Thread Number: 10659
Washmeister/Waschmeister 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 194440   3/2/2007 at 08:39 (6,256 days old) by liberator1509 (Ireland)        

Does anyone know anything about a range called Washmeister/Waschmeister? I recall a series of Front-loaders sold in Ireland in the very early 1980s under this name - presumably of German origin - were they ever sold in the UK I wonder?

David




Post# 194445 , Reply# 1   3/2/2007 at 09:01 (6,256 days old) by lederstiefel1 ()        
Waschmeister

 "Waschmeister" = "Wash-Master"
Never heard of that brand here in Germany...
Only "Meisterstück" (Master-Piece) that is a brand I know.
Maybe it is Austrian??

Ralf

Post# 194680 , Reply# 2   3/3/2007 at 17:13 (6,255 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        

foraloysius's profile picture
I'm not sure about it, but didn't we discuss those before? And IIRC those were rebadged AEG's. Or...??

Post# 195072 , Reply# 3   3/5/2007 at 14:06 (6,253 days old) by liberator1509 (Ireland)        
"Waschmeister" = "Wash-Master"

I'd guessed the translation - but knew nothing of the brand. Several neighbours had these machines in the very early 1980s - they could well have been rebadged AEGs, though I don't recall any previous messages about this make.

Do any UK members recall this brand, or was it only sold in Ireland?

Post# 195421 , Reply# 4   3/7/2007 at 06:25 (6,252 days old) by ecoclean ()        
Hi David

 Well now, that name certainly brings the memories flooding back!! (no pun intended).

I remember staying at a very small chalet park in County Wexford in the south of Ireland sometime around 1980. The owners had just built a new laundry block there with 2 Washmeister Washer/Dryers. I remember being amazed at the sight of a combo machine, as I had certainly never heard of such a thing, let alone seen one in the flesh! I remember they had solid square doors, which killed me as I really wanted to know just what the hell was going on in there!! Oddly enough, I also remember that they had regular dryer vent hoses too...

I remember it was a few years later that I saw the introduction of the Thor 850XD, the 'first' heavily advertised domestic Washer/Dryer combo over here. Once again, if memory serves me correctly, this too had a vent hose attached, so obviously a little bit before (or after!) condenser units were widely used. :-)

Post# 195424 , Reply# 5   3/7/2007 at 06:45 (6,252 days old) by robm (Buxted)        

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This sounds like the old merloni/Ariston which is shown in the haynes washer dryer manual. The square door was solid and the drying elements were in the door. I think they had a basic 400/800 rpm spin.

I agree, I hate it when you can't see what is going on inside.

Rob

Post# 195514 , Reply# 6   3/7/2007 at 15:22 (6,251 days old) by liberator1509 (Ireland)        
Merloni/AEG? (and a special for Ecoclean!)

 Hi all,

Well the plot thickens - were Waschmeister machines Merloni or AEG in origin? The one I remember best was a washer only, with a glass door...the details are a bit hazy though.

Ecoclean! (I'm guessing that's not your real name),

Hi - I'm from Ireland too - I wonder if you remember some of the 'Ireland-only' specials that existed - like the ESB Multiwash (a Servis Supertwin rebadged for the ESB), and of course my earliest memory, the entire Gala range (i.e. Irish Hotpoints) - we had the Gala Automatic 1502, and one gran and an aunt had Gala Filtermatics (i.e. Hotpoint Supermatics)...not sure why they weren't sold as Hotpoint - they changed over at some stage in the 1970s.

David

Post# 195835 , Reply# 7   3/8/2007 at 16:33 (6,250 days old) by ecoclean ()        

Hi again David,

Well, the original question has certainly gotten the mental juices flowing, and im smiling as the memories come flooding back.

My mums first washer was a novum twintub. The agitator was in the bottom of the drum and was a small black hump. It didnt look powerful, but I remember staring wide-eyed into the vortex as the washer did its thing. I also remember having to stick a hose through a hole in the lid of the spinner to help rinse the clothes -- at about 2000rpm no less! It served her loyally until the late 70's when it started to electrocute her on the odd occassion. She ended up having to use a teatowel to turn the dials to avoid getting the odd jolt, and typical of her, made little fuss about it to my ever frugal father. She eventually copped on when my dad went out and bought her a new set of teatowels!

Her next machine was her first automatic. It was a front loading Parnall 950(?!), from the ESB too I think, and I loved it to bits. I even managed to fake the odd sick day from school if I saw the tell tale signs of a heavy wash day approaching - a huge pile of laundry at the bottom of the stairs! Incidentally, my grandad went out and bought one too, but despite being identical to ours, it was called a 'zerowatt'(?!). Despite much use and abuse, both machines lasted for a good 10 years, and it was a sad day indeed when they went to laundry heaven.

After that, I took over the laundry purchases and gifted her my dream machine of the day, an Electrolux 6 kg washer with integrated liquid detergent dispenser no less! It was a beauty! Another 10 years later, and it finally gave up the ghost too. She is now the proud owner of a Miele novotronic W526, although she wont admit that the dials and settings intimidate her a little. She manages to cope by using the same program for every load, and seems to get by quite well. My dad has even gotten used to wearing pink vests!

Post# 196058 , Reply# 8   3/9/2007 at 03:56 (6,250 days old) by mrx ()        

Back in those days, ESB (The power company) had a very significant retail division (As did many of the power boards in the UK too). It had enough volume to allow it to approach manufacturers and have own-brand products.
ESB Retail went into decline through the 1990s and eventually fizzled out about 2 years ago. They did a deal with Bank of Scoltand (Ireland) now Halifax (Ireland) where by all of the stores became a ready made branch nework for Halifax.

We rented a house for a short time (while in the process of moving) back in the mid 90s and it had a very old Washmeister washer/dryer in the laundry room. I suspect, as it had gotten very little use, it had survived in perfect condition.

This machine was very odd and I dont think it was Merloni/Ariston.

It had a large square door, the part that would be glass on most washers was stainless steel in the same shape. In the middle of the door was a recessed heavy steel flap with a rubber seal. When the dryer function was on, the air entered through this flap and it behaved as a non-return valve, preventing spashes getting into the dryer ducting during the wash.

The dryer unit was in the bottom of the machine, air was ducted up through a vent just under the door. When the door was closed, this blew air through the ductwork in the door itself, and blasted hot air into the middle of the drum.

I also remember that there was a programme guide hidden on a peice of plastic that pulled out from behind the face plate of the detergent dispensor drawer.

It had a timer for the dryer and a fairly normal wash-programmer and buttons for half-load, gentle action, hot/warm drying and on-off.

If you set the dryer it would autodry i.e. automatically run the drying cycle directly after the wash.

I have a funny feeling it may well have been from one of the manufactuers who were absorbed into the Bosch/Siemens group in the late 80s.

Post# 196059 , Reply# 9   3/9/2007 at 04:16 (6,250 days old) by mrx ()        

It's also worth noting that Ireland's range of domestic appliances would have been far more "European" as there was voltage difference between the UK and the rest of Europe (including Ireland) at the time.

The UK was on 240V
Ireland was on 220V

The problem was that earlier UK machines that were specifically designed for 240V +/- 10% didn't work well if a 220V supply was dipping to the lower end of its permitted range. i.e. was at 220V -10%.

Irish applances also had to conform with European requirements for being able to function safely in either polarity i.e. same as Germany and all of Northern Europe as we originally standardised on the same plug as Germany/Sweden/Norway etc and there were still plenty of houses using those "16A side-earthed" plugs and sockets in the 1960s/70s. They're increasingly rare now, but you can still very occasionally come across them in old houses.

ALL appliances since the adoption of the low voltage directive and other European harmonised standards must be able to operate safely with supply in either polarity. That also applies to appliances sold in the UK, but woudln't necessarily have in the 1960s.

It was replaced with the UK's standard plugs/sockets as it made more sense to have compatability with Northern Ireland. Also, both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland moved their supplies to 230V in the 80s (well ahead of the European requirement to do so) It meant 100% intercompatability without any problems for older appliances.

Irish house wiring remains much more like Northern European countries than the UK. e.g. we tend to wire sockets (outlets) on 16 or 20A radials rather than 32A rings and there are much heavier requirements for RCD protection. Also, we've never allowed the UK-style rewirable fuses on distribution boards (Consumer units), instead, we have always used the German standard Diazed/Neozed fuses same as most of Northern Europe.

The "schuko" plug/socket system's below :

When inserted into the socket, the Schuko plug covers the socket cavity (1) and establishes protective-earth connection through the earth clips (2) before the live and neutral pins (3) establish contact, thereby preventing users from touching connected pins. (Hence the Schuko system does not require partially insulated pins as used in the europlug and the British and Australian plugs.) A pair of non-conductive guiding notches (4) on the left and right side provides extra stability, enabling the safe use of large and heavy plugs (e.g. with built-in transformers or timers).

Post# 196060 , Reply# 10   3/9/2007 at 04:23 (6,250 days old) by mrx ()        
It was replaced with .. BS1363 (IS 411 socket IS401 plug)

 The BS1363 standard UK plug/socket system was transposed into Irish standards in 1987 as:
IS-411 (Socket)
IS-401 (Plug)

These are still recognised legally in Ireland : (but are not the usual standard to be used)

CEE 7/4 (Schuko)
CEE 7/7 (Schuko/French combined Euro standard)
CEE 7/16 - flat 2 pin euro plug

If you go to the ESB's safety site, how to wire a plug section, it still makes mention of Schuko (16A side earthed plugs)
As do some appliance manufactuer's guides.. e.g. I've seen it on Whirlpool guides.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO mrx's LINK
Post# 196061 , Reply# 11   3/9/2007 at 04:24 (6,250 days old) by mrx ()        
Here's the current standard

 Here's what's found in virtually all places now (as a tourist you certainly wouldn't come across anything else anyway)

Post# 196062 , Reply# 12   3/9/2007 at 04:27 (6,250 days old) by lederstiefel1 ()        
Schuko-Plug

 yes, mrx, that's the plug, we use here in Germany since the 1950s.
Schuko (speak: shoo-co) is the short form of Schutzkontakt (speak: shoots-contuct) which means actually "shelter-contact", so to say protected contact or safty contact. So, the English word for Schuko-Plug could be shelco-plug...!

Ralf

Post# 196150 , Reply# 13   3/9/2007 at 13:42 (6,249 days old) by liberator1509 (Ireland)        
Novum and ESB

 Hi Ecoclean

You talk of jogging memories - and you've jogged mine - I'd completely forgotten the Novum machines! The Novum twintub was very similar to the UK Rolls and probably a rebadge - Rolls machines were rebadged in the UK for other outlets too. I remember being given a hose from one of those as a kid - heaven (it was bright blue too!). I'm sure I remember the Novum building on the Dublin dual-carriageway from the 1970s - the firm also distributed chest-freezers - I wonder when they disappeared/got merged into some other firm?

On the ESB - the ESB 'own-label' disappeared in the early 70s I think - machines like the Multi-wash (Servis Supertwin) etc, were replaced with the Electra range, which of course was common in English Supply Board Shops. I recall seeing the Electra Automatic (a Hoover front-loader rebadge) and the Electra twin-tub (a Hotpoint Supermatic) in the ESB shops until the 1980s. Gala was not an ESB brand, and I imagine there must have been some restriction on AEI using the Hotpoint brand in Ireland at one stage - I believe Hotpoints were sold as Gala machines in Malta too (anyone able to confirm?).

The ESB didn't stock Hotpoint in the late 70s and the 80s - I remember when my parents were replacing the Gala 1502 (after 14 years trouble free work), the suggestion was a GE heavy duty fliter-flo top-loader, though as it wasn't self-heating this was choosen. Hotpoints weren't easily available it seemed as they had to get their 15690 specially ordered and it took sometime to appear.

On the Schuko front, I recall as a kid in the 70s and early 80s older houses like one of my Gran's having Schuko sockets in most rooms, but a random mix of 15 and 13 amp sockets in the kitchen - the Speed Queen wringer certainly had a 15amp plug!

Post# 196338 , Reply# 14   3/10/2007 at 07:18 (6,249 days old) by mrx ()        

The reason for the random mix was that Schuko sockets became difficult to source by the late 1970s, so many homes would have had additional sockets wired with 15amp round pin UK-style sockets or BS1363, which had become the defacto standard in Ireland by the 1970s anyway.

Schuko outlets were actually capable of supplying more power, being rated at 16Amps.

The old UK round pin system was a total mess..
you had at least 3 different types of plugs, all of which were incompatable!
2amp
5amp
and 15amp

I suspect that's why Schuko remained the norm here in Ireland until BS1363 (the rectangular pin 13A UK system) became more established.

Post# 196356 , Reply# 15   3/10/2007 at 10:16 (6,248 days old) by mrx ()        
Novum

 From Domotec (A distributor that evolved out of Novum Ltd)

Domotec Ltd. has been a leading Importer and Distributor of domestic electrical and gas appliances in Ireland for almost 50 years. Established in the early 1950's this Irish company was incorporated as Novum Ltd in 1954. The trading name was changed to Domotec Ltd in 1989 after successfully selling its manufacturing plants.

Domotec Ltd is the appointed distributor in Ireland for Indesit, Novum, and Fagor appliances, as well as distributing a full range of electrical household machines under the Domotec Brand.

From its headquarters on the Naas Road, Dublin 12 the company operates a fleet of trucks delivering the products to retailers and wholesalers throughout Ireland. All Domotec, Indesit, Fagor, and Novum products can be purchased from electrical retailers in every county.

A subsidiary company Bluebell Appliance Services Ltd is responsible for ensuring the machines operate to the customer's satisfaction and can quickly resolve any problems that arise. As an indication of Domotec's confidence in the products distributed - Optional Extended Guarantees of 5 years and 10 years are available on selected machines subject to the customer registering with Bluebell Appliance Services Ltd.


I can safely say, I haven't seen any Fagor appliances here, even though they're in their catalogue. I suspect they're rather low end though.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO mrx's LINK
Post# 196411 , Reply# 16   3/10/2007 at 15:32 (6,248 days old) by liberator1509 (Ireland)        
Novum/Domotec

 So that's what happened to Novum - do they still import Indesit I wonder, as of course Merloni now have Hotpoint, which is equally well established in Ireland? I have a feeling Fagor is part of Merloni, though it could be Electrolux...still sold in France I think!

Post# 196683 , Reply# 17   3/11/2007 at 19:37 (6,247 days old) by mrx ()        

Hotpoint's pretty popular and extremely well established here in Ireland.

There's one major difference in distribution though, because we use € (Euro) it makes a LOT more sense for distributors here to deal directly with European manufacturers in the Eurozone rather than going via the UK as it avoids a currency conversion step.

In most cases it means that we get identical machines and identical models to the UK, but sometimes at better prices.

However, there are definitely some machines on the market here that are branded Ariston yet would be Hotpoint in the UK.


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