Hotpoint UK Washers & Dryers - 1st Automatic to final New Generation

[matchboxpaul]

Model 15690

greater detail...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 17230

Model 17230 Super Dryer replaced the front venting compact model 1730...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 17250

Model 17250 De Luxe Dryer replaced the rear venting compact Model 1721...

 

[matchboxpaul]

MOdel 17250

Mine and Rob's preserved Model 17250...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 17460

Model 17460 Super De Luxe Dryer replaced the 1701/21 Liberator Dryer De Luxe...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 18370

December 1979 saw the Best Buy Model 18370 Super Electronic introduced, replacing the previous Best Buy Model 1827.

This machine, being the discounted model, featured a matt silver fascia rather than reflective and also received a matt grey door surround...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 18370

Here is the preserved example - saved by Gary and now in the safe hands of Mathew. This machine has an insanely corroded backplate and though fixed with liquid metal, is in the queue for repair...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 17450

The dryer in the Best Buy range was Model 17450 Super Dryer, replacing the Model 1700 from the previous range.

Photos are from Gary (electron1100) of the machine he rescued, a week or so to him rescuing the 18370 shown above. Did they come from the same house?..

 

[matchboxpaul]

New Models to the Range!

No sooner had the new range been introduced, all new models were introduced to it in the form of a new top of the range front loader washer and a matching?....erm....yep.....matching tumble dryer.

Model 18780 Microtronic X2000.

This machine was Hotpoints 1st microchip control machine and carried a proce tag to match - ca £400.00 in 1980!

The first version was an 800/400rpm machine...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 18780

manual cover shot...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 18780

later run machines gained a chromed door surround...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 18880

...before the Microtronic X2000 was upgraded to 1000/500rpm and rechristened the Model 18880.

The machine was visually identical to the chromed door 18780...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 17660

Below is the matching dryer for the Microtronic X2000, in the form of the 17660 Reversomatic + Creasecare - Hotpoint's 1st reversing dryer.

This is the first version which, instead of a buzzer on/off button, had a mains on/off button.
This particular feature didnt last long...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 17660/2

With the mains on/off button replaced by a buzzer on/off button, the model was rechristened Model 17660/2 and below is Mikes preserved machine, that I picked up for him a couple of years ago...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Let the tweaks begin!

With the full range of automatic models settled down to the following machines:

15690 toploader Super De Luxe
18340 2 button Super Electronic
18380 4 button Electronic De Luxe
18580 4 button variable Super Electronic De Luxe
18880 Microtronic X2000
17230 front venting compact Super Dryer
17250 rear venting compact De Luxe Dryer
17460 2 heat Super De Luxe Dryer
17660 Revrsomatic + Creaseguard
plus
the Best Buy Models 18370 and 17450

it didnt take long for subtle tweaks to result in two new versions. Subtle is the word too!

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 18680

The very subtle tweak that resulted in the 18680 Super Electronic De Luxe model was the colour of the fascia backplate, which was changed from dark silver to bronze, to give a tste of things to come.

Apologies to Lee, but the only photos I have of this machine are of yours so I am stealing your thunder a bit.
Be great if you could post some more of it though! hint hint

It remains unclear to me as to whether this model replaced the 18580, or whether it was sold alongside it...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 17560

As with the 18680, the only difference between the 17560 and 17460 was the bronze background to the fascia backplate.

Again, it remains unclear whether this model replaced the 17460 or whether it was sold alongside it.

The machine below is Mike's example...

 

[matchboxpaul]

That takes us through to mid and late 1982.

The introduction of the 17560 and 18680 and their bronze fascia backplates provided a taster of the direction that Hotpoint would be taking next.

Will deal with the next 18-series tweak over the weekend, but here is a very unsubtle hint as to what came next...

 

[paulc]

Paul,

Thank you so much for this very interesting, fascinating and entertaining thread. Hotpoint automatic's were quite rare in our neighbourhood when I was growing up. A primary school friend had the 1509/10 top loader and my mum's best friend had the 1828/02. My sisters primary school friend had a 1600 in her house though unfortunately I never got to see it in action. I think it was the later 1830 model as I am pretty sure it had a stainless steel drum.

I inherited a 1701 dryer when I moved into a flat in Aberdeen. that was in 1992 and I had it up until I moved to Edinburgh in 1999 and it was still going strong. I have quite a soft spot for Hotpoint machines as the design was quite unlike other automatics, self explanatory simple to use controls that felt solid and well built.

Thank you again for this wonderful thread.

 

[hotpoint95622]

hotpoint 95622

More, more, you can’t leave me in this state of utter Hotpoint frenzy.