My First Classic Washing Machine - A Hoover Top Loader!

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Things have gone a little quiet...

But maybe this will liven things up! My Hoover Single is finally restored! The parts store will get back to me soon about the hose. I used Polymer Sealant to glue the pump tire back together to see if it would work. The first wash will be tomorrow depending on that tire. The switch has also been sorted, just a loose connection. I haven't any pics yet but I guarantee pics and a video tomorrow! The machine really looks splendid.

James.
 
Hiya James.

Been avidly reading and cant wait to see pics of your restoration job.

If you have the time, patience and supplies then a full respray is always advatageous.

Never having been brave enough I have never done a full respray job.
I do use Humbrol enamel paint, but only as a touch up paint. As Gary has said, most 'appliance paint' is too white for vintage machines, that tend to go off white with age.

Cheers
Paul
 
Welcome James

You have found a great classic Hoover washer for your first machine!!!, easy to use, and repair, parts still just about available, now all you need is the matching spinner... My Grans had this machine and they just rumble on doing a simple but very effective job of washing!!! Glad to see you are "Hands On" nothing like getting to grips with your own machines!!!

Heres a pic of the "Hoover Twosome" and guys after ranting on about "No bridging Units To be Found" whilst sorting & moving this weekend, opened up the Hoover wringer set and found a grey one!!!...yay!!!

chestermikeuk++8-16-2010-05-08-8.jpg
 
You found it Mike bridge unit

Hi Mike
since meeting you and kris he's often said that he thought you had one with a washer you had of him, and I always said you didn't so great that ones been found, at least it proves we've not lost our memories lol.

Can we get copies made lol.
 
Right

Mathew thats correct,had forgotten that, have just checked my spreadsheet and I did get it from Chris, the first time we met him in Somerset!!!

Its the grey one, will photo it tomorrow! dont think its the one with wings like the later black ones!!

Took this pic of the 110v Hoover tub set for export, no switch just plug & go like the first one!!!

chestermikeuk++8-16-2010-12-53-39.jpg
 
Sorry for the delay...

I haven't been at my machine for the past day. I will be tomorrow though because I got the pump tyre and I can now do my first wash! I got it from this large spares place in Derry called Quinnspares. They have tons of old discontinued parts and they say that they have lots of old twin tub spares as well as lots of Hotpoint 18 series parts! I haven't found a fill/drain hose yet but will the fill hose of a Hoover T5004 work? Does anybody here have any lying around? Mike nice machines, is that first one the same as mine only destined to be part of the Twosome offer because it lacks the badge?

Write back soon, James.
 
Sadly giving up...

The machine has 4 leaks and there are rust on the screws to access some awkward pipes. I'm sorry guys but I might just put her back in the shed where she came from and use my experience on a future machine which I hope comes by soon. I like Hotpoint more than Hoover so should I use my "HotpointJames" account instead of this one? Unless I can change my username somehow. Also I'm planning on tracking down the "Holy Grail" of Hotpoint, yep you got it... THE 1600 or 1830! Wish me luck though I doubt many were sold or even made it to Ireland.

Regards, a saddened James.
 
single tub in USA

This is nearly identical and was sold in the USA. The brand name is Monitor and I THINK this one is from the 1950s.

bobofhollywood++8-19-2010-08-50-4.jpg
 
inside the tub

This is an aerator type washer which is completely manual although some were sold with electric drain pumps. Mine is gravity drain. I have found that this machine produces more lint than any washer I have ever experienced. I love it anyway and this one works perfectly. Cheers , cheerio , and pip pip.

bobofhollywood++8-19-2010-09-02-29.jpg
 
I'M NOT GIVING UP YET!

Hi everybody,

I sat all day yesterday feeling sorry for myself and all the painting and cleaning I had done but mum read bits and pieces of the forum and this thread in particular and she suggested that I should never give up and that you guy's never give up if something is leaking so we came to the conclusion that I should strip the machine and replace the leaky pipework. So today taking into account from memory that the tub was leaking and the pump, and pipework. I took the motor and pump out, and tested the tub for leaks, the result was... NO LEAKS! I replaced the badly rotted pipe from the pump to the top with some yellow pipe I found that fitted and it is secure and has a cable tie around it. Hopefully that should cure the worst leak. I will apply some sealant to the pump tomorrow and patch the pin-hole leak in the sump to pump pipe. I have also found a replacement fill/drain hose at the spares shop and I will get it as soon as possible though possibly not until next weekend. Here is a picture of the machine when is was painted. I hope you will respect my amatuer painting skills LOL!

Please reply, James.

hooverjames++8-20-2010-15-28-44.jpg
 
don't give up

It took me more than one attempt to make my monitor perfect also. Wouldn't you agree that my machine looks just like your only yours has it's skirt pulled up over it's head ! Now the question is which one is related to which ! Nice looking machine young man. Congratulations on sticking with it. Cheerio and Pip Pip !
 
Bob

Hi,

Thanks, I think both our machines could be similar just by fate. Hoover launched their first Single in 1948 and the same design was used up until the last in 1975. Your machine is from 1950 something as you say. It could have been based on the Single even if the Monitor looks older. The tub in the Monitor looks modified a little compared to the Single. I couldn't tell you as I'm not as experienced as some here but in my opinion it's fate.

Thank's again, your machine is nice too, James.
 
well done James

on a great paint job, I wish my single tubs looked that good, painting is a skill I hope to improve on a some stage in the future.

And don't let a few leaks put you off, we are all always to eager to fill them up and get washing, and I'm sure we've all tales of flooded kitchens etc, it happend to me only a few weeks ago when draining the wash tub on a twin tub, so it pays to check all the pipe work thoughroughly. So keep up the good work, if you get annoyed with it, just walk away and it won't seem as bad another time, also you may have thought of another solution to the problem.

Great to see the photos and look forward to hearing about the first wash once you've finished the last few repairs. It will be worth all the perseverence.

Mathew
 
Hoover - Who Better..!!!

Wow...James well done on a stunning restore and yes you where right to give it a second go...it looks great... and yes dont worry about using original pipes n stuff under the skirt...as long as it works thats all that matters, nowthen...when all finished you can have loads of Splashdrama with your first Hoover machine!!! Heres the first!!!

Bob, do we know when monitor first produced this single tub?? because there is a story that could link it to the first Hoovers!!!, certainly are very similar!!!

Cheers, Mike

chestermikeuk++8-20-2010-18-01-6.jpg
 
First Wash Tomorrow!

Hi all,

I built the machine up again and all the piping is fitted and clamped. The small pin-hole crack on the sump pipe is sealed and the leaky pump too. All I have to do tomorrow is screw the clamp on the replaced pipe at the pump and level the motor on it's bolts. Of course I need to polish it too LOL! I'm going to put an ad in the local free-ads paper for a Spinarinse and a Hoovermatic soon too! Thanks for the thumbs up on my paint job. Nice 0307 Mike! More pics? In regards to me e-mailing Hotpoint about the 1600, I've had no reply but it should be 3 more working days.

James.
 
Well done James

For your tenacity on this project, looks like you have done a very good job on this old machine. Good idea for posting the ad for Spinarinse or HM - there were plenty of those sold in Ireland - well in the north at least.

Don't hold your breath on a Hotpoint 1600 though, if one ever showed up there would be a dust storm as collectors went for it LOLOL. I actually had a chat with Paul about this very machine at the last wash-in at Mike's and apparently the quality of materials used in it was not great and it was a troublesome machine, and a fire at the Peterborough resulted in a lot of spares for it being destroyed. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE this machine and would give a lot for one. Still, I suppose some rare Keymatics have emerged over the last couple of years so it is not impossible.

I was always struck by the number of Hotpoint top loaders I saw when I visited southern Ireland so that might be worth looking out for. Oh, and I believe early Hotpoints were sold in Ireland under the "Gala" name so it might be worth checking those out too.
Al
 
Good day!

Got to see the machine today again and I levelled the motor on it's bolts and it seems to be quiet and movement free now apart from the odd rattle from the pulsator due to being empty probably. Good news is that and all of the inside leaks have vainished! :D Two more little things to do and it's one more classic machine preserved. I have to get that drain pipe and I have to seal a little hole where the outlet comes through the top because the original is missing or rotten. The beauty of appliances in Ireland is that broken machines aren't likely to be scrapped due to expense so they're left but they can be found in appalling condition. I know a lady down the road from my gran's who had a large shed full of Hotpoint's that had broke but that was when I was little so chances are they're gone now but I don't know whether I should investigate or not. Wash day has been moved to Tuesday! Would the 1600 be exported as the Gala 1600? I wouldn't call it a dust storm, WWIII would suit it more LOLOL!!! If Hotpoint do have a 1600 somewhere, would it be right for me to take it and have them ship it over here? I'd stand no chance if they put it on Ebay. It's their job to reply so I should get an e-mail soon.

James.
 
Hi James

Great to read your story and well done on the restoration of the Hoover single-tub. You should be able to find the matching spinarinse too - as mentioned before, loads of those were sold in Ireland.

I'm from Ireland too - and my partner and me are actually moving back in January. As Al says, Hotpoints were sold as Gala in the 1950s and 1960s, changing to Hotpoint when GEC took the firm over in early seventies. I'm not sure if the 1600 ever made it to Ireland, but I guess it might have.

The Hotpoint top loader was very popular in Ireland, so you never know you might just find one! I'm hoping to find an early Gala or an american GE when I move back too. The Supermatic twintub was called Filtermatic in Ireland. You may also find some other unique Irish machines like the Novum twintub (based on the Rolls twintub), or the ESB Multiwash (a rebadged Servis Supertwin 70, sold through the ESB).

Best of luck with the first wash - make sure you have a circuit tripper plugged in for safety.

David
 
Washday!!!

Wow! I had an amazing day with my machine. All of the leaks including the one at the top are fixed now and I had a lovely washday. I have taken a mini movie of it's wash and I will get round to editing that for YouTube tomorrow. The same applies to the pics. I really enjoyed the splashes and it worked very hard.

Sit tight, James.
 
Hi James.

Congrats on getting the old girl up and running. Am sitting tight!

The paint job looks fine. Its a skill I will have to master one day.
Mine and Mathews Hoover 3236H was a visual wreck when I went and acquired it, so bad that we expected to have to strip it down and respray.
Miraculously though, apsrt from the lid and door that were too far gone, it was all grime and miniscule rust spots on the bodyshell that erased themselves with some elbow grease.

Under the lid needed work with paint though.

At the moment though spray painting frightens me. Small tin of Humbrol white enamel paint and a brush is all i feel confident with at the moment.

Good on you for persevering with the repair. Your first machine (and may it be the first of many) may have seemed like a baptism of fire, but I am sure that the results will be thoroughly satisfying.

Cheers
paul
p.s piccy below = pre an attack of humbrol

matchboxpaul++8-24-2010-15-14-41.jpg
 
Tidied up paint, new door, new lid, new dial cap and dial ring and powder drawer facia.

Restoration is very rewarding.
Hard work, but rewarding.

Can wait for your piccies and vids of your 1321A! Roll out the unveiling.

Regards
Paul

matchboxpaul++8-24-2010-15-19-52.jpg
 
'Can wait for your piccies and vids of your 1321A! Roll

'Can wait' should of course read 'Can't wait'!

Curse my poor typing. lol.

Paul
 
Piccy's

Hi Paul,

First of all, very nice machine there! Went through a second wash today and it was great, the hassle of not owning a Spinarinse is annoying though. It scares you sometimes with those big splashes and I always put the lid on which helps a little LOL. Thakfully no more wet patches under the machine and the only drip I see is when a big splash occurs and a little drip finds it's way through the seal at the top around the pump outlet and lands on top of the pump, but this doesn't occur often so should I worry? The motor sometimes struggles slightly when loaded but I assume this is normal? I should really be complaining because this is a wonderful machine. Now for the piccy's, the video is still being edited.

Enjoy, James!

hooverjames++8-25-2010-17-17-37.jpg
 

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