UK Wash In - Hoover Matchboxes - with a twist!

[matchboxpaul]

and they do look rather good - if a little weird, with the washer not having a powder drawer or lid!

 

[matchboxpaul]

the ratings plate on the D6E06 dryer....

dates it to May 1979!

Yep - seems that Hoover were making matchboxes right to the end of the 1970s!!!

 

[electron1100]

Electra set

OH WOW!................stacking kit aswell...........what a pair! ...........beautiful Paul yah sly dog........what an acheivement............they look stunning...........did you try the washer?

Ps Mike looks a bit tired there, what have you been doing to him

 

[matchboxpaul]

whilst the A2E04 washer is a little earlier....

being from April 1977....

 

[matchboxpaul]

thanks for the kind words Gary.

You are 50% responsible for it - many thanks for the dryer.

I will never get over how weird it is that, as the dryer works its way up the country (provided by your good self and transported by mathew), I get offered the A2E04.

Yep - we tried the A2E04 and have got some vids. Gonna be a pain though and I will upload the washer vids and daytime photos tomorrow.

In the meantime here is a vid of the dryer, with a glimpse at the washer in there too!

enjoy
Paul

 

[foraloysius]

Congratulations, I'm a sucker for matching sets and these really do match!

 

[ronhic]

Sheesh...Looks like the same stacking frame we used here for the Zodiac/Electra's....

Tell me, do they have 2 inverted 'feet', one at each front corner, that insert into the bottom of the dryer?

 

[mattywashboy]

ahhhhh so this is where the Hoover Zodiac came from. The Hoover Zodiac over here lacked a powder dispenser but did have that flip switch for controlling the spin. Its practically the same machine just with different stylings to make it Australianized and also to make it look like a match to the top loaders of the time. Can anyone else see the similarities?

Awesome matching pair tho, always looks good. Takes me back to nursery when the kitchen in there had a matching pair of Hoovers of almost the same styling :-D

Matt

 

[keymatic3203]

Paul

I can't believe you posted that photo of Mike, He was smiling and laughing the whole time, it's almost a caption competion.

Did someone ask what the vzug did that the electra couldn't? lol.

Mathew

 

[arrrooohhh]

Beautiful machines

Thanks for sharing these pictures.

I must say I do admire the simplicity of these one dial machines.

 

[matchboxpaul]

Thanks for the comments guys!

Hi Louis. They dont half look bad do they! As you say, matching sets really have something about them. Plus they are that much harder to produce, but when they arrive the feelings of satisfaction are great.

Hi Chris. The stacking kit is a Qualtex job, provided by Mike King. Unfortunately, and we were a tad surprised by this, its about 1.5cm too wide! It is sold as a universal stacking kit, so maybe, they made it a tad wider than the norm, so as to make it more universal (despite the machines being standard width). Truth be told, we are all a tad perplexed as to why its not manufactured as a perfect fit.

Cheers
paul

 

[matchboxpaul]

Hi Mathew.

Its a beaut, eh! people deep in converstaion.

There is a real stormer with you in it, although i dont think i will post it. Its of richard, discussing the elctras with you, and making a point with his index finger. He looks like he is sternly telling you and rob off and you both look rather stunned.

Paul

 

[matchboxpaul]

Hi Ash.

As you say - simple.

Absolutely nothing complicated about them - just a dial and a long/short spin button.

still to get used to the lack of powder drawer though.

Paul

 

[matchboxpaul]

Hi Matthew.

For sure, your Zodiac is a derivation of this machine and its predecessors.

In fact the whole of the hoover front loader range, sold in Australia, were derived from Hoover matchboxes.

I woluld love to see pictures of the 1970s Hoover machines, that were sold on your shores.
I think they were model 460 and 465 and arrived in the mid 1970s.

For some reason, your machines were paired down, lacking a heater as well as the powder drawer. Strange that you didnt get two or three versions of the machine.

Will post some pics next to show how the Zodiac, plus mine and robs electra's, were derived.

Cheers
Paul

 

[matchboxpaul]

The history bit now.....

The origin of the A2E04 lays with the first version of the Hoover 3235 Automatic, first sold back in 1970.

The replacement facia picture is courtesy of Mathew (keymatic3203)...

 

[matchboxpaul]

this was replaced by version 2, with a full width darker coloured facia, and then version 3 (shown below) with a light coloured facia.

picture again courtesy of Mathew....

 

[matchboxpaul]

Another version of the 3235 was produced and sold through the electricity board shops.

This was model A2018 - the 'Automatic E'.

The picture is provided by cbosch and was his grans machine, whilst i did the drawing.
the bottom left image is a piccy from the TV - an A2018 stars in an episode of Hetty Wainthrop Investigates....

 

[electron1100]

Old Hoovers

I feel a proud door moment coming on ;-)

 

[matchboxpaul]

The A2018 was then discontinued and replaced, in electricity board shops, by the A2E04 and the A3E02 (shown below).

The latter machine boasted the hot and cold fill, an economy button and powder drawer, akll of which the A2E04 lacked....

 

[matchboxpaul]

Here is the first vid of the A2E04.

This vid was made shortly after the machine arrived in Crewe. The machine to the right is one of Mikes latest acquisitions, in the form of a Hotpoint 95450!

here is gently displays the old 'water down a 1970s hoover doorbowl' effect. You know what i mean....