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

 

[matchboxpaul]

Wthout being overly slushy....

Thanks for my present Rob!

All my Love
Paul

 

[matchboxpaul]

Hi Matthew.

I agree - the combination of blue and chrome is great.
I am so pleased with the machine and its condition is truly superb.

Now the pressure is on me and Rob to keep it looking that way!

I did ask the bloke we acquired it off whether he had the matching washer, but unfortunately not. The search is on for an A3040!!!!!

Cheers
Paul

 

[seamusuk]

Very Nice

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.....

Hey Paul

In that case he wouldnt have been too impressed by my 3226 either!.

Got my fingers crossed for a A3040!

Seamus

 

[tlee618]

Paul that is really a neat dryer, I love the chrome around the door.

 

[matchboxpaul]

here are the machines from which the D6018 and A3040 were derived...

the 3236H automatic de luxe

 

[matchboxpaul]

and the 3022 dryer de luxe...

both the above machines were owned by my parents and were the machines i grew up with (along with the Hotpoint 95452).

great machines - sadly all long gone.
the D6018 repairs some of the dyer damage for me though.

paul

 

[chestermikeuk]

Hoover - Who Better!!!

Nice work boys, that really is a superb looking dryer, such a good colour combination!!! and chrome door as well...did they ever have a keymatic in this colourway??

Was this the changeover model Paul do you think?? using spares for the specials etc??, the backplate lookes more modern than earlier matchbox dryers,

Cheers, Mike

 

[robm]

Rob and Paul, just a quick note from me to say what a great find! It's a lovely machine and just goes to prove that there are still some great vintage machines out there. I hope it lasts many years.

 

[matchboxpaul]

Hi Mike and Rob.

Cheers for your messages.

I think, Mike, that the D6018 is deffo a cross over machine. obviously it is matchbox style, but whether it is mechanically a matchbox - I dont know?

It would mechanically either be the modernised version of the 3022 dryer de luxe, which was called the 3022A. I have never seen a 3022A, but it boasted a different motor and bearings.

OR

it could be mechanically a D6008 from the new series of machines.

mmmm, who has a D6008 or two? lid off - back off and camera at the ready Mike!

we will have to solve this mystery.

Cheers
Paul

 

[74simon]

So Jealous!!!

A Matchbox for you two at last! The facia is a beautiful colour, you two really need a matching 1346A Junior now!

The timer looks identical to that on my D6040 - that's handy to know if I can't get mine in full working order, as I guess it was a pretty universal component.

The D6018 probably is a hybrid type, I know Hoover did some washers with new-style mechanicals and old type cabinet (or was it the other way round?), and ISTR a Norwegian member posting pictures of 1979 A3236 on here, so I guess Hoover didn't want to waste the press moulds! The font looks the same as the T500X series of twin tubs, it suits the machine well.

Incidentally, Hoover started to preface serial numbers with a letter some time in 1973, and there are definitely other Matchboxes in the A/D serii.

Bring on the A3040!

Si

 

[matchboxpaul]

Hi Simon.

Yep I managed to get one - and hopefully another one fairly soon!
not counting any chickens with this one, after the dishwasher debacle - so i emphasise the word 'HOPEFULLY'!!

Yep - there is an A3236 about - owned by tom (timon90) I think - see piccy below.

My understanding of the 1973 numbered matchboxes is as follows:

A2018 Leccy Board version of 3235 Cold fill only automatic.
A3040 Currys version of 3236H automatic.
A3050 Leccy Board version of 3243H keymatic.
A3052 House of Fraser version of 3236H automatic.
&
D6018 Currys version of 3022A dryer

Query machines:

A2020 Automatic.............anyone have a piccy or knowledge of this machine at all? mystery to me.

D6030 dryer.............probably the matching Leccy Board dryer to the A2018 and A3052. Again though, any piccy or info on this dryer would be really appreciated. According to the service manual, this had a bronze facia with a 'flame' motif.

D6??? dryer.............this machine is an assumption. They made an exclusive washing machine for the House of Fraser (A3052), but i cannot find any trace of a matching dryer! anyone any ideas on this one?

Spark any memories at all, anyone?

Cheers
Paul