| Presenting the Hoover 3226, second generation of Hoover sloping front automatic washing machines, produced from 1964 - 1966, by the Hoover Washing Machine Company Ltd, at Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, UK. The Hoover Keymatic takes an 8lb washload, is hot & cold fill and spins at 750rpm. It is very unique as it has a dual washing action, for delicate items it rotates the drum like todays machines but doesnt alternate drum direction, these programmes last for approx 8mins after heating to correct temperature. For robust cotton fabrics its uses the drum and its unique Hoover "Boiling Pulsator Washing Action"...you will see the spinning Hoover pulsator in the back of the drum, similar to the wringer and twin tub washers. This produces a very rapid turnover of clothes with plenty of splashdrama as well.. The wash time for cottons was 4 minutes from correct temperature...very fast indeed by todays standards.. The second unique feature was the use of the "Hoover Keyplate" which was a bakelite / plastic card with grooves for the different programmes, this was inserted into the card reader or programmer and the washer times liked up the cogs and started your wash programme!!! The third unique feature was how the drum operated, it was suspended on 4 large springs attached to a metal frame, it also had a suspension wire under the drum as well, this allowed the drum to "Tilt" when filling with water allowing the water to cover the pulsator and for the clothes to roll around the drum ... |
