now, so I'll take a trip out to my barn to check it!

 

[timon90]

The serials are: 323691000436. What is the age? Made at Merthyr!

 

[matchboxpaul]

A matchbox! A matchbox!

This is the style of machine that I grew up with - although we had slightly different varieties in the UK.

The machine style was introduced in approx 1970 and was the first standard sized washing machine (23" wide) and set the standard which runs right through to today (previously machines varied in width and height, but as kitchens began to be 'fitted' rather than a mishmash of different units a standard size had to be arrived at - the previous series of hoover machines were 27" wide).

The series was marketed as the 'matchbox' series in the UK and culminated in a run of three basic types of machine (UK models in brackets):

cold fill only automatic (3235, A2018, A2020)
hot and cold fill automatic de luxe (3236H, A3040, A3052)
&
keymatic (3243H and A3050)

The first models were the ones beginning with number 3.

The series began to be replaced by a new UK series from about 1975, but continued to be sold as the A**** models through specific retail outlets only until the late 1970's (A2018, A3050 etc).

The initial models had a 770rpm spin speed, with the later A**** models having 800rpm and apart from the keymatic models, had vitreous enamel drums - the A or B button denoted a long or short spin.

I think that the A3236 (the A was introduced to match the American Hoover model numbering system of the time) would have been a late variant on the UK model 3236H, one of which may parents were the proud owner of for nearly 15 years). By the looks of it, the A3236 has received an upgrade over the UK machines as it boasts a stainless steel drum, which was only found in the Keymatic models sold in the UK.

All in all a brilliant looking machine - the whole series being one of my favourites (hence my user name).

Sorry to plug one of my own threads but...

Tom there is a picture of the UK 3236H (on which your machine is based) and matching dryer, plus some other matchbox'y stuff in thread '10605 My Personal Hoover Challenge.....'

Thanks for posting the picture of your A3236 - do you know of any other variants of this machine which were sold in Norway. Would be really intrigued to know.

Cheers
paul (a major 'matchbox' fan)

p.s below is how the matchbox series ran in the UK.

 

[matchboxpaul]

p.p.s any inaccuracies in the above (I am trying to get the picture exactly right) - please let me know.

Plus I offer my thanks to Mike King, Kevin Cox and Alistair Kerr for helping me with much of the info attached above, over the last four or so months - what a ride! Cheers guys.

 

[74simon]

I think this machine

was built in October 1979. Initially I though it was a 1969 Deluxe, but there are several factors that say 'it ain't so!'

Firstly Paul, you're right - production didn't begin on the matchboxes until about Febuary 1970. The University I went to held the Design Council archives, and Hoover were due to do an exhibition with their laundry range (and showcasing the matchbox machines) involving the DC.

This exhibition was due to take place in April 1970 (these dates are from what I remember), but was delayed due to teething troubles with the new automatics. In the end Hoover pulled out of the exhibition altogether - apparently because the Design Council chose not to approve the Hoover 507 cylinder cleaner!

Other oddities with this machine are:

It's an A3236 - not a 3236H, which would otherwise date it to at least early 1973;

It's not badged as a deluxe;

and the font that 'Hoover' is in looks like the kind that wasn't used until about 1978.

It's very odd - I guess it was a bottom of the line model for some markets. Fascinating survivor though - glad you have saved it!

 

[74simon]

And you can still

get a new door gasket apparently!

http://www.cdappliances.com/shop/Hoover.html

 

[timon90]

Thanks alot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wery much intresting info!

I dont know any other models, but I know they sold much Hoover FL's here, and they sold ALOT of HooverMatics! And I'll get one wery soon....another I have a HooverMatic 3125L, and a T5090. I think the newone is a 3314L, but I'm not sure! It's just used a few months, and the owners says it just needs a new hose. It should be in fantastic good condition! Waiting like a little child to get it

I also have a Hoover Autosense dryer...D6284! Great, easy, and quick. Have it on the top of my Asko 20003! Nice set, even that I should have an Asko 7703 dryer there

 

[timon90]

To 74simon: Do you know if they send parts to Norway?

 

[liberator1509]

Version with a plastic door?

Hi all

My Mum's best friend had one of these (though with a silver fascia) and a plastic door - I remember it had developed loads of tiny cracks, and eventually had to be replaced with a glass one. Anyone know which version this was?

Ta

David

 

[matchboxpaul]

version with a plastic door?

You mention a plastic door (I am assuming you mean the see through bit and not the whole door).....

jogged my memory a bit - the parents of a mate of mine pensioned a 3236H version 2 machine off when I was a kid and it became a play thing of ours (up till we were about 4 or 5 years old). I seem to remember being told at the time that this machine was done in by cracks in the see through part of the door (i.e plug it in and it will still work, but will leak from the door!

Was this a known design flaw with the second version of the 3236H (see attached piccy)?

I know that the first version of it (the one my parents owned), definately had a glass door and did not suffer from any door related problems.

Was this your machine David?

 

[nickuk]

I remember using the machine above rather a lot, my Mum's friend had it. TBH, it wasn't the most reliable machine. I remember on her one the timer used to make a `buzz' noise as it advanced. And all the washes were high level (to middle of glass, as a typical Hoover rinse). I liked how you turned the programmer towards the cycle printed on the fascia, whereas on our first Hoover you alligned the program to 12 o'clock.

Ahh..memories. I loved the logics which would spin to 800 from distribute on final spin, just like these babes used to (more or less)

 

[arrrooohhh]

Hello Timon

That is a beautiful Hoover. You must be proud of it.

 

[MrX]

We had a dryer tha matches that perfectly. Same colour scheme, same rocker switch similar knob and identical door / locks.

Tumble Dryer De Luxe