English Electric Wash'n'Rinse

[Colourstar]

Fish'n'Chips... This'n'that... British Summer'n'Amber Flood Alert

A few classic examples of our love of something'n'something else pairings to which I can now add 'Wash'n'Rinse'- the snappy name of a washing appliance aimed squarely at the modern housewife circa 1959.

This wonderful machine came to me via a house clearance chappy and was located only a twenty minute drive from here. The property being cleared was a bay-fronted Victorian mid terrace, which had apparently been home to an elderly gent until his recent demise. It was one of those fantastic houses where time had apparently stopped some time in the 70s. Swirly wallpaper abounded, as did polystyrene ceiling tiles and bakelite light switches with metal conduits which weren't channelled into the walls. The internal doors had been flush-fitted with hardboard panels and beading, along with opalescent red plastic handles as was the trend at the turn of the 60s, in a bid to banish the dust traps presented by traditional doors with recessed panels.

The back room and kitchen decor was darkened orange with nicotine. The previous owner had obviously enjoyed his fags!

So to the washing machine: This had been wheeled into the shed in favour of a very new looking twin tub, so had perhaps not long been out of service. It's fitted with a rubberised round pin 15a plug- there was probably a suitable power point in the kitchen, although I didn't notice. Condition is great and the styling- well, I just love it! And it's all there, including the square lid to provide some extra worktop space. The mangle detaches and stows in a compartment in a side of the machine. Even the rubber hoses are both present and have not perished. I'm not sure of the purpose of the little meter graduated 1-4 on the front. I suspect it's simply a mechanical temperature guage. Perhaps the user manual grouped various fabrics into 4 heat settings, for some guidance.

With a little time and love, this will I'm sure be back in service soon. One thing I would like to find though is a 60s spin dryer... let me know if you can help!

Here are some pics of it as recovered:

Steve J

[Colourstar]

Whilst I had the opportunity, I was able to salvage a few other domestic bygones for posterity. Three white-wood sloping kitchen wall cupboards came home with me. They are lined with some fantastically period wallpaper off-cuts. The paint (and glass doors) and dingy with smoke.

I also found room for a supremely comfortable 50s settee and matching armchair. Luckily our man restricted his Captan full strength to the back room and the front room, where this suite was, was saved for Sunday best.

Steve J

[Alan Stepney]

I suspect that it may be a little earlier than 1959.
Around '53 or so, I think, as an aunt had one, in her then-new house, which I am sure was shortly after the Coronation.

Now, it is a long time ago, and memory can fail, but may be worth checking.

[paulsherwin]

This was the standard UK domestic washing machine design in the 50s before being ousted in many homes by a twin tub in the 60s. My mother certainly owned a similar (possibly identical) one when I was small.

[Tractorfan]

Hi,
My aunty had one of these, although I remember it had two controls on the front instead of four (the next model down, perhaps?). I think it was a different colour scheme as well. I recall that it had grey flex & an ivory coloured Crabtree 13amp plug. Sad, isn't it?
She also had a Burco wash boiler which was the only source of hot water in her north Wales cottage. It sat at the end of the bath in the outhouse.
Cheers, Pete

[Colourstar]

Hi Pete, I've found a photo of the lower spec version of my machine, which sounds like the one you remember:

http://www.automaticwasher.info/TD/A...1-15-03-44.jpg

This model would not have had a heater. The two controls seem to be one to engage the washing action and another to pump out the water. The four controls on mine are motor on/off, heater on/off, washing action engage lever and pump operation lever.

I'm fairly convinced these machines are post 1955; the presentation and styling touches, such as the typeface on the plastic controls say the mid-to-latter part of the decade to me. I know that makes me a real anorak, but there you go! Of course I'm happy to be proved wrong!!

Steve

[Stubble]

English Electric Wash'n'Rinse, just shows the old en’s are the best; it looks in great shape, just a good clean and wash till you drop.

[Tractorfan]

Hi,
Thanks for posting the pic Steve. Yes, that's the one! I presume that on the lower spec machine, the motor started as soon as it was plugged in.
My mother had a very simple "Goblin" (the vacuum cleaner people) washing machine. Hand operated wringer and no controls at all, the agitator starting at plug-in.
Later on she treated herself to an "Adamatic" twin tub.
Cheers, Pete

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Colourstar

Luckily our man restricted his Captan full strength to the back room and the front room, where this suite was, was saved for Sunday best

You've just evoked a horrible radio related smoking memory.

When I was a young TO on D Shift at Broadcasting House in the early seventies the STO who oversaw our training was a heavy user of Capstan Full Strength and we were forced to incarcerate ourselves with him in a small mixer cubicle pouring over technical diagrams whilst he puffed away.....we hated it but our grumbles to the Tech Ops Manager went unheeded as he sat in his ivory tower amidst a cloud of Senior Service smoke!!

Alvin

[Heatercathodeshort]

Mention of the tumble drier reminded me of the Creda 'Debonair' that I bought my mother in 1966. Great machine but it literally rusted away finally wobbling to a heap on the quarry tiled kitchen floor. I had warned her of the posible disaster but she insisted it would still do 'another turn'. Things were so simple then. English Electric also made T.V. receivers.. J.

[Brigham]

"English Electric also made T.V. receivers.."

...Among other things!

[Tractorfan]

Hi,
I think with English Electric, it was a case of: 'You name it, they made 'em!'
Cheers, Pete

[Colourstar]

Time to revive this thread, as the machine has been purely ornamental in the kitchen all this time and needs to start earning its living!

The original 15 amp round pin plug was swapped for a modern (but still 60s) 13 amp plug. I checked the motor was free to turn (it was) and that the wash mechanism wasn't engaged, ie it was in 'neutral'.

A quick switch on for a few seconds resulted in a hum from the motor, but no movement and a release of white smoke!

It's been suggested that this machine may use an induction motor and that the smoke issued from a capacitor expressing it's distress at being woken after decades of dormancy. The motor is hard to examine in situ.

So the bleaker prospect would seem to be that if it's a conventional motor the smoke could be from an internal breakdown of the windings, whereas if it's an induction type it could be a duff capacitor.


Steve

[McMurdo]

acrid white smoke is the sort of thing you get from a motor capacitor, I would look for that first

[AC/HL]

I don't know where EE made washing machines, but the plastic knobs were made in their Foundry in Bradford, where my Dad worked.
Probably some of the castings too, they certainly made the larger motor castings there.

[mole42uk]

Originally Posted by AC/HL

I don't know where EE made washing machines, but the plastic knobs were made in their Foundry in Bradford, where my Dad worked.
Probably some of the castings too, they certainly made the larger motor castings there.

In which case, my Dad probably drew them, he worked in the Drawing Office there until they closed in 1961 and moved to Kidsgrove? Congleton?

Richard

[G6Tanuki]

EE certainly had a plant in Kidsgrove - it was part of the EELM [English Electric Leo Marconi] computer-manufacturing operation (whence came the KDF-series of computers, KDF standing for Kidsgrove Development Facility).

Later on it was one of ICL's operating-software-development sites for their "2900" series of mainframes.

[Colourstar]

Originally Posted by McMurdo

acrid white smoke is the sort of thing you get from a motor capacitor, I would look for that first

Thanks Kevin. It had that kind of look/smell to it.

Steve

[Brigham]

Originally Posted by G6Tanuki

EE certainly had a plant in Kidsgrove - it was part of the EELM [English Electric Leo Marconi] computer-manufacturing operation (whence came the KDF-series of computers, KDF standing for Kidsgrove Development Facility)

KdF Computers. I always thought they were German!

[saxmaniac]

This looks like a hot point countess which was very common in the 50s and60s. EE and Hpt were part of GEC. I can't remember on this one but the motor may have had a start relay which needs to stay upright or the start winding will be connected permanently resulting in smoke in a few seconds.