Servis Supertwin model 32 Washing Machine Prototype 1963
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- This is a world first and only it appears, the Servis Supertwin model 32, prototype MK4001 twin tub washing machine from 1963 looks like a conventional MK30 but has a few distinct features.
The first being the wash mechanism, Servis is know for their agitator style twintub washing machines but this has a tub as seen in the 1957 small compact powerglide wringer single tub.
As engineers and collectors we often discussed how this arrangement would have worked in a twinny, well now we can find out.
This rare find was found by our friend and colleague Steve McKinnell in London. No Servis documentation has this machine listed hence the assumption it was a prototype for testing and future sales.
The washtub is a one piece enamel coated tub, unlike the wringer washer which is 2. The mechanism is a rotating disc called a Turbulator which sits offset in the base which spins causing the clothes to be moved around in the water. The washtub water empty is unique like the wringer, it uses a venturi pipe under the turbulator, you turn the pump dial and it turns a conrod which moves the venturi into the flow of water and through the empty pipe to the sink. The instructions then say for the small amount of water left in the sump you remove the metal Turbulator, place on floor and place empty pipe in it to drain the last of the water.Pretty Clever - no moving parts, a designers dream !!
Wow what a amazing servis twin tub my late mum in the late 70,s had one a servis 111super twin good machines they are
Hello Stephen, yes the Servis Supertwins were a sturdy reliable washer, mum had heres for 16 yrs washing for a family of 6 at least 3 times a week .
its amazing how these perform way better than all modern stuff nowadays, in nowhere near the time it takes for a new washing machine to complete a normal cycle. Just does it for 2 hrs while this can do a full wash n dry in literally just over 10 mins!! i just wish things were still made like this today!!
Yes it just gets on with the job, but you do have to be there to move stuff around, that's where modern autos do benefit, set and forget !!
I Loved my Twin Tub .The Washing came out Cleaner than these Automatic Machines that Take Bloody Ages ..
We agree, I wonder if it was because the water was generally hotter and the fact that from the washtub you would then spin out all of the hot sudsy water very fast, would have probably forced the dirt out by the spinning action alone..
These old models are alot better than the new plastic models they do now
Hello Tracey, yes they are indeed, many built like tanks being all metal and enamel etc.
Very cool and brings back memories of when we had a production model😄
Yes indeed, those twintubs where seen in many a UK home and kitchen, did you have this similar model ? or another Servis twin tub ?
Fantastic video Mike, as always from you :). There's definitely something special about Servis Twintubs over Hoovermatics/Supermatics etc. Nice to see some vintage ACDO powder being used as well!
We ai mto please with the powder, the ACDO is great, modern yet vintage at same time.
I miss my twin tub
Impellers just tangled the laundry however they were mounted. The agitator action of machines did not . Ive used both in the past.
Must admit I do prefer the Servis wide sweep agitator, never does seem to tangle stuff, although this was much less tangling of sleeves / trousers than the Hoovermatics..
Fantastic video and information, who knew this was ever made. I wonder why Servis never made say 1000 for sale and collected the feedback as it would've been cheaper to manufacture so the machine's could be priced more competitively??
English Electric produced many electrical appliances for the home and even air plane parts as well, a big UK company even if they had a first alliance with Westinghouse USA for these first automatic washing machines, If you think all the other key laundry manufacturers where still mass producing wringer washers, twin tubs and spinners, Servis UK at this time did have their fully automatic top loading washers in production, it would be a few years later in 1972 when the first FL was produced !!
I love them old twin tubs.
And so do we, Servis was thought of as the "Rolls Royce" of UK twintubs..
I’m not a massive fan, I prefer agitator twin tubs.
Awesome machine and prefer this over the agitator version that won the day and went on to be so popular. I would've bought one of these in a heartbeat back in the day, in favour of a Hoovermatic and that's saying something!
We wondered if it was being developed as a direct competition the the Hoover 4 minute pulsator action ?
This is the twintub version of the Servis Sologlide if im not mistaken
Yes it uses the tub mechanism from the model S and Powerglide wringer, very unique, no one appears to know anything about it, nothing at all in the Servis doctrine or model numbers !!
I heard people would do a softener rinse, in the tub to make sure to remove the suds, or white would get dingy.
Morning Howard, I never knew anyone who did that, but does make sense if you have a large amount of laundry. We often found that with hot water soapy washes spun out in the fast spinner that would drive the wash solution through the clothes enabling better cleaning , but your right its the rinsing that makes the difference.
The big wash every Monday. All the filling and emptying with rubber pipes, oh the memories, and the inevitable spillages and leaks. Is that a Meile sulking in the corner?
Hello Ken, yes the memories of washday, and yes the Miele stacked set has just been built into a new utility cupboard.
Wait it doesn't pause then agitates to a different direction?
I must be new to vintage twin tub
Nope it just spins around like the smaller Model S wringer washers, it is set at an angle in the corner of the washtub so clothes are drawn in to that area and forced out again, different from say the Colston or Rolls which is an impellor in the base spinning round.
Way better than the plastic crap they make today
Totally agree Jocy, you cant put water above 60d in the modern plastic versions, these are built like tanks hence why they have lasted !!
Ariston made a Twin Tub with the same wash method in the late 70's
They did Alex, in fact friend Steve has one that he is repairing at the mo...
How on EARTH did you find this machine? Did you even know it existed??
Hi Paul, It was from a fellow collector who was having to drastically downsize and Steve bought it . its not listed in any official doctrine, no one knew that it existed, even the engineers hadnt seen one, I asked on a local FB group and they remembered it being a test prototype machine that was being tested out for the market..It is a good action but not a patch on the traditional wide sweep arc of the Hi-Zone wash action with 210d arc 9wide sweep) and 86 OPM (back n forth per minute) that Servis is world renowned for !!
Truly fascinating, such a precious machine! Was the 1to 4 dial the wash time, more vigorous action so 12 minute wash not needed I presume? Thanks for sharing Mike👍👏
Morning Andrew, it is indeed a rare one, even the engineers don't have any info, yes with the quicker wash action it almost matched the Hoover pulsator action. having used it with various items it does tend to tangle which the Hi Zone agitator never does.
Think I’d prefer slow and steady with no tangle, and more time to rinse and spin! I’ve got a tone of holiday washing 😱😳 Two hours and I’d be through the lot with this beast! Hope your days a good un😘
What do they mean by non-bio?
Its the detergent that doesn't contain any active enzymes.ie no biological active ingredients, rather like an old fashioned soap based detergent.
Whats the max rpm for the spinner
Hello Karl, the spinner is 2,800rpm later models dropped to 2,300, spin can is a solid tub design with a row of holes in the base and the flutes at the top for the water to exit !!
Washing action reminds me Foron WM 66 from GDR (similar solution - square tube and activator on center of bottom) - i don't like it. And drain while wash - it reminds me Romo washers from Czechoslovakia ;) but in these pump was mounded on washer motor.
Its a very different wash action and one that Servis only ever produced on a small compact washer. Servis promoted the Hi-Zone Wash Action with a tall vaned agitator.
I prefer agitator
And so do we, buts it's a pretty unique washing machine !!
Lovely being able to open the spinner while its slowing down. No health and safety CRAP then. Just plain common sense. Dont put yur hand in. End of.
Yes , don't tell the laundry police ha ha...it is common sense, have heard of more arms in wringers than spinners thankfully !!
it would be like the Hoover Twin Tub and knot everything up into a ball they were dreadful for doing this, I grew up wit
h the Hoover twin tubs as my father was a coal miner in the 1980's
Hi Alex, yes it did knot long sleeved stuff but not as much as the hoover, I think with the swirly round effect instead of over and over it appeared to tangle less..