Thor info needed

[slowspin66]

stripped down thor

Dear keith thanks for posting the photos of your restoration. Does the tub have any fixings to hold it in place . I removed the agitator thinking that the tub would just lift off . It is well and truly fast . Do you have any ideas on it's removal. ??? I think there are some long bolt type fixings holding the cabinet together and attaching it to the chassis. If you could possibly help me with some service literature and advise that would be brilliant. Thanks D

 

[washerlover]

Love the brochures! Approximately what year are they? Looks like mid- to late-50s outfits the couple is wearing but the machine looks like late 40s early 50s...

 

[launderess]

George Parnall and Co

Was an British aircraft manufacturer that began around 1937. In the 1950's the compnay purchased Thor Appliances of Chicago in the United States makers of the Thor brand of laundry equipment.

Under the new company name (Parnall (Yate) Ltd) the company also sold many other domestic and IIRC commercial kitchen and laundry appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, laundry presses and so forth.

George Parnall and Co - Graces Guide

 

[Unimatic1140]

Not sure if this will help but I scheduled some Thor doctrine today, complete with a service manual into today's Daily Doctrine Dispenser...

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/DDD/Dispenser.cgi

 

[keymatic]

Hi Darren,

The wash tub should just lift out, however the last machine i had (one in the pic) the tub had never been taken out, so it was a complete nightmare to get out, plus the balancer which the tub sits on had been joined to the tub..arrhh, keep trying it will come out eventually !!

Once you have the tub out, there are two bolts at 3 & 9 o'clock in the outer base, undo these, loosen the tub-to-pump hose and then you should be able to pull the whole outer tub off of the lower base. If you have a look at the pic i attached exposing the lower base you will see the 2 supporting rods which the outer tub sits on.

I have the service manual for the model 155 which is the machine i have, which i can photocopy and send to you ? it will give you an idea of the working's minus the foot pedal controls, which aren't to complex to work out.

I have attached video which i made a few years ago. I changed the wash tubs over from the original speckled grey one to the blue one from a 244 machine. This machine is in perfect working order and condition.

Let me know your address and i will get the manual sent on, plus any other literature i can fine.

Regards Keith

 

[launderess]

It's Amazing

How much sugar the wife has to slobber over His Nibbs to approve of the purchase! *LOL*

Still the marketing of the period stuck to the tried and true script to get housewives away from semi-automatic (or worse manual) washing machines.

One still wants to meet the woman who did her wash in high heels, starched shirtwaist and pearls.

 

[slowspin66]

Thor info

Dear Folks thanks so much for your help and advise . I will need to get a bit of time off work to have a go and get the machine stripped and restored. Keith can I send my address to your email in your profile ?? Took delivery of a small Hotpoint Countess the other day so will get a few photos loaded. No more room in the house. !!! Thanks again . Darren

 

[keymatic]

.....address

Hi Darren,
Yep that should get to me.
Have faith in the Thor, they are great machines and to see one restored in working order would be a dream come true !!
Look forward to seeing the Countess pics
Keith

 

[chestermikeuk]

Thor Automagic

Hello Todd, the leaflet gives a great insight into how life was and it is dated October 1958...It looks a great machine, all done in one tub with the ability to heat the water and to "Sudz Save" as well!!

Laundress - yes how much more do the housewife have to do to get here "Dream Machine"!!

Robert - many thanks for the "Thor Doctrine" its doing its job very well!!

Keith - great pics there, do you think the pedals version was more problematic than the switch model that you have??

Darren - Keep Kalm - Keep Breathing....

 

[keymatic]

Hi Mike..
Just sorted out the info to take into work tmw to copy and send on to Darren, the service manual is for the model 200 which is for the US model, but you maybe able to use it regardless and the insides are very similar, I have also found a Electrical Radio Trading extract, they did a weekly "Insight on Appliances" I have a few of these and they really do give a comprehensive report on the appliance in question.

I have to correct myself as well, i thought this model was the 244, but that is the model i have, this one is the model 260/260H. "H" being the addition of the heater. Which if you didn't know is operated by lifting the middle pedal, after the tub had been filled and spun to the lower reserve.

With reference to your question, I luv the pedal version, and don't think it is anymore problematic than any of the others, mine as you know is lever control and the model before that was a dial, they are all operated by wires either Dial, Lever or Pedals..the main failure with this model was the friction clutch & the special ball clutch inside the gearbox, mine hasn't got this.

As i have said before, i have had two of these machines and both have got the better of me

Hopefully restoration can commence soon !!
Keith

 

[matchboxpaul]

Hi Darren.

A belated welcome to the group - cant help you with info for the Thor, but it looks a very interesting machine for sure.

Mike told me that you had managed to secure the version 3 Model 1400 Supermatic and had done a thorough restoration job on it. Flipping heck - so you have!

The machine looks superb, to say the least and if its anything to go by, so will the Thor in the fullness of time.

All power to you.
Regards
Paul

 

[keymatic]

Hi Darren,

Just noticed something on your Thor, it has the very first retaining knob on the agitator, the model you have should have the "Winged" version knob like on my model.

Maybe the owners of your machine had, had the earlier model as well. I popped the info in the post this morning.

Cheers
Keith

 

[slowspin66]

retaining knob

Hi Keith thanks so much for the info. When i collected the washer from the farm ( complete with animal effluvia ) the lady did say this was the 2nd machine her mother had purchased. It was the suds saving option that appealed to her. Perhaps this was from the first machine ??? will keep you posted when i get going on the strip down. Thanks Darren