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

[matchboxpaul]

Noticing that there is discussion going on about the 95's and WM's in the blue forum, it has motivated me to start a Hotpoint history thread.

In a similar vein to the Hoover thread that I did last year, I will try to cover all of Hotpoint's washers and dryers and washer/dryers, produced from their first automatic in the early 1960's, through to the crossover New Generation/Next Generation machines introduced circa 1985/1986.

I have managed to accrue photographs of most of their production offerings, but the photographs vary in quality from official brochure images, through to ebay shots.

Where possible, I will use the best photograph available and will try to steer clear of posting pictures of other collectors machines, so that they can post them themselves.
Where the only image of a machine is of another collectors, then I am going to be cheeky and post it, to enable the image timeline to be maintained.

Will try to chapter the thread into each generation of machines and develop the thread over the coming week.

Any inaccuracies in what I type, dont hesitate to offer corrections - its great to get as accurate a picture as possible.

Here goes then....

 

[liberatordeluxe]

@ MatchboxPaul Would love to get hold of a Hotpoint 95 series washer but everywhere on Ebay is miles away lol No one hardly sells them in East Anglia which is annoying. I like the 95 series the best as they were quick and used lots of water which is good for people like me who have sensitive skin.

 

[matchboxpaul]

The 1st Automatic from Hotpoint UK

Model 1500 Automatic

Introduced circa 1963/64, this was Hotpoints first foray into the world of automatics, with production previously dominated by the Empress, Countess and Princess wringer machines.

The 1500 was the first machine to employ the 'Spiraclean' spiral gyrator, with filterclean tray and recirculation system.

 

[matchboxpaul]

Here is a superb cutaway drawing of the internals of their new automatic offering.

With the market being a bit of an unknown and the UK dominated by top loading machines - wringers and twin tubs - this was the avenue that Hotpoint decided to go down, leading to them playing catchup later in the decade!

The 1500 span at 850rpm for long spin, with a 40 second impulse for short spin...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Patience liberatordeluxe - as far as this thread is concerned, you will have to wait another 20 years before I reach the world of the 95

Am sure you will find one eventually - just keep looking!

Paul

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 1501 Automatic

The 1500 stayed in production through to circa 1965/1966, when it was replaced by a very lightly warmed over version of itself, in the form of the Model 1501 Automatic.

The only difference between the 1500 and 1501, that I have been able to ascertain, is that whilst the 1500 was an 850rpm spin, the 1501 ushered in the world of 1050rpm!

Visually model 1501 was identical to its predecessor.

1050rpm would remain the Hotpoint top loader spin standard, apart from only one other instance (excluding the 1500), right through to the end of production.

Model 1501 Automatic ...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 1501 Automatic

Courtesy of KAYS Catalogue...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 1501 Automatic

a really smart looking machine...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 1502 AUTOMATIC

Roll into 1967 and another redesign created Model 1502 AUTOMATIC.

More visually tame (dare I say it plain) than the 1501, this model received a redesign washdeck and came equipped with a smaller drum access lid (the 1500 and 1501 had a full lid) and a complimentary wood effect worktop - in the 1502's case, this was Rosewood.

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 1502 AUTOMATIC

In the catalogues again...

 

[matchboxpaul]

September 1969 - a momentous time for Hotpoint!

Oliver Hill from the consultancy Industrial Design Unit Ltd, put his pen to paper and produced a full restyle for all of Hotpoint's laundry products, to produce a smart corporate style across the range.

It also ushered in an all new model of washing machine, in a form to which Hotpoint had not been associated before!

The first new model was a restyled top loader, in the form of the Model 1504.

As well as ushering in the new style to the world of the top loader, it was also the first Hotpoint machine to adopt the timeline guide on the control panel.

Spin speed remained at 1050rpm, as it would stay for decades to come, and it also provided a 'powders' switch ...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 1504 AUTOMATIC DE LUXE

The 1504 was the new 'DE LUXE' offering, from Hotpoint....

 

[matchboxpaul]

....the new standard model, being in the form of....

Model 1600 AUTOMATIC

This was Hotpoint's 1st front loader offering and offered a rather high spin speed of 1100rpm!
This made it quite the fastest spinning front loader on the UK market by a high margin, with Hoover offering between 740 and 750rpm and Bendix around 600rpm. Though continental machines like the Indesit L5 were on sale, they all spun much, much slower, generally between 300 and 500rpm.

Being late onto the market, the 1600 suffered from a handful of issues that would hinder its success.
It maintained the widebody width, rather than the rapidly becoming standard 23inches wide, that the top end continental naufacturers had adopted and which Hoover would adopt as its standard the following year.

Also it had its controls on the top, rather than across the front, hindering its installation under the worktops of the rapidly spreading fitted kitchens.

Nevertheless, certainly a very smart looking machine...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 1600 AUTOMATIC

The only image I have found showing an open powder chute...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 1600 AUTOMATIC

Feels like you could almost touch it...

 

[aquarius8000]

1502

Haha! Its the 1502! Gran had one of those for ages. Sadly, it is no more But I do have the manual + instalation booklet witch I can scan for those who want a copy. Really love the old Hotpoints. Looking forward for more!

Chris.

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 1508 AUTOMATIC

So with the front loader market catered for with the 1600 and the de luxe toploader world taken care of with the 1504, Hotpoint saw an opening in the market for a less 'de luxe' smaller and slower top loader.

The result was the Model 1508 AUTOMATIC.

This compressed 1504, had its controls on the front, so it could be slotted under the work surface of a fitted kitchen and dragged out for use.

It was stripped of the timeline, came in a slightly smaller bodyshell and had a slower spin speed of 750rpm.

Though I dont know the exact introducion date, an instruction manual that I own is dated August 1972....

 

[matchboxpaul]

Model 1508 AUTOMATIC

showing the control panel in better detail...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Hi Chris.

Glad you are enjoying the thread - I remember you mentioning that your gran had a 1502.
If you have got time to scan the manual, I would love a copy!

Paul