YaY!....... I finally have a FILTER FLO!

[chestermikeuk]

GE / Hotpoint FilterFlows

Nice one Shane, looking forward to seeing the pics, love the wood grain panel, our original UK filterflows had the timeline console...the later ones had a rather bland control panel similar to the Front loaders, one dial does all...

The beauty of your is the Mini Basket..although you could just about wash a hankie in our filter pan I suppose...here`s a link showing the Hotpoint Spiralator in action!!

Enjoy, Mike

 

[toggleswitch]

Mike:

I absolutley LOVE seeing that machine. Can't get enough. Were there many top-loaders (as a class) in the UK?

Were there many different manufactureres and models?

Thank you in advance!

 

[chestermikeuk]

UK Top Loaders

Morning Steve, we only had a few top loaders in the 60`s / 70`s although we had a number of imported models, around 1963 we had the first Hotpoint Top Loader, Model 1500, 9lb load, with 3kw heater variable wash & temp programmes, 3 heat settings, 6 progs, 2 rinses & a 1050rpm spin..and a little handy 2way (white / teak effect) melomine worktop!!

The inner & outer bowl where made of vitreous enamel with a white spiralator with filter flow pan, the design didnt change until production ceased in the 90`s other than a plastic outer bowl, cosmetic changes and different programmers, 2 controls on first machines, then timeline controls until 80`s then programmer dial like FL...

This is Keiths (Keymatic) Hotpoint 1501 produced aka 1964

 

[toggleswitch]

Interesting; thank you!

One would thing the controls would have been better placed in the front. As from what I can surmise, many modern front-loaders are adjacent to the kitchen sink in the UK, a practise which I am sure did not evolve overnight!

IIRC it had been said that the twin-tubs (prior to the front-loaders) were placed there as well. Do let me know if I am ill-informed!

 

[chestermikeuk]

1970`s Hotpoint TL

Similar Cabinet, new timeline controls, you could set time & temp, max 12 mins wash, hot & cold fill, 10lb wash, 3 load sizes small, medium & large, 41inch H x 22 wide x 23 deep

 

[chestermikeuk]

1980`s Hotpoint

same as previous just cosmetic changes and beefed up parts!!yes these machines would generally be set up next to the kitchen sink and would either be plumbed in or used on tap adaptors, they came on wheels for easy movement, so the controls at the back and worktop proved very useful!!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Servis Top Loaders 1963

The other main manufacturer from 1963 to 1976 was Servis UK, their top loader was similar to Hotpoint, hot & cold fill 9lb load, variable temp including Boil Wash, 618 spin speed, vitreous enamel drum,

 

[chestermikeuk]

1970`s Servis Top Loader

This is the infamous Servis MK41 Holy Grail!!! variable time, temp & spin, Hot & Cold fill, 7 main HLCC (Home Laundry Care Council) progs, 9lb load, 4 wash temps, 3kw heater, and up to 15 mins of washtime, followed by spray rinses and one full rinse..

 

[chestermikeuk]

Other UK Top Loaders

We did have the Thor / Parnall / Creda Spinwashers, semi automatics which proved popular, though not as much as twintubs, you kept the laundry in the same tub ( like Ross`s) and adjusted controls & water flow accordingly..