Latest Find: 1973 Simpson Semi Automatic

[mayfan69]

I purchased this machine on Ebay from a deceased estate. It's a 1973 Simpson Semi Auto which works Perfectly! It even came with the original instruction manual and warranty card. I remember this machine when i was 7 years old...family friends had one.I think that's where my fascination started...watching it wash and spin and how the suds save worked.

Leon

 

[mayfan69]

Pic 2

 

[mayfan69]

Pic 3

 

[mayfan69]

Pic 4: Interior

 

[mayfan69]

Pic 5: Mechanicals: works perfectly

 

[cleanteamofny]

Wow Leon!

This Simpson is a beauty!
That timer is to die for, set it and wash as long as you want as well as the spin cycle! I just wished that the American makers would give us that feature on the TOL machines.......

Does the slots in the agitator filter lint?

Larry

 

[mayfan69]

Lint Filter

Hey Larry,

Thanks!

That timer is very "bejewelled" isn't it?? lol

Yes....it has a lint filter in the agitator post.

Leon

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hey Leon, wow that a fun looking washer, very low profile for the 1970's. Congrats on the new member of the collection!

 

[Designgeek]

Very interesting! Simple & straightforward mechanicals. I asssume the white Reset button is for switching off a Wash or Spin setting in order to change from one to the other? And the red Motor Reset button is for in case someone runs a cycle too long and the motor overheats and shuts down?

Is it correct to guess that the water fill for wash & rinse is controlled manually via the faucet control on the water outlet it's hooked up to? And does that let you do spin/rinses by opening the water valve while it's in spin mode? Any idea how fast the spin is?

I don't think it would be hard to convert fully automatic machines to semi-auto, though perhaps sacreligious to do it to an older machine unless it's one that's very commonly available. Mechanical windup timers are widely available, one might even get away with disguising the modifications entirely, so only someone who knew what was up would know how to operate it.

 

[partscounterman]

This Simpson looks SO much like a Maytag, as far as the agitator and tranny set-up. Did Simpson buy some patents from Maytag or did they just swipe 'em?

 

[brettsomers]

some vids of this machine running would be perfect on YouTube

 

[knitwits1975]

A semi automatic? So it does everything an automatic does, but you have to change the cycles?

 

[brettsomers]

exactly, *knits*. would be perfect for me, since i rarely let my machine finish without a little tampering and babying.

 

[gizmo]

It doesn't quite do everything an auto does - there is no pressure switch and no inlet valves, so it does not automatically shut off when full. When you turn on the taps, it fills. When you turn off the taps, it stops filling. If you forget to turn off the taps, it floods. It's one way to keep the laundry floors clean.

Chris.

 

[gansky1]

So very Maytag looking in many ways - the spring loaded pivoting motor is very 1957 Maytag though!

 

[Designgeek]

Re. manual water fill: but at least that means you're turning off the taps, rather than leaving them open (as most people with automatics do) and risking a hose bursting when you're away from the house. Better to have an occasional small spill while you're home, than a huge flood while you're away.

 

[mayfan69]

Designgeek: How it Works...

Designgeek:

The "white" reset button is to re-start the machine if it goes out of balance, whereas the "red" reset button is for the motor overload protection.

To switch from wash to spin, you simply press the "off" button first and then the other....their is an inbuilt safety mechanism which prevents one from going straight from wash to spin. Filling is done manually so is the spray rinse via one hose. The spin doesn't seem "that" fast, i'm thinking in the 550-600rpm.

Robert: Thanks...i think its cute!

Partscounterman:

You are correct, there are a lot of interchangeable parts between this era of Simpson machines and Maytags: Whereas the helical drive Maytag gearbox has the counterweight on the "outside" , the Simpson gearbox has the counterweight on the "inside". Not sure if Simpson paid for any patents.

Leon