Single Knob Front Loaders

[foraloysius]

#28

Agitator top loaders have been sold here in Europe on and off by mainly Whirlpool. Now and then you see a Maytag turning up. Other American brands disappeared from the market here in the 1960's and 1970's IIRC.

When the European energy efficiency labels were introduced, these toploaders hardly sold anymore because according to that label they consumed a huge amount of water and energy (including the energy needed to heat up the water).

 

[statomatic]

There's a lot of single knob machines in Europe.
Most French vintage models are toploaders :
http://statomatic.e-monsite.com/pages/photos.html
http://statomatic.e-monsite.com/pages/photos.html

 

[Chetlaham]

I Can't Thank You Enough!

This is why I post here. That link is exactly what I was looking for. Its a goldmine of engineering knowledge. I want to meet and thank who ever took the time to create that blog! I'm going to be reading it for a while. Great stuff!

 

[statomatic]

Thanks, I'm the blog author, took me years to get infos about the different models, (some are still missing by the way).
Also looking further to add more brands and create a big washing machine database.

 

[Chetlaham]

I Love You! <3

I owe you! I can't say in enough words, or express my gratitude, or show my happiness, in how much value your blog brings to humanity and its future engineering accomplishments. So much enlightenment in what would have otherwise been lost to time, long forgotten.

Please expand this data base. I'd be happy to contribute in any way I can.

The internet is missing a great deal on external, internal, a parts break down and tech sheet for each model machine produced. There are many who want to see what existed long before, but either don't have access to the resource or frame of reference to discover what they're missing.

Bookmarked!

 

[foraloysius]

Yes, Statomatic has a great site, well worth having a look at. A miracle you hadn’t seen it before as he has linked it here before several times.

BTW, don’t forget to support this website too, you learned a lot here too.

 

[Chetlaham]

Wonderful Site

Awful that I missed it, but better late than never. Though, then again, I'm still digesting other sites so I need to take it one bite at a time. EU machines are all new to me, I've never seen one in person, so the lack of tangible experience makes learning slower.

This site I support to, and link when appropriate. Most of the washer pics on google actually divert here which is sweet.

 

[foraloysius]

Best way to support this site is a paid membership. ;-)

 

[chestermikeuk]

Single knob front Loaders

Many of the original British front load washing machines where single knob control, the programme was linked to the fabric type and washing instructions, you may see on here "Oh its a number 2 wash today" or its a number 7 for woollens...I still convert to that today, the fabric wash programmes being disigned by the HLCC Home Laundry Care Council later becoming ITCL International Textile Care Labeling system.

My favourite has to be the family brand of Servis Domestic Appliances, they made the Speed Queen twintubs .

Also shown is the top open , on this model the timer is housed at the back and connected by a long conrod from the selector knob !!

 

[Chetlaham]

Elegant. I prefer having the timer directly behind the knob, but this works to.

Can I ask? What is a bio wash? It stops the timer, correct? Also, how does cycle 6 and 7 differ from the rest? Why is low speed spin a separate switch vs built into cycles 6 and 7?


how does the dryer work? Is it timed dry? Push to start like US versions?

You've got a nice setup there.

 

[chestermikeuk]

British Front Loader Single Knob Control

Here we have Hoover models , early models used numbering but later adopted letters etc.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Hotpoint UK Models Single Control Knob

 

[chestermikeuk]

Bio

The Bio switch or biological is used for use with enzyme powders , the wash fills with cold water and is slowly heated so making best use of the latest enzyme or biological washing powders , more of the dirt & grime is dissolved at lower temps.

This Servis timer is split , the RHS of the programmes 1 to 5 are a low level water fill vigorous wash agitation and rinses with a fast spin unless for programme 4 the slow spin for synthetics is selected.

The LHS of the programmer has the delicate and woollens programes which has a higher water level , delicate action with a 40d wash temp and then a fast spin for woollens (740rpm) of a slow (460rpm) spin for delicates .

The tumble dryer has a simple 120 mins timer you just turn it on after selecting your high or low heat, its isnt pull or push to start.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

It would be nice to know what kind of front loading washing machine was in Bob Lind’s childhood home, at just 1:00 into the song that washer seemingly lasted through his seemingly sixteen years, maybe it had only one knob there…

Wonder why those Westinghouse matching washer and dryer sets I can’t remember the name of weren’t even offered that way…

— Dave

 

[Chetlaham]

Does the machine tumble when heating in bio mod? I would think tumbling while heating the water over a 35 minute period would suffice?

With you dryers, they will stop if the door is opened, but restart as soon as its closed? UL here is a requirement that forces push to start not that I agree with it.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Bio Wash

Yes it does short tumbles long pauses while heating then at the correct temp long tumbles short pauses. These did have an average wash time of 45 mins for a 40d wash , under an hour for a 90d wash .

The dryers auto stop as soon as dryer door is opened and resumes when closed, no pull or push to start etc.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Bio Wash

Yes it does short tumbles long pauses while heating then at the correct temp long tumbles short pauses. These did have an average wash time of 45 mins for a 40d wash , under an hour for a 90d wash .

The dryers auto stop as soon as dryer door is opened and resumes when closed, no pull or push to start etc.

 

[foraloysius]

This is a video of two European toploaders with a single knob. The left one is a Thomson, the right one a Brandt. The left one is faster despite the fact that it does a boil wash with prewash and the right one a 60C/140F wash without prewash. They are different in some other aspects too.

 

[Chetlaham]

That machine is tiny, the one that is being repaired.

Any idea why the timer was all the way in the back and connected to the front via a shaft?

 

[chestermikeuk]

Servis Frontloader

The "Tiny" front loader takes a full 9lb washload which was standard for its time, it was made for the smaller kitchens of the UK and was ver popular , the washload was the same as the 30 inch Bendix Giromatic 9lbs dryweight of clothing , it was precision engineered , the tub stands on 3 suspension legs on its own cradle base not slung by springs from the cabinet , the timer was positioned in the back with all the valves, pressure pot and wiring loom connectors so you can take the top back panel off like your toploaders with everything connected to it for easy fixing , it was really ahead of its time !!

few more pics, stand alone drum on its own suspension plinth like the ASKO style, cabinet can be completely unscrewed from the base leaving easy access to all components for repair etc .

 

[Chetlaham]

Cute! I never knew washer were made that small, but I like the concept. Actually, that would make a great portable in the US.

 

[Chetlaham]

Thats a lot of wires!

Any idea why there are so many wires?

 

[foraloysius]

Because a lot of functions have to be controlled.

 

[Chetlaham]

Do you really need that many functions? I think simplification would outweigh the disadvantages? At least thats what I'd like to hope/see. US top-loaders don't have many functions- most of the cycle is accomplished via simply reversing the motor. And pausing it for a tub fill.

 

[foraloysius]

Well, you don't need a lot of functions if you build a simple washer, but that's now what this is. You prefer simple things, but not everybody does.

This is a complicated machine, a washer/dryer combo with a heating element, a door lock, several motors including a separate motor for the pump, detergent dispensers etc. that need to be controlled. IIRC this is a machine from the seventies, there were no electronic parts yet that could simplify it. All is controlled by the timer, including the interim spins before the final spin. It was a TOL machine, there were simpler and cheaper machines available.

 

[Chetlaham]

One of the nice things is that US combos could tumble indefinitely without tangling clothing from what I've read. Passive solutions- however I'm starting realize people in Europe really like fully featured machines. Lots and lots of cycle options!

 

[foraloysius]

I don't think Europeans in general like fully featured machines, but there were some nice fully featured machines available. But most washers had less features than this one I guess.

Basically European machines are different from American machines that most of them had a built in heater from the beginning (the first ones were heavy heaters, 6000 Watts IIRC) and also a separate motor for the pump. And almost all of them tumbled both ways.

 

[Chetlaham]

Ok, so I came up with this. What do you think?

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Just remembered:

Westinghouse Laundry File—now were those offered as Singke-Knob Machines?

— Dave

 

[Chetlaham]

Better Pictures

Can be found here >>>





72 increments; 60 seconds per increment. 2 increments are dedicated to the off interval.

Up to 38 minutes wash; 2 minutes drain and tumble; 2 minutes spin, 4 minute rinses, 6 minute final spin.

Half the timer dedicated to 38 minutes wash the other half 32 minutes to rinse and spinning.

3000 watt heater. ~300 watts tumble. ~600-900 watts spin.

Tumble reverse every minute.

15 harness wires total.

2 Line side live and neutral
1 CPC/ground/earth
2 switched live and neutral
6 functions (tumble clockwise; tumble counter clockwise; spin; fill; heat; drain pump+lock door)
3 in the console for the function lamps
1 between the cap bank (normally where motor controls is placed) and motor

No dispenser of course, but next model up can be equipped with one.