Philips Top Twin De Luxe

[keymatic3203]

Hi friends

Yes i won the top twin auction last weekend, it was collected on wednesday.

It was left in a house that the sellers had moved into, we suspect it was still in the kitchen but not in use recently, as it didn't seem damp or full of cobwebbs etc and had a fairly new looking plug which I doubt the sellers put on.
So thats about it for the back story, fortunatly I paid straight away on winning as the seller had a greater offer after I had won the auction. So i do feel pleased to have got it and to have the opportunity to restore it and take it round the wash parties for whoevers interested to also enjoy.

It needs some of the internal hoses replacing and the usual clean and polishing, but on an intial trial everything seemes to work as it should. Going on just the one load (before the perished hoses leaked too much to continue)it's a great performer, I'd say its a shorter but faster adjitator stroke than the servis supertwin and the spin dryer is fantastic, a larger diameter drum than the hoover and faster too, 3000rpm and a lot less vibration than the hoover/hotpoint twin tubs.

So here's some photo's taken at Kris's scullery. Anyone who knows me will understand it's about getting it going before cleaning it up, so thats why the machine still looks a bit gruby in the photos, and once it was running the camera got forgotten lol.

I won't say too much as I will leave room for questions.

Enjoy your weekend washes

Mathew

 

[keymatic3203]

lids open

the lids are discoloured plastic, but are still in good condition otherwise.

 

[keymatic3203]

wash tub

deeper and narrower than the servis, and sorry thats a drop of dirty water not a chip in the enammel.

 

[keymatic3203]

spin dryer

nice aluminium can, shaped like two cones, with slits round the centre. so you can do a semi soak rinse.

 

[keymatic3203]

it tells you

it's a de luxe

 

[keymatic3203]

control panel

all to hand.

 

[keymatic3203]

wash tub

filling through the suds return, in the parked position the drain arm discharges back into the wash tub. Almost ready for the soap.

 

[keymatic3203]

Soap Flakes

fabulous hair do.

 

[keymatic3203]

I'm sorry

but thats all the photos I took, once the tub was filled and washing away I forgot the camera, and with the machine left up with kris there's no chance of anymore for a couple of weeks.

Oh the knives are out for me now (vintage electric ones, of course)

And of course as anyone whos collected old appliances, it smelt wonderfully of 60's electrics, if they could bottle it lol.

Thanks for looking

Mathew

 

[triumphdolomite]

Riverflow

Hi Mathew
That's fantastic, I'm glad you got hold of it and it doesn't look like it needs too much work. I can see how the 'Riverflow' rinsing works now with that single row of holes in the spin can you'd be able to get plenty of water in. Is it as you thought and the pump runs continuously with the main control in the motor position?
Have a good weekend
Ian

 

[hoovermatic]

My Mum had a Philips Top Twin De luxe but it was considerably different to this machine so I guess it was an earlier/later model?!?! The Spinner lid was hinged on the right and it had a built in/hinged spin mat (pretty useless on reflection). There was much more chrome detail and a badge on the top right of the cabinet in turquoise and black with "Top Twin de luxe" on it, the spinner had it's own dial for up to 6 mins (I think) and a pump setting to allow rinsing in the spinner. The washtub also had a recirculating outlet. Great machine and what a rare find!!

 

[keymatic3203]

`river flow rinsing'

as the brochure calls it.

Ian

Yes you switch the main control to on and the wash motor runs, this also drives two seperate pumps, the adgitator gearbow is belt driven via a clutch exactly like the pulsator drive on the keymatic.

Basically the wash motor runs continuosly, and therefore so does both pumps, so when you put the wet clothes into the spinner the water starts pumping back to the wash tub before you start the spinner up, and also then as you run the rinse water in it starts pumping out, so you never build up a level of water in the outer spiner container. You have to be smart swinging the arm from the suds return back over the sink as the pumps still running when the spinner is not.

And the best bit, when you switch the washer on, a solinoid puts the stop arm away from the clutch housing and away it goes. It takes a while to get used to the fact the motor doesn't stop during the whole wash process, the machine isn't , overly noisy, the wash action makes a noise like it means business, and the spinner sounds similar to the mk 1/2 servis supertwins, but faster.

 

[richukbristol]

Hi gorgeous guy, I'm so pleased that you won the auction, it looks great as does the the lady's hair on the box of Lux. I can't wait to see it in person. Rich

 

[richukbristol]

I also love the rubber/plastic nozzles on Kris's taps. My Grandmother had them on her taps up untill we moved her out in 2009.

 

[vacbear58]

Top Twin

Mathew

I am so pleased that you have rescued this twinne and that it seems to be a fairly straight forward restore.

I uploaded this ad specially for you - it appears that hair style is obligatory for a Top Twin



Kris's kitchen (scullery!!!) looks great too - never mind the rubber bits on the taps, what about that wonderful looking Bendix? And there is a Hoover 262 in there and is that an Acme spinner I just see a corner of? Wonderful

Al

 

[optima]

Mathew

Simply, bloody stunning.

 

[gansky1]

That's super cute! The control panel is the best I've ever seen on a twinnie. The semi-solid spin cylinder is so interesting, are there holes under the rim at the top?

 

[hippiedoll]

GREAT SCORE!!!!

i really "DIG" the agitator washing action on these type of twin tub washers. and i will 2nd that, on the cool control panel. it reminds me of some of the 1950's washers & dryers (which brands, i have no clue) and of the GE electric stoves that had that kind of control panels on them too!!!

so to me, it has a 1950's kind of look because of the style of contro panel it has. but the lettering of the words on the controls, makes me think that maybe this is a 1980's twin tub???

either way, what a cool & cute agitating twin tub!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
and thank you for sharing the great pictures. can't wait to see a video of the washing agitating & spinning action!!!
(hint hint).....

)

 

[foraloysius]

Wonderful find! I love the styling of this twintub. I never saw a Philips twintub like this in the Netherlands, they probably didn't sell them overhere. Was it made in the UK?

BTW, nice Moulinex Charlotte!