Thread Number: 16407
Australian-made Simpson "Fluid Drive"
[Down to Last]

automaticwasher.org's exclusive eBay Watch:
scroll >>> for more items --- [As an eBay Partner, eBay may compensate automaticwasher.org if you make a purchase using any link to eBay on this page]
Post# 272515   3/28/2008 at 03:36 (5,844 days old) by fluidriver (South Australia)        

fluidriver's profile picture
I thought I may have been the only person in the world who rebuilt his 1967-made washer, until I found this site!

My everyday use washer is a Simpson brand Fully Automatic Fluid Drive. It has a fluoro light in the control panel, which showed me it was no ordinary washer when I bought it as a replacement for another, earlier Fluid Drive I'd had for about 15 years.

It's pretty much the same as the "Speed Queen" marketed in the US.

I took it all apart last year and had the main shaft re-chromed, replaced the bearing, replaced the hose from the bowl to the pump (found the last new one in Australia, I reckon!),replaced the belts and generally made sure it was running like new.

I should be able to keep it going for as many more years as it has been already, and the water consumption is better than some new ones.

Looking forward to any comments.





Post# 272517 , Reply# 1   3/28/2008 at 04:12 (5,844 days old) by dadoes (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
Love those Aussie machines!

Post# 272524 , Reply# 2   3/28/2008 at 05:38 (5,844 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Simpson

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Hi Alan, welcome from the other side of the world, love your machine, the control panel looks fab and with lights as well, any chance of a pic of the tub & agi?? we had a timeline window on our UK Hotpoint but it used dials to control it.

Have you used any Servis Wilkins machines??, cheers, Mike


Post# 272526 , Reply# 3   3/28/2008 at 06:22 (5,844 days old) by fluidriver (South Australia)        
Tub and agitator photo

fluidriver's profile picture
Here's a pic of the interior.

Haven't had any personal experience of Wilkins Servis,Mike, but I have heard of them.


Post# 272528 , Reply# 4   3/28/2008 at 06:33 (5,844 days old) by mielabor ()        

Wow, there is some heavy scrubbing going on with those corrugated tub walls...

Post# 272537 , Reply# 5   3/28/2008 at 07:08 (5,844 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

toggleswitch's profile picture
I hate to say this..... but I COME ALIVE when I see beauties like this. Thanks for posting!

Funny how the U.S. and Australia are both former British colones on opposite ends of the world, and are alike in so many ways...

Including washers!


Post# 272684 , Reply# 6   3/28/2008 at 20:48 (5,844 days old) by blackstone (Springfield, Massachusetts)        

blackstone's profile picture
If you need any parts for this machine, I have Speed Queen parts available, including pump and fluid drive. You can have them for shipping costs, whatever that would be. Got a picture of the machine without the front panel? The parts are left over from our store. We sold and serviced Speed Queens, especially after Blackstone stopped making appliances in the mid 1970s.

Post# 272710 , Reply# 7   3/28/2008 at 22:56 (5,844 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
Another Classic Fluid Drive Restored!

mayfan69's profile picture
Hi Alan,

Great to see another Aussie saving one of these great machines. I currently have 6 Simpson Fluid Drives in my possesion, including 2 of this series. I have a Semi Automatic Simpson Fluid Drive on its way. Another Aussie member, Arrrrooooh, recently bought one like yours off Ebay for AU$5.00!!

Attached are some pics. Ive been able to get a number of parts to keep these machines going for years to come.

If Chestermike reads this...I have a lead on a Wilkins Servis "Mark 22" Model 3....you'll find it in the manual i sent you...just awaiting pics to be returned.

This is a 1963 2 Speed Fluid Drive.

Cheers
Leon


Post# 272711 , Reply# 8   3/28/2008 at 22:58 (5,844 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
2nd Fluid Drive

mayfan69's profile picture
This is the one i have like Alan's.

Post# 272712 , Reply# 9   3/28/2008 at 23:00 (5,844 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
3rd Fluid Drive

mayfan69's profile picture
This is the 1968 Four Speed Programmed model i recently bought.

Post# 272714 , Reply# 10   3/28/2008 at 23:01 (5,844 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
4th Fluid Drive

mayfan69's profile picture
This is the 1968 Fully programmed Fluid Drive

Post# 272715 , Reply# 11   3/28/2008 at 23:04 (5,844 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
5th & 6th Fluid Drives

mayfan69's profile picture
These are 2 more Fluid Drives that recently got delivered to my place...another 1966 model like Alan's and a 1970 Four Speed programmed model.

Post# 272716 , Reply# 12   3/28/2008 at 23:14 (5,844 days old) by rickr (.)        

rickr's profile picture
I love the look of those Simpson machines! The chrome, the large fancy font, the pushbuttons, the hooded lighting, the timeline, the ribbed solid tub, just everything about this model is just way too cool!! I would LOVE to own one of these beauties!

Thanks for the pixs, Fluidriver. And may your fantastic Simpson keep on washing!


Post# 272718 , Reply# 13   3/28/2008 at 23:25 (5,844 days old) by rickr (.)        

rickr's profile picture
WOW!! They ALL are just awesome! I do wish I could find one of those babies in the US! Our Speed Queen is ok, but the control panels on the SQ are too conservative by comparison. The Simpsons design just blows the SQ away.

Thanks for posting these machines. I love the vintage brands that were built in the US, however it is really nice to be able to see these vintage toploaderstoo.


Post# 272748 , Reply# 14   3/29/2008 at 02:26 (5,843 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
This must have been a popular model? I can see why, it's just stunning!

Post# 272750 , Reply# 15   3/29/2008 at 03:32 (5,843 days old) by fluidriver (South Australia)        
Fluid Drive opened

fluidriver's profile picture
I love the way that by removing just two front panel screws, then two at the top/ back will reveal all!

There isn't much that a serviceperson (or I) can't get at when this is done.

Took me about three months on weekends to carefully disassemble, clean and rebuild this baby.

When I had finished, I took it back inside on a trolley, and when attempting to lift it upright, it slipped and the very corner of the heavy chrome control panel landed on my right big toe, and I ended up in emergency to have X Rays to determine if there was a break. Luckily there wasn't, just bruising. And a smashed wall tile! Who says we don't suffer for our craft?!


Post# 272892 , Reply# 16   3/29/2008 at 19:37 (5,843 days old) by victoriapark (Rosebery)        
Memories of the Simpsons

I love the design of these machines and they had a reputation for being trouble free and long lasting. My mother had same machine as yours Fluidriver for a long long time and on the rare occasions it needed repairing the technicians told her to never get rid of it.

Good on you guys for preserving these gems.

Mayfan69 : I remember some of the semi automatic Simpsomatic machines so I am looking forward to your pics when you take delivery.

It would be terrific to see some videos of these machines in action.

Greg


Post# 273165 , Reply# 17   3/31/2008 at 18:58 (5,841 days old) by arrrooohhh (Sydney Australia)        
WOW I love these machines

Welcome to the club Fluidriver.

I have just recently got the exact same machine as you. it was on ebay and I am told it works, the old lady was using it till Christmas time, but I have not checked it myself. I live in a unit and it went straight into my garage, so it will be a while before I ever get to play with it.

What you say about water effiency is right, according to Choice tests this machine used 26 gallons of water to complete a cycle which my calculations say should be about 117 litres of water.

I also have a 1970 model that is the Maytag-esque one with perforated tub I have added a picture.

What we need to do is pool our resources together and write a procedures list of what to look for and what needs replacing or maintenance to keep these machines running. I do not have much technical know how but I apprieciate the pictures. I am saving all the pictures I want to put together a Chronology of Simpson machines from the earliest to the latest.


Post# 273249 , Reply# 18   4/1/2008 at 06:43 (5,840 days old) by fluidriver (South Australia)        
There are more of us than I thought!

fluidriver's profile picture
Thanks for your reply, Ash.

Your idea about a procedures list is a good one I would be happy to help with. In my experience, the part most commonly needing replacement is the solenoids for the diverter valves, and the valves themselves. I'm running out, and the machine does drip some water from one of the hoses during the wash cycle.

My source of old household goods- an auction house- has recently closed down, and I'm not sure whether I will be able to find any more...

Here's another photo from the machine in question, prior to restoration. The wiring is neater now.


Post# 1194328 , Reply# 19   11/29/2023 at 05:57 by astorobsession (Melbourne Australia )        
@fluidriver

Do you have any machines you’re willing to sell?

Post# 1194333 , Reply# 20   11/29/2023 at 09:36 by rinso (Meridian Idaho)        

I always wondered why more manufacturers didn't use a fluid drive, AKA as a viscous drive, instead of a dry clutch. To me, it seemed like a perfect way to allow needed slippage in the first part of the spin cycle.

Post# 1194456 , Reply# 21   11/30/2023 at 16:41 by Ragnboneman (Ontario)        

on the surface a fluid drive sounds like a lovely idea.

But anyplace you have slip you have heat.
Heat ages things.
Heat is wasted energy.

Speaking from an electricians perspective working in heavy industry I like things to be as simple as possible with parts that consumables or easily serviced.

Fluid drives don't fit into this well because you cant see inside and they are not meant to be easily replaced or serviced most of the time.
When they fail its spectacular and messy.


Post# 1194468 , Reply# 22   11/30/2023 at 20:16 by astorobsession (Melbourne Australia )        
@ragnboneman

I see what you’re saying, although these machines do seem to be washing away 60 years later without failing. They are the best quality with metal gears and parts.

Post# 1194488 , Reply# 23   12/1/2023 at 07:24 by Ragnboneman (Ontario)        

I'm hardly an expert on Wash machines.
I do know however some of the lubricants used up until the 1960 for precision machines used oils that don't age well.

If its not giving you trouble for 60 years they did something right.
But 60 year old oil might.
Is there a way to change the fluid drive lubricant and what sort of oil was used then and what can it be replaced with now?

What are modern equivalents for these machines?

( Whale oil was once very commonly added to fortify oils. Automatic transmissions used a lot of specialty oils. I see a potential connection here... )


Post# 1194653 , Reply# 24   12/3/2023 at 18:43 by astorobsession (Melbourne Australia )        
@Ragnboneman

Good question.

As both sides of the driving mech are insulated with screws, you would think so! I have no experience in this however...


Post# 1194673 , Reply# 25   12/3/2023 at 22:20 by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Fluid drive for automatic washer, clutches

combo52's profile picture
Was a pretty reliable system, but it was expensive to manufacture, and often slipped too much, Speed Queen had a lot of trouble with machines that would not get all the way up to Speed.

I don’t think this washer has been washing clothes for 60 years, the only time you see a 60-year-old automatic washer. It’s either had a huge amount of repair work done on it, or it has not been used for a good part of that time.

John



Forum Index:       Other Forums:                      



Comes to the Rescue!

The Discuss-o-Mat has stopped, buzzer is sounding!!!
If you would like to reply to this thread please log-in...

Discuss-O-MAT Log-In



New Members
Click Here To Sign Up.



                     


automaticwasher.org home
Discuss-o-Mat Forums
Vintage Brochures, Service and Owners Manuals
Fun Vintage Washer Ephemera
See It Wash!
Video Downloads
Audio Downloads
Picture of the Day
Patent of the Day
Photos of our Collections
The Old Aberdeen Farm
Vintage Service Manuals
Vintage washer/dryer/dishwasher to sell?
Technical/service questions?
Looking for Parts?
Website related questions?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy
Our Privacy Policy