Hoover Keymatic - The First !!!

[chestermikeuk]

Finally got round to loading the pics of the Keymatic, Hoovers first UK AutoWasher. This machine was first produced in 1961 and ran for a number of years until the standard cabinet model was produced.

It takes an 8lb load and spins at 740 rpm. the drum only turns one direction for washing and has the option of turning on the famous "Hoover Live Water Action" pulsator for a more vigerous wash action. Normal wash time is 8mins from correct temperature. A standard 30 minute wash time with 3 rinses and a 4 minute spin.

This machine is mechanically in good condition, drum spins smoothly and quiet. A problem with the springs or suspension pulley has allowed the drum wheel to drop and catch the distribution block on the chasis base and broken it off, (probably flinging it off at high speed)

It was from an engineers point of view a "technical Nightmare" with reams of wiring and feet of hosing etc...as well as the second orange drive for the pulsator complete with clutch solenoid...Had no idea how the belts worked and was very surprised to see the colour and pulley system....

The door boot is a fab blue colour but has rotted away at the top, by chance I have a new door boot and pulsator (original parts but black) that I got from one of the last of Hoover engineers who was finally closing his shop after 40 yrs.

The cabinet has quite a few chips on it and will benefit from a complete strip down and re-spray, makes quite a difference from the standard white boxes we get now.

Have a look and see

Cheers, Mike

http://automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/00ShowCollectionGETD.cgi?dir=/COLLECTIONS/CHESTERMIKEUK/

 

[toggleswitch]

Hi Mike!

Beautiful machine. Makes one appreciate simplicity. LOL

Not following why the impeller at the rear of the wash-tub was useful. Was the water-level that high?

Thank you.

 

[toggleswitch]

front or top?

I am of course assuming this is a front-loader.. Hard to say exactly.,..LOL

 

[westytoploader]

YAY! Congratulations--this could very well be the only working Keymatic known in existance! Love the cabinet design!

IIRC, doesn't the Keymatic tub slowly tilt backwards as it fills up, enabling full effectiveness of the impeller as well as making it the only FL you can watch with the door open?

Great machines in your collection as well...especially that Rolls Rapide TT (with its "3-lug" impeller)!

--Austin

 

[gansky1]

Beautiful pics Mike, what a machine! How many of those orange belts do you have lying about? It looks like a nightmare to work on!

 

[gyrafoam]

Thanks for sharing those interesting photo's! I still think that Hotpoint is really kool. Too bad they did not sell those here in the U.S.

 

[appnut]

Miiiiiiikie!!!!! I doubted I'd ever see a Keymatic in this lifetime. What a fun looking front loader. I love coloured tubs in washers. I am curious to know what temps the washer heated to for the cycles. I can't wait to see you again. Bob

 

[westyslantfront]

Hoover Keymatic

Looks like a fascinating machine to use. Wish they were available in the states. I hear you are going to the convention in Omaha. I will be there too.
I do have English washing machine memories. One of my oldest friends used to spend time with his relatives in Bexhill-on-Sea and Hastings, Sussex. I also spent a few summers there with him.
His grandmother had a twin tub. I think it was a Servis. It had yellow exterior, blue wash tub with red agitator and electric heating element under the agitator. The spin dryer had glass lid that slid over the spin dryer. Loads of fun to use.

 

[rocky2]

Keymatic

What a cool design. Thanks Mike. I enjoyed looking at the rest of your collection as well. I can remember the TV commercials for the hoover twin tubs and remember seeing one of them in action. A friends mom had one. Actually, she is probably the first washer collector ever. She was always buying a new washer. There was quite a collection going in her basement. She had several wringer washers (GE, Speed Queen, Maytag and Kenmore), and the automatics that I can remember were Lady Kenmore with suds return, maytag, and a frigidaire 1-18 in harvest gold. She kept the hoover upstairs in the bathroom to do towels (there were 11 kids!).

 

[foraloysius]

Congratulations Mike, quite a treasure. This is the first version, yes? Is it actually working or does it need work before you can do laundry with it? Mine is not working, there are some parts missing. Besides that it's much too complicated for me to work on. Looking forward to seeing you in Omaha.

 

[stainfighter]

What is 'Heat & Spin' on the Rolls?

Mike,
Just curious about the dial selection that states, "Heat & Spin" what's that? Does it actually heat the clothes as it spins? Or is it a cycle with heat followed by spin??
Robert

 

[gizmo]

HI Mike

That's great, an original model!

Re the suspension problem... Is the cable on yours intact? The weight of the drum should be carried by a cable which goes from one side of the drum, to a pulley on the front frame, up & over the door and controls, down to another pulley and back to the other side of the drum. I had one where the cable had snapped, the drum dropped.
the springs don't carry the weight of the drum, they only serve to orient the drum correctly (make sure it hangs the right way up and at the correct height when full/empty.

More to add later but I'm up late and a big day tomorrow...

Best wishes

Chris.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hey Mike, great pictures! Your turquoise Keymatic is very cool, I hope one day to get to see one of these in person.

I was surprised to see both a hot water inlet as well as a 220 volt heater.

 

[jetcone]

Drool dROOL

Mike WOnderful pictures!

Let me guess the pulsator is driven off the opposite end of the same motor so that it turns counter wise to the tub rotation?? How clever! No need for a second motor or another transmission no??

It has the same kind of tub our Westinghouse machines have.

The one I used in the I of W was not slanted but in a square cabinet would that have been a 70's machine then??

Keep posting as you get into it , its fascinating!

Cheers
JOn

 

[chestermikeuk]

Drum Tilt & Impellar

Hi Toggleswitch

This is going to be fun finding out names (Steve is it??)

It is classed as a front loader, but with a "Lilt & Tilt"

As the drum fills it tilts back and so the impellar is mostly covered with water, the effect is supposed to produce the famous "Boiling Action" of the Hoover Twinnies..

On cotton fabric washes the impellar comes in to play and it washes with drum and impellar for a max of 4 mins from correct temperature.

Delicate progs use tumble one way only for up to 8 mins.

It takes 8 gallons of water for a whites wash programme, water guzzler by any other name but very quick 30 mins wash time from correct programme temp.

Mike

 

[chestermikeuk]

Collections

Hi Austin

The drum does tilt but not sure where the water level comes up to to enable us to watch it with the door open, Gizmo will know this I`m sure.

I believe the impellar is not as low down as the Hoover twinnies and so had a very harsh wash action as the clothes where wizzed around.

Love the story of the UK twinnie, I think its hotpoint have a look at the pic and let me know??

So young and so many machines!!!once you`ve got the bug your hooked, I arrived at the first convention with two vacs, now its 79 vacs and 47 washing appliances which include autos, twinnies, wringers, spinners and tumble dryer and one rotary ironer...LOl

http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/chestermikeuk/detail?.dir=/c2a6&.dnm=8158.jpg&.src=ph

 

[chestermikeuk]

Orange Belts

Hi Greg

Now how many of these do you think are lying about??

Its a metal link chain belt covered with the orangey red plastic, and so contorted with its pulley and twists & turns, a liability in itself.

Got a shock when I saw this and so much colour, just like Unis house!!(a BoB SLAAAAPPP coming over the pond)...!!!

Just like finding the original black door boot and impellar, you just dont know whats about till it either "finds you" or you go looking.

We saw the pics of Chris`s (Gizmo) 3226 next model, and because the motor had been nicked along with belts couldnt quite work out how it looked, certainly not simple, but I remember the clicks and gurgles and so many different noises it made all those years ago in the schools Catholic Nuns Laundry.

Mike

 

[chestermikeuk]

Hotpoint FilterFlow

Hi Steve

Hotpoint was the most popular TL washer here, the filterFlow was so different and the 1050 spin speed, nearly a Unimatic!!

The other TL was the infamous Servis and the re-vamped MK41 (1966)was the most popular, had a two stage agi that you could add for extra wash power..3-15 mins wash with spray rinse and two full rinses before 650 spin.

Also the 60 OPM and 210 wide sweep agi..

Does this resemble any Speed Queen??, because there was an alliance with the twinnies.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Keymatic Package

Hi Nelson

Because it was the first Hoover Automatic it has pride of place in Waser History here and we didnt have a lot of electrical stores, but dedicated Hoover Sales & Service centres, these where independant Hoover sales / repair stores and carried the whole range of Hoover goods...

The Keymatic was marketed and Advertised as a "Home Package" with a matching blue / white Hoover Convertable, your Dial-a-Mat

Mike