Celebrating the 70th birthday of Hoover UK`s first washing machine. It officially rolled off the production line on the 1st March 1948, at the Hoover factory in Merthyr Tidfyl, South Wales. Very fitting as it was St Davids Day, the patron saint of Wales. "Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus" This compact wringer washing machine was designed for the British kitchen and would fit under the draining board, a great spacesaver with our compact kitchens. It had a simplistic design, an aluminium tub was bolted to the base and sides, it had the famous "Hoover Pulsator" a spinning disc set in the side of the tub and driven by a belt from a motor underneath. It had no switch you plugged it into your socket on the wall and switched on. The aluminium worktop was also used as a cover to prevent water from splashing over the floor. The Hoover Pulsator revolved at 560 rpm and rolled the clothes throughout the water so getting them clean. It didn't even have
Hey, ChesterMike! Just found a vintage Hoover 0510 american model twin tub, almost like new, for barely $150 USD. The unit is white and has stainless steel tub. It most probably was made, circa 1968, at the old Hoover location in Ohio. I've been looking for one of these for years! A few years ago I just missed one which had been put out in the garbage nearby my dwelling. Very frustrating! But, hey, I've just located the ad of a seller out here in Canada who has exactly the model I wanted. She's a real beauty--and in excellent condition as well... A jewel amongst today's myriad of plastic-made washing machines and kinda cheap parts that we too often see at skyrocketing prices. Ah, those were the good old days of the Laundry Kingdom: 'You know boy, they no longer make 'em like this nowadays'... Isn't it funny to see all those washer guys or vacuum collectors who get excitement in the pursuit of the holy grail of old days appliances, just like amateurs of vintage sport cars would get crazy over the latest find? Me? Perhaps I should say that I'm biased: I'm sold over to Hoover's. I am sort of a 'fan' of their old rigs. For now, just can't wait to receive my own little diamond, the 0510! Great collection of yours, by the way, and very interesting facts. The 3301 is a great unit and, basically, looks quite a lot as the 0510. Do you know where we can find pumps for washers like ours today? Heard that the pump is a 'weak spot' regarding the Hoover washers. Yours, John (Canada)
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DeleteI have finally received my Hoover washer from the internet re-seller: The model I got is the 0610, originating from a plant in Canada that was based in Hamilton, Ontario. Yes, the unit is still in pristine condition, with exception of a couple of scratches here and there, only a few. The motor parts inside look almost as new and the outside is very clean from top to bottom. I did a cleanup of the unit anyway, unscrewing and pulling off the blue control panel plate, with Hoover written on top of it (the metal used here is very thin and can be bent easily). Using lightly damped Q-Tips (with water and soft desinfecting soap), I was able to remove some spots of dirt in places otherwise laid hidden. I then cleaned gently the spinner and wash tub with a lightly humid cotton cloth (the stainless steel tub looks fantastic). These units are becoming quite rare today; even in Canada the original Hoovers, such as this one, are very hard to find in excellent working order. And Hoover made them to last... Seems almost as solid as a tank! The 0610 had the very same wash tub and spinner compartment lids as the beautiful 3301L you have introduced here (unlike the U.S. 0510 and 0512 models, the lids come with gray color plastic handles tightly screwed in it). BTW, the 3301L shown in your video is a superb machine: it was one of the best looking and best-made, not to mention one of the most efficient twinnies of the era. As a design, mine's twinnie (from Canada) was sort of a mixture of the U.S. 0510 and the 3301 from the UK. I haven't tried it out yet because I will need a new filling hose with special plug termination for my sink faucet. Moreover, I will have to buy a three-prong plug adapter for obvious safety reasons (otherwise, there is no possibility of grounding the washer according to secure electrical procedures). My 0610 model has serial nr 73166 (perhaps it would reveal the year of manufacture to some more knowledgeable people than I). In any case, I am very happy with my latest find. Like we say in french, it must be something of a ''perle rare''. I plan to post some pictures of the unit within a few weeks, if I can (search for the Hoover 0610 at www.automaticwasher.org). John (Eastern Canada)
Hi John, glad you found the Hoover 0510, they are great washing machines of the era, the main difference between the 0510 and the 3301 is the outlet hose arrangement, the 3301 has the shorter hose with a snap in connector on the top deck, yours has the full length hose which goes through the top fascia and then drops down to the pump - can you tell me if there is any type of seal where the hose goes through the top fascia etc??
ReplyDeleteThese machines produce a lot of splashing and have often wondered if the water makes its way through? Parts are still readily available, I know Tim from AW is very knowledgable in the US models he will be a good rescource for you as well. Look forward to seeing your pics
Yep, ChesterMike, very glad I found this little gem! Just to set the record straight, the machine I bought actually is the Hoover 0610--NOT the 0510 initially mentioned. My mistake. The 0610 is very much alike both the 3301 and the 0510-0512, except that the model was manufactured in Canada. The drain outlet hose is located all the way back behind the washer. It does not go through the top deck but, instead, is coming out from a hole at the rear side of the washer. Two plastic hooks hold in place both the hose and power cable. In any case, photos will be posted soon so that you can see in detail what I am unsuccessfully trying to describe. I am in the process of restoring much of the beauty of the Hoover 0610 right now: getting rid of quite a few scratches with the use of Porcelain Perfect and making the top cover (blue) plate look anew by painting it with special oil paint, using the very same color as the original. Here I must be careful not to make disappear altogether the small lettering and the Hoover brand name indicated on it. This blue top cover is where the white-colored plastic buttons (Timer, etc.) are located. Retained in place by two screws, this tiny aluminum piece is as easily removed as it is fastened back in place. As regards the pump, I think it is pretty identical to other Hoover twin tub models of the era. I also got the original filling hose (thick rubber, black colored) with my machine. It can connect to almost any faucet without a hitch. Like I said, the unit is a real beauty and is, overall, in pretty good shape despite its age.
ReplyDeleteHi mike need your advice I have a hoover matc t5054 and its stopped spinning the wash tub works nothing to the spin side i have bought a new micro switch nothing worked just wondering if the supressor gas gone on it can u email me on kofimilly21@hotmail.com I don't want to trash this machine if its something simple regards James Elliott
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ReplyDeleteJust looking at that machine brings back lots of memories for me .I would have been 7 or 8 years old when my mum got her machine [same model] i can still smell OMO .That machine lasted well into the late 70s .My dad was always fittinmg new rubber mounts to the spin motor he eventually got sick of doing that and fitted three long bolts with cotton reels as spacers.It made the machine vibrate just a little more than it already did but we never had that problem again.We also had a straightened out coat hanger hanging on the wash house wall always ready for retrieving articles that had gone over the top of the spinner .That machine certainly earned its keep washing for a family of six
Hello, folks I found a 0510 in an old trappers cabin in Alaska on some property I bought and it runs great just need some parts. Do you have any recommendations? Thanks Tim
ReplyDeleteTo the post of June 29 2019: Parts are hard to find these days, but you can try your luck via the web through the likes of ebay, amazon or craigslist, etc. I know some retail shops do still have quite a few parts today in Australia and in the UK, but be careful of variants in models (0510 was made in the US, of course; however, pump setup was pretty much the same here as old Hoovermatics such as 3301 (not the later pinch valve type) I think nr was PMP-15 or something. If that may help you a bit. John
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