How do Guys - have just got back from work and have been looking forward to seeing if this thread has progressed any further - superb that it has.
Mark - cheers for flagging up the 18371. There appears to be a bit of inconsitency within the official stuff, as it describes 18371 as Electronic de luxe. But pictures prove the point and 18371 is now re-christened on the sheet as Super Electronic.
Your excellent Microtronic definately, as far as I am concerned anyway, falls into the silver category running alongside the 18340, 18380 and 18580. If it has a trace of silver on the facia and, more importantly, a silver door then its a silver-un.
Very fond of the 1701 Liberator dryer - my grandma had one and, when it stopped heating, I was given it as a 'toy' with it living in my dads shed (it replaced a Creda 275 that I was given when I was about four years old). My grandma's machine was older than the one you pictured, as hers stated in plain capital letters 'HOTPOINT LIBERATOR DRYER'. That would date hers to 1973/74 when they were first introduced. The Hotpoint script came along when the 1828/02 replced the 1851, in 1976.
Re: the 1731 E - any ideas what the E stands for?
Mike - where on earth did you stumble across that piccy. Its a difficult one isn't it. There is not a hint of viloet/mauve in the new picture, which would make it definately a 1600. That is so long as the 1830 WAS on the recieving end of a violet attack. If the 1830 wasn't then it cold be an 1830!
Arrrrgggghhhhh.
In the absence of a definate '1830 was purple', I would be inclined to say that the new piccy is of a 1600.
Many thanks for the Microtronic info - very useful and many gaps filled in.
Will post some updated screengrabs shortly, so you can see where things are at.
Just before I do that, anyone any idea of the model and title (probably Super Dryer) of the dryer below. Its the only 1979 silver series machine that I have not identified yet. It is from the front cover of a Hotpoint brochure, the cover and a few pages of which can be found on the Hotpoint Yahoo Group.
With a door like that it would have been a direct, rear rather than door vented, replacement for the 1720 'Home and dry' compact from the Liberator era. Anyone own the brochure who could check?
Screengrabs along shortly - seeing as we are talking dryers, I will post that info as well.
Cheers
Paul
