Vintage looking Bendix washer and dryer on Aussie Ebay
- Thread starter mattywashboy
- Start date
Help Support :
nickuk
Well-known member
I would love to own this pair
Can't be more specific but mid to late 70s I think
Can't be more specific but mid to late 70s I think
seamusuk
Well-known member
Nick
Spot on datewise I would think !. Cant say these are for certain but the UK versions were Italian made Philcos.
Seamus
Spot on datewise I would think !. Cant say these are for certain but the UK versions were Italian made Philcos.
Seamus
2-drumsallergy
Active member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2006
- Messages
- 29
Philco Bendix 7142A Washer
Yes indeed 1970's the washer was sold in the UK as the Bendix 7142A 550RPM spin. Seamus the UK models were indeed made in Italy by Philco. There was also an 800 RPM spin model in the range, the Bendix 7147.
I really liked these machines as they washed really well, had very flexible programming, they were extremely quiet and very reliable. Interestingly the UK models had a Stainless Steel door rather than the painted one on eBay.
The dryer was also sold in the UK not sure of the model number though. The dryer had a stainless steel drum, tumbled in one direction and the exhaust air was removed by a large Bakelite fan (About 24 Inch diameter) which was mounted directly behind the drum, it had four temperature settings full heat, half heat, quarter heat and fan only. The dryer was much noisier than the washer which was virtually silent thanks to its capacitor run induction motor.
Yes indeed 1970's the washer was sold in the UK as the Bendix 7142A 550RPM spin. Seamus the UK models were indeed made in Italy by Philco. There was also an 800 RPM spin model in the range, the Bendix 7147.
I really liked these machines as they washed really well, had very flexible programming, they were extremely quiet and very reliable. Interestingly the UK models had a Stainless Steel door rather than the painted one on eBay.
The dryer was also sold in the UK not sure of the model number though. The dryer had a stainless steel drum, tumbled in one direction and the exhaust air was removed by a large Bakelite fan (About 24 Inch diameter) which was mounted directly behind the drum, it had four temperature settings full heat, half heat, quarter heat and fan only. The dryer was much noisier than the washer which was virtually silent thanks to its capacitor run induction motor.
This would be mid 70s. There used to be one of these on display at Bendix importers in Brunswick, Melbourne, it was labelled that it came out in 1973. They had two other machines too, a huge Bendix washer from late 50s assembled by James Kirby co in Sydney, and a tiny early 50s machine.
My mother had a very similar machine but the 550 spin model. This is the 850 spin model - it is labelled the Cyclotron 850. A fabulous machine.
The stainless steel door on Mum's was actually a thin stainless skin over a painted steel door frame.
The machine was extremely reliable, I picked it up from the roadside in a nearby suburb, gave it to my parents as their machine was on its last legs. There was nothing wrong when I picked it up, it was chucked out I assume because its paint was very yellowed and it looked old fashioned. (up market suburb...) It only died when one of the rocker switches burned up, giving Mum a fright and she didn't trust it any more.
It was great to use. The "timer" knob (RHS) is just a pointer, to start the machine you press the rocker switch labelled "start" and hold it down. The pointer would click its way around the dial, when it got to your selected cycle you would release the switch and it would start at that point. The other knob (LHS) allows you to select 7 different programmes.
As Mum only washes in cold water, she would hold the button down till the pointer was past the heating phase of the wash.
They were made in Italy by Philco.
Chris.
My mother had a very similar machine but the 550 spin model. This is the 850 spin model - it is labelled the Cyclotron 850. A fabulous machine.
The stainless steel door on Mum's was actually a thin stainless skin over a painted steel door frame.
The machine was extremely reliable, I picked it up from the roadside in a nearby suburb, gave it to my parents as their machine was on its last legs. There was nothing wrong when I picked it up, it was chucked out I assume because its paint was very yellowed and it looked old fashioned. (up market suburb...) It only died when one of the rocker switches burned up, giving Mum a fright and she didn't trust it any more.
It was great to use. The "timer" knob (RHS) is just a pointer, to start the machine you press the rocker switch labelled "start" and hold it down. The pointer would click its way around the dial, when it got to your selected cycle you would release the switch and it would start at that point. The other knob (LHS) allows you to select 7 different programmes.
As Mum only washes in cold water, she would hold the button down till the pointer was past the heating phase of the wash.
They were made in Italy by Philco.
Chris.
2-drumsallergy
Active member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2006
- Messages
- 29
Bendix 7147PB
Hi Rob,
Your Gran's Bendix in your picture is the 7147PB it was the last of that series.
The 7148 800RPM and 7168 1000RPM were launched around that time they featured an electronically controlled induction motor, sump pre fill to avoid detergent loss, a bio soak cycle, a low temperature button which dropped the temp on selected programs and doubled the wash time and a heater off button which allowed the use of household hot water. They also used a start button which was held in to advance the timer to the desired cycle position then released, they featured a 1 and a half minute 500RPM spin at the end of the wash cycle to improve rinsing and at the end of the final spin there was a 1 and a half minute reverse tumble fluff cycle to reduce creasing.
These machines were my favorite of that era as they washed and rinsed superbly, were very reliable and extremely quiet both washing and spinning.
Hi Rob,
Your Gran's Bendix in your picture is the 7147PB it was the last of that series.
The 7148 800RPM and 7168 1000RPM were launched around that time they featured an electronically controlled induction motor, sump pre fill to avoid detergent loss, a bio soak cycle, a low temperature button which dropped the temp on selected programs and doubled the wash time and a heater off button which allowed the use of household hot water. They also used a start button which was held in to advance the timer to the desired cycle position then released, they featured a 1 and a half minute 500RPM spin at the end of the wash cycle to improve rinsing and at the end of the final spin there was a 1 and a half minute reverse tumble fluff cycle to reduce creasing.
These machines were my favorite of that era as they washed and rinsed superbly, were very reliable and extremely quiet both washing and spinning.
hoover3060
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 31, 2006
- Messages
- 262
Hi Guys
My mum got the model 7147 in 1981.
Fantastic machine and I loved it!
Unfortunately I played with it too much and broke it and it only lasted till 1985.
Such a shame.
Mark
My mum got the model 7147 in 1981.
Fantastic machine and I loved it!
Unfortunately I played with it too much and broke it and it only lasted till 1985.
Such a shame.
Mark
2-drumsallergy
Active member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2006
- Messages
- 29
Quiet Reliability
Hi Mark,
Yes they were fantastic machines. I remember the TV ads for them with a baby sleeping in front of a 7168 on 1000 spin and the slogan “Quiet Reliability”. The last of the Philco made Bendix washers was the 71258 they disappeared shortly after Electrolux group acquired the Tricity and Bendix brands in the UK. I would love to find a good 71258 they were great machines to watch.
The Philco machines continued to be made and sold but alas they were fitted with cheap Universal (Carbon Brush) motors; although the cycles were much the same the once silent machines were now very noisy.
David
Hi Mark,
Yes they were fantastic machines. I remember the TV ads for them with a baby sleeping in front of a 7168 on 1000 spin and the slogan “Quiet Reliability”. The last of the Philco made Bendix washers was the 71258 they disappeared shortly after Electrolux group acquired the Tricity and Bendix brands in the UK. I would love to find a good 71258 they were great machines to watch.
The Philco machines continued to be made and sold but alas they were fitted with cheap Universal (Carbon Brush) motors; although the cycles were much the same the once silent machines were now very noisy.
David
Thank you for sharing those memories and pictures. I love those old Bendix machines, to my regret I must say I have no personal experience with them. Overhere in the Netherlands these machines were not only sold under the Bendix label, but also (and perhaps even more) under the Vendomatic label, which was the housebrand of Vroom & Dreesmann, a Dutch department store (short: V&D, by some people referred to as Vulgar and Disgusting). Overhere in the Netherlands I have never seen the timer set up as described though.
hoover3060
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 31, 2006
- Messages
- 262
Hi David
I loved the very large square door on those Bendix machines.I have a thing about square doors....Luv em.
The only annoying thing about the Bendix machines was part of the door catch. Instead of the usual spring it was a piece of metal against the catch which would flex when you pulled the handle. Of course a piece of metal constantly being flexed would eventually snap.This happened to my mums in about 3 years if i remember.
My best friends mum had the standard model compared to my mums. I think it was just called the "Bendix Autowasher" and didnt have the de luxe bit. I think it was only 500 or 550 spin but cant remember. Anyway his parents were away so I thought I would have a play with the machine (As you do) and guess what happened?..yes the metal snapped on the door catch. He went into total panic as him mum would not be best pleased! Well it took us days to find an appliance shop which actually sold these pieces of metal for the catch but finally tracked one down a day before his parents were to come home..phew!
Funnnly enough I remembered last night that I saved the powder drawer front and the control dials from my mums 7147. I came across them last year while I was in my mums loft searching for something of mine. I remember the memories coming flooding back when I saw the "Bendis Autowasher De Luxe" on the drawer front. I was only 12 when the machine died and obviously my parents let me take off the bits I wanted to keep.
Mark
I loved the very large square door on those Bendix machines.I have a thing about square doors....Luv em.
The only annoying thing about the Bendix machines was part of the door catch. Instead of the usual spring it was a piece of metal against the catch which would flex when you pulled the handle. Of course a piece of metal constantly being flexed would eventually snap.This happened to my mums in about 3 years if i remember.
My best friends mum had the standard model compared to my mums. I think it was just called the "Bendix Autowasher" and didnt have the de luxe bit. I think it was only 500 or 550 spin but cant remember. Anyway his parents were away so I thought I would have a play with the machine (As you do) and guess what happened?..yes the metal snapped on the door catch. He went into total panic as him mum would not be best pleased! Well it took us days to find an appliance shop which actually sold these pieces of metal for the catch but finally tracked one down a day before his parents were to come home..phew!
Funnnly enough I remembered last night that I saved the powder drawer front and the control dials from my mums 7147. I came across them last year while I was in my mums loft searching for something of mine. I remember the memories coming flooding back when I saw the "Bendis Autowasher De Luxe" on the drawer front. I was only 12 when the machine died and obviously my parents let me take off the bits I wanted to keep.
Mark
Cyclotron!!!
Hi Matty
These are definatly a keeper, get that truck sorted now!!!
They where one of the most popular machines that Bendix ever sold over here...the previous model was the Philco Cyclotron which had the same programmer as the aus one, you pressed the start button after selcting the programme on the middle dial and watched the pointer move around...rather like the "Timeline in a Circle" , this was a 550 machine,
The Cyclotron name was only used on the Philco machines which where the W40 & W60..
They always struck me as a solid well balanced (in aesthetics)machine, and so quiet in operation.
The matching dryer was the 7447B and matched exactly the 7147, I bid on a later 7448 to match it to a 7147 I`ve just found, only for the auction to be pulled, thinking someone had made a deal I contacted the seller and he did confirm that it was "no longer for sale" and that it hadnt been sold to anyone else for a higher amount...I do hope that is the case...
Heres a pic of the dryer:
p.s. A warm welcome also to Two-Drums and RobM, great to see the Brit pack growing...
Hi Matty
These are definatly a keeper, get that truck sorted now!!!
They where one of the most popular machines that Bendix ever sold over here...the previous model was the Philco Cyclotron which had the same programmer as the aus one, you pressed the start button after selcting the programme on the middle dial and watched the pointer move around...rather like the "Timeline in a Circle" , this was a 550 machine,
The Cyclotron name was only used on the Philco machines which where the W40 & W60..
They always struck me as a solid well balanced (in aesthetics)machine, and so quiet in operation.
The matching dryer was the 7447B and matched exactly the 7147, I bid on a later 7448 to match it to a 7147 I`ve just found, only for the auction to be pulled, thinking someone had made a deal I contacted the seller and he did confirm that it was "no longer for sale" and that it hadnt been sold to anyone else for a higher amount...I do hope that is the case...
Heres a pic of the dryer:
p.s. A warm welcome also to Two-Drums and RobM, great to see the Brit pack growing...
7147B
Heres the washer:
Heres the washer:
hoovermatic
Well-known member
My Mum's first auto washer was a Bendix. It was very simple to operate with just one dial, no switches and a red 'on' light. The door looked just like the one above but was white. I think it was 800 rpm and she loved it.
The picture of the dryer reminds me of the washers and dryers at Vroom & Dreesmann when I was a kid. I always had to go to see the washers and dryers section. Ofcourse I had to turn a few dials. I remember how sturdy the timers of these machines were built.
Chestermike, thank you for your kind words.
This machine was unusal in that the the dial on the right was a wash timer and the dial on the left set the program. This was a great idea as you could set for example, a 40 cottons program and then on the timer decide where you wanted to start the wash.
I remember when we pulled it out it wasn't very deep, 50cm I think. It had an advert on the top saying how quiet it was. It had an induction motor and was very quiet. Shame I didn't think of restoring it then.
Rob
This machine was unusal in that the the dial on the right was a wash timer and the dial on the left set the program. This was a great idea as you could set for example, a 40 cottons program and then on the timer decide where you wanted to start the wash.
I remember when we pulled it out it wasn't very deep, 50cm I think. It had an advert on the top saying how quiet it was. It had an induction motor and was very quiet. Shame I didn't think of restoring it then.
Rob
I found this on my computer. Unfortunately I have only the front page.
