Thread Number: 41698
Hoover Key -Matic
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Post# 615080   8/6/2012 at 08:30 (4,252 days old) by MikeKlondon (London)        

HI haveing seen a number of the old key matic's here one thing I would love to know is what the pulsator in the back of the tub did, did the tub fill to the top with water so that it worked like the action in the Hoover twin tub ? if so was this very hard on the fabric. When I was a kid the Hoover TT was always known as a Tangle-A- matic




Post# 615129 , Reply# 1   8/6/2012 at 12:46 (4,252 days old) by keymatic3203 (Cardiff UK)        
HI Mike

I could write a thesis here, but probably best to look at Chestermikes youtube video of one in action.

Basically the tub tumbles in one direction whislt the pulsator spins in the opposite. The dominant wash action is a tumbling one, with the pulsator sending oppsoing currents through the wash. It doesnt seem to tangle nearly as much as the twin tubs can. And in practise we've not found the load any more tangled than any modern front loader.

As for the water level, the tub drops and tilts as it fill, so that the pulsator is just under the water level, and the water is just below the lip of the door. I'd say the correct level is about an inch higher than this photo.

Remember the pulsator isnt used in all wash programmes and not for all of the washing and rinsing sections of the cottons programmes.

The other point worth noting is that it doesnt just fill, heat all that water, wash for 4 minutes and pump it all out, there is an intitial heating up to a fixed temperature, I think about 60 for the 85 degree wash, it then alternates 2 min tumble only with 2 min heating until it reaches the wash temperature, then the pulsator kicks in and away it goes, so the overall wash action is more like 12 minutes tumbleing followed by four minutes tumbling and pulsating for four minutes.

Sorry Ive already waffled on too long, I hope I havent just told you what you know, but I think Mike has done the best explanation with his film.




Post# 615184 , Reply# 2   8/6/2012 at 18:02 (4,252 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Hoover Keymatic

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Like anything thats built complicated and mechanical and is subject to everyday use, these could be problematic in latter years, BUT would have been an absolute boom to a housewife used to a wringer , boiler or twinny, it was indeed "Washday - Just Forget It" , very quick wash times and quiet in operation.




CLICK HERE TO GO TO chestermikeuk's LINK


Post# 615288 , Reply# 3   8/7/2012 at 05:38 (4,251 days old) by MikeKlondon (London)        
Many thanks

Many thanks, love that vid

Post# 615427 , Reply# 4   8/7/2012 at 16:33 (4,251 days old) by badgerdx ()        

I don't lust after many UK machines... They're just too different from all the Top Loaders I've seen growing up. THIS MACHINE, however IS THE EXCEPTION. I think they are incredibly cool (although for sure I'd accidentally throw away the key in the first week, just watch.)


Post# 615530 , Reply# 5   8/8/2012 at 02:06 (4,251 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
Mike great vid!

jetcone's profile picture
Didn't know about the flickr site until now! That timer dial is Kewl! And the machine well you know I love Keymatics! But the pics of you with two machines--that one on your right is the machine I used on the Isle of White! Finally we know what machine it was.

Glad to see the slant fronts up and running too!

jon


Post# 615533 , Reply# 6   8/8/2012 at 02:50 (4,251 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
keyplates....

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Hi Mike, glad you enjoyed it, that actual machine is Mathews, we have just refurbed a 3224 the first machine in Stafford for john, my 3008 is running as well..

Hi Bob, they are a fun machine to watch with the door open, similar tilt drum to the westy but more fun with the pulsator..and with a 3kw heater that sizzles and faster spin speed...

Morning Jon, thank goodness you worked that one out, thought it might have been the previous model, now we know, we renovated that machine, (rusty heater bracket in tub) so pulled the tub and rust coated it, works a dream and those whirs and clicks are a glad sound whilst sipping your coffee in the morning!!, Glad you like the pics, theres a and the website is up shortly!!


CLICK HERE TO GO TO chestermikeuk's LINK


Post# 615540 , Reply# 7   8/8/2012 at 05:18 (4,250 days old) by mikeklondon (London)        
Whirssssssss and clicks

Love the sound it reminds me of my Juke-Box. How how many Keyplates where there are there 4 programs to a plate? Next year we are planing a total refit of our house and I would love vintage, The Juke box came from somewhere in the north and was recon'd by them with new apms ect, I cant remember there name off hand we got it 18 years ago and its still working like new. Is there anyone in the uk that sells recon'd washers / dryers / fridge ect.

Post# 615558 , Reply# 8   8/8/2012 at 07:42 (4,250 days old) by keymatic3203 (Cardiff UK)        
each keyplate

had 8 programme options, 4 each side.

The original 3224 and 3226 (slant fronts) came with one keyplate giving 8 programmes, 6 wash, a rinse/pre wash ans a spin programme.

The subsequent models came with two plates giving 16 programme options.



Post# 615645 , Reply# 9   8/8/2012 at 14:25 (4,250 days old) by Hunter (Colorado)        
They are the coolest!

As someone said above, I am thinking of the incredible lifting of drudgery from the boiler, sink, and wringer.

Can you imagine how much WORK laundry must have been as you got older? It would take AT LEAST a full day per week to wash, rinse, wring, and dry the clothes. And indeed..you can just forget it now.

Wow.

Of course, it wasn't cheap! A little research tells me that they were launched at 95 guines, which is...100 pounds? With an average UK wage of 800 pounds in 1962, that is 1.5 months of salary for the average family. Obviously you had to make quite a bit to afford it...

Still, I wish I had one ;-)


Post# 615704 , Reply# 10   8/8/2012 at 19:49 (4,250 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
NICE Keymatic vid

jetcone's profile picture
Just like I remember!

Want a keymatic~!!!!

TOO BAD they didn't make a Us/Canadian version!


Post# 615956 , Reply# 11   8/10/2012 at 02:35 (4,249 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Re-cons

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Hi Mike, yes perhaps thats the new job - washer renovates, you wouldnt want one as a daily driver without a stash of spare parts, johns is used once a week and has had a bearing change - the most problematic is a tiny clutch spring and solenoid that controls the pulsator

Hunter, yes it was quite expensive given the current wages of the day, BUT we had a lot of TV & appliances rental companies, the biggest being D.E.R (Domestic Electrical Rental) and they offered these keymatic machines on rental terms along with colour tv etc, given how problematic stuff wash at the time it could make sense to rent, at least you could have a replacement washer straight away rather than waiting for repairs.

Heres a keyplate for the model 3224 / 3226


Post# 615959 , Reply# 12   8/10/2012 at 02:39 (4,249 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Keyplates

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Early models 3224 first keyplate is heavy bakelite


Post# 615960 , Reply# 13   8/10/2012 at 02:40 (4,249 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
2nd model

chestermikeuk's profile picture
3226 - 1963

Post# 615961 , Reply# 14   8/10/2012 at 02:43 (4,249 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
later matchbox models

chestermikeuk's profile picture


Post# 615962 , Reply# 15   8/10/2012 at 02:47 (4,249 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Keymatic A3008

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Jon, heres the inside of your Isle of Wight machine, vitreous enamel outer tub, stainless inner, hot & cold fill, 800rpm spin speed & 2.7kw heater.



Post# 615968 , Reply# 16   8/10/2012 at 03:35 (4,249 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Card Reader

chestermikeuk's profile picture
You can see the store slot below and a bit of the orange keyplate in the reader.

Post# 615969 , Reply# 17   8/10/2012 at 03:39 (4,249 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Keyplates

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Schematic

Post# 615971 , Reply# 18   8/10/2012 at 03:42 (4,249 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Keyplates

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Flowchart for the last models produced

Post# 615974 , Reply# 19   8/10/2012 at 05:18 (4,248 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Keymatic

chestermikeuk's profile picture
splashy Shots - drum turning - no pulsator

Post# 615978 , Reply# 20   8/10/2012 at 05:21 (4,248 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Keymatic

chestermikeuk's profile picture
With Pulsator - really does throw the water up in the opposite direction

Post# 615982 , Reply# 21   8/10/2012 at 05:31 (4,248 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Keymatic

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Do you use Persil In Your Wash?

Post# 616294 , Reply# 22   8/11/2012 at 10:36 (4,247 days old) by barcoboy (Canada)        

barcoboy's profile picture
Would it be possible to run one of these washers in North America on 240V 60Hz instead of the UK 50Hz? It would bring up the pulsator and spin speed to 900 RPM from 750 RPM, which should be okay as long as bearings etc. can handle it, and the tumble speed would go up to 56.4 RPM from 47 RPM, which might affect the washing performance somewhat. Per the link below, the motor _should_ be able to handle running at 60Hz, and the heating element shouldn't mind. The only issue that I can think of that might be a problem is with the timer-it would run faster and thus shorten the program lengths.

Of course the shipping charges to get one across the ocean would be extremely high.



CLICK HERE TO GO TO barcoboy's LINK


Post# 616446 , Reply# 23   8/11/2012 at 22:23 (4,247 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
Mike great vid!

jetcone's profile picture
thanks for the close up on the later Keymatic! Love seeing the guts of the thing. That is one huge detergent dispenser!
I remember those schematics of the timer sequence from your stash of service literature when I was there.
Still an amazing timer system!!


Thanks!!!



jet



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