Single Knob Front Loaders

[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