Thor TH85 - question for UK or Europe members

[spiraclean]

Hi Darren,
My 4 paddle Bendix is not a Philco made machine it's a Merloni Electrodomestica made machine and total rubbish compared to the Philco made Bendix washers. I will certainly post a picture of it the as soon as I can get near it, my Mum has the Garage filled with furniture she is storing so I can't get near a lot of my collection.
I totally agree the Philco Bendix washers were great machines, they were superbly quiet very reliable and washed and rinsed beautifully in deep water, they even featured a pre fill to prevent detergent loss and an end of cycle fluff to prevent creasing.

All the best.
Hugh

 

[gizmo]

I'm a fan too of Philco Bendix washers, I scavenged one in Kew, a suburb of Melbourne, it had nothing wrong except the paint had yellowed with age. Kew is a pretty posh suburb so I guess the poor old Bendix just wasn't yup enough any more. It went to live with my Mum for a few years till a switch fell to pieces and gave her a tingle. It did a great job and was quiet and fuss free. The timer dial was just a pointer, you pressed a switch and the timer clickety-clacked around, you released the button when the dial pointed to the cycle you wanted, then pressed the "start" button.

Interesting that in the UK they were sold by Thorn - Thorn TV's and fridges were sold here. Mum's Bendix Autowasher (W40??) had a silver control panel with a small matching silver disc stuck on, it looked like a blanking cover. It eventually fell off, revealing the Thorn logo, like a vertical spike. The Washers were distributed in Aust by Healco, and there was a division of Thorn-EMI called Healing (over here at least). (Thorn and Healing TV's were identical inside but had different cabinets). So I suspect that the two companies had shared parentage but by the late seventies they were separate and Bendix products had to cover up the Thorn logo.

Chris.

 

[spiraclean]

Thorn EMI Philco Bendix

Hi Chris,
Yea I just love the Philco Bendix washers, I have quite a few in my collection. the oldest is a late 70s Autowasher De Luxe 7147PB 800 RPM Spin, next is an Autowasher De Luxe Electronic 7133 800 RPM spin, then an Autowasher Electronic 1000 De Luxe 7168 and finally an Autowasher Electronic 1000 De Luxe 71258. The 71258 was the last of the Philco Bendix washers and was the last Bendix with an Electronically controlled Induction Motor. I just loved the start button which advanced the timer on the 7168; the cycles started at the Bio Wash / Pre Wash - Main Wash - Rinse 1 - Rinse 2 - Rinse 3 - Spin - Pause - End. The washing rhythms, times, temperatures and spin speed were selected automatically using Program Selector knob which listed ITCL programs 1-9 (Incidently the Program Selector knob did not move during the cycle). They are without doubt my favorite UK front loaders from the 70s to 90s. I can't wait to get them connected and running again.

All the best.
Hugh

 

[newwave1]

Hey Hugh!
is the drum the same as a "lovely" servis...i use the term loosely i do not like them 1 bit! lol. those philco-bendix washers were so good. brings back memorys of when i used my aunties. off topic slightly...its a shame that servis got taken over. i'd love to have seen what direction they took there washers..they were certainly innovative. i liked the old quartz's. anyhoo...

gotta go 2 work

Darren

 

[spiraclean]

Servis Quartz 1000

Hi Darren,
Yes it is the same drum as the 4 paddle Servis washers, and I agree I don't like them one bit either.
Yea the Philco Bendix washers were definitely great machines, I am so pleased to have a number of them in my collection. You might also be interested to hear I have a fully working as new Computer Controled Servis Quartz 1000 Model 602 which was jointly developed by P&G. I is a shame though to see Servis one of the oldest UK washer manufacturers fall into foreign ownership. I was also very sad to see Hoover UK being taken over in 1995 by Candy.

All the best.
Hugh

 

[newwave1]

Hey Hugh!
i dont c how those drums can b any good the paddles r so flat! wen i had one & it only had a few items in they used to bobble along the bottom...& not get lifted. was ruuuuuuuubish! wow u have a quartz!!!! now im jealous! i was jst sayin to jon on msn, i wonder what hoover washers would be like now if they weren't taken over!? i bet they'd still be great & really innovative as they always were i love my logic..can ya imagine a logic 2005? lol it'd be awesome! why does it always have to be the good ones! *sigh* my next find is an old electrolux! same as in the pic i've attached. i'm on the hunt 4 one. i love how much water they use!

Ta ta!

Darren

Darren

 

[spiraclean]

Hi Darren,
I totally agree the 4 paddle design is particularly poor with small loads I have seen that effect where the paddles just slip below the load with no tumbling, totally useless.
Yea I have a delicious Servis Quartz 1000 model 602 it's the one with the modified SpinCare™ drum the riveted ones that did not split, I really love it because it does deep washes and rinses. I also have a Servis Slim Line 308s which has similar styling to the Quartz but its timer controlled and much more basic.
The machine in the picture you have attached was the first Electrolux washers produced after the Electrolux Group acquired Industries Zanussi; it is completely Zanussi mechanicals and was built in the Zanussi plant, they were actually quite good machines but they were noisier than earlier Zanussi machiness due to their changing from Induction to Carbon Brush Motors. I am sure there are a few of them still around, also the Zaunssi washers of the same period had exactly the same cycles and water levels.
I have often wondered myself how Hoover would have continued to innovate, I honestly believe they would have been one of the best selling UK brands with modern efficient and best of all British designs but I guess we will never know.

All the best.
Hugh

 

[Bearpeter]

and the Whirlpool Washer dryers!!!

We just got rid of a Whirlpool Washer dryer circa early 90/91. The paddles were very shallow for some strange reason. Then, before we got rid of it, we tried to have the dryer part fixed. The mechanic said these and a lot of other lesser makes of washer dryer were made by...... you guessed it.... SERVIS!!!!!! 4 paddles and pathetic cleaning results!
Suffice to say, we got rid and invested in an AEG! are we looking back over our shoulders in reflection of a choice ill made??????? ARE WE BUFFALO!!!!!!

 

[newwave1]

Hey hey!
Spiraclean-i'm totally jealous that you've got a servis 602!!! my mums friend had a servis 308 that was pretty good! & they had a computer controlled model! i forget the modelnumber...my uncle had a zanussi from the same sort of period too. which he got rid of for an intergrated diplomat SERVIS washer dryer. which is terrible as u'd imagine! i cannot belive theres a £500 servis washer on the market atm which uses the same damn drum!! how aweful is that!

bearpeter-did u find your whirlpool was the same as i described-that with a small load the load used to just bobble along the bottom of the drum!?!

ta ta!

Darren

 

[spiraclean]

Hi Peter,
Yea I remember that 4 paddle design carrying the Philips-Whirlpool brand in 1989 and in 1990 the name Philips was dropped and they carried the Whirlpool brand alone. Thankfully Whirlpool did not continue selling that design for long, no doubt due to its poor reliability. I believe it was originally offered to fill a gap as none of the Philips designs were available as a Washer Dryer.

Hi Darren,
Yes I am amazed to hear that myself, that 4 paddle design is long since past it’s sell by date and should be allowed to die but I guess it’s all down to economics. Yea I am so glad I have the Servis Quartz 1000 model 602 I even have the hand book, it’s great to have this machine in my collection as it was the first Computer controlled washer in the UK, and the fact its electronic controls have remained in perfect working order for almost 20 years is testament to the quality of the original electronic components. It’s a shame about the though that the drums split so often in the original model 600 the warranty claims were just to much for Servis to bear and led to the company going out of business and ultimately to Servis a once great British brand falling to foreign ownership.

All the best.
Hugh

 

[newwave1]

Hey hugh,
that machine would definately b a good one in any collection! wot others do ya have? do ya have any connected up? i'd like to get some form of connection in the garage if ma pops wud let me! i havent asked yet lol. if not i guess i'll have to wait til i get my own place which im currently huntin around 4 my parents were away when i got my logic.& i had it as the main machine in the utility makin the aeg reduntant for two months...unfort it wasnt practical to keep it in the middle of the utility so it got put in the shed which has electricity,but when i use it like yesturday, i have to use the hose to fill it but that doesnt bother me to much. lol.at least i can still use it in some fashion. like i said to ya earlier i would like to get one of those vintage electrolux's but space is the trouble. the garage is huge. so if i was lucky i cud put it there. the sheds not big enuff for two. i dont really wanna get rid of the logic so that leaves me with a problem lol. anywhoo enough of my blabbing!

ta ta

Darren

 

[spiraclean]

Hi Darren,
I have 14 fully functional washers and probably as many for spares, I need to get into the garage to list them all properly as the old memory lets me down with regard to the model numbers.
I have a total of six plumbing connections so I have to swap my washers round from time to time. Unfortunately I have not swapped them round now for three years or more, I suffer from Osteoarthritis in my lower spine and left hip so as you can imagine this has slowed me up greatly. When I was able I swapped my washers round every three months or so with the ones not in use being stored in the garage. I have a fully working Hoover Electronic 1100 De Luxe from the 1970s it has a square door but not flush fitting like your Logic. I am glad you still get to use your Logic can you not arrange a make shift connection using a Y connecter and some garden hose click fittings? I presume you are currently filing it through the detergent dispenser?
I will post some pictures of the Servis Quartz 1000 the next time I use it.

All the best.
Hugh

 

[newwave1]

Hey hugh!
bloomin eck! lucky for some! wots ur main washer you use then? ahh ya got arthritus! my ma's had a hip replacement so ya must be sufferin. best not to b luggin heavy washers around then!

well how i use my logic is..i use the hosepipe & put it in the drawer. & empty it into a bucket.

i've got a Y connecter already. i made it cold fill from wen i first got it. i thort prehaps i cud buy a couple of extension inlet pipes & join em with that or somethin.& get an extension drain pipe so i can run it to the drain instead of emptyin a bucket! its all good fun! lol. i'd love to see some pics of that servis when ya get around to it

Darren

 

[spiraclean]

Hi Darren,
My main washers are my Whirlpool Top Loader 3LSC8255EQ1 and my Dyson CR01 Memory, though I tend to use the Top Loader most as I just love the agitator wash action.
I thought you might be filling your Logic through the dispenser drawer. I would suggest that you go a garden center and take the Y connecter with you, have a look and you should be able to find the right fittings to allow you to click connect the Y piece to your garden hose, this will at least let you fill the Hoover easily.
All the best.
Hugh

 

[newwave1]

Hey hugh!
where abouts do you keep ya main washers then? in the house? thanks for the advice i shall do that. it'll have to be after i come back off holiday tho. im goin 2 tenerife on tuesday for a week! i'll pick ya brains while im thinkin of this. how much did it cost u to get all ur connections for ur washers in ur garage? im jst wonderin how much it'd b to get sum connections in the garage? if i cud.

well its a little late. & i've got to be up to meet jon so i can see his miele!!!

ta ta!

Darren

 

[spiraclean]

Hi Darren,
I honestly cannot remember how much the connections cost me. I done the plumbing myself so I only had the copper pipe, fittings and valves to buy, along with whatever length 1 ½ inch Bartol waste pipe I needed. I remember it did not cost me much at all but unless you are competent at plumbing I would suggest you get a qualified plumber in.
I have a laundry room for my connected washers but the Dyson is in the Kitchen.

I hope you have a great and safe holiday.

Take care
All the best.
Hugh

 

[kenmore1978]

spider

So what engineering idiot specified diecast aluminum for a part subject to water and chemicals? No wonder there were problems.

 

[spiraclean]

Hi Jaune,
That is pretty typical construction for most front loaders, the majority of front loaders sold in the UK for the past 20 plus years have been made like that and they are generally OK, better quality washers do use Stainless Steel drum spiders though.

All the best.
Hugh

 

[chestermikeuk]

Hi Hugh

Sounds like quite a Servis collection you have there??

Looking forward to seeing the pics...

The 308 was our first family washer after mum switched from her Servis MK2 twinny, that last 18 yrs washing at least 3 times a week for six of us....I had just started work at Trident electrical and bought her the matching dryer with my hefty staff discount as was then....

That machine is still being used by my 90 year young Great Aunt Bess...

Switched to the 6033 Slimline quartz with the spin care drum which is still being used today...

Take a look at the pic and Wow at the 70`s decor....LOL

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ServisHi-Zone/

 

[spiraclean]

Servis

Hi Mike,
Thanks for the Servis picture, my 308S seems very slightly different in the fact it has an electric door release but otherwise it is identical to the one in your pic. I am not in the least surprised that those machines are still running today they were really well made and their design was way ahead of anything sold in the UK at that time. The later Quartz models (Plastic tub) were very reliable machines indeed and for the first time offered 1200 RPM spin speeds. Have you ever seen any of the Hitachi front loaders from the 90s they were mechanically Servis machines except for the cabinet?
I will post some pictures when I am able to tidy my wash room up a bit it’s not very photogenic at the moment.

All the best.
Hugh