Some of you will know a few weeks ago I picked up a mystery dishwasher and washing machine from a family friend's deceased relative. Having no idea what they were but that I could have them for free I went around fearing the worst (but a crap dishwasher is still better than no dishwasher, right?)
Well actually, it wasn't too bad at all, both are Hotpoint, the dishwasher is a DWF31 and the washer is a WM54.
With haste I rearranged the kitchen and had plumbing installed for the dishwasher, but I already have a Logic 1300 and an Ecologic washer/dryer, as well as other joint owned vintage machines in storage, so what would I want with the washer right? It kinda sat in the cupboard for a while feeling very unloved.
The other day however, I noticed my beloved logic has started to become a bit incontinent in its old age. Now it only seems to be an issue with the door seal, so nothing major, but coupled with the fact I need to pull my finger out and fit the suspension repair kit I thought it would be a lot easier if it is decomissioned for a while. So.....
Out came the logic, in went the WM54.
Many of you will also know that my Mum had a WM52 a few years ago which I HATED with a passion at the time, but using this machine has changed my opinion of them somewhat.
Yes it is still rickety as hell and it slams the tub into the sides of the cabinet with the springs twanging when it goes into spin even remotely unbalanced, and it doesn't even have a proper GEC motor (by the time this was made (September 2002) they had all changed to FHP motors from new) and the rinse performance leaves a lot to be desired, but for some reason I can't help but quite like it! Perhaps it's some degree of nostaliga, or perhaps it's just that compared to buget machines sold today it's absolutely fantastic, I really don't know!
It washes very well, the cycle times are pretty quick (1hr 15 on 60, 55ish mins on 40) and I like the stepped heating on the 60c and 95c cycles where you get a 'profile wash' of sorts.
So perhaps those repairs on the logic will just have to wait a while! It's quite nice to have a daily driver that I don't have to worry about, it was free, it's way too modern to be anywhere near the realms of collectible and it isn't even a desirable model, so it will be the first time I've had a machine I can really 'use and abuse'.
Matt
Post# 703360 , Reply# 1   9/15/2013 at 09:04 (3,875 days old) by Hoover1100(U.K.)  
Here is a picture I found of my younger brother taken in about 1999, my Mum's WM52 is in the background, along with the mercury TL61, the Mistral Plus Fridge Freezer (which they still have) and the hand me down Siemens dishwasher, which I have never quite forgiven my Mum for selling with the house!
Post# 703365 , Reply# 2   9/15/2013 at 09:22 (3,875 days old) by Hoover1100(U.K.)  
My secondary school replaced the beige Logic 1100 in the cookery room with one of these. I was gutted that they binned the logic but I still used to grab a seat beside it every lesson! It was always used on 95c with prewash. The smell of tea towels boiling in persil mixed with burning rock buns on a Thursday after double maths will always stay with me. Certainly a lot more pleasant than the smell of sweaty sports kit surrounding the Hotpoint toploader in the sports equipment room!
Matt
Post# 704090 , Reply# 3   9/19/2013 at 15:05 (3,871 days old) by Rolls_rapide(.)  
There was an article in the Daily Mail a day or two ago, reporting on a Which? investigation about dangerous kitchen appliances.
Hoover and Candy washers were slated for risk of fire.
Hotpoint dishwashers and tumble dryers were highlighted as fire risks. In particular, the "DWF3" dishwashers were not recalled by Hotpoint, because there are too few of them still in service, according to Hotpoint themselves. I think this series of dishwasher is a Bosch sourced range, thus same problem as Bosch, Siemens, Neff, where the control panel circuit board bursts into flames.