Thread Number: 32960
1960 Parnall dryer. Model D59
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Post# 496221   2/13/2011 at 12:59 (4,792 days old) by parnall_doug ()        

Hello all!
I've just joined, having recently become the proud owner of a 1960 Parnall tumble dryer (model D59).
I had hoped to reply to thread No 30096, where this model of dryer is discussed by members electron1100 and chestermikeuk (and others), but it looks like one can't post on an 'old' thread after a certain time, hence this new thread!

Now my coonection with this model of dryer goes right back to the 60s, when my parents had one from new, (c1960/61) when they were newly married and had just set up the family home.
I came along in 1966, and I grew up with the Parnall in our kitchen. Some of my very first memories were of me sitting infront of the dryer, just watching the laundry tumbling over and over. I remember that distinctive smell of freshly tumbled laundry coming from the machine!

Well, the Parnall stayed with us until 1987, when one day apparently a smell of burning and a bit of smoke appeared from it, so that was that, it was unplugged and went on the skip. I was gutted! Unfortunately I was the only one in our family who regarded the dryer as a future 'classic' and something worth saving, but I had no means of being able to store it, and no knowledge of electrics and so the lovely old Parnall's days had come to an end! :-(

Here is a photo I took of that machine, just before we carried it out to the skip.

(I'm not used to this forum format, so apologies if the photo doesn't appear, or it is too large etc)

I shall continue in the next post......














Post# 496226 , Reply# 1   2/13/2011 at 13:40 (4,792 days old) by parnall_doug ()        

Am I right in saying it's only possible to include one photo per post? No worries, I'll bung another pic up in this one.

So, continuing on from my first post, when we said goodbye to our old Parnall 24 years ago, I will now bring the story more up to date!

Pure curiosity led me to putting 'Parnall dryer' into the images part of the online search engines one day, just to see if the type of dryer I grew up with still existed. I knew I'd recognise 'our' one straight away and what did I come up with? The ones on this forum!! Wow! There were a couple still out there!
I had no plans to go any further than that, but I thought I'd include 'Parnall' in my daily searches on the well known online auction site 'Ebay'! (I work nights, and have plenty of time to browse uninterrupted Lol)
I thought that maybe one day (whether it be in 6 months, a year, 5 years etc) an identical Parnall machine would pop up. I was in no hurry, as I have a modern dryer that does the job, and besides, I have too much hoarded stuff (clutter!!) as it is, but my slightly retro themed kitchen would look all the better were I to ever find a Parnall.
Anyway, after only two or three months what did I find? Wahay! Bingo! Someone was selling a Parnall, and it was in good working condition!

Here is the machine!

(More about this machine in my next post.... if I haven't bored everyone stiff with my ramblings!!)



Post# 496256 , Reply# 2   2/13/2011 at 15:21 (4,792 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Parnall

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Hello Doug & and welcome to the club, glad you where able to find your family favourite again!!! They where a solid easy to use dryer which gave years of good service, when generally dryers where an unknown...!!! I love the drop down baseplate which reveals the filter....these where more high heat and a medium airflow... Heres mine which I got from Bjorn, a fellow collector and it was his Grans dryer..!!!


Post# 496267 , Reply# 3   2/13/2011 at 16:38 (4,792 days old) by keymatic3203 (Cardiff UK)        
welcome

Doug, yes that dryer looks in great condition, many of us have spent many years looking for those machines that we remember from childhood, so well done for getting it.

Mike, such a modest photo of your parnall, lol.

Doug, do you have any other vintage electricals, in your retro kitchen, and carry on the ramblings, it's good to know that these classic machines are still about and in use.

Mathew


Post# 496344 , Reply# 4   2/14/2011 at 02:35 (4,791 days old) by keymatic (London / UK)        

keymatic's profile picture
Hey Doug,
Nice machine and in fine condition !!
You just need the matching washer now, a nice "Spinwasher" to complete the set.
Where abouts in Hampshire are you..?
Keith


Post# 496351 , Reply# 5   2/14/2011 at 03:59 (4,791 days old) by parnall_doug ()        

Thanks for the replies so far folks!

Mike,your machine looks to be in good nick too. My first search for Parnall on the 'net came up with the older version you photographed in the other thread, the same as the one in the Science Museum.
Mathew, I don't have any other vintage electricals in my kitchen as yet, although I have a new 'old' Bush radio, and a retro style toaster which go with my retro theme. I do have my mother's old Bamix electric handwhisk somewhere, which I shall put in my kitchen (when I next come across it!). I have thought of maybe buying an old Kenwood Chef, but space is quite limited.
Keith, yes I didn't know there was a matching washer, until recently when I saw some 'blurb' about them! I do love the Hoover Keymatics too, so who knows, maybe one day! I live in the Waterside area, so I'm sandwiched between Beaulieu/The New Forest and Southampton Water.

Getting back to my machine, I was fairly sure my bid on the Ebay listing would be the only one (starting price of £50) but I was prepared to pay up to £200, I was that keen to have it! As it happened mine was indeed the only bid, so off I went to collect it the day after I won the auction, from down in Paignton.
The seller had bought the Parnall from its original owner, a woman living just down the road, and she told him she'd bought it new 51 years ago. He had bought it from her to use in 'everyday' use, as he had a young family. He'd done his research, and knew the history of the Parnall company, so he knew it was a well built machine and would most likely give many more years of good service.
As it happened the chap's wife decided, after only a week or so that she wanted a new machine, hence the Parnall ended up on Ebay.
Anyway, I gave the guy my 50 quid and I brought my prized load home! Now I live in a first floor maisonette, so the next thing was getting it up the stairs! My dad (now in his late 70s) was draughted in to help, and we lugged the beast up the stairs! His comment, when catching his breath at the top of the stairs was "I had forgotten just how heavy and solid these flippin machines were!!"

Anyway, with its handy three wheels the Parnall was manoeuvered into its final position.
I soon found out the most likely resaon why the dryer was not kept by the guy I bought it off! Upon running it with a load, I found that it would suddenly stop of no accord. He hadn't mentioned that little 'quirk' to me!
Anyway, the only resaon it stops is because the door catch switch or whatever the correct term for it is, doesn't make a proper contact all the time (I guess the door has dropped very slightly, or the catch has worn). This is esaily cured (albeit as a temporary fix) with a little bit of folded paper just wedged at the base of the door when it is shut, and the dryer runs perfectly, coming up to heat quickly, and running for whatever length of time the timer is set to.

Here is a pic of my kitchen, and the Parnall's new home.....







Post# 496360 , Reply# 6   2/14/2011 at 06:19 (4,791 days old) by hotpoint9534 (UK)        

Hi Doug,

Is that a circa 1989 Zanussi FL1023 complete with variable spin slider I spy there?
I would keep hold of that one if I was you, they are much better built than nearly anything available today.

I have the similarly named 'ZFL1023' which is the Jetsystem version from the same vintage, but they look almost identical.

Love the dryer by the way!

Tom.


Post# 496368 , Reply# 7   2/14/2011 at 07:51 (4,791 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)        
retro kitchen

vacbear58's profile picture
Doug

Welcome from me too. Well you have a good start on a retro themed kitchen there, although my estimate on the formica tops would be 1970s, but whatever, they are still great. Now, ignore what Tom as said just above (ducks and runs), what you need in that corner is a Servis Supertwin Mk2 which will do a great job of drying the clothes ready for the Parnall. Keith was right of course the ideal would be a Parnall Spinwasher but they are as rare as hen's teeth (of course Keith just happens to have one and some of us are as GREEN as your kitchen cupboards with envy) so the Supertwin is just the job. OK we can accept a Hoovermatic as well.

Shame about the gas gooker, there have been a few vintage electric ones on ebay recently in reasonably good looking condition, although I have always heard that the Cannon models with the foldaway grill are built like tanks. And, given teh right layout (which you seem to have) a British style vintage kitchen can work very well, Ricky5050 has one and it looks fantastic, both old cupboards and old (but working) appliances

Al


Post# 496382 , Reply# 8   2/14/2011 at 09:29 (4,791 days old) by keymatic (London / UK)        

keymatic's profile picture
Hi Al,

Really, Green with Envy..they are ok..but would swap it anyday for any Servis Auto toploader..I just can't believe one has not appeared, when you think their 1st machine appeared in 63' and ran through to 71' approx.

Those Cannon cookers weighed a ton, my nan had two and the last one we got for only a few years ago, she said they baked cakes lovely..I think they were called a "Foldaway" The cooker i always wanted to try and get hold of and have in my house was a New World "Rangette" big double cooker with a little fold away grill in the middle, my mum had one when she first got married in 66,

I think i will let the 60's dream kitchen go now, seeing that i have just had a new kitchen put in..lol !!



Post# 496407 , Reply# 9   2/14/2011 at 11:43 (4,791 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)        
Rangette

vacbear58's profile picture
Keith

Those rangettes appear with reasonable frequency on ebay given their age and price when new, I suppose they were around in one form or another for 25 years or so, although personally I dont care that much for styling the later 1970s models.

And actually it was the same with the Cannon cookers as well, indeed they may even have been around even longer, and likewise again on the styling. I believe that at one point in the 1960s they made a dual fuel version with electric ven and gas hob and grill, which was very forward thinking for the time.

My favourite was the 1960s Carron (later Cannon I think) Capri range cooker with eye level grill, again when it got the glass doors and such I did not care for it so much. And it was interesting reading the comments on "Doris Day O'Keefe & Merritt" flair type range (gas) about the controls being so far from the gas hob as the Carron (even in the gas version) had all the controls to the right of the eye level grill, although of course that hob did not slide in and out.

I know what you mean about the Servis although you, maybe more than anyone, knows that they may still be out there. I suppose the problem for us in the UK is that with small homes and corrospendingly small garages and few basements machines were more likely to get slung out rather than just pushed into a corner and left. But keep the faith, they one may still emerge - or one of the many other machines that we have documented through our collections of literature.

Of course the problem with a "classic" kitchen is often they lack features which are so useful today, particularly deep "pan" drawers and the like. I just had a litte browse at ebay at lunch time and just at the moment there are at least two lots of 1960s Hygena units (styled like those in the thread I posted in "Super" a few weeks ago), two lots of metal English Rose and some other assorted lots from the 1950s but I am afraid I like pull out drawers & racks so with Ikea I must stay :)

Whats your new one like? Still got the Hotpoint TL in there?

Al


Post# 496408 , Reply# 10   2/14/2011 at 11:52 (4,791 days old) by keiththomas ()        

Well I was interested in this machine but am I right in thinking Parnell was the first to introduce the dryer idea from the USA but then was taken over by the then GEC.

Post# 496429 , Reply# 11   2/14/2011 at 13:52 (4,791 days old) by Vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)        
1st Drier

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Keith

I believe the first tumble driers were introduced around 1955, it would be a toss up whether it was Parnall or English Electric who were first. ChesterMike has one of the first model Parnall (it does not look like this one), I am not aware of any collectors having the FIRST model EE, but given that company's history of using Westinghouse designs it could well be American designed - I have a picture of one at home.

I believe that the Parnall of this thread was manufactured at the same factory which manufactured the solid door Bendix/Fishlow drier as there are some very strong similarities in the design. Mike will probably know better, I think he has all of them

Al


Post# 496456 , Reply# 12   2/14/2011 at 17:52 (4,791 days old) by Vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)        
English Electric 1955

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Maybe our American friends can tell us if this is a Westinghouse design

Post# 496457 , Reply# 13   2/14/2011 at 17:53 (4,791 days old) by Vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)        
Another one

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I think this is a really cute picture

Post# 496459 , Reply# 14   2/14/2011 at 17:56 (4,791 days old) by Vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)        
And here is the Parnall

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Shown beside the Parnall wringer washer. Mike's is the same as this one

Post# 496547 , Reply# 15   2/15/2011 at 05:17 (4,790 days old) by parnall_doug ()        

Wow! I can see me spending hours on this forum!
Some great adverts and I love those two old Parnalls!

To reply to some of the above posts:
Tom, spot on in your observation of my Zannusi! I also have its matching tumble dryer 'mate', a TD201, which lives in the spare room. I will still keep it, with the Parnall 'sharing' the work load... not that any of my machines get heavy use, as for most of the time it's just me on my own.
The two Zanussis were left behind by the previous owners of my parents' house. They bought the house in 2000, and both machines certainly were not new, so circa 1989 sounds right. My parents gave me the machines when I moved into my own home 8 years ago, and they've both worked faultlessly. I'm glad they get your seal of approval!

Al, thanks for your comments on my kitchen, and for the washing machine suggestions!
Yes, the kitchen is indeed 1970s (1973 to be precise) and is original to the property.
I haven't tried to theme it to a particular decade, although I think those wall units give it more of a 60s look, which is now enhanced with the Parnall!
The gas cooker was left by the previous owner, and was virtually new. I sort of like it for its old looks and its simplicity, however, you inspire me with regard to vintage electric ones, and maybe my next bit of detective work should be to find the exact model of Moffat that we had in the 60s!
You also mention the Carron Capri cooker and Hygena kitchen units. We had both!
Our cooker was the later glass door electric version (Carron Capri 3) which replaced the Moffat circa 1980 (see my photo below). Our neighbour had the older gas version. The Hygena kitchen units date from 1971, when we moveed into our second family home. Are the units you mention the same as the ones in my photo?





Post# 496558 , Reply# 16   2/15/2011 at 07:23 (4,790 days old) by keymatic (London / UK)        

keymatic's profile picture
Hi Doug..

Nice retro pic there !!

That cooker brings back a few memories..my parents had the Cannon Cordon Bleu 4 (gas), virtually identical to the one on the pic but had solid white doors..something tells me it use to have salt & pepper pots insetted in the top near the controls..that was a big ole cooker..lol. Then mum decided to have an upgrade to the "Classique" brown modern version, last model made. We were at the Ideal Home Exhibtion looking at the new fancy model, and if memory serves me right, costing over £1300 quid, my mum just turned round and said "right, we will take one"..all the way home she was wondering how she would break it to dad..

They were really good cookers.
Keith


Post# 496588 , Reply# 17   2/15/2011 at 11:05 (4,790 days old) by parnall_doug ()        

I can't remember what my parents paid for theirs Keith, but I seem to recall it was a lot!
I was sad to see the lovely old Moffat go, but I remember being excited at the thought of the griddle on the new one! The one our neighbours had also had the solid white doors. You are right about the salt and pepper pots! I had forgotten all about them, but the photo below, taken from another angle shows them!

I took the photos in 1989, when we were about to move. I now have some of the kitchen utensils in the pics!




Post# 496596 , Reply# 18   2/15/2011 at 11:28 (4,790 days old) by parnall_doug ()        

And here is a piccy of my Parnall in the kitchen. The 'Oxo' and tea bag tins on top are ones my folks had from new. They were subsequently kept in the garage for storing 'odds and ends' in. My dad was going to throw them out a few years ago, when he was having a clearout, but needless to say I rescued them first!

The stool just visible to the left of the Parnall had been left in an outside store cupboard by the previous owner of my property. It cleaned up well and goes perfectly in my little kitchen!

Sorry about the modern fridge on the other side.....!!!

The really pleasing thing for me is that I probably saved the Parnall from suffering the same fate as our original one did, as I can't imagine the guy who sold it to me would have bothered trying to relist it.










Post# 496599 , Reply# 19   2/15/2011 at 11:36 (4,790 days old) by hoovermatic (UK)        

LOVE the angle fronted cupboards on the wall! My Mum had one in red when I was a very young kid, 1969 ish! Have you got one of those floor standing units that had the top like those but with a fold down front that made a useful work surface??

Post# 496626 , Reply# 20   2/15/2011 at 12:07 (4,790 days old) by parnall_doug ()        

They're fab aren't they! I couldn't believe it when I saw them for the first time, when I was shown around the property! I told the vendor that the deal would be off, if she were to remove them!
I don't have one of those floor standing units that you mention. Maybe I'll have to keep an eye out for one!

By the way spot my 'deliberate' mistake in my previous post. "Tea bag tin". I meant loose tea! I'm sure it was many years 'til tea bags were to come along! Lol


Post# 496631 , Reply# 21   2/15/2011 at 12:19 (4,790 days old) by hoover1100 (U.K.)        
Have you got one of those floor standing units that had the

My Nana had those until about 2001 when she moved into her current house.

One was yellow, one was red, one was green and one was blue if I recall correctly.

I always loved them!

Matt


Post# 496636 , Reply# 22   2/15/2011 at 12:31 (4,790 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)        
You done good

vacbear58's profile picture
Doug,

You should feel really proud of yourself for rescuing this dryer, it looks great but you need to be aware that this could be the thin end of the wedge, as so many of us know these vintage appliances set up a "siren" call and often more can soon follow. On a slightly more serious note have you taken the back off to check on the build up of fluff, lint & other assorted dirt. I rescued a Fishlow a while back and the elements were thick with dust - a bit of careful work with the Hoover (actually it was a Tristar) soon put paid to that, although I would avoid using teh crevice nozzle near the elements in case they get sucked in and break. Once the bulk of it is off a soft (paint)brush can deal with the rest.

Thank you for posting the pictures of your family kitchen, I could swear my parents had the same floor covering, and although it was not my favourite version of this cooker (the white one both you and Keith referred to was) it still looks great. And like you I am on the lookout for a Moffat cooker too, they do crop up on ebay from time to time although space considerations have kept me from hitting that "confirm bid" button many times. But its going to happen one of these days ......

Do please share any more memories of your applainces, washing machine, fridge, dishwasher, mixer, cleaner etc. By the way, the ebay auctions I referred to both have cabinets like your parents. If you have not found it yet you might like to have a look at these scans I posted a few weeks back in the Super forum, one of the sets features a Moffat cooker and its Hygena all teh way :)

Al


CLICK HERE TO GO TO vacbear58's LINK


Post# 496649 , Reply# 23   2/15/2011 at 13:35 (4,790 days old) by parnall_doug ()        

Hi Al, thanks for your comments and advice!
I have put the dryer onto its back and hoovered everything within reach in that area. I'd planned to take the back off and do the same, but I have some more pressing jobs to do first, so it's still on the 'to do' list! I don't plan to put it properly into service until I have done that job though. I shall bear in mind your good advice about using the crevice nozzle close to the elements.

Regarding the siren call you mention, yes Ebay has 'cost' me a lot of money over the years!
The dryer is my first purchase of vintage appliances, certainly of the indoor variety (I have an old Qualcast motor mower in the garage, again, identical to the one I grew up with!).
To start with I think I shall settle with a brochure of the identical Moffat to our old one... when one comes up!

Re the Hygena units, I can't access the thread from your link, as I'm not a paid up member, but I shall find them on Ebay. Thanks anyway.
I saw some similar units on there about a year or so ago (pale green as I recall). They were immaculate! If I'd had the storage I would have bid on them!
Notice the broken cupboard door handles on the ones in my photos. They continually got 'bashed' by the wooden kitchen stools we had in the kitchen, one of which you can see in the photos!

I will definitely share more memories in due course, of other appliances!


Post# 496686 , Reply# 24   2/15/2011 at 16:33 (4,790 days old) by Vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)        
My mistake

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Sorry Doug, I had not realised that you had to be a paying member to access the super archive. Anyway to sort of make up, here is a picture with the 1960 Parnall Spinwasher in it (top row, middle), I had wondered if there would be a family resemblance and indeed there is to my eye, the Spinwasher was a top loader though and is vary largely based on the Thor Automagic (also in the picture) which has featured in some other recent threads on here - as far as I know the Parnall was never offered with a dish washing facility though.
Al


Post# 496818 , Reply# 25   2/16/2011 at 10:57 (4,789 days old) by parnall_doug ()        

Many thanks Al! Yes, they're very similar indeed aren't they.
I'm still checking the Parnall section on Ebay daily, so who knows, maybe one day!

I shall pop a couple of Parnall adverts up in my next post, but in the meantime here is some more Hygena 'porn' for you, from our old kitchen. As you can see, there was quite a lot of it! We did have the matching wall units but when the kitchen had a refurb, they were taken down.
Incidentally I found those units on Ebay that you mentioned. I would soooo love those avocado ones. Pity the worktops are not included though. Now if only I had a garage big enough to store them in..........!



Post# 496819 , Reply# 26   2/16/2011 at 11:04 (4,789 days old) by parnall_doug ()        

And here are a couple of old adverts for the same model dryer as mine, which I got off Ebay too. Interesting that the price for them back then was just under 50 quid, which is what I paid for mine last month!

Also it is interesting to note that the machines were obviously not just supplied to the home market, but were exported too, as a couple of weeks ago I saw one advertised on Ebay Australia!



Post# 496825 , Reply# 27   2/16/2011 at 11:18 (4,789 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)        
Porn is the word LOLOL

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Another great picture Doug. LOVING it. Nice big kitchen too

Now, is that a Sony TV I see on the counter? And I am guessing a Sunbeam Mixmaster under that cover? And one of those glasses to that went in the plastic holder to make a beaker. No there is a word you dont often hear these days :) Dont recognise the toaster and what on earth is that on the window sill above the sink? See what you started LOLOLOL

Thanks for posting the dryer ads, a reminder of times when these machines we something revolutionary :) It is no surprise that you found Parnall ads in Australia as for some years applainces were shipped there from the UK, or they may have been assembled or even manufactured under lisence. What makes me say that is that I have some pictures for Parnall cookers sold in Aus. which are nothing like any that I have seen in the UK, even under Parnall's "sister" brand, Jackson

Al


Post# 496826 , Reply# 28   2/16/2011 at 11:36 (4,789 days old) by keymatic (London / UK)        

keymatic's profile picture
....LOL Hi Al,

I think you will find that "thing" on the window sill to be an NSA water filter we had one in the late 80's, before the special tap came along with constant filtered water. I remember when the sales guy came round, my dad was not for it, he said it was a con like the Perrier bottled water of the time.. needless to say mum got her way..hehehe
Keith


Post# 496876 , Reply# 29   2/16/2011 at 15:59 (4,789 days old) by Vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)        
Australian Parnall

vacbear58's profile picture
Here is one of the cookers

Post# 496877 , Reply# 30   2/16/2011 at 16:01 (4,789 days old) by Vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)        
Australian Parnall 2

vacbear58's profile picture
And the other one

Post# 496879 , Reply# 31   2/16/2011 at 16:09 (4,789 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Oh my!!!

chestermikeuk's profile picture
When Hygena was Hygena...!!! lovely kitchen pics there...never saw many of those old style "Range Cookers", up north, but Neil has just fitted one in his kitchen, now to find the pics!!!

Doug, what was the washing machine that went with your parents Parnall dryer??

heres the first English Electric dryer, Big Bertha!! weighs a ton but moves very easy on its wheels, the EE dryers I understand where made in Liverpool, the Parnalls at the Bristol Yate factory...


Post# 496880 , Reply# 32   2/16/2011 at 16:11 (4,789 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Westy EE

chestermikeuk's profile picture
and Mathew with his 2nd model...

Post# 496885 , Reply# 33   2/16/2011 at 16:25 (4,789 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Retro Cookers n Kitchens

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Heres the Fisholow dryer aka Bendix,(commonly known as Al`s microwave stand!!!) my Aunt Alice had one of these, on discount from Manweb Head Office where she worked....it was paired with the first Hoover wringer washer 0307 until the Servis Supertwin MK3 came along...

So was Dougs Parnall the first big dryer with window??



Post# 496886 , Reply# 34   2/16/2011 at 16:31 (4,789 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Open

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for business

Post# 496887 , Reply# 35   2/16/2011 at 16:37 (4,789 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Retro Kitchen Cookers

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Neils new old cooker...cow pie in the oven ready & waiting!!!

Post# 497399 , Reply# 36   2/18/2011 at 11:25 (4,787 days old) by parnall_doug ()        

Wow! Some great pictures there, and some lovely old machines! Why can't they make them with a bit of character these days?

You guys are certainly very observant, with regard to the photos of my parents' kitchen!Lol

So, I will answer some of your observations: 22 years on from those photos, some of the items you can see are still about.
Al, the TV is infact a Panasonic. It survives to this day, and was to eventually become my 'daily' TV until about a year or so ago, when I was given a larger set. It resides in my loft at the moment. I 'think' the mixer under that cover is an early Magimix. I could be wrong, as we did have a lovely old Sunbeam mixer, but I think it lived in a cupboard.
The glasses in the plastic beakers survive (or at least I know I have three or four from the original set of six). We had two reds, two greens and two blues. They date from about 1973/4, and came from Shell petrol tokens. The plastic beakers have faded badly now, and are quite brittle, in fact one broke a while back. They are 'retired' in the cupboard in my spare room.
I can't remember the make of toaster. It replaced our lovely old green Morphy Richards though.
The thing on the window sill is, as keith correctly points out, an NSA water filter (well spotted Keith!). My brother got into the pyramid selling lark with NSA, although it didn't come to mutch. One evening of cold calling convinced me that that way of trying to make money was not for me! Lol

A couple of other items in that same photo survive. The little red implement rack just to the left of the sink (with the rag and washing up brush hanging on it) is still around. It dates from the early 60s, and was in use until the late 80s or early 90s. It had started to rust, and the plastic coating was starting to come off, so it was about to get thrown out, until I 'rescued' it! It lives its retirement in a box in my loft! The little soap holder to the right of the sink dates from the same period, and I have that too!

Mike and Keith, I will chat to you both about a couple of things, in my next post, but I must get ready for work now!

Doug


Post# 497418 , Reply# 37   2/18/2011 at 13:17 (4,787 days old) by keiththomas ()        

I see from your details that the Parnell Dryer was made at the Bristol Yates Factory. I believe that is now owned by Indesit owner of Hotpoint and Creda. I just scrapped a 5 -6 year old Indesit Dryer due to the Motor burning out due to fault with dust getting inside the machine but not the filter etc

Post# 497939 , Reply# 38   2/20/2011 at 11:59 (4,785 days old) by parnall_doug ()        

Unbelievable isn't it! 5-6 years and it's scrap!

By the way the Parnall I mentioned earlier, on Ebay in Australia has been re-listed.
I hope the link below works....
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/PARNALL-Clothes-D...
Anyone know anybody in the Western NSW region of Australia who would like to give the poor unwanted Parnall a loving new home?

Mike, you asked what the washer was that went with my Parents' Parnall. Originally it was a Hoover Keymatic. I don't know my Keymatics, and how many types were offered, but it was the sloping fronted one. I see there are still a few about. I can't say I knew that machine, certainly I don't remember it in the way I did the Parnall, but I recognise it in the background in my dad's slides.
I don't think the Keymatic moved with us in 1971, as I never remember it in the 'new' house. I think its replacement was another Hoover (model unknown). That was replaced in 1979 with a Colston Consort (I kind of liked that machine), then I think it was in turn replaced with another Hoover, and then Miele machines from then 'til the current day.

Keith (Keymatic) did I read correctly that you actually have the Spinwasher Parnall similar to my dryer, as shown in Al's 'Which' Magazine scan? If so, I would love to see some pics please, and to hear some history and your experiences with your machine!

Doug



Post# 498139 , Reply# 39   2/21/2011 at 02:30 (4,784 days old) by keymatic (London / UK)        

keymatic's profile picture
Hi Doug,

Yep you did read right, I have a Mk 2 Parnall Spinwasher, dating from 1965..Over the years of collecting i have 2, the first one i collected from Manchester, however the outer "holding" tank was so badly corroded with washing powder that the machine had to go to the tip. The second machine came from Bradford and this is the one i still have. It is not quite the same as the one on the front of the Which magazine, as the controls on mine are at the top/back..bit like a Hotpoint toploader.
The machine is quite fun, you can wash, store the water and then re-use for a second load. I have a video which i must get converted and then i can upload it.
I will post some pics as soon as i get 5 mins.
Keith

www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/T...
Above is a link to a thread which show's the brochure of the MK2 spinwasher, scroll all the way down to the bottom !!


Post# 498239 , Reply# 40   2/21/2011 at 13:28 (4,784 days old) by keiththomas ()        

Hi Doug,

Well I telephoned Indesit today and they said the call out charge would be £104.00 and yet the machine was £149.99 in 2005. I was told that these dryers are only made to last 5 - 8 years. Thats bad and creates a dispolsal proble. I am selling the instruction sheet. I liked the deisgn of the outside of the machine but thats it minimum you should get ten years oh well. Has anybody got an old which report on Dryers from the 1960's


Post# 498254 , Reply# 41   2/21/2011 at 14:14 (4,784 days old) by paulc (Edinburgh, Scotland)        
Keymatic

paulc's profile picture
I would love to see photo's of your Spinwasher. My Nan had one when I was little, I have vague memories of it but I think I was about 7 when my Nan got rid of it due th a chronically rusted lid. My Mum recons she bought it in 1956 but I dont think Parnall made a rear control machine then did they?

Post# 498454 , Reply# 42   2/22/2011 at 02:15 (4,783 days old) by keymatic (London / UK)        

keymatic's profile picture
Hi Paul,

I will post some pic's of my Spinwasher when i get 2 ticks...They were a fab machine, all of the elements which had nearly originated from the Thor Automagic. The Mk1 spinwasher was launched in a 1960 and the Mk2 came out about 1963, and then the last of the Spinwashers made its appearence in 1965..(which had a feature of drip-free hoses..weird..lol)
Cheers
Keith


Post# 498739 , Reply# 43   2/23/2011 at 12:28 (4,782 days old) by parnall_doug ()        

Keith (Keymatic) the Mk2 Spinwasher looks fab. Being able to reuse the water is handy! I look forward to seeing the pics and video of your own machine in due course!
Keith Thomas, unbelievable isn't it, 5-8 years! What a waste! Doesn't seem very 'green' does it.



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