Hoover Matchbox dryer - I got one and its unusual!

[matchboxpaul]

Hi guys and gals.

Just wanted to show you my early birthday present from Rob.

I stumbled across the advert on ebay for a Hoover D6081 Dryer de luxe - but with no picture. So I emailed the seller who duly provided a photograph.

I first saw the picture during my dinner break at work and nearly burst with excitement, as Rob and Mike (chestermike) will be able to testify.

I initially thought that this was a new model, that I hadn't seen mentioned anywhere else so, for the timebeing it was a D6081!

Rob arranged to purchase the machine for me, as a birthday present, off ebay and I went and collected it three weeks ago.

The ebay image is below......I knew there were matchbox dryers with porthole doors!!!!!

 

[matchboxpaul]

I initially thought that this was a new model, that I hadn't seen mentioned anywhere else so, for the timebeing it was a D6081!

Rob arranged to purchase the machine for me, as a birthday present, off ebay and I went and collected it three weeks ago.

It was only when I read the instruction book, that I realised it was a typo and the machine was a D6018.

Things began to fall into place as I knew of this model, but knew not what it looked like OR the fact that it was a Matchbox.
I had placed it amongst the Matchbox replacement series, which contained the A3006 and A3008 washers and the D6008 dryer.

Here is the instruction manual cover...

 

[matchboxpaul]

So I drove and picked it up from Lincolnshire - from a really friendly chap, with a beatiful house set in a tranquil village.

The machine had, like my parents 3022 Matchbox dryer, hardly been used and is externally immaculate!

So I loaded up and drove over to Rob's where the tinkering began.

Rob took the lid off and recoiled in horror!
Not being a fan of arachnids, the sight which met his gaze was not fun for him.....

 

[matchboxpaul]

some more of the gory detail....

The 'y-shaped' seemingly padded arrangement is actually metal work covered in about half a centimtres worth depth of solid dust.

 

[matchboxpaul]

and another shot.

 

[matchboxpaul]

So I got to work with the vac, removed the back and spent about an hour vacuuming nooks and crannies of the machine.

All the surface dust lifted and the internals of the machine, like the outside, came up new.

 

[matchboxpaul]

and another shot, this time of the top.

Compare to the earlier pictures

 

[matchboxpaul]

Once cleaned and put back together, we were able to admire the machine.

The facia is Winchester Blue and is a full adhesive sticker, according to the service manuals.

Other than that it is visually a Matchbox Dryer, but with the addition of a classy, chrome Porthole door.

 

[matchboxpaul]

another shot

 

[matchboxpaul]

again another shot

 

[matchboxpaul]

This time of the left hand part of the facia in detail...

 

[matchboxpaul]

and of the right showing the high and low heat switch and timer...

 

[matchboxpaul]

and with the instruction manual...

 

[electron800]

it's absolutely beautiful!

The blue facia and chrome door are so classy!
It looks like new.
I'd love a machine like this.
Such a great find

 

[matchboxpaul]

and with its first load in many, many years.

Unfortunately the fan belt is perishing and slack, so the draw through of air is weak.

Nevertheless the clothes dried well and, last week, we purchased a replacement fan belt which will be fitted before the machine is used again (at the moment it is in storage, stacked on top of the A3350 Electron 1100)...

 

[matchboxpaul]

and finally of the ratings plate which dates the machine to November 1975...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Here is the D6018 alongside my present to Rob - a November 1972 Hoover 6525C Senior...

 

[matchboxpaul]

The D6018 was a Currys special and was sold alongside the matchine Matchbox washing machine - the A3040.

In the absence of a real A3040, of which I only ever saw one and I was at Play School at the time, here is an image of them both (cheers to Mike for the image of the A3040)....

 

[aquarius1984]

Paul - So pleased you love your birthday present, it was a plasure to arrange for you to own it!

just thought id sneak a pic of the Junior in seeing as we are in a Blue mood.

Junior and Senior to mtach the era of the Matchbox although both cleaners are ever so slightly earlier.

R xx