Philips D162 Tumble Dryer

[matchboxpaul]

Hiya Mike.

I know that you have rattled of the model numbers to me before, of the machines you remember selling.
No pressuer, but could you maybe list them here and then we can all maybe try putting a picture to them? Then I could maybe do a spreadsheet..... OMG what have I just said!

What really confuses me about them is that the AWB07X machines were the 1985 series machines.
The AWB08X had some black facias (early 80s), as well as two tone brown (mid 80s) machines in the that number range.

The AWB09X (the 096 Variatronic and 098 Super Variatronic) were 1983!

Wonder what the AWB model number for the 707 (shown below) would have been?

They seem to leap and jump around a bit, mixing up the different series of machines.

Arrrgggggghhhhhhh!!!!! Jeepers - why cant manufactureres use a bit of common sense with their numbering schemes eh!

Paul

 

[electron1100]

Classic dryers

Chris I must say what a wonderful sounding peice of equipment the Philips dryer is, it sounds like a high qaulity machine well done on getting one.
And of course the styling is something else

Nice nice very nice

Gary

 

[chestermikeuk]

Phillips Stack

This stacked set was the TOL here in the UK, it was the AWB098 variable programme time, temperature & spin speed along with economy & half load button, the dryer was the D182 if my memory is correct, the small dials are for heat and delay start.

 

[matchboxpaul]

From the wonderous world of 'Which' magazine

This is what they have to say:

September 1976
'707'
HN3156 'Slimstar'

October 1977
'707'
HN3156 'Slimstar'

January 1979
AWB080 'Variatronic' (next to a picture labelled as 707)
HN3156 'Slimstar'

July 1979
AWB082 'Variatronic'
AWB103/01 'Slimstar 555'

March 1980
AWB082 'Variatronic' (£205)
AWB103/01 'Slimstar 555' (£280)
AWB127/01 (flippin heck! - £400) ... this machine was badged '808' - my mystery machine (but mine was blue in a black era)!

Now things really get messy!

April 1981
AWB082/2 (£235)
AWB085/2 (£250)
AWB094/2 (£285)
AWB103/02 (£290) top loader
AWB117 (£275) top loader
AWB127/02 (£285)

May 1982
AWB086 'Variatronic' (£240)
AWB089 Washer Dryer (£300)
AWB096 'Variatronic' (£235)
AWB097 'Variatronic' (£250)
AWB098 'Super Variatronic' (£280)
AWB103/02 'Super Slimstar' (£270)
AWB117 'Slimstar MkII' (£270)

April 1983
AWB057 (£235) excl to Currys
AWB064 (£225) excl to Trident
AWB082 (£235) excl to Rumbelows
AWB088 (£250) '1000 electronic de luxe'
AWB089 (£295) Washer Dryer
AWB096 (£240) 'Variatronic'
AWB098 (£285) 'Super Variatronic'
AWB099 (£250) excl to ACE Group
AWB103/02 'Super Slimstar' (£290)
AWB117 'Slimstar MkII' (£280)
AWB904 (£170) a 500rpm max machine made in Italy

January 1984
AWB052 (£230) excl to Trident
AWB054 (£240) excl to Rumbelows
AWB055 (£240) excl to Currys
AWB069 (£280) excl to ACE Group .... 1000rpm
AWB075 (£310) Washer Dryer Series 90
AWB088 (£260) '1000 electronic de luxe'
AWB089 (£270) Washer Dryer .... excl to Comet
AWB096 (£245) 'Variatronic'
AWB098 (£300) 'Super Variatronic'
AWB099 (£250) excl to ACE Group .... 800rpm
AWB904 (£190) a 500rpm max machine made in Italy
AWB3147 'Slimstar MkIII' (£300)
AWB149 'Super Slimstar' (£320)

1985
Introduction of 'Series 90' machines.

Doesnt really help, does it.
Paul

 

[matchboxpaul]

Hi Mike.

I am beginning to wonder whether they played the old 'change the colour/leave the model number' game, with the blue/brass dial into black facia machines!

I say this because:

AWB080 is descibed alongside a picture of the 707 - this would likely be its model number, rather than an error.

This would then leave AWB082 and AWB082/2 to cover the brass dial and later black facia machines respectively.

It would also leave AWB127/01 and AWB127/02 to cover a blue dial 808 and later black facia machine respectively as well.
AWB127/02 would then be the washing machine in the stacked picture, as AWB098 is the Super Variatronic shown below - lovely machine.

Ohhh for some servicing information, or better still the blinking brochures!

Paul

 

[chestermikeuk]

Lol

I told you it would give you headaches...they changes fascias and colours rather than change model numbers as well!!

In 1982 I worked at Trident, we sold AWB082, AWB096, AWB098, AWB103 TL & AWB117 TL (Co-Op had AWB097 & AWB099)these had round dials like woman in pic machines dark fascia

1984 worked at Agri Electrics, we sold AWB088, AWB096 & AWB 098, these had the grip knobs, lighter bottom panel, like the pic you posted last!!

This is the Phillips AWB082 early style!!

 

[foraloysius]

Paul,

That AWB098, the Super Variatronic, wasn't that a machine with a plastic outer drum? Spin speed 200 - 1000 rpm IIRC.

 

[vacbear58]

More memories

Mike,
Seeing that cut away picture reminded me that there was a similar cut away model running in the appliance showroom (independent store) when I bought my Philips machine. They also made a great selling point on the motor.

Paul,
It was the same as the one you have the pic of just above my scanned photos, and same layout as the Electra version that Mike had. By 1984 it was developing a problem that the timer was sticking and, as I had moved and the stacked layout no longer suited, I flogged them both and replaced them with a Philips (series 90, I think) 850 washer/dryer - I never felt this was as good as the washer on its own, and the little drain tube from the door seal soon perished and developed a leak ... grrrrrr.

I think the washer dryer (vented dryer not condensor) was a Merloni - it was sold in Eire as the Thor 950. It had wheels which could be lowered down by moving levers under the front of the machine on each side. It lasted till 1990 when it was replaced by a Candy (shock, horror,gasp!!!) with a 400 spin which was given to me - I was hard up at the time having just bought my first flat in London, that was 1990 and interest rates were sky high. I soon got shot of that, when I saw a Currys "special" branded Mondia (the motor etc. were stamped Philco - so Merloni) in 1991 at the bargain price of £210. That lasted until 2002, although I had passed it onto a friend by then.

As I remember, the washing machines were made in France and the dryers in UK. Did the dryer plant not become White Knight when Whirlpool bought out Philips.

By the way, the two square buttons on the front of the 707 were door release and powder drawer release - I presume it was the same on the german version.

Liam
The Zanusssi DL6 lasted until 1980. It had to have a major repair in 1979 when the outer drum developed a hole and the whole thing had to be taken apart and put back together again. Of course we should have had the bearings done at the same time but we were not aware that they could be an issue. They failed in 1980 and that was that. It was replaced by a Zanussi 218T - my mother was a bit reluctant for Zanussi again but she was always very pleased with the washing performance of the Zanussi so that won out in the end. The 218T was still running in 1997 (it outlived both my parents!) although it was struggling a bit when rinsing (when the water level was at its higest and clothes at their heaviest) although it was still fine on washing and spinning. And no leaks or other problems. It could still be running (somewhere in North Wales) for all I know

 

[vacbear58]

Another picture

In 1999 I took out the bath from the flat, replacing it with a shower. That left room to accomodate a washing machine & dryer in the bath (now shower room) - Bosch 2000 washing machine & Zanussi condensor dryer. Although unusual in his country it is quite common to have laundry equipment in the bathroom on the continent, and those who have been at my current home know that I have a similar arrangement here. I left the equipment behind though as it would have been just too much bother to remove it and teh Zanussi alwasy has a drip from teh condensate tank. Initially I had an AEG 1200 spin (Electrolux) and Hotpoint Aquarius condensor dryer here - the AEG lasted only about 18 months when the circuit board developed a fault, so that was replaced with a Miele Novotronic in 2004.
Al

 

[newwave1]

Lovely bosch and zanussi set there Al! I love my bosch WFF2000, its awesome.

I love philips machines so much. a family friend had one and it was just so entertaining.

I remember because of the type of motor it had it wouldn't let me turn it anticlockwise freely by hand, it was like turnin a dryer drum and i was so confused as my own machine at home turned eitherway freely by hand lol.

Again another brand i wonder "what if?" If they were still around. Can you imagine 8kg spindrains? lol.

Such stylish machines that they were.

Darren

 

[mrprojectionist]

Philips R 164

Here is a R 164 Version, that I saved from going to the scrap yard!

I went past this pickup truck of a odd-job man and saw the R164.

I asked him if he was willing to sell it and to deliver it to me. He happily obliged for a fiver!

It needs a lot of cleaning up but it works!
I have de-fluffed inside and out and wiped it down.

Does anyone have experience in painting the top?
I guess I can't do much about the control fascia..

 

[mrprojectionist]

Another photo..

 

[matchboxpaul]

Good save there, Paul.

The R164 model is a new one on me - any change of a photo of the ratings sticker on the back?
Am after this to identify its AWB model number.

The Philips 'R' models tended to be exclusive models and this is a new version for me.

Congrats on the new find.
Paul

 

[foraloysius]

The R164 looks much like the AWB162. That was a BOL dryer in 1982. Above that were the AWB170 and the AWB180. Both these had round, chrome doors. At least that's how it was in the Netherlands in that year. The AWB170 had a signal, the AWB180 was en electronic model with sensor.

 

[matchboxpaul]

Hi Louis.
That's pretty much how it was over here as well in the late 70s and early 80s, but then Philips went mad and began producing exclusive models left right and centre through to the mid 80s.

Below is the AWB162...

 

[matchboxpaul]

AWB170...

 

[matchboxpaul]

and AWB180...

 

[mrprojectionist]

Philips R164

Here you are, pity the important part is torn...

 

[aquacycle]

1982?

the D162 dryer was out LONG before 1982. Here is a pic of my brother as a baby and he was born in 1979. He's not even 1 in this picture.

 

[foraloysius]

Great pictures! Thanx!

 

[miele4life]

great thread about the Phillips dryers, I grew up with a D153 compact model and the basic design still exists as the White Knights of course. Just 1 little question, when was the airflow pattern redesigned on the full-sized models?

 

[the vintage royle highnes]

and another vid..

need to see 2 videos of the d162 tumble dryer pkease