Hotpoint Automatic De Luxe 1509/05 (Liberator) Restoration

[supermaticjames]

Afternoon all!

Last month I finally got around to making a start on the restoration of my sorry looking but manageable Hotpoint 1509/05 top loader from 1977 that I had acquired last July. It's amazing how time flies now as it still feels like yesterday I took the trip "through the Gap" to Donegal Town!

After initial inspection last year it was obvious it needed its fair share of replacement parts and man-hours that I didn't have due to a backlog. It required all the seals replacing, a replacement heat selector as the original wasn't "flying back" properly, a replacement motor and clutch assembly as the original was seized and had burned out, a new relay, a new drive belt, a replacement bowl support, bowl clamp and bolts, a secondhand rubber drain hose for the sake of keeping it looking original, a console repaint in Peugeot Midnight Blue, a chassis repaint, a replacement cabinet donated by a 9605, a new tripod and last but not least a new element. I think that's everything covered haha!

First of all I repainted the chassis as the damp cottage environment it lived in was not so kind to it - out comes the sandpaper and Hammerite!

 

[supermaticjames]

Then the outer tub was thoroughly cleaned as so much silt from the hard West Donegal water supply had lay at the bottom of the tub and scaled up the element. Here is the outer tub now spotless with a new bellows seal and replacement element. You can see that my 1509/05 is an early version with the early style power unit that has a ball bearing under the bowl support as used on the very first Hotpoint top loader up until this model. I suspect that the white lid on my machine was changed sometime during 1977 as well.

 

[supermaticjames]

Bearing lubricated, replacement bowl support fitted and pressure vessel refitted after cleaning.

 

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The bowl now bolted to the bowl support with new stainless steel bolts and awaiting the fitting of a new "top hat" seal and tripod.

 

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The "top hat" seal, tripod and "special nut" now fitted.

 

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Replacement cabinet fitted whilst the internals are prepped for active service.

 

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The famous Hotpoint waxed hardboard rear panel which has miraculously survived very well in this instance.

 

[supermaticjames]

The ratings sticker containing the model and serial numbers as well as the all important Hotpoint date code which in this instance is "87" and ties my example to March 1977 - this is rather strange as the service manual I have states that the 1509/05 was introduced in April 1977, so my machine must either be a prototype 1509/05 or even one of the very first off the production line - neat!

 

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Workings contained within the console - programmer, inlet valves, heat selector (electric flyback), motor start relay, microswitches for "bio" and "slow spin" options and the pressure switch with water level switches behind.

 

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Programme guide which is pretty much intact (very nice!) and "filter clean" tray with the detachable ring that goes around the edge which "was only fitted to a small quantity of machines - why?).

 

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Arty shot #1

 

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Arty shot #2 - the iconic coloured buttons have survived fairly well apart from the rose coloured "bio" button which has "gone off" but not crumbling thankfully!

 

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Close ups of the controls - nice and straightforward to use with ergonomic knobs and pushbuttons as well as see at a glance what stage the programme is at with the programme indicator. No clutter and certainly no 21 programmes that the owner will never use!

 

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Overall view of the repainted console, control panel and lid.

 

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Looking stunning with its new finishing touch!

 

[supermaticjames]

Reversible worktop in situ. From being in damp cottage, this has suffered a bit over the years but it's nice just to have so that the machine is complete. I do need to seek out a 1509/05 user handbook so if anyone has a duplicate or even a scanned copy I would very much like to buy one.

Finally - a huge thanks to top loader guru Mark for his help and advice. If it wasn't for him, this restoration would not have been possible due to the scarcity of parts for early power unit top loaders.

Thanks for looking guys! Now where is that famous Hotpoint Liberator front loader at? One must be out there somewhere waiting for me to save it haha!

James

 

[supermaticjames]

Evening all,

Just a few extra pictures featuring some vintage washing powder courtesy of our very own Hass and Lance. It's so nice to have something like this which can be used as props. It really makes the picture!

 

[supermaticjames]

Standing proud beside the Liberator Best Buy model 1700.

 

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Finally for tonight, an arty picture that looks like something one would see on a flyer or in a magazine promoting the machine and a particular detergent/detergents.

Regards,

James