Sounds of the Hoover Keymatics..

[chestermikeuk]

Sounds of the Hoover Keymatics

"Was it ever simplified?"

Style Change Series 3 came in 1970 when the Hoover laundry range was re-vamped and produced in what was advertised as the "Matchbox" style, more compact style and shape and could be fitted into the space of a standard kitchen unit. These benefited from a range of electronic components, timers & power boards which controlled a number of fixed speeds.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Sounds of the Hoover Keymatics

"Was it ever simplified?"

Style change 4 came in 1975 when a stripped down Keymatic A3008 with simpler fascia was produced, called the Aluminium or Electronic series, the spin speed was upped from 740rpm to 800, cabinet style the same, and from then on it looks like what we are used to seeing in todays machines a drum, motor underneath in a compact cabinet with updated timers and powerboard controls.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Sounds of the Hoover Keymatics

"Was it ever simplified?"

Style change 5 was produced in 1978 when the "New Magic" Electronic series A3062 entered the field boasting 3 spin speeds, 500 for delicates, 800 for woollens and 1100 superfast for cottons. fascia changed to the metallic green and black, cabinet style same, updated electronics for the faster speeds.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Sounds of the Hoover Keymatics

"Was it ever simplified?"

The last incarnation of the Hoover Keymatic was in 1980 when the A3112 was produced, now with flush fronted door and larger round push buttons to match the "Smoother Hoover" range, 1100rpm spin speeds along with 500 & 800, cabinet styling similar to the last 3 series.

Lawrence the Keymatic range where always the "Premium" range although from Hoover marketing you would not think so, they never produced a line of completely matching dryers and never sold in the same volume as the timer controller washing machine.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Sounds of the Hoover Keymatics

"were the wash plates interchangeable between series, or not?"

The Keyplates where marketed as "Any fabric yet to be made - We can make a keyplate for it" allowing your machine to be updated...Never quite worked like that, as newer models had different keyplates, readers and timers, the early models had a thick bakelite card, the widebodied 3203 had the larger slimmer grey and red / white cards giving choices of 16 programmes, the 3243 series and onwards where the same size but different programmes according to the readers, we have actually tried selecting a programme from a different machine card and they dont work as the readers / timers have been updated. Simply in theory, not logical in practice.!!

Still, a Great Iconic series of Washing machines, and as the slogan stated, "From Hoover - Who Better"..

 

[chestermikeuk]

Sounds of the Hoover Keymatics

Morning Steve, I do like the fascia and timeline graphics & neons of the A3112 but love the chrome doors of previous models.
Oh yes had forgotten about those advance timers of the Bendix, not rapid at all ha ha..

 

[chestermikeuk]

Sounds of the Hoover Keymatics

Jon what year where you in the Isle of Wight then? I always thought it would have been an earlier model? but then that is implying youre older than you are ha ha...
Oh, I feel a Slaaapppp coming over!!

 

[foraloysius]

Hey Mike,

That's a really wonderful video! Although I don't belong to the Keymatic club anymore, I still have a soft spot for these machines.

One question though, the last model seems a bit lower than the other models. Is that correct, or does it stand a bit lower?

 

[triumphdolomite]

A3112

Thanks Mike, I'd not thought about the programmer slot being lower to take the timeline mechanism into account. Hmmmm that's got me thinking, surely that doesn't mean that the timer mechanism is lower down in the casing than the A3110, and if so is the control knob on the Selectamatic lower on the fascia? Questions questions, I guess I should have taken more notice last time
Ian.

 

[keymatic3203]

Mike today you've taken

this thread to the next level. All these wonderful photos, they've really lifted my spirits on this rainy day of work and running about, each picture has brought back memories of great times spent with wonderful friends, the 3203 was at my first big weekend, the hoover 60th washing machine anniversary. To the matchbox looking just a bit too much at home in Johns laundry. And bringing us up to date at Als with already, after only 2 wash ins, more friendships forged and plans made.

Louis, I think the height difference is primarily due to the chrome door models having the extra worktop on them, that came as a standard feature on the keymatics, optional extra on the standard automatics.

Ian, bet this isn't how you thought the time line worked, timer on the both the 1100 key and selectamatics hangs down behind the keyplate reader or selecta drum which in effect is the keyplate reader against a rotating keyplate. so the dials are at the same height, it's just that the indicator arm swings across where the keyplate reader is so that's why it's swapped over on the 3112, but I'm sure the photo says it all, get the top off next time your're at Als.

thanks Mike,

Mathew

 

[maytagbear]

Chestermike....

Thank you very much for the photographs and information about these fascinating machines. I learned a great deal, and if I were "across the pond," I would definitely want a Keymatic!

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[a440]

Mike, thanks for the education of the different "Keymatic" machines.  They are so cool.  I can't get over the "belt maze" of the first design!  That is mind blowing! 

 

I always wished we had the Hoover brand front loaders here in the States.  I have always found them so interesting. 

 

What a treasure you have with your collection of Hoover's.  And others. 

 

Thanks for sharing!

 

[mayfan69]

Love the video Mike

Love the video Mike!

Nothing like the sound of a Keymatic in action!

Cheers
Leon

 

[qualin]

This is going to drive me nuts...

Has anyone ever decoded how a keymatic card works?

i.e. What exactly do the notches do? How do they work?

I noticed on the older keycards, the notches look different and they're wider.

I can't find any information on the net about them.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Keymatic Heights

Hi Louis, the last model as Mathew says has a larger fixed laminate worktop, the previous model have a thin metal worktop that you can then place a laminate worktop over the metal lid and / or you can place a stacking frame on it which raises the heights in the picture..

 

[chestermikeuk]

Sounds of the Hoover Keymatics

Ian, get that lid off next time over ha ha, Mathew explained clearer than I did, you have to see it, those arms swinging about on the timeline as opposed to the "Timeline Lights" are something else.

Brent, yes belts belts more belts, hoses and wiring everywhere on the first 2 series, you an see how "Electronics" makes life easier...but are they as much fun? dunno..

Hi Leon,yes all those clicks n whirrs make them special and now Keith has a brochure showing an Aus Keymatic with woodgrain fascia and a "Sudsaver" who would have thought !!

 

[vacbear58]

@ Qualin

If you look at the link below of Mike's flickr thread about the Keymatic about half way down you will see schematics of the 3224 machine from 1964 and on the right the diagram of the Keyplate reader. This was an entirely mechanical system and SupermaticJames recently gave a good précis of how it worked - I quote

"The Keyplate selects the programme, think of it as the dial you turn when selecting a programme. The Keyplate enabled the machine to offer a variety of programmes basically by choosing what operations the programme timer carries out. The slot in which the Keyplate is pushed into has many little switches, each linked to the timer. When these switches are closed by the raised sections on the Keyplate, the relevant sections of the timer are activated and the actions are carried out. Also, if there are notches in the Keyplate the switches are open and the relevant sections of the timer are bypassed and the programme advances."

I hope this clarifies things a bit for you. I would also add that on my wide body 3203 you can actually hear and see it going through parts of the cycle that are not actually needed for the particular wash so that, for example, if you select Spin Only there is a momentary pre wash fill, quick tumble, drain, momentary main wash fill etc. until it finally comes to the spin - there is no knob to move the timer past those points before starting.

http://https//www.flickr.com/photos/chestermikeuk/sets/72157601120083935/

 

[chestermikeuk]

Sounds of the Hoover Keymatics

Hi Qualin, "How Does The Keyplate Work" baffled us all until you get your head in and around it. The KEYPLATE has 4 programmes printed each side , x 2 keyplates make the machine distinguish 16 programmes.

You then identify the programme you want, insert it into the KEYPLATE READER - the slots for the identified programme engage with a bank of 16 SWITCH CONTACTS in the back of the reader. At the back of the reader is a similar looking box timer which has all the cogs and relays which then work the programme sequencing and switch on fill valves, heater, motor etc.

This BOX SWITCH acts as a bank of open / closed / energised circuits which tell the machine to FILL, HEAT, WASH, DRAIN, Rinse 1, Drain, Rinse 2, Drain, Rinse 3, Drain and then SPIN.

Here is the A3008 wil keyplates in.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Hoover Keymatic Keyplate reader / timer / switch bank

Here is the machine with top off showing the the position of the KEYPLATE READER and Switchbank behind the fascia.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Sounds of the Hoover Keymatics

Now showing the KEYPLATE READER and SWITCHBANK and spare keyplate slot. Just abover where I have written Keplate Reader you can see the bank of TERMINAL CONTACTS which the KEYPLATE engages with.