Hey guys,

I got another response from one of my wanted adverts for the 2 Simpson Push Button Fluid Drives you see below:

I actually wasn't expecting the model on the left: considering i already have one, but have decided to buy it anyway as i was going to use one as a lighting display.

The one on the right hand side is the 1970 Four Speed Programmed model without the rapid advance timer: Yes, it needs a new lid (which i have a spare of) and new hoses, but the seller (who used to be a repairman) said its working fine. Both of these machines have been sitting in the garage for the past decade. This 1970 will match the side by side dryer i already have...pictured below.

The pictures aren't the best as again, its from a disposable camera. Am considering stopping in to view the machines and take better pics on my way down to Victoria to pick up the Orbital Kelvinator over the xmas/new year break.

In all, not bad for AU$100.00 for the both machines!!!

Cheers
Leon

The interior of the 1970 Fluid Drive 13-076

Interior of the 1966 Fluid Drive A048

1966 and 1970 Fluid Drives side by side

Different view of the Control Panel

Here's the control panel of the matching dryer to the 1970 Fluid Drive

Another control panel pic

Very interesting machines Leon, just wondering if they have lighted consoles? The tub on the machine on the right is really cool.

Leon - what a great score on the Simpsons. Isn't it fun to find the matching machines to complete the sets?

Silly question that may have been covered before, are those wash-tubs porcelain or some other material? I love the ribs, I'll bet those can really scrub the clothes combined with that big agitator!

Very kool. The console of the one from the '70's remind me of our mid-sixties Norge's and Philco's. Would love to see those in action!

Very handsome machines! Congrats!

Very nice !! I guess the ribes in the basket enhances water extraction. Leon do you now about the basket & the features of the machines? The agitator always reminds me of kelvinator machines,have a good time with them. Darren k

Is there an American machine that is equivalent to the Simpson? Is it a Speed Queen? Is that the same agitator we see in the Wizard ?

Love the mile high control board.

Terry: The machine on the left has a lighted console, but not the one on the right.See attached pic of my other machine with the light on.

Gansky: The inner tub lining is actually made of plastic and comes apart from the porcelain inner tub in 3 pieces for cleaning. And yes: it was great to complete the set: ive had the Dryer for over a year.

MickeyD: Yes, the mechanicals in these Simpson's are the same as the early Fluid Drive Speed Queens.

Alspinboy: Will attach the cycle times etc from the service manual later today.

Leon

OMG!

I just got to work and now I have to go home to change my pants! Might as well have a cold shower too!

Very exciting to see these machines.

There is another one that I think is special, I saw one on the side of the road once but it was only the outside shell, most mechanical parts had been removed. It was similar to the 1970 model but had a baby blue control panel with big white knob and push buttons similar to the 1973/4 series.

Congratulations!

May I ask where these machines are coming from?

Hey Ash,

Thanks! You're thinking of the series that came after this one with the model numbers 13-096 - 13-099, there were 2 styles, with Blue or Brown control panels.The age is about right: 1973.

These came from rural Victoria which has been a good hunting ground for me.

I am on a mission now to try and find a "Fabulous 89"!

Leon

Leon, congratulations. Can't wait to read the cycle times from the service manual. and aren't matched sets wonderful? See, another example of good dryer karma. Ya will find the matching washer eventually if ya get the dryer first. Bob

Wow Leon - these are two beautiful machines! I can only imagine the wash action with those amazing liners in the tubs - too cool.

Ben

GORGEOUS machines!

What is the heater's wattage of a typical Aussie dyrer? Highest? Lowest? Thanks!

Since Aussie washers are so much like Americam and Canadian washers, I'm wondering if the dryers are high wattage like ours with a dedicated heavy-duty electrical line required, or if they are lower wattage plug-n-play types as European and UK models are. (Which get pluged into any ordinary power-point/outlet/socket).

Thank you!

They look fabulous as usual :)

Steve,

Dryers that take up more than a standard 60cm x 60cm form factor are usually 20amps 4800watts. These require a dedicated 20amp plug and circuit. The toploading F&P dryer needs 32amps and must be hardwired. The only other 32amp circuit in the average house would be for an electric cooktop and oven.

There were some early UK Euro dryers that came here in the 70's that had a 13amp requirement and had to be installed on a dedicated 15amp circuit, however these days they are all converted to 10amps before arriving on our shores.

Regards

Nathan

Thank you.
Care to say which is most prevalent?

Here we find:
220v 30a line for the vast majority; full-sized machines
220v 20a line for stationary comapct machines. (special line)
120v 20a line for portable compact electric dryers and gas-fired dryers. (All of the gas and some of the electrics may be used on a 120v 15a line.) of coyrse 120v is ordinary line voltage for us.

Hi Steve,

99% of dryers sold here have a capcity of 3.5-5.5kg and run at 2400w 240v 10amps. These sell in the tens of thousands per year, these dryers cost from $300AUD up to $3000AUD for the High end Miele.

Speed queen, Kleenmaid and Maytag sell large capacity machines that run on 20amp 240v 4800w. F&P Sell the 32amp TL Dryer. These dryers would sell in the hundreds per year and cost >$1500AUD

Most houses arent wired for a 20amp dryer.

Regards

Nathan

The toploading F&P dryer needs 32amps and must be hardwired.

I dont know why the F&P is rated so high, it makes it very hard to install in most houses.

With an 62 or 80amp service it takes a fair bit of capacity unless you use gas for cooking.

A retail store here..."Goodguys Warehouse", which Nathan will know are clearing out the topload F & P dryer as its not selling very well, mainly as more people here in Oz are buying front load washers and want a compact dryer they can stack on top. A lot of laundries here in Oz are not designed for a side by side washer/dryer pair.

I was quoted AU$999.00 on the dryer down from AU$1499.00!! When i realised it needed to be hardwired, i thought no thanks.

The Simpson dryer in this thread will need a 20amp plug when it gets installed.

Leon

Thanks Leon, That machine is just beautiful with her console all aglow!!! Terry

Leon, The 1970 model was tested in the 1971 Choice and lists full specifications for this machine. I shall have to post it to you.

If you ever had to many fluid drives I am always happy to take one off you, for a fair price of course, just let me know!

I also have to follow up with you a motor for my 1970 Simpson which looks a lot like yours.

Hey Bob,

Attached are the cycle times for both machines. The first sheet is for the machine on the left: with the lighted console and all push buttons.

Leon

This is the sheet which shows the cycle times for the machine on the right with the control knob.

Ash,

Haven't forgotten about you: will weight up the motor and let you know how much to post and would appreciate the Choice article: email me for my address. I will certainly keep you in mind if i want to part with any Fluid Drives in the future...or any of the other Simpsons I have.

Leon

Well done Leon, what clean lines & styling on those new machines, love the Timelines, AND, lighted control panels etc, they are really gonna light up your Laundry Studio when its all sorted...BTW..How Big is this space gonna have to be with all these machines you are aquiring...LOL

I`ve never seen a programme chart give so much clear information as on the timeline etc, plenty of scope to wash even plastics & rubbers!!!

Cheers, Mike

p.s. half way through the Servis Manual, ...thanks!!

Hey Mike,

Thanks! Glad you like the manual: will email you the actual instruction manual for a Mark 22 soon.

I'm going to have to have a pretty big garage methinks!!

Cheers
Leon

~Interesting. My US version F&P SmartLoad is rated 24A and is connected with a standard 30A dryer cord.


I'm thinking that the wattages (US/ AUS) are the same. It's probably just that the nearest ameperage over 20a there is 32a.

My understanding is that in some lands with 220v ordinary line voltage, there aren't really outlet configurations (for in-home use) of high amperage draws, thus the need to hardwire.

Although there are industiral-grade plugs and sockets, they are said to be VERY pricey.

It's just such eye candy--tremendous, and like Mike, I've never seen a chart so detailed and satisfying right down to the Suds--YAY

Someone over at Simpsons REALLY loved washing machines, right down to the manual.

Thank You, Leon. What great reading treats to go with lunch.

Someday, I'd love to see that unique agitator in action.

Those are really cool looking machines! Congrats!

Interestingly, the electric codes in the US now require the use of plugs, for everything. Even dishwashers.

Can we assume that a DW must be plugged in somewhere that is not directly behind the machine (i.e. inaccessible?)

Is a huge no-no here.

They warn that because you could push the dishwasher into the plug and bend it outside of specifications or half remove it from the socket, which could then result in overheating. It has to be accessible and is usually in an adjacent cupboard. Garbage disposals are usually plugged into a switched outlet which is then switched on the wall.

I think the reason we hardwire High Amperage appliances, is that with 240V we have so few of them and there is no need for a 25amp plus connector domestically.

Most Australians dont move their stove and oven with them, they stay in place until they fail or you rennovate. Everything else that 99% of the population buys excluding water heaters and built in airconditioners are rated at 10amps or less. That's why the high amperage plugs are so expensive because there are so few homes that use them.

The legislation varies from time to time as to whether the stove and oven need an easily accessible isolator or whether the fusebox is enough.

Didn't someone here once post a pic that included an electric (storage-type) hot water heater that was plug-and-cord connected?

Bizarre!

~99% of dryers sold here have a capcity of 3.5-5.5kg and run at 2400w 240v 10amps.

How long does a 10amp dryer take?

1- top-loader load (medium spin, say?
2- front loader (fast spin, say)?

TYVM

In a vented dryer, a load of towels out of a Belt Drive Whirlpool takes about 90 to 100 minutes with a 10 minute cooldown on hot.

From the Miele with an 1800RPM spin the same load takes about an hour.

In the Air condensor Miele, it takes about 2 hours when coming from the FL machine. I tried drying one load out of a GE FF and I had to empty the condensate container mid cycle as there was so much water to remove, and it took almost 3 hours.

(Load consists of 4 towels, 2 bathmats, 2 facewashers, 2 handtowels and 6 Teatowels.) This isnt a full load in the 5.5kg Miele FL machine.

Interesting that someone mentioned this. Just finishing up(well almost) building a new house. In the kitchen where the dishwashers are going, the electrician put in an electrical outlet for the dishwashers and garbage disposal, I asked what they were for and he said it was code now. So in all of my whit and wisdom, I said won't it be hard to unplug it if there is a problem? He motioned my eyes to the wall above the counter and said thats what these 3 switches are for, one for each diswasher and one for the garbage disposal, so I guess this is how it is now in new construction. The dishwasher in my present house is hard wired with no shutoff, besides the circuit breaker. Garbage disposal is hard wired to a switch under the sink cabinet. Come to think of it the new garage door opener has a plug on it. The old one was hard wired, so I guess the installer put an outlet there for the new one. Central vac same thing has plug for it and another for the accessories. Hmmm me sees a pattern here.... Anyone else have some newer things in their homes that are now plug in versus previously hardwired?
Jon

sorry people just got carried away with this and just posted to this thread, I know it should have been in the "yellow room" Please forgive me, sometimes shouldn't type after playing with my little thc friends.
jon