Finally out of the shed ! 4 years had taken it a toll , had to potch around the get wash motor to start .... 16 loads later i know why it went in there !!

whites :)

spin

In tub with lenor

Yeah - that is real fun - a real washing-day!!
I love my twinnies as well!

Ralf

Hi Neil,
There is nothing beats a Hoovermatic Deluxe for fun factor, a real enjoyable washing experience.

David

Hi Neil, nice work there, did you use the Auto Rinse?? and then a final conditioner rinse in the tub??

Ralph, hows your Hoover 3301 twinny doing??

David, do you still repair twintubs as well, which where the most popular in the Ireland??

Mike

Yeah, David, but bot only the fun factor....
They also give good washing results! And that in such short a time!
I love my Hoovermatic 3301 L but and will never forgive myself having given away my Hoovermatic T 5054 and also swear on my Hotpoint Supermatic de luxe T 9414, which unfortunately needs repairing [bellow seal] and I can't find the time... and even am not sure whether I will fix it or not...!

Ralf

Hi Mike

No I did not use the auto rinse function this time. Simply had too much to do - 16 wash loads + 16 lenor rinse loads = 32 !!!!

However on final spin i did give them a bit of a spin rinse !

Have to say its a good little cleaner, somethings took 8 mins of wash time, but it did well .... Its such a shame its back in the shed :( Just hope one day when I finally move out of the folks house I can house it once again. Was in a shocking state after 4 years :(

Hi Mike,
Sadly I have not been asked to repair a twin tub in last two or three years, they seem to be virtually non existent in my area now.

I have a Hotpoint Supermatic Deluxe 1414 myself which I bought new in 1998, sadly the end of an era.

When they were in common use the most popular Twin Tubs in this area were the Servis Supertwins. The Hoovermatics were popular too as were the Hotpoint Supermatics but the Servis Supertwins were the most popular by far. Occasionally I was asked to repair a Colston Concorde but it was ultimately replaced by a Supermatic as parts were very difficult to obtain.

David

David, in which area are you situated?

I find it sad that they stopped the selling and production of these machines already during the end of the sixties here in Germany, as far as I know.

Have an AEG Lavalux from the 1950s in full working condition after I've made one out of two...!

But these machines are by far not as good as the English machines! I find the tub is much too small (20 liters/half load or 30 liters/full load = 1,0 kg respectively 1,5 kg for a maximum load of dry weight) for a sufficient washing efficiency. Also it splashes around a lot along the rim of the lid, so I always put a cloth over it to soak up the suds splashes! The spinner has only 1600 rpm and it is not pre-programmable as it has neither thermostat nor thermometer built in.
But it looks gorgeous! And weighs a ton! Fully enamelled steel and massive copper spin can!

Ralf

Hi Ralf,
I live in County Down in Northern Ireland.
I totally agree, it's a crying shame the Twin Tubs are no longer made. You can get an all plastic model made in China but they are not the same and have no heater.
I would say there is still a market for Twin Tubs albeit limited but there is demand nonetheless.

David

How aare you doing with the Contrarotator videos? I'll probably never know because Automatic Washer.org closes tommorow. Of course you could just post them to youtube so I can type in "Contrarotator" and find them.

Neil (and all),

I was looking through a bunch of my old magazines and I posted a batch of advertisements over in the Super forum. About half-way through there's an ad for Hoover Twin-Tubs and the companion dryer. They're older than yours, but I thought you might like to see it.

-kevin

Yes, one ought to take one's twinne out for an airing now and then! *LOL*

Used mine just a few weeks ago. It was calling calling out to me for weeks about how it was longer to be used.

Am totally gobsmacked about how great those spin rinses are on a Hoover TT. Though mine are manual, am here to tell you if done until rinse water is reasonably clear coming out of the drain hose, your laundry is that well rinsed, isn't it? Know this cause when ran items though a deep rinse bath in the tub with FS and a dash of white vinegar, the rinse water was totally clear.

Have found liquid detergents can cause too much froth/be hard to spin rinse with a TT. HE detergents or at least those that are clean rinsing are best. Used the commercial Ecolab detergent last time, which is mainly washing soda, phosphates and some surfactants, and it worked a treat.

Really must have a poke thourgh the big box of Hoover parts in my closet and begin inventory. Have a Hoover repair/service/parts manual which lists parts, so the job shouldn't be that hard.

David, I've never been to Nothern Ireland, but once visited Ireland on a short trip, when visiting my Aunty in Abergavenny, which I liked a lot!
You are defenitely right saying so, that TT are still in demand! I would buy one straight away! I like especially the Hotpoint Supermatic with it's spiraclean agitator and filter clean tray - definitely the best washer I've ever used in my life. Very thorough, but nonetheless very gentle! Fastest spin of the world and the best rinsing system of all spin-a-rinsers!

Landeresse, I have had two Hoovermatics (3301L and 5054 and still have one - 3301L, to be seen in Yahoo) but found the auto-rinse in Hotpoints always better working, as more evenly in water dispensation, particulary when the spinner can is only partly loaded.
But nonetheless TT must be better in rinsing, mustn't they?
It's obvious that a machine that is able to give as much rinsings as necessary (mostly between 1 and 5) and which are therefor adequately adjusted to the kind of garment in it is always giving better results as machines which have a pre-programmed fixed rinsing.
The Hotpoint Supermatics do it automatically as they let the auto-rinse run as long as necessary to break down the foaming condition.
The foam prevents the spinner from reaching its residual spin speed and also does not let the pump catch up with the amount of incoming water unless the suds-residues in the washing are flushed out by the incoming rinse-water so far that the pump and the spinner prevail against the incoming water.
A second rinse will then do the rest...

I personally found the German PERSIL to frothy for the TTs, although all detergents here are HEs, and therefor always use ARIEL Powder and Liquid in them.

A way to avoid too much foaming in the spinner is to squeeze the items by hand before putting them into the spinner to get less suds into it.

Ralf

I have used twin tubs supervised since a young child - Can someone tell me why (if it occurs) does the wash action seem to speed up when the spinner is activated ? Is this an illusion or does it actually happen ?

To me it's an illusion!

Ralf

Do you mean in Hoovers only Neil??, it shouldnt do unless you had an old Rolls with one motor that did three jobs of wash, spin & pump, sometimes on a full load you can drain surge the power when the spinner is switched on, especially on a full load, this sometimes causes the Hoover motor to stall slightly but pick, then it throws the laundry as it picks up speed again, and that might be what you are seeing, have never experienced that on hotpoint or servis etc..

Laundress, is your twinny the 0510 or later??, Heres the autorinse in the Hoovermatic T5054...it sure pumps well!!!

Right, laundress?

Would you please help me out. I'm just so interested in these machines. Hard to explain.

When does the heating occur
How long is the wash cycle
I can see the water spout for the spin rinse in Neil's machine, but where does the water enter the washtub, or must you remove the hose to fill as in Neil's pic?

thank you

Hey Mickey

Earlier models like the 3174 below had a pipe permenantly attached to the tap, and a diverter in the spinner than you lifted over to fill the washtub with, bit of a faff if you wanted to use hot water out of the tap, so its easier to fill with a seperate hose etc...

If you fill with COLD you set the water temp and the time, the heater then comes on and raises the water, as soon as the thermostat registers its correct then the timer switches the wash motor on, no more than 4 mins for a hoover...very quick, THEN , you transfer them to the spinner, where you spin the soapy water back in as "SUDZ RETURN" for re-use, then turn on the water and switch the autorinse on and the water will spray over the clothes until it reaches the sensor then the spinner & pump starts, once the level lowers then it repeats the operation until you turn off...

Here is a video of Simons machine in action:

You can view snaps of my Hoover TT below. Not sure what the British version would be, but know it was an early model on both sides of the pond.

Yes, twin tubs do give good rinsing, but are not very water efficient unless one reuses the wash water several times, and or uses spray rinses only.

Twin tubs are indeed popular, as seen by the likes of Danby and others still producing them in one form or another. Also as often mentioned there is a commercial version sold by Unimac, used by car washes and hotels,motels, and others places with lots of small wash to do (shirts,napkins, mops, dish cloths and so forth).

Hoover TT Wash Time:

My repair/parts/service manual clearly states one should NOT exceed the max wash time on the TT, otherwise tangling will result.

Rinsing In The Spinner:

Have heard several methods, but our repair man and the owner's manual says one should fill the spin tub with enough water to cover the items in the basket, then let the spinner do it's thing. Whilst this causes tons of water to go spraying inside the spin tubs, it is very effective in rinsing. Others here have advised against this method and state it is better to slowly saturate the laundry then spin. IMHO the later seems to take too long in rinsing, but their we are, aren't we?

Wow, Laundress , your machine looks like new inside, no oil or water sprays etc..your machine is the same as our 3301, produced in 1964, the only difference is heater and the drain empty hose, your comes up through the washtub from the pump, our comes from the pump to a connector, and then a small hose is snapped into place, Ralph has this type as well, rare as hens teeth everywhere...

First produced 1964

Try to keep her looking well, so like any good housewife, after wash day is done everything gets wiped down dry, and lids left open for a day or so. One even unscrews and removes the spinner cover to wipe up any water trapped underneath. Also gave the screws a very light spray of WD-40 to push out and help keep out water/moisture. Did this as one noticed rust beginning to form around some of the screws.

Never seen these pics before. Are they new? Yes your machine is a beaut. Thought you had the plastic tub like mine. Stainless Steel, oh my!

Thank you all for the deliciously satisfying info, but I still need help.

Look at Neil's first picture. You see a small hole or port under the first gray dial. Then in the spin can you see a small slit at 11 o'clock. That's for the spray rinse when the hose is connected to the port. Got it. BUT IS THERE A PORT IN THE WASH TUB, OR MUST ONE DISCONNECT THE HOSE FROM THE Port and fill the wash tub with it. In other words, there is no cool port or fill flume in the wash tub? Sorry to be a pest, but I really want to know. I have terrible case of the Twin Tub Sickness. Lord 'a mercy! Lord 'a mercy!

A few months ago i was leaving for work at 5.30am and came accross the 3301. I didn't know what it was so i thought i'd take some photos and post them on here but i forgot to do it. I'll post them the now. A warning though... its not in the best condition!

Control Panel

Hoovermatic

Hi mick

To fill mine i use the hose as shown in rinse pic ... there is no hole to fill the tub on later models ..

Page 2 the 4th pic down - loads more to salivate over there as well!

Seamus

Mickey,

Have had those snaps up for several years now, the Hoover TT was my first "vintage" washer. Mainly used the spinner as my old front loader maxed out at 800rpm final spin speed, but since we now have the Miele which spins at 1100,the TT sees less action.

Sides, one has to get one's self worked up to do twin tub washing! But when things start to a going, such fun!

L.

If Twin Tub washing machines disappeared tomorrow, i would be a very unhappy camper. They simply amaze me, and that automatic rinse on such ancient machines, all accomplished by a honey-dipper valve is just way too much; it's just crazy. After I look at all the links to see if there is a picture of the magic valve in the bottom of the spinner--and there isn't!--I'll break mine down after christmas and photograph it in sheer gratitude for all the generous satisfying info you wonderful chirstmas elves have given me. Much love,

Mikey

Do you know where to get a new drain hose for my 3301L?
Also the filler hose is hard and starts to crumble...
Meanwhile I have refurbished mine and it looks almost like new after repainting.
The only thing I haven't done because of lack of experience in this subject is the repolishing of the lids - anyone any idea?

Ralf

Cool, these twin tub machine are starting to really interest me! I never seen one in person but I definitely would!

The fill hose is the weak link in the Hoover assembly. Mine crumbled too. Here's what worked for me. I bought a regular automatic washer fill hose--found a bright Kelly green one, soft shiney and flexible--and cut off one coupler. The free end slipped nicely around the gray coupler that comes with USA Hoovers which pops ino the rubber fill port.

As for the drain hose, take it to your local parts supplier and find a good match in width. The hoover hose and pump port are narrow on my model. Have not had to replace the hose, so just suggesting.

Now, I'm going to study all the cool links you guys and gal so generously posted. Thanks.

Have a wonderful TwinTub-filled Saturday!

You're mad Neil, that's all I can say! Five or six are enough to fish me off...

Mickey, on Neil's machine (and all Hoovermatics) there's no port to fill the washtub. On the deluxe models with the swivelling spout they can be turned over the washtub (see my video), but fixed hoses on these were only fitted from 1968-1974, and after that a similar removable fill hose like on Neil's machine was supplied.

I must say I find it suprising to see so many happy with the rinses these machines manage - even after four or five automatic rinses I end up with detergent spots, which are particluarly obvious on block coloured items - this makes me wonder if garish patterns were so popular in the 60s/70s as they hid the results of poor rinses!

Maybe the manual rinse is more efficient, as one tends to swish the water over the contents of the spin can, whereas it only pours over part of the laundry with the auto rinse spout. I keep meaning to come up with a solution to make the nozzle spray rinse water more evenly over the load, but that's one for the future.

David, if I'd seen that 3301 dumped in would have been in the back of my car faster than you can say Pulsator Boiling Action hehehe. God knows what was living in it though, poor old thing!

Si

Can't speak for the auto-rinse feature of Hoover TT's as mine is only manual, but blobs of detergent left on laundry after rinsing, means the soap or detergent wasn't properly dissloved in the wash to begin with.

Think manual rinsing allows one to saturate items in the spin tub more evenly than the auto rinse feature.

L.

Stop faffing around with a Hoover TT,and move up to:

Pipe:

I had no choice - the paddles are broke on the hotpoint again ! 3rd set this year .... i really should stop washing trainers :(

Thank god for ebay spares !

Is that a "Triple-Tub"?

Two wash baskets, one extractor basket on the UM-202. The other model has one each.

It takes 3 auto rinses sometimes 4. Verify by rinsing in cold after very hot wash, then pulling clothes and making sure all are cold and so soapy sounds are found;'D. Also rinse till water's clear.

The tub frame is removed, trying to capture water throw, but accidentally hit hot at the taps and got steamed.

so you can be sure it's a "Hoove" even though the pics are piss poor, pardon my French

First pic is cold water at full pressure; 2nd & 3rd are at low pressure, hot: big difference in coverage--eh!?

hi mick - could you please take me a picture of the controls ?

Thanks
Neil

I hade the pleasure of using the US twinny with autorinse at Gregs during the vac convention in September, and here`s a pic of me using it in 2005....many of the club had never seen one in action or had remembered seeing one in use years ago...this is the model like our 3314 1974ish, forgotten the number again..Greg..help please??

Come to think of it the fill flume is slightly larger at the end than ours, can see why the water sprays from Mickeys..

Very similar to the US model, but slightly narrower end piece

Heres the last model that Neil has, again the fill flume produces a narrower stream of water

I see what you mean, Mike. The problem I have is not flakes of undisolved detergent, more small light patches on dark clothing.

My OH has informed me that we're now out of automatic powders, so I'm going to work through my stash of high suds detergents until we move house in January. I think I'll be having a fiddle with my 3314L spout to improve the diffusion, and try Ralf's tinfoil trick at the bottom of the spin can again! Plus I plan to check the wringer belt tension on my W7002, as it's so prone to slipping!

Si

Laundress, you know just how to tease us with those "Big Boy Toys" shame on you...Lol,,now who will be first to order??

Ralph, unless we come across a shop that has them them sadly they are nowhere to be found alas, what you could do is take a hoover black hose and cut the end off, usually a little longer than the 3301, which is sometimes a bit short for modern sinks, and use a new black filler hose, I think it compliments the machine as well, will keep one on order for you should the greys show up and I can send you a new set of black hoses should you require them, let me know

Simon, you are right there is an art to soak rinse and then auto spray rinse for excellent results...each to their own, I always loosen up the clothes and move them around for at least one manual rinse!!

now of course for superior manual rinsing what you need is a high pressure spray hose!!!

OMG Simon you will be rinsing for England with high sudz powders!! "High Foam, Rinse Forever formula"...LOL especially the way the Hoovermatic whips up the foam in both tubs!!

I use an empty lenor bottle and dilute the fabric conditioner using it to soak the clothes with..Whats Ralph`s trick with the foil??

I never had the rubber mat that goes on top of the clothes, until I got my new Hoove through Laundress. Therefore, maybe my rinsing is better because the mat deflects the water somewhat, and I had no deflection. Also, the water pressure here on the lake is fire hydrant like. You might try opening up the valve to let more water in when spinrinsing; after all the Hoove pump is no slouch and can easily take the water. Moreover with a stronger fill volume, by the time spin kicks in the water level is really high in the tub, making for much more sloshing.

THE MODEL NUMBER IS T1023 of the machine with mike, identical to mine

Neil, you can see the controls in the 3rd pic, and there's just one more which you can see in Chestermike's pic. I'm working on a new roll, of film, don't have digital, so it'll be a while.

Ralf when the pump went on my first Hoove, I took it out, rigged up some new hosing to a Craftman utility pump, and I saved the "gray" (makes me think of aliens as they're sometimes called grays. ;'D

Found it in the garage yesterday. It's yours. Wait till after Christmas/New Years, and I'll send it. Can't now--way behind in my Shipping Department.

We should all chip in and buy her a Unimac for her birthday. Great Irony that this powerful giant is called a Unimac. Wonder if they knew about Unimatics. Wish we could see the insides of it.

Twin Tub Friends: Please read post above this one.

Mickey,

You really shouldn't run the spinner without the mat, it prevents items from being thrown over the top of the spin drum and into the outer drum where they can end up in the pump.

Have a big box of Hoover NOS Hoover TT parts that I've yet to catalog, but think there is a drain hose and spin mat in there somewhere. Was kind of saving them as spares since most everythin for Hoover TT's is no longer around.

Have to check my email accounts and bookmarks. IIRC there were several sources in England that still had some Hoover TT parts around.

Try Here:

Try nosing around here as well for references.

Have to answer soon! Thanks in award for your help - but I wasn't at the pc during week-end...
Have no time at the moment in the office!
See you later!
Ralf

OMG....so much to thank and to answer...had no time to got to the internet on week-end as my mate has got the flu and stays in bed and all homework had to be done by myself...

Where to start???

OK...

Michael! That is very kind of you!!! Big hug and kiss! For address and stuff just contact me via my e-mail-address, please!
What d'ya wanna have for postage and stuff? And where to send it?
Generally spoken: I had the idea to take the old hose off the conection part of the Hoover (nozzel that fits into the oulet hole) and glue a new hose to it... but do not know wether it will survive the try to force the old hose down. Also the little hook that holds the hose to the hole is nearly vanished and I do not know how to repair this at all...
So, a new one is really the best solution - thank to YOU!

Hi, Mike!
My twinnies are doing well, except my hotty as the bellow-seal isn't fixed yet...puh! Yes, I know, I'm lazy... but...so much other things to do...still looking for a new home... and so on... Have also gotten two new machines.....smile!! Both single-tubs! Yessssss.....I HAVE to do some photographs...I know!!! lol
BTW...what do you mean with my foil?

On your pic of the T5090 you can see what I approaches before, namely what happens when the spinner cans in the Hoovers aren't completely filled with fabric: water spills agains the container wall instead into the center of the drum, even worse when the outlet holes are in a row with the water jet! This is better made with the Hotties and their ring of water-jets, I feel.

Cheers, Ralf!!

Laundress, Got good at loading without the mat, made sure socks and such were well under; do admit, however, to the occasional ker-slap slap slapink against the lid, solved with a little re-tucking. Thanks to you, I now have a mat, but still forget to use. Will try to acquire the habit.

Ralf, I'm catching up in my shipping department so you'll be getting the hose sooner rather than later. Very excited as this will be my first international mailing.
When the next roll of film is full and developed, you'll see how and with what I replaced the crumbly fill hose.

All Hail To Hoover People, Hoover Hopefuls, and Hoover Wannabees ;'D ;'D ;'D

Thanx so much Michael!!!!
Can't await your mailing!!!

Happy Holidays!

Ralf