Introducing the last British designed Hotpoint... Concepta & Millenium

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

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supermaticjames

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Dec 12, 2010
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Location
Donegal, Ireland
Morning guys,

Picked up my youngest machines yet! Really never thought I would collect a WMA series but they do deserve to be preserved even if they paved the road out of British ownership and manufacturing. WMA31 and TDL30 in Natural Linen, shall be posting pics later.

James.
 
Certainly have their place in history, so well claimed!
Like the names too.

Did you know that the second generation WM, non first edition models eg WM61, 62, 63 and 64 etc were known as the 'Vogue' series.

Roll on the photos.

Paul
 
I only have one photo...

There was a lot of shed work being done so here is the WMA31N beside the newly christened WD61 "Vogue". I must say the washer dryer looks so much more at home under the sink and the 9770 looks better among its own kind. :) Looking around inside the machine you do realize that you are indeed dealing with a real British designed & built Hotpoint as the pump is a Plaset and the PCB is made by AKO (who made the mechanical timers for Hotpoint since 30 odd years ago). I cant tell what motor it has. It sounds different to Mums unreliable WMA34 (successor to this model), I'm guessing that it either has a Bosch sourced motor or the motor that replaced the GDA motor until the Indesit FHP motors came along, I cant remember the name of this motor. It's really quiet, all you hear is the drum spinning as you would hear with a super silent or induction motor machine. Bearings are fine too so that's a bonus.

James.

James.

supermaticjames++11-4-2012-16-52-51.jpg
 
James - I have all the WMA brochures, unfortunately I threw the duplicates I had away a few years ago (thinking nobody else would have a need for them, how silly was I!!) - busy with work/uni but when I get a spare couple of hours I'll go into the cellar and dig them out and scan them in :-)

Congratulations by the way, I remember when these first came out - I saw them in mum's Peter Craig catalogue (anybody remember them?) and thought wow as they were so different and unique looking at the time! Scary how nowadays they are almost a classic.

I always had a spot for the Zircon Silver models at the time, again because they were so new and different. The oyster colour was also very very unique - think a modern take on spring almond!

I'll get back to you when I've got the scans,

Jon
 
good machine here, I remember when they 1st came out in 2000 and age has been kind 2 them lol, I once had it's successor, the WMA34 in Polar White but it's common bearing failure fault cut short it's life when it was replaced with the present day Miele in 2005.

I'm surprised no washer dryer versions were made, a fantasy model would probably be a WDMA31N/P/S with 1100rpm spin and same options as the WMA30 with the double glazed door from the Ultima. Here's something 2 imagine on this thread lol :)
 
Hey James!

Love them! They should look great stacked or side by side! And the WD61 looks great with them, hope the WD61 won't go to the crusher, I so badly want one! I have got all 3 WMA series brochures which I don't mind emailing them to you or posting them here.

Below is my new 2002 Indesit W143S (s for smelly, it is), S for silver! It has a 5KG tub and 1400 spin. The tub is stainless steel (I think, I know it is welded, and not plastic)and I thought Indesit were budget machines.

Chris :)

aquarius8000++11-7-2012-10-46-8.jpg
 
Your new machine looks in fine fettle James and a worthy addition to your superb collection of Hotpoint's.

Here is a bit of history for you:

March 2000 / dc75
Field trial launched. This comprised of 600 WMA33P. The field trial product included a 2 year guarantee to enable extended data collection.

May 2000 / dc77
Four new Aquarius models entered full production (WMA30/31/32 & 33).

June 2000 / dc78
WMA30, WMA31, WMA32 and WMA33 models launched in the UK market with software Version 13 for the control module.

You still getting the matching dryer?

Paul
 
To this much roomier drum... I like how Hotpoint considered every detail in the WMA models the way they colour coordinated the door seal with the machine. Zircon, Polar and Satin Aluminum machines having grey seals and Linen and Oyster having this natural colour.

supermaticjames++11-7-2012-16-33-38.jpg
 
9770 close up, that's all for tonight... Paul I assume you have the service info for these machines. I also noticed that Hotpoint put a lot of sound insulating foam on the sides of the cabinet and that there is a blanking piece on the base of the cabinet. My machine is so quiet all you hear is the drum whirring and the faint sound of the motor, when it is spinning faster of course the motor is louder. I don't know what motor it has as there are about three types fitted to these. It doesn't sound like my Mum's WMA34 but it sounds more like a WM model.

James.

supermaticjames++11-7-2012-16-41-14.jpg
 
Lovely collection you have there! :)

I always did wonder why a relatives Aquarius WMA32 (still in use) was quieter than our Aquarius WMA58 (also still in use) with powerstream wash system which was a newer model.

They sure are machines to be collected, my favourite has always been the WMA76 as it was a very flexible machine. I also loved how the Fast Wash took 26 minutes and heated to 35 degrees, good for a refreshing wash.

Here's a picture I took yesterday of my relatives WMA32 whilst I was putting a few tea towels on cottons 60.

Happy Washing :)

dyson2drums++11-9-2012-11-27-22.jpg
 
James...

What a lovely set! My grandparents had a WMA36N from 2002 until 2008, in Natural Linen. One of my friends has a WMA32P and my uncle has the same. I have no photo's of my grandparents or my friends but I visited my uncle around three weeks ago so i will scavenge it out from the bottom of the computers memory!
 
WOW!

Your shed looks stunning! What can I say? I really love your collection but what happened to the WM22 and WM23?And yes, I can agree that the 9770 looks at home there:) And I don't think that the seal was meant to be that colour, but may be wrong.

Chris

aquarius8000++11-18-2012-02-47-37.jpg
 
Actually, brushless motors were never used by Hotpoint until the introduction of the WF840 and WF860.

The WMA63, WMA66 and WMA76 had a specific brush motor fitted along with a third PCB module called a DC Chopper board. The DC Chopper highly refined the power supply to the motor so that it operated quietly at lower speeds and more smoothly overall. I actually owned a WMA76 for about 6 months and I really liked it but I needed the money more so I sold it on because no matter how quiet or flashy it was I'd rather have an older machine any day.

PS, no mention of brushless motors in the official service manuals either.

James
 

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