1955 GE Combo Rescued!

[jetcone]

Another

feature I haven't seen is Brass water catches for the tub. Later models are rubber or plastic.

GE sure puts its best foot forward on its introductory machines!

 

[jetcone]

No rust

anywhere I can find on this machine, look at the inside of the backplate.

 

[jetcone]

Up her skirt

whoohoo

 

[jetcone]

Found the first problem

Plugged it in , motor sounded real smooth quite BUT no tub turning!

No.1 belt snapped in the past!

 

[jetcone]

new belt is on order

so I can now go back and finish my other project. pix to kum!!

Omit Dry- people!

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

Very cool Jon.... many CONGRATS on this find and how clean it is!

 

It sure is purrrdy!

 

Kevin

 

[philr]

That's a really nice find Jon! 

 

Congratulations!

 

[tomturbomatic]

Gosh, that independent pump motor probably is rated for continuous duty because of the long dry cycle, unlike today's drain pump motors.

 

[pdub]

It's beautiful Jon!

Don't you love it when you find something as preserved as this is.

I wonder if when the belt snapped this is why they stopped using it?

Could have been the start of the "it's broken, let's get a new one" mentality.

How lucky for you.

All the best! - Patrick

 

[bendixmark]

outstanding find

Hey Jon ,what a beautiful machine.So nice to find one in such pristine condition.I have never seen one this old before.I like this design with the transmission much better wonder why they didnt keep it.I once had a pristine 1968 Ge combo with the dispenser and all that but I couldnt make it spin,I lost that machine along with many others during a dark period in my history known as the purge of 86.Looking forward to more pictures and congratulations on a wonderful find.

 

[toploader55]

Congrats

Will this machine make it down to Chatham ???

 

[tomturbomatic]

Bendixmark, the change to the variable sheave speed changer assembly was done because it was much cheaper than a transmission, as was the reason for the pump change, no doubt.

 

[jetcone]

I also think

the change may have been made because the power train was almost identical to Bendix's power train. But GE was always more cost conscious so that may have been the motivating factor.

 

[gansky1]

Awesome save, Jon!

Super cute dials - so detailed and fancy-pants, later dials were much more plain.

No pausing to reverse, I'll bet the clothes never stop moving!

 

[combo52]

Early GE Combo

I also suspect the the transmission didn't work nearly as well as it only has two speeds and it probably would really make this machine jump when it would try to spin an out of balance load. Even though this machine only spins around 200 RPMs because it has no suspension they do try to move a little. The later variable drive system allowed the machine to spin at any necessary speed up to the max speed of 225 RPMs to keep vibration under control.

 

 I suspect that the electric drain pump was done away with for durability reasons as this pump would sometimes have to run for 2 hours at a time with heavy loads in the dry cycle. GE made the biggest improvement in there combos with the final redesign in the 1964 models when they started using the regular GE FF washer water pump. This more powerful pump could easily empty the combo in under 30 seconds and was much better at gets sudsy water water out without suds locking.

 

[jetcone]

Im not sure I get your point John

The Duo "jumped' from 50 cycles to 275 in one step. The GE "jumps" from 47 cycles to 208. A smaller jump and a smaller tub.

The Combo does have a small suspension,the tub is mounted on 4 vertical leaf springs and there is a "scissor sensor" which cuts out spin and moves to tumble if it gets triggered by the rocking of the suspension. Also the door diaphragm will act like a damper as it moves against the cabinet with the tub action.

I suppose you mean this machine will just hobble between spin and tumble where the later Combos can "sort of spin" for awhile.

 

[jetcone]

You can see the

"suspension" in the ephemera section 1956 GE Combo Service page 1.

The tub assembly can rock left or right slightly and at the bottom is the scissor mechanism to stop out of balance loads.

 

[jetcone]

Ahh..correction

I had said it was a 4 baffle machine, but yesterday I was working inside the drum to tighten the door bolts>>[try that one!!!!] and discovered its actually a 3 baffle machine. So when it gets water and clothes it will be interesting to see just how she tumbles!

Try working inside a machine with a mirror and a light! There are 8 holes in the tub through which only ONE of them you can get at the door screws. At least I didn't have to take the tub out!!! Talk about a bizzare service procedure!!

Today I get back my '56 FF from John who has been nicely holding it for me.

YAY

 

[bajaespuma]

Aferim!

So you're not just a pretty face.

 

Thank you for posting the Electrical Schematic as well. You are now officially the Grand Poobah of Combos! What a beautiful machine. I can't believe I gave up a GE combo (1966-ish) not 20 miles away from you, last year AND I HAD THE TRUCK THAT DAY! Kicking myself. Prejudice is a self-destructive flaw.

 

[moderncleveland]

Very nice! I kow that chrome and copper ... it's a near exact match to our GE fridge -- also a "Combination"! Just think how in the late 50s you could get all new appliances and they would all match! Happy washing!