Vintage Washer Meet in County Durham....

[chestermikeuk]

Wilkins - Servis

Hello Jim, this Australian twinny is a rare beast as is its correspondent model produced here in 1963, it was the first Servis Supertwin to feature the automated / linked heater wash timer, 3 set programmes which where Prog Nu 1 Very Hot for White Cottons, heats water to 90d ( 180f) and then washes for 12 mins. Prog Nu 2 heats to 60d ( 120f) for colours and washes for 8 mins, Prog Nu 3 heats to 40d ( 90f) washes for 4 mins for delicates. The Spin Dryer had a timer up to 4 minutes, you could select manual boil or manual wash as well as the automated 3 programmes.

So in this resp[ect this was the only Servis Supertwin from 1959 to 1990 that you could NOT Wash / Heat / Rinse & Spin at the same time.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Wilkins - Servis

All other Servis Supertwins from the first MK1 in 1959 to the end of production in 1990 offered the user the ability to Was / Heat / Rinse & Spin simultaneously, the only manufacturer that could offer it - mind they were know as the "Rolls-Royce of Laundry Appliances.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Wilkins - Servis

I love the symbols that they used to denote the Heat and Spin actions, the heater was wired through the spin switch so as not to overload the electrics.

 

[petek]

What a great day and happy belated birthday Richard.  I love the Kenwood dishwasher and surprised to see a Western (or Northern) Electric wall phone? 

 

Once I get over my irrational fear of flying for the last number of years a trip to Newcastle to visit the relatives scattered thereabouts would be nice, before it's too late, I'm turning into an official senior citizen next week.  Go Aries. 

 

One other crazy thing about looking at group pictures is how often you see someone who resembles someone you know.. in this case Steve is a ringer for Mike at my gym.. what's he doing there,  I had to do a double take. 

 

[ricky5050]

Hi Petek

I'm Richard it wasn't my birthday it was Darren's but that's no problem!!

Re your comment about Steve over the weekend the guys got to meet my parents on separate days. My mum said to Steve well I recognize you ! But there's no way she could know him. On day 2 my dad said well I know you to Steve also !! I think he was getting a bit self conscious that everyone seemed to know his face. And now you !! Lol

Steve you're a handsome lad with a face that must be known all over the world !!

Richard

 

[ricky5050]

American phone

Btw I've got a few American phones !

Well spotted!

Richard

 

[foraloysius]

One more message about the AEG Agilux. There's one for sale here. I have absolutely no intention of getting it, but the lady who sells it was nice to send a few pictures of it. A bit small, but it shows what the agitator is like. I am very greatful for these pictures, it's the first time I got to see the inside of an Agilux.

 

[petek]

Well that's my one mistake allowance used up for the rest of the year.  

 

[slowspin66]

What a birthday

Well it is getting on for 10 days into my 50 th year !!! I'm still reliving the weekend . What a fantastic time on a number of levels !! Richards hospitality and kindness towards us all who descended into his beautiful home !!! I even had my own room surrounded with some beautiful vintage hoovers !!!! No sharing for me !!!
Some really rare machines to work on and the rest of the lads so generously sharing their knowledge and experience to improve the plight of the collection !!!
Thirdly an opportunity to spend a weekend with such fantastic friends who enjoyed a bit of a laugh , and each other's company .
I still feel overwhelmed by what these great guys did for me with lovely presents and such a unique cake !!!!!
I consider myself to be a very lucky chap to have these lovely friends in my life . The only drawback is the weekend went so so quickly !!! Before you know it your back home and into work !!!!!
The remainder of the cake went to work with me . There were a few little comments but everyone knows about 'Darren's little interest' !!!! So the cake was quickly chomped down by the hungry midwives !!!
Thank you all for such a memorable relaxing weekend and making my birthday such a special time
Darren

 

[ricky5050]

You're more than welcome Darren !!

It was great to have you all. Your parcel has arrived and I cannot wait to play and fix the pipes !

Thanks again !!

Richard

 

[delaneymeegan]

 

 

 

I noticed, and appreciate, the rotary dial Western Electric phones, too.  It would be interesting if they worked with BT services.

 

[vacerator]

You guy's

did it up but good!
The iron sculpture is magnificent. It reminds me of a Thunderbird.

 

[ricky5050]

Consett steel

I've found this film on bfi it's about Consett and how they made steel it's from 1967 not long after my parents arrived in Consett. It's a little long and in depth but quite fascinating!

Richard

http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-consett-steel-1967/

 

[warmsecondrinse]

Thank for the info. I'd had no interest in any kind of twin tubs until I was at a wash-in and Yogi/Martin had one set up on blocks, making it high enough that it was actually accessible. I then realized that the prime reason I'd always ignored them was that I'd've had to get on my knees to use them. While I've no objection to getting onto my knees for some things, laundry is not one of them

Unfortunately, twin tubs are not likely to be in my future, fun as they might be. When my building allows washers, it'll most likely be limited to 120v washers or combos that use dishwasher connections and do not require venting.

A reason I asked was that here unitized washers & dryers are/were popular. Since they used 120v, some turned off the dryer heat when the washer was in use. Others gave the washer priority and used any 'extra' capacity (given 15A @ 120v) to continue heated (at much reduced wattage, of course) drying. I've included a pic to show what kind of unit I'm talking about. I was curious as to how such things worked at higher voltages.

Thanks again for all the info.

Jim

 

[matchboxpaul]

Hi all.

Been meaning to post a picky or two on this thread for ages - apologies its taken a while.

Seeing that LT makes me go weak at the knees every time, Richard.
Lovey mint condition - I do hope that you manage to sort its dryer issues out and get it back to fully operational status soon.

There are just a couple of pictures I have to post and they concern your uber cute Kenwood A1212 dishwasher.
Myself and Al have managed to secure a fair number of Ideal Home magazines over the last couple of months and they have surrendered a couple of interesting Kenwood pictures.

I think its safe to say that the picture below is of a prototype machine under test examination ....

 

[matchboxpaul]

.... and here is a new version on me, though Mike flagged it up a couple of weekends ago.

Was this early production style? Was it an available option? Or is it another, though slightly less visually useful, prototype?

Paul

 

[bajaespuma]

I think I need to head to the UK

Please elucidate: "Wesher Cake". A recipe wouldn't be unappreciated.

 

Looks divine. I'm a sucker for anything marbled.

 

[vacbear58]

Wesher cake

Was a typo - it should have been washer cake of course. Its really all in the decoration - well done Mike - the cake is essentially a pound cake mixture half plain, half chocolate and then "marbled" before baking

Al

 

[bajaespuma]

Yeah, but it has been given "Great British Baking Show" prime-time treatment. Perfect layers of cake bound together by something, covered by something else and then enrobed in what looks like marzipan. I'd love to see a step-by-step on this one. You folks must still get a serious education in home-ec class.

 

and BTW, I loved the picture of Lady Diana and Twiggy confabbing in front of the vintage Kenwood. Was that Rigg's flat?

 

[vacbear58]

Cake

It was actually Mike did all the work here (I have zero artistic talent) but from memory it was first covered in a thin later of sieved apricot jam, then a thin layer of marzipan and finally a layer of (what we call) fondant icing - you can roll out fondant icing. Once the cake was assembled it was given a light spay of edible, gold spray to get the finish. I had never heard of that stuff but Mike came fully equipped (it was assembled at my house) for artistic magic

Al