Top load horizontal axis washing machines availability in Australia

[spinspeed]

So I am trying to get a European top load horizontal axis washer for a friend who has a narrow space and can't fit a regular 600mm washer. I cannot find anything in Australia apart from regular frontload washers and regular impeller/agitator washers. Anyone here in Oz know if any are available?

Cheers guys
Simon

 

[washer111]

The Issue Here...

I believe that most Australian homes constructed within the last several decades have probably resulted in your problem:

- Every house generally has some sort of bathroom/laundry or kitchen/laundry or "straight-laundry" concept at play.
- This means there is generally space for a single trough and drain for the washer, a floor-dryer or a wall-mounted dryer, a washer and maybe some cupboard space*

My suggestion would be to crawl about the internet for a good second-hand machine, and maybe make inquiries to various manufacturers for new machines.**

* Our house uses one-side of the kitchen (Northern-part, Kitchen is partitioned off in a "square" at the South-Eastern corner of the house) as a laundry. There is room for a topload washer and electric dryer (associated 20A outlet and switch fitted).
Houses commissioned by the same group, but with a separate "laundry" space (with associated trough and air-conditioning ductwork) used a stacked pair of some sort for a long time.

** Manufacturers can often be downright useless in getting back to you, so, your mileage may vary!

 

[foraloysius]

Kleenmaid sold a few relabeled Brandt topload H-axis machines in Australia, but I don't think they became very popular. For one the price was rather high. But who knows you will be able to find one of those.

 

[mattywashboy]

I have only ever seen the Kleenmaid top loaders around. In my new house I have quite a small laundry that was configured really wrong. The washing machine is behind the door into the laundry which means that due to the small size of the laundry anyway, I have to shut myself in the laundry to get into the washer properly. The trough is next to the washer, simply swapping these around would have made things a LOT easier to manouver. Laundries in Aussie houses seem to be getting smaller as the fashion of European cupboard laundries are starting to become more popular.

 

[gizmo]

Are you looking for new or used?

I don't think there are any such machines on the Aussie market at present, but there have been.

Bendix sold one called the Bambina for a while.

Kleenmaid sold one made by Brandt, it came out the best machine on test when Choice looked at them, but they cost a ridiculous $1800 so few were sold. I have one that I scrounged, it has a few cosmetic blemishes but is a really good little machine.

A chain of stores called Discount Electrical Centre (long since closed down) used to import container loads of used washing machines from the UK - I think they were ex-rentals. They were sold cheaply but they are orphan models over here - no spare parts backup. They imported quite a few Philips-Whirlpool and Whirlpool top loading front loaders, so they might occasionally come up for sale second hand. I have one of those too, but it no longer works - the motor control board is kaput.

I reckon there were others too but I can't remember which brands.

Chris.

Bendix Bambina Compact Top Loading Front Load Washing Machine

+++SOLD+++ For Sale: This is a unique and very good quality Bendix Bambina Compact "Top Loading" Front Load Washing Machine. This is a ...

gear2sell.blogspot.com.au

 

[launderess]

Miele

Does make its top loading H-Axis washer available outside Europe via various yacht fitting companies as part of the Miele-Marine subsidiary. However it still runs on 230v/50hz.

http://www.mielemarineusa.com/us/campaign/marine/5486_4963.htm

 

[chris74]

Bendix Bambina

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/ball...ers/washing-machine-bendix-bambina/1075247786

Max. 60°C and 800 RPM but looks nice.

 

[foraloysius]

The 60°C max is a bit odd.

 

[vacbear58]

60 degrees

Louis
Perhaps it is due to a combination of low rating (10amp/2300 watts) and cold fill only it is to keep the wash cycle programmes to a more reasonable level than a 2kw heater would produce especially when compared with conventional top loaders.
Al

 

[launderess]

Oh I Don't Know...

My Lavamat is only 10amp at 2Kw and has 95C as top setting. But then again it does use less water than other H-axis machines due to the recirculating jet spray. So perhaps less water translates into somewhat shorter times. IIRC without any reductions standard normal cycle runs a bit >150minutes

 

[foraloysius]

Philips used 2000 Watt heating elements in it's toploading H-axis machines too and they could reach 95 degrees as well. I would miss the option to do a boilwash, or at least at 70 degrees.

 

[launderess]

One niggle with our OKO-Lavamat

Is the lack of a "cycle guarantee" like our older Miele.

This is if the incoming tap water is not cold but say warm or whatever and thus the machine reaches a temperature setting sooner than the alloted programmed time; it will subtract that time from total wash period. Far as one can see ten minutes seems to be the programmed time for linens/cottons on "normal".

At first one didn't realise why say as the machine drains wash water with "64 minutes" showing on the timer it suddenly drops to "54" as the first fill begins, then it became clear; the starting wash water was warmer than "cold" (in these instances it was since one had set the taps to "warm")so the machine adjusts the remainder of cycle by deducting the unused heating period.

By this we take it that the washer allows about ten minutes to bring cold water (it is a cold fill only machine) to whatever temperature selected.

Now there is an "Energy Saving" program that does a 60C with less recourses but takes >2.5 hours in order to do so. Only used it once and from what can see it takes the already miserly wash water settings and drops even lower. Less water in the wash means less energy required for heating I shouldn't wonder. Oh and the recirculating jet remains activated through the entire wash cycle; the better to force the small amount of water through the washing.

 

[chris74]

Nevertheless

Most today's fabrics won't stand 90°/95° anyway. I think he should go for that little treasure because H-axis does provide superior results IMHO...

 

[mielerod69]

Bendix can reach 90 degrees

The button on the left activates the 90 degree temp. I suppose it's because most don't wash at that high temperature anymore, but the option is there.

 

[chris74]

Good to know

It's a pity that one can't identify the symbols...

 

[foraloysius]

Thanks for clearing that up. You can't see the symbols indeed. Bauknecht had something similar for a while.

 

[launderess]

One Dreams

Of one day finding an Miele or other H-Axis washer on North American soil, but alas nothing yet. Ironers, front loading washing machines, dryers, all manner and sort of laundry appliances seemed to have been hauled over here from Europe, would it have killed someone to bring a top loading H-Axis washer? *LOL*

Probably am best off as parts and or service would surely be nil. Once found a French Miele front loader on CL and was going to purchase but someone else got there first. Mentioned it to a Miele tech during a service all and was told Miele USA will have nothing to do with such units. No, wait I tell a lie. They can order parts if needed and perhaps do the work but none of it comes with a warranty.

 

[foraloysius]

If the OP is still lurking here, here's an H-axis toploader, a Kleenmaid made by Brandt.

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/duncraig/washing-machines-dryers/kleenmaid-5-kg-drum-washer/1102679262