Philips Slimstar Hn3156

[alanlondon]

First time...

Hi there, first post on this site, but look at it every day though as, like the rest of you, I adore washing machines, used to repair them a long time ago. I have quite a large collection (in the 1000s) of brochures, manuals etc and when I saw this post today I had to write as this was my absolute favorite washer in the 80s, had one for quite a few years. I have the original brochure, operating instructions and maintenance manual for it – which I’m happy to share. When I get a moment I’ll try and upload some of it. In case you’re interested I have a Keymatic (which needs restoring), a contrarotating Dyson and then Miele appliances as everyday machines.

Best regards

Alan

 

[alanlondon]

As promised

Operating instructions page 1

 

[alanlondon]

Operating instructions

Page 2

 

[alanlondon]

Operating instructions

page 3 (last one)

 

[alanlondon]

Brochure

Sorry it's not in colour (next time will sort)

 

[alanlondon]

Brochure

page 2

 

[sesteve]

Welcome

Hi Alan

I think we all start off just like you have. It's not that scary really once you are in!

Thanks for posting those. Great to have copies of the manual - I would never have known about the different spin times depending on the position of the selector. If I could be cheeky and get a copy of the service manual that would be fantastic. I could make a few things out from the pictures on the info I saw on the internet such as changing the position of the hoses and the transit bracket arrangement but that was it.

Sounds like you have a great collection of literature. You are really lucky as it seems harder to come by now. I might pester you to see if you have a couple of other bits I've not been able to find

S

 

[alanlondon]

Maintenance manual

Hi there S

Sure no problem to copy everything, I'll send you an email.

Cheers, Alan

 

[vacbear58]

Slimstar

Alan
Welcome to AW, thanks for posting the manuals. I am also in London and have a couple of (working) Keymatics so if you fancy a trip down memory lane some weekend drop me an email
Al

 

[behzad]

good compact washer.like a toy!

 

[foraloysius]

Wonderful machine! I remember adds in magazines when I was young. I really loved these machines, this model made me have an interest in topload H-axis machines.

This machine is 45cm wide, the later ones made in France were 40cm wide. I bought the later AWB119PH as my first washing machine. That machine had the openings in the side panels too for the hoses. I loved the spin drain.

And thanks for sharing all the literature. Great stuff!

BTW, what's the spinspeed of this machine?

 

[sesteve]

Brilliant - thanks Alan

Behzad - if only it was the same weight as a toy. Too many stairs in this house to move them up and down lol

Hi Louis. It has a 1000rpm spin on this machine - the later machines dropped to 850rpm for some reason. You can see the belt move up the clutch pulley on the spin once the water has drained out.

Does anyone know when Philips moved away from the spin drain as I know Al's front loader did this as well. Not sure if it was a 70s thing

 

[alanlondon]

Service Manual

I've scanned the whole manual to upload, but the writing is very small. Here's something though that maybe of interest.

 

[matchboxpaul]

Hi Steve.

Blimey, you snook that one in quietly by the back door didn't you! lol.
So there are now two safe HN3156's - the more the merrier, as far as I am concerned and great that you have started to tinker with it.

As you hint at earlier, my god they weigh an absolute ton! Don't envy you having to climb stairs with it - everything is solid, forged from the heaviest metals known to mankind. That's what it feels like to move anyway.

Won't go into too much waffle, as I've waffled on about it before, but one of my grandma's had one of these and it was installed sideways, with the dials running up the right hand side. Haven't the foggiest why they didn't by a front loader to be honest, as it was installed under a worksurface anyway.

Was overjoyed to be able to acquire my own and now there are two!

 

[matchboxpaul]

'647'

Mine was made in the 47th week of 1976.

 

[matchboxpaul]

Both our machines highlight a small weakness in the design and its probably caused by twisting forces when operating. Do you see it?

 

[matchboxpaul]

Unfortunately my machine has a pump issue that is yet to be investigated.

It has hopefully a blocked, rather than failed, pump. The machine was acquired, filled up and put on spin, where upon it spat water out of its suds overflow.

The flow of water through the outlet hose was minimal and it didn't pump out sufficient water before it began to spin, with the result that it threw it everywhere.
Apart from that, it works! lol.

Keep us updated with how everything goes with the Slimstar - I will observe with interest.
Cheers
Paul

 

[matchboxpaul]

p.s re spin draining. As far as frontloaders were concerned, all left hand drive machines were spin drainers, with this feature being discontinued when the right hand drive series 90 models were introduced in the mid 80s.

Cant speak for toploaders, but this second generation SlimstarMkII AWB117 (owned by Richard in Bristol) was also a spin drainer and was also considerably lighter in weight than the HN3156.
I dreaded collecting it for Richard, but it was light as a feather (well maybe not that light, but you get the idea)...

 

[matchboxpaul]

...

 

[matchboxpaul]

Calling Alan!

Hi Alan.

Welcome to the club and what an arrival!
Thanks for posting pages of the literature concerning the tank, sorry ... Slimstar.

An absolute classic from a superb brand that I for one miss from the scene. Constructing classic machines, with character that set them apart from the rest.

Really appreciate you posting pages from the instruction manual, especially as I have always been a bit confused by its operation.

Cant wait to read more about this superb machine.
Regards
Paul