Introducing Swan Maid aka Kitchen Aid

[ricky5050]

Here is a post about my latest acquisition. A Swanmaid dishwasher from 1971. Is a slightly newer version of the popular Swanmaid from the 1960s which is based on the USA Kitchen Aid I believe. Bullpitt and sons were electric tea kettle manufacturers. They built these I’m guessing under licence. The main difference I think between uk and USA models is this a has a copper tea kettle with 2.7 kw 220 volt heater. And an in tub booster heater. The machine has 5 programmes. You unlock door and select program until orange light is lit. The tea kettle heater then heats water. When at correct temperature the drain pump clears any spills then the water inlet valve opens pushing hot water into tub from kettle. Machine runs then stops and heats the freshly filled kettle for a few minutes then drains first cycle and repeats for each subsequent cycle. So although can be a cold fill it’s very efficient at heating water to 65c. The original model ( see advert ) has one program you switched it on loaded machine and closed door the similar idea of an external heater preheated water and when ready the machine would run. I also have this model but it doesn’t work. This model has better racking layout and still has the familiar cast iron single wash arm in the bottom of tub. A top sprinkler is also fitted.
The main pump was siezed but easily freed and the fill valve leaked. The main problem was the pressure pot was clogged so it over filled. ( it has a rear overflow pipe ). So cleaning this copper pressure pot seems to have cured the problem. I’ve repainted the lower panel as it had rusted.
Its in my wash room shed so will get used at events. The load was fairly clean and I know not loaded perfectly. ( as you know you have to not block water spray in bottom rack.

Hope you enjoy

Richard

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations on your new treasure!

I hope it brings you lots of fun.

 

[foraloysius]

That's a nice dishwasher, it looks like new. Congratulations!

I don't see much similarity with the European KitchenAids I have seen, but those were mid 70's models. Does it say where it was made? European KitchenAids were made in France IIRC.

 

[appnut]

Louis, the pic #8 above is what resembled KitchenAids.

 

[foraloysius]

Yes, but I understand that that was an earlier model?

 

[foraloysius]

These are pictures from a mid 70's European KitchenAid.

 

[beehiveboy]

I’m drooling! What a dream machine!

 

[alanlondon]

Thank you Richard for posting these pictures and the explanation of how it works, really interesting.

Cheers, Alan

 

[tomturbomatic]

I noticed the older model in Doc Martin's Aunt Joan's kitchen.

 

[ricky5050]

The early version

I have a very early version that came from the house of the Mitford sisters. Sadly it’s in complete. I also have the version that is in the advert. It’s complete but not working as yet. I should say this later version is very similar in the internal tub and mechanical workings. Even the door on the inside but the outside is bigger so looks less kitchen aid esque.

Richard

 

[chachp]

Oh those Mitford Sisters.....

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">What the heck did they use for detergent in that thing?  It even ate up that cast iron wash arm.  LOL.  Looks W-E-L-L used!</span>

 

[ozzie908]

Ricky 5050

Thats exactly what was in a hotel kitchen in the mid to late 80's it had a boiler inside when you pressed start it would heat the water first then while washing it heated again for the rinse each load was about 20-25 mins depending on the hot water. A real work horse of a DW.

Austin