Hoover Keymatic 3223 from Greece

Hello again, and today Im sharing another one of my Keymatics on here. This is a Hoover Keymatic 3223C widebody machine although as it is a Greek export model it is badged Automatic much like my German 3224. As I said the machine is from Greece, the machine was offered up on here a little while ago from a guy called Luca. Luca was extremley undertanding and helpful in helping me get it here, many thanks! The machine is dated September 1970 so its 50 years old this year

I didnt know if the machine worked or not so I had no idea what I was going to be greeted with when it arrived, I always assume the worst then I cant be too devestated when it arrives damaged! Fortunatley it has arrived in good shape, the fascia is damaged (all the tabs that hold it on have snapped but I will make something using magnets and/or lollysticks and glue) but the pretty bits intact. The bodywork is in great shape too. Changed the plug for a 3 pin UK one, removed the covers and had a look round, theres no scale on the outer drum where the door seal meets the drum it looks like its been looked after and hardly used. Plugged it in, it span although clutch a little noisy, happy days. Moved it to my water testing spot and heres where the issues began - I couldnt get it to tumble. It would fill up but it would not advance to tumble and heat. In the end I found a wire off one of the pressure switches - i feel silly for not noticing this sooner as I was messing around with the switches as I was wondering if they were actually holding pressure if that makes sense. Wire replaced, it tumbles and I could test it fully. The fill valve leaked as well as let by so I swapped that out quite late last night, the sump hose needs repacing and the door seal weeps but I have both of those so Ill carry on with it later. Also when it arrived there was brown tape over the fascia, as I was taking it off I didnt notice that it had started to pull the drawer trim off so I took it off, flattened it out and need to attach that too howver it doesnt look too bad with a white drawer front. Thanks to Mathew who I rung up and asked about the lack of tumbling and advancing issue too!

Enough talking, here is a few before photos...

Photos... < > Photo 1 of 8 View Full Size


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Post# 1076554 6/10/2020 at 06:47 (1,025 days old) by ServisChris (Southampton, Hampshire UK)
Checkrate/Likes Hello again, and today Im sharing another one of my Keymatics on here. This is a Hoover Keymatic 3223C widebody machine although as it is a Greek export model it is badged Automatic much like my German 3224. As I said the machine is from Greece, the machine was offered up on here a little while ago from a guy called Luca. Luca was extremley undertanding and helpful in helping me get it here, many thanks! The machine is dated September 1970 so its 50 years old this year I didnt know if the machine worked or not so I had no idea what I was going to be greeted with when it arrived, I always assume the worst then I cant be too devestated when it arrives damaged! Fortunatley it has arrived in good shape, the fascia is damaged (all the tabs that hold it on have snapped but I will make something using magnets and/or lollysticks and glue) but the pretty bits intact. The bodywork is in great shape too. Changed the plug for a 3 pin UK one, removed the covers and had a look round, theres no scale on the outer drum where the door seal meets the drum it looks like its been looked after and hardly used. Plugged it in, it span although clutch a little noisy, happy days. Moved it to my water testing spot and heres where the issues began - I couldnt get it to tumble. It would fill up but it would not advance to tumble and heat. In the end I found a wire off one of the pressure switches - i feel silly for not noticing this sooner as I was messing around with the switches as I was wondering if they were actually holding pressure if that makes sense. Wire replaced, it tumbles and I could test it fully. The fill valve leaked as well as let by so I swapped that out quite late last night, the sump hose needs repacing and the door seal weeps but I have both of those so Ill carry on with it later. Also when it arrived there was brown tape over the fascia, as I was taking it off I didnt notice that it had started to pull the drawer trim off so I took it off, flattened it out and need to attach that too howver it doesnt look too bad with a white drawer front. Thanks to Mathew who I rung up and asked about the lack of tumbling and advancing issue too! Enough talking, here is a few before photos... Photos... < > Photo 1 of 8 View Full Size

Post# 1076555 , Reply# 1 6/10/2020 at 06:52 (1,025 days old) by ServisChris (Southampton, Hampshire UK)
Checkrate/Likes *Hoover Keymatic 3223C* And heres some after photos. Im very happy that the tape applied to it hasnt peeled any paint off when I took it off and all the residues. I havent got a photo of the soap tray but I can confirm it is the same as what is fitted to the next Matchbox series Keymatic with a softener chamber in the middle. Illget a photo when I re apply the drawer front. Videos when its all done. Chris Photos... < > Photo 1 of 7 View Full Size

Post# 1077166 , Reply# 2 6/15/2020 at 05:27 (1,020 days old) by alanlondon (London)
Checkrate/Likes *thanks very much for sharing* really enjoyed reading and seeing the photos of your new project. The motor looks very interesting, does it change speed from wash to spin with a solenoid? Cheers, Alan

Post# 1077811 , Reply# 3 6/19/2020 at 02:57 (1,017 days old) by Aquarius1984 (Planet earth)
Checkrate/Likes Good to see it got here in one piece Chris. You�ve done a cracking job of restoring it, can�t wait to see it in the flesh!

Post# 1078627 , Reply# 4 6/25/2020 at 14:01 (1,010 days old) by matchboxpaul (U.K)
Checkrate/Likes Hi Chris. Thank goodness your risky purchase paid off and it arrived here, albeit a it battered after its journey. When I saw your picture of it all parcel taped up, my heart sank - then to see all the residue left behind! Was quite a painful sight to behold. Thankfully your elbow grease has certainly paid off and the machine looks great! Even without the powder drawer metallic fascia cover, it looks superb and, judging from photos I have seen elsewhere of this model, I am pretty sure the presence of this feature was a bit hit and miss. I have a feeling that the 3223H that I knew of as a kid, didn't have the powder drawer fascia cover and that machine was mint - belonged to Mr and Mrs Emmett up Limefield Avenue, the road opposite where I lived. Your 3223C makes it a full set as far as the various fascia styles of Keymatics are concerned in preservation, with good examples of each style saved for the future. Yes, strictly speaking we are missing examples of individual UK models 3203H (visually identical to model 3203, but with a hot fill solenoid on the back), 3223H (visually identical to model 3223C, bar the name title and also with a hot fill solenoid on the back) and A3050 (Electricity Board version of the model 3243H) - I wonder when they will surface? Here's hoping! Congrats on securing this example Chris and taking the plunge with a bit of importing. All the best with it. Paul

Post# 1078628 , Reply# 5 6/25/2020 at 14:02 (1,010 days old) by matchboxpaul (U.K)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *3223C* As sold in Austria �. View Full Size

Post# 1078629 , Reply# 6 6/25/2020 at 14:06 (1,010 days old) by matchboxpaul (U.K)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *3223C* As sold in Germany - image courtesy of 'Das Waschmaschinen Forum' many years ago (to my eyes, without the powder drawer fascia cover) ... View Full Size

Post# 1078630 , Reply# 7 6/25/2020 at 14:09 (1,010 days old) by matchboxpaul (U.K)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Ironically I don't have a Greek advert for the 3223C, so will have to make do with one for the Hoover Automatic 90 (UK model 3208) and Automatic 91 (UK model 3203) ... View Full Size

Post# 1078631 , Reply# 8 6/25/2020 at 14:13 (1,010 days old) by matchboxpaul (U.K)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Whilst we are looking at Continental widebodies ...* Dutch model 'Automatic 91' - the UK model 3203 ... View Full Size

Post# 1078636 , Reply# 12 6/25/2020 at 14:56 (1,010 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Great ads! Reply# 9 is indeed a Dutch ad from the Netherlands. Reply# 10, the dishwasher ad is also in Dutch (actually Flemish) the language is slightly different. At the bottom you can see the price in F(rancs). That ad is from Belgium.

Post# 1078639 , Reply# 13 6/25/2020 at 15:49 (1,010 days old) by matchboxpaul (U.K)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Hi Louis. I should have followed through with my original plan, which was to state that they might have been Belgian too! Hadn't noticed the price in Belgian Francs - the now obvious give away. They are superb adverts - I think I found them for sale on ebay.nl, not that long ago. Paul

Post# 1078643 , Reply# 14 6/25/2020 at 16:22 (1,010 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Quite a treasure you found there Paul. The Automatic 91 is ofcourse a Keymatic, without the name being used in that ad. They use the word "programmasleutel" (programme key).

Post# 1078657 , Reply# 15 6/25/2020 at 17:25 (1,010 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Just a couple of points* Interesting Ads indeed Paul. Reply #8 I wonder what the two line drawn front loading machines are at the bottom of the ad - we know in the UK the Matchbox autos were launched while the wide body KM was still on sale but I have never seen a Hoover with a filter cover on the front, and the door release does not look like Matchbox either. Reply 9 - Model 92 I did not thing the wide body Automatic had a detergent dispenser Reply 10 - As well as marketing their badged, Zanussi/Rex dishwasher in Belgium it looks like they sold fridges from the same source. Al

Post# 1078632 , Reply# 9 6/25/2020 at 14:16 (1,010 days old) by matchboxpaul (U.K)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Dutch model 'Automatic 92' - equivalent of the UK model 3221H ... View Full Size

Post# 1078633 , Reply# 10 6/25/2020 at 14:19 (1,010 days old) by matchboxpaul (U.K)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *and a bit of Dutch dishwasher history ...* Dutch model 'HOOVER' - equivalent of the UK model 4804 ... View Full Size

Post# 1078634 , Reply# 11 6/25/2020 at 14:21 (1,010 days old) by matchboxpaul (U.K)
Checkrate/Likes 2 *and finally ....* the UK model 3223H, as sold in the UK ... View Full Size

Post# 1078662 , Reply# 16 6/25/2020 at 17:40 (1,010 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Those two mystery machines look like commercial machines.