1958 General Electric Two Speed Filter Flo Washer

[pulltostart]

It arrived this afternoon via a Uship contact.  All I had time for this afternoon was to give it a surface wash-down.  It is surprisingly complete, I don't see any rust or holes in the wash basket, two (old) water hoses are present, what appears to be the original cord is there, only the drain hose has been cut - at the back panel.  It has an incorrect filter pan, don't know why, but the correct, original pan will not fit the top of the Activator.  I'll have to see what is the problem.  Should keep me busy for a while just making it look good.

 

lawrence

 

[eronie]

GE

The correct filter pan is metal usually copper color. Looks to be in nice shape good luck!

 

[cleanteamofny]

This is beyond gorgeous, and the lights on the control panel are lit up,
Congrats!

 

[eurekastar]

How excellent is that!

 

[pulltostart]

A few more pics, from the seller

Not sure why my pics (above) are so fuzzy.  On the phone and in my computer files they're much sharper.

 

These photos were sent by the seller.  First is the washer being loaded, the last 3 show the original (nasty) condition of the washer when it arrived.

 

lawrence

 

[sambootoo]

BEAUTIFUL!! Congratulations

 

[launderess]

Am no expert

But have seen those older GE filter flow washers before, and agree, that isn't proper filter pan. It's supposed to be copper, something like this...







Congrats on your new toy! Just in time for Christmas too!

Love when seller cooperate with U-ship carriers and go extra mile to make sure collection goes smooth.

 

[frigilux]

Very nice, Lawrence! Santa definitely had you on his “good” list this year.

 

[tolivac]

Remember one of these washers-in turquoise-in the Holloman AFB house quarter we lived in-Dad in the air Force at the time.Was like 10 yrs old.So remember that copper plated aluminum lint dish!and that washer did a great job.Sometimes we had a maid using it.Liked to sneak watches while it was going.

 

[bajaespuma]

I have been looking forward to this post.

At some point in this beautiful washer's life, likely after 1966 when your particular filter-pan was produced, somebody lost or broke the original copper-colored aluminum filter pan and a GE serviceman not only brought them a new plastic filter-pan, but also replace the original activator mount with a mount used only in 1960 to accommodate the new plastic filter pans. The irony there was that those new filter pans NEVER fit too well on that mount but the whole design was changed for the roll-out of the new perforated Filter-Flo's in 1961.

 

There are a few copper/aluminum filter pans still out there somewhere; the mounts are going to be harder to find. They came in 3 colors: grey, pink and turquoise.

 

These examples are from Unimatic's WA-955R:

 

[pulltostart]

Ken,

That's exactly what I figured must have happened.  The cap on the Activator is fine, but the resilient collar below the cap is wrong; the diameter is insufficient to support the correct pan - which I do possess.  The plastic filter pan must be pressed down on the Activator, it doesn't seat itself.  And it doesn't surprise me to hear you say that the part that is wrong will be difficult to find.

 

I wonder if that might be a part that Bud (in Atlanta) could reproduce?

 

lawrence

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations!

Beautiful machine. The original collar on the Activator wore down to where it did not hold the filter pan with enough tension to keep it level when water was pouring into it so the retrofit collar shows that the machine was kept in tip-top condition. That plastic filter pan was good in that it protected the top of the agitator shaft from the moisture of the filter stream far better than the  little screw on cap. 

 

[turquoisedude]

Wow!!

Lawrence, congratulations on this stellar find!!  I can't believe what great condition the filter-flo pan support is in!!

I think I have a plain aluminum filter pan (possibly from a 56) that would fit this. Assuming I remember to look for it...

 

[ea56]

My mom had a ‘59 GE FF and it had the copper filter pan with a turquoise cap on the agitator and the control buttons were also turquoise.  I used to play around with it while it was on washing a load and there was no safety shutoff when the lid was opened even when it was spinning.  Its a miracle that I didn’t get hurt.

 

Eddie

 

[pulltostart]

I do have the correct "copper" filter pan, but like I said the collar is not large enough to support this pan.

 

We had a similar 1959 model, like Eddie mentioned, when we live in Air Force housing.  Where this 1958 has pink accents, the 1959 models used turquoise.

 

lawrence

 

[rickr]

Wow! What a great, and rare find! Congrats!

 

[swestoyz]

Lawrence -

Your new '58 GE looks to be in wonderful shape! In fact, it still has the back panel in place. Amazing. The rubber for the Filter Flo outlet is also in really nice shape, even with the bit of discoloration.

It's no surprise the mount was upgraded at some point in your GE's life. Who knows - maybe the original pan flew off during a spin cycle, or the owner complained the original 6 lug mount was no longer holding the original style pan. Either way, it's the reality of what these washers went through. The copper pan will not push through on the late 59/60 mount, period, as you've experienced. It would be my hope that someday someone who has a minty example of the revised 12 lug mount is willing to let a mold be made from it, and someone is able to pop out copies. If that someone is me in the future, or Bud, or anyone of us, I do know there are many out there that would be thankful for a chance to use their solid tub Filter Flo washers with an original style filter pan, someday.

Keep us posted on the progress of getting this one up and going. Is the full model number 1WA850R1?

Ben

PNs for 1957-1960 Solid Tub filter mounts:

1957
6 lug grey - WH1X1261
12 lug grey - WH1X1479

1958
6 lug coral - WH1X1351
12 lug coral - WH1X1419

1959
6 lug turquoise - WH1X1182
12 lug turquoise - WH1X1451
Plastic filter mount - WH1X1516

1960
Plastic filter mount - WH1X1516

** 1955 would use a grey, and 1956 would use a turquoise mount[this post was last edited: 12/20/2020-23:51]

 

[pulltostart]

Ben,

Thanks for the information!  I was hoping that, should someone choose to reproduce these mounts, that there would be a sufficient demand to make it worthwhile.

 

I believe that is the correct model number.  I looked at it yesterday but did not write it down.

 

lawrence

 

[Unimatic1140]

Yay! Congratulations

Wow that is so super cool that you got the machine Lawrence, I can't wait to hear how it works! I have seen those filter mounts pop up on eBay several times over the years so do keep a look out.

Keep us posted, can't wait to hear about the first wash load in it!