Hoover Key -Matic

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mikeklondon

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HI haveing seen a number of the old key matic's here one thing I would love to know is what the pulsator in the back of the tub did, did the tub fill to the top with water so that it worked like the action in the Hoover twin tub ? if so was this very hard on the fabric. When I was a kid the Hoover TT was always known as a Tangle-A- matic
 
HI Mike

I could write a thesis here, but probably best to look at Chestermikes youtube video of one in action.

Basically the tub tumbles in one direction whislt the pulsator spins in the opposite. The dominant wash action is a tumbling one, with the pulsator sending oppsoing currents through the wash. It doesnt seem to tangle nearly as much as the twin tubs can. And in practise we've not found the load any more tangled than any modern front loader.

As for the water level, the tub drops and tilts as it fill, so that the pulsator is just under the water level, and the water is just below the lip of the door. I'd say the correct level is about an inch higher than this photo.

Remember the pulsator isnt used in all wash programmes and not for all of the washing and rinsing sections of the cottons programmes.

The other point worth noting is that it doesnt just fill, heat all that water, wash for 4 minutes and pump it all out, there is an intitial heating up to a fixed temperature, I think about 60 for the 85 degree wash, it then alternates 2 min tumble only with 2 min heating until it reaches the wash temperature, then the pulsator kicks in and away it goes, so the overall wash action is more like 12 minutes tumbleing followed by four minutes tumbling and pulsating for four minutes.

Sorry Ive already waffled on too long, I hope I havent just told you what you know, but I think Mike has done the best explanation with his film.

keymatic3203++8-6-2012-12-45-2.jpg
 
Hoover Keymatic

Like anything thats built complicated and mechanical and is subject to everyday use, these could be problematic in latter years, BUT would have been an absolute boom to a housewife used to a wringer , boiler or twinny, it was indeed "Washday - Just Forget It" , very quick wash times and quiet in operation.

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 
I don't lust after many UK machines... They're just too different from all the Top Loaders I've seen growing up. THIS MACHINE, however IS THE EXCEPTION. I think they are incredibly cool (although for sure I'd accidentally throw away the key in the first week, just watch.)
 
Mike great vid!

Didn't know about the flickr site until now! That timer dial is Kewl! And the machine well you know I love Keymatics! But the pics of you with two machines--that one on your right is the machine I used on the Isle of White! Finally we know what machine it was.

Glad to see the slant fronts up and running too!

jon
 
keyplates....

Hi Mike, glad you enjoyed it, that actual machine is Mathews, we have just refurbed a 3224 the first machine in Stafford for john, my 3008 is running as well..

Hi Bob, they are a fun machine to watch with the door open, similar tilt drum to the westy but more fun with the pulsator..and with a 3kw heater that sizzles and faster spin speed...

Morning Jon, thank goodness you worked that one out, thought it might have been the previous model, now we know, we renovated that machine, (rusty heater bracket in tub) so pulled the tub and rust coated it, works a dream and those whirs and clicks are a glad sound whilst sipping your coffee in the morning!!, Glad you like the pics, theres a and the website is up shortly!!



chestermikeuk++8-8-2012-02-50-5.jpg
 
Whirssssssss and clicks

Love the sound it reminds me of my Juke-Box. How how many Keyplates where there are there 4 programs to a plate? Next year we are planing a total refit of our house and I would love vintage, The Juke box came from somewhere in the north and was recon'd by them with new apms ect, I cant remember there name off hand we got it 18 years ago and its still working like new. Is there anyone in the uk that sells recon'd washers / dryers / fridge ect.

mikeklondon++8-8-2012-05-18-20.jpg
 
each keyplate

had 8 programme options, 4 each side.

The original 3224 and 3226 (slant fronts) came with one keyplate giving 8 programmes, 6 wash, a rinse/pre wash ans a spin programme.

The subsequent models came with two plates giving 16 programme options.
 
They are the coolest!

As someone said above, I am thinking of the incredible lifting of drudgery from the boiler, sink, and wringer.

Can you imagine how much WORK laundry must have been as you got older? It would take AT LEAST a full day per week to wash, rinse, wring, and dry the clothes. And indeed..you can just forget it now.

Wow.

Of course, it wasn't cheap! A little research tells me that they were launched at 95 guines, which is...100 pounds? With an average UK wage of 800 pounds in 1962, that is 1.5 months of salary for the average family. Obviously you had to make quite a bit to afford it...

Still, I wish I had one ;-)
 
Re-cons

Hi Mike, yes perhaps thats the new job - washer renovates, you wouldnt want one as a daily driver without a stash of spare parts, johns is used once a week and has had a bearing change - the most problematic is a tiny clutch spring and solenoid that controls the pulsator

Hunter, yes it was quite expensive given the current wages of the day, BUT we had a lot of TV & appliances rental companies, the biggest being D.E.R (Domestic Electrical Rental) and they offered these keymatic machines on rental terms along with colour tv etc, given how problematic stuff wash at the time it could make sense to rent, at least you could have a replacement washer straight away rather than waiting for repairs.

Heres a keyplate for the model 3224 / 3226

chestermikeuk++8-10-2012-02-35-7.jpg
 

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