Bendix Gyromatic question

Hi Steve

This Bendix Giromat is a model G 1961 over here, I saw an add in a local rag, and spilt my tea in shock...It was owned by a Cheshire Farmers wife, now both in their mature years they looked the part of the Cheshire Set, quilted jackets, tweeds and Champagne Pink hair rinse for the lady...

Mrs. M grilled me for a couple of minutes before they would show me the machine, Would I look after it, I dont want to find it advertised again, I dont want to think of it going to the tip, You know its a very old and dear friend to me!!!

When I explained I was a collector she visibly calmed and it was just what she wanted to hear, albeit very much surprised...They led me into a centrally heated garage for the Bentley and in the corner under a covering of very expensive, new horse blankets was Bertha Bendix, I must admit I was slightly disapointed as I was thinking the smaller one Model A or the semi automatic Model D...

It still had its original hoses, copper taps, a mound of service info and spare gaskets etc...She explained that she had bought the machine when they where first married, the farm was her husbands family and as a newly married couple they had built on the farm further away from the main farmhouse, a very modern glass n wood hillside house,garage underneath,with the main lounge and kitchen overlooking the Cheshire countryside, it is a stunning house and setting...She said, My husband bought himself 1.5 acres of extra land and so I decieded to treat myself and buy the Bendix...FOR THE SAME PRICE!!!! which was �109 guineas..shows how much land and inflation have changed...LOl

They took me through to the utility to show what they had now, but where very scathing about it not being as good a machine, it was a TOL AEG...they had had a few probs with the Bendix and their original Bendix Engineer, now 65yrs of age, had chosen to retire, and as the machine was old, they felt they could not take a chance with anyone else servicing it...

We passed through the kitchen to get to the Laundry and my jaw dropped, they still had the original kitchen, pristine and immaculate condition, It was a Dark green/black wooden Poggenpohl (The ultimate German kitchen back then ) with Moffatt Split level appliances in brushed chrome, matching fridge & freezer, a breakfast bar near the full length windows for the view...

And so She definatly did shed a tear when I collected it, its in great condition and it needed new fill hoses and an oil change which Jon Jetcone did,and showed me how to do when he came last year....


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Post# 187423 1/30/2007 at 13:40 (6,295 days old) by fredriksam (Sweden)
Checkrate/Likes In the house i,m living in there stands an Bendix Gyromatic in the wash room. I have done some research and it seems the machine was buyed 1961-63. When trying the machine the drum moves but has a LOUD squicking noise going on. The thermostath does not stop heating so the machine may boil the wash if not checked. When put on spin the drum moves up to speed, maybe the top speed. Then after about 2 minutes theres a sharp snap from somewhere inside the machine and the drum stops. The rest of the spin only the pump is on. When removed the top you can see the outer drum. There are some spots which are rusty but not many. Now, i wonder. Is there ANY idea to try to repair this machine? On collectors side i see it as maybe. What do you think?.

Post# 187427 , Reply# 1 1/30/2007 at 13:57 (6,295 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)
Checkrate/Likes Can you take photos of it and post them here??? Thanks!!

Post# 187442 , Reply# 2 1/30/2007 at 15:03 (6,295 days old) by fredriksam (Sweden)
Checkrate/Likes Will take photos later- By the way. The machine belongs to my landlord. He has said i can take it if i want and do whatever i want. In his opinion the machine is just "scrap" and the only reason he hasnt taken it to the dump is because its too heavy. And my landlord is 70 years old and has heart problems. Does anyone knows exact how heavy these machines are? Would be nice knowing that.

Post# 187452 , Reply# 3 1/30/2007 at 16:07 (6,295 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)
Checkrate/Likes *To repair or not repair...* Granted I am in California so I am not familier with that model, but I would think that if it's in reasonable condition it should be repairable and probably worth saving.

Post# 188059 , Reply# 4 2/2/2007 at 00:19 (6,293 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill Home of the RailwayTrials Merseyside,UK)
Checkrate/Likes *Bendix* Hi Fredrik A Bendix Model G is always a keeper, they are a simple machine to repair providing you can find someone to machine a bearing if need be, one of the guys in the UK has just renovated a model D semi automatic using a local engineering workshop.. When you do decide to move it you will need a good wheely truck, AT LEAST two strong people wearing support trusses and anyone else is a bonus..LOl, this thing is a monster at 280lbs, If the bearing is fine, you know how to check for that, and the tub doesnt leak, all you need to do is change the oil and lubricate etc, perhaps a new power cord.....mines the standard without the heater... Cheers, Mike CLICK HERE TO GO TO chestermikeuk's LINK

Post# 188298 , Reply# 5 2/3/2007 at 11:07 (6,291 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA)
Checkrate/Likes *Fredrik----* I hope you are able to get that machine. They are so much fun to use and do a great job of cleaning! Mike is right------280lbs.That is actually pretty light compared to the "Megalith" that ChrisR and I moved last year---a '58 Duomatic----we really needed a crane! I think that damn thing was more like 400lbs! Mike, yours sure does look fine. Did you have to restore it? What vintage?

Post# 188423 , Reply# 6 2/4/2007 at 05:49 (6,290 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill Home of the RailwayTrials Merseyside,UK)
Checkrate/Likes *Heavy!!!* Hi Steve This Bendix Giromat is a model G 1961 over here, I saw an add in a local rag, and spilt my tea in shock...It was owned by a Cheshire Farmers wife, now both in their mature years they looked the part of the Cheshire Set, quilted jackets, tweeds and Champagne Pink hair rinse for the lady... Mrs. M grilled me for a couple of minutes before they would show me the machine, Would I look after it, I dont want to find it advertised again, I dont want to think of it going to the tip, You know its a very old and dear friend to me!!! When I explained I was a collector she visibly calmed and it was just what she wanted to hear, albeit very much surprised...They led me into a centrally heated garage for the Bentley and in the corner under a covering of very expensive, new horse blankets was Bertha Bendix, I must admit I was slightly disapointed as I was thinking the smaller one Model A or the semi automatic Model D... It still had its original hoses, copper taps, a mound of service info and spare gaskets etc...She explained that she had bought the machine when they where first married, the farm was her husbands family and as a newly married couple they had built on the farm further away from the main farmhouse, a very modern glass n wood hillside house,garage underneath,with the main lounge and kitchen overlooking the Cheshire countryside, it is a stunning house and setting...She said, My husband bought himself 1.5 acres of extra land and so I decieded to treat myself and buy the Bendix...FOR THE SAME PRICE!!!! which was �109 guineas..shows how much land and inflation have changed...LOl They took me through to the utility to show what they had now, but where very scathing about it not being as good a machine, it was a TOL AEG...they had had a few probs with the Bendix and their original Bendix Engineer, now 65yrs of age, had chosen to retire, and as the machine was old, they felt they could not take a chance with anyone else servicing it... We passed through the kitchen to get to the Laundry and my jaw dropped, they still had the original kitchen, pristine and immaculate condition, It was a Dark green/black wooden Poggenpohl (The ultimate German kitchen back then ) with Moffatt Split level appliances in brushed chrome, matching fridge & freezer, a breakfast bar near the full length windows for the view... And so She definatly did shed a tear when I collected it, its in great condition and it needed new fill hoses and an oil change which Jon Jetcone did,and showed me how to do when he came last year....

Post# 188426 , Reply# 7 2/4/2007 at 06:53 (6,290 days old) by tlee618 ()
Checkrate/Likes Hi Mike, What a great story!! I think it is always so much fun to know the history of the machine. It sounds like it had been treasured! You have it in beautiful shape. Nice picture of Jon as well working on it. Take care. Terry

Post# 188434 , Reply# 8 2/4/2007 at 08:44 (6,290 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA)
Checkrate/Likes *Mike-----* That was quite the adventure! Careful, now---that Champagne Pank rinse is 'loomin large for me! Would you possibly have something on file you could scan on that Poggenpohl kitchen with Moffatt appliances you described? You realy got my curiosity stirred up! What a nice Bendix!

Post# 188471 , Reply# 9 2/4/2007 at 13:56 (6,290 days old) by cbosch ()
Checkrate/Likes *no heater??* QUestion I did not think that British washers existed without internal water ehaters due to the tendancy to boil wash stuff. Did many machines come without heaters in the UK? How hot would a hot wash be if no heater