1962 GE Mobile Maid available

[bigalsf]

<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi,  i've offered this up before, but have had no takers.   </span>

 

<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I need to thin out my collection and have a really nice GE Mobile Maid that is free (shipping charges would be your responsibility).   I've attached pics of the machine.   It is water tight, and runs fine.  The fill valve is sticking and will need to be cleaned out (or replaced).  The hoses are original and are pretty stiff, but still hold water.  For daily driver use the hoses would have to be replaced.  There is also a small chip in the timer dial plastic (not huge, but is noticeable; see last pic).</span>

 

<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Please, please, please someone adopt this!  I won't let it go to the crusher, but I will have to donate it to someone locally if no one here wants it.  I would prefer it goes to someone who would really appreciate it.   I am willing to assist with shipping logistics.  </span>

 

 

 

[turquoisedude]

Paging my Nemesis in Connecticut...

 

[launderess]

Have same exact model already so am of no help.

In fact mine may be getting the push sooner or later as well.

It's good performer and all; but am getting fed up with having to shift things on and off lid in order to load. That and the machine is killing my dishes, mugs, coffee cups and glassware. Things are etched, scratched, chipped, odd grey streaks/marks.....

These are things one has had for decades and managed to survive the old Kenmore (Frigidaire built) 18" dw.

Finally broke down and bought some new everyday things from Ikea, but am reluctant to put them in MM dishwasher.

 

[bajaespuma]

Page received Archie!

I already have this model and I love it. I hope somebody else here will buy it because it deserves a good home. It's a little noisy but nowhere NEAR as noisy as the later models with the "clown shoe" spray arm. These were designed to work with old dishwasher detergent formulae with lye so the cycles are wonderfully quick. Does anybody manufacture those old detergents?

Still waiting for a pink Mobile Maid with rinse dispenser, cup racks and butcher-block top and, of course, the elusive SU-70 and Empress.

 

[launderess]

Does anybody manufacture those old detergents?

For commercial/industrial use yes, though most formulas by now have removed phosphates to meet local state requirements.

Closest you are going to get for domestic are things like Finish gel and other dw detergents that are based on chlorine bleach instead of using enzymes.

 

[bigalsf]

Bump

Thought I would give it one last shot. Anyone?

I forgot to mention that I have a slew of replacement parts for it (including a complete motor/pump assembly and timer) that I will include in the deal.

Hope to hear from an eager collector soon!

 

[hippiedoll]

Hi Alan!

Thank you for the heads up on your GE Mobile Maid dishwasher. You can't beat the price "FREE"!

I am surprised nobody has spoken for it? I do remember seeing this thread for your Mobile Maid but thinking I might be in over my head if I got it, since I'm not very mechanically gifted, when you mentioned that the hoses were stiff & were going to need to be replaced.

I see a square plastic compartment on the inside of the tub, where the timer knob is on the outside front. Is that for the rinsing aide?

Another question, if you know the answer, how much do you think it would be to get this Mobile Maid shipped?
Do you have any shippers you'd recommend?

I'll be looking for your reply.

Thank you again Alan.
)

 

[brainardcooper]

UShip

I have used UShip in the past. You put in a price you are willing to pay and the shippers bid on it. I have had success with that. I have paid $500 (ish) to have a washer and dryer shipped from California to SC.

 

[perc-o-prince]

I see a square plastic compartment on the inside of the tub,

That's for the detergent. Put it in and close the lid on it. When it's time, the compartment flips over and drops the detergent!

Chuck

 

[chachp]

AD..

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier; font-size: 12pt;">Christina,</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier; font-size: 12pt;">Lookie here, it's an ad for your dishwasher although I don't think I would put Christmas decorations in mine </span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Ralph ducks and runs!!</span>

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[ken]

[No message]

 

[hippiedoll]

Replies...

Brainardcooper:
Thank you for the Uship, referral, and for letting me know what you've paid for shipping a washer & dryer from California to South Carolina.
I'll look into Uship.

Perc-o-prince:
Thank you for letting me know that square compartment is the detergent dispenser.

Chachp:
Funny & cute.
Hmhmhm...

Ken:
Thanks for posting the picture of the ad.

 

[launderess]

I see a square plastic compartment on the inside of the tub,

Also for measuring out detergent for first/pre-wash.

Measure out detergent into cup, tip over to chuck contents into tub, then refill again for main wash.

One thing to remember, if for any reason after filling main cup you need to advance timer (such as missed cycle start point), you need to hold thing closed and tight to prevent it being tipped/emptied.

These GE Mobile Maid dishwashers are very simple mechanical devices. When timer reaches certain point in cycle, things will happen period.

 

[bigalsf]

Hi Christina,  sorry for my delay responding to your post.  

 

The hoses have stiffened up somewhat, but are still pliable enough to move in & out of the cabinet without issue.  Once they've warmed up from the hot water they soften.  It isn't too difficult to replace the hoses;  the front cover of the machine comes off and exposes everything at waist level.  You can study how it's installed and pretty much determine how to remove & replace.  There are a couple of service manuals on the Ephemera for the JC Penny version of this machine, and it has pretty detailed instructions/pictures showing how it's done.    I use the machine now & then just to make sure it doesn't seize up/dry out from non-use;  the hoses have never failed me or given me cause for concern.   

 

As Laundress said these are fairly simple mechanically.  Plus, I have a complete set of replacement parts for it which i'm including.  Any good mechanic or yourself could change most of the parts.   They are also noisy!!  (you definitely know they are working).  They have a a very strong wash action which can actually move the cabinet side to side slightly as they are washing!   The cycle is short however, so for heavily soiled loads you may need two detergent washes as Laundress described.  The timer can also be manually reset to repeat the main wash again (before wash water drains).  

 

As far as shipping goes I have used U-Ship as well with good results, but prices can vary.  However, before going that route I would check your classifieds for local shipping/moving companies. Since Salt Lake & Denver are relatively close there are bound to be companies that ship between the two on a daily basis.    I am doing the same here for you in Salt Lake & will let you know what I find.  

 

Let me know if you have any other questions.  You can email me as well:  [email protected]   

Hope you have a good holiday weekend! 

 

 

[launderess]

Changing hoses

No, isn't complicated at all once one has front cover removed.

Water inlet is easiest being located in front of machine. Discharge is slightly more difficult as connects directly to pump at a port underneath IIRC.

There are several ways to skin that cat. Have found easiest and best way of working on Mobile Maid is to lay down tons of towels or "wee wee" pads, then tip machine onto side. Absorbent material will catch water which will drain out of sump.

You can simply tip machine halfway on side propped up by something sturdy. But you'll need something or some way to catch water which will surely come out of pump when hose removed.

Of course if unit has seen water in ages and is dry inside, above advice is totally moot.

Saved the dual hose with snap connector before rubbishing Frigidaire (named Kenmore) 18" dishwasher. Was going to replace hoses on MM, but haven't been in a huge rush.

 

[hippiedoll]

Syntax error:

Hi Alan!

I tried to send you an email but it failed to send because of a syntax error? Something about the recipient address or something like that?
So I will post my message to you here.

 

[hippiedoll]

To Alan:

Hi Alan

Sorry I haven't been replying in the group or emailing you about the dishwasher.  It's been pretty hectic around here. 

I was thinking I was going to have to hold off on the Mobile Maid for now but...

There MIGHT be a solution. 

I just talked to one of my cousins in California and they may be going to Utah soon.  So let me get the details:
1.  Whether they will be driving or flying.
2.  If they are driving, if there will be room for the MobileMaid.
3.  If she would do me that favor and pick up the dishwasher & take it to California for me. 

So give me a few minutes to call her and find out if I have this worked out. 

Again, sorry for being missing-in-action. 

Thank you Alan. 

 

[hippiedoll]

I'm going to have to pass...

Thank you for the offer Alan, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen. I talked to my cousin and they will be going to a town on the southern end of Utah.

Thank you again Alan for the offer. But for now, I'm going to have to pass. Maybe in the future, if you still have it and my situation is different than what it is right now?
/

 

[reactor]

Beautiful machine!

That is one of General Electric's earliest spray/pump dishwashers. My aunt had a '62 GE built-in in that came installed by the home builder in her house in Florida. I visited her in '77 and the dishwasher was still going strong after fifteen years. A few years later she did have to replace it because of rust through of the tub, although it was still running perfectly at the time.

LAUNDRESS: My aunt never complained about etching or chipping, etc. And believe me, she is the type who would have. I can't vouch for any personal knowledge of the early GE spray DW, my parents was a 1973 model and by that time the spray openings were reduced to much smaller circular openings.

However, with the greater mass of water exiting the larger openings in your Mobile Maid, I can see where it would be more prudent to make sure dishes do not contact each other as the greater water mass increases the potential for them to move them around. Gray streaks often come from metal utensils touching plates in the presence of an alkaline detergent.

Older detergents of the fifties and sixties and even seventies were far worse at etching than today's enzymatic detergents. Modern detergents still do etch, however. With the shorter wash cycles of the vintage dishwasher you should be getting virtually zero etching. I would recommend you definitely cut down on the quantity of detergent, especially if your water is soft.

Etching is caused by detergents, not by dishwashers. BUT dishwashers can exacerbate it as etching increases with time and temperature. The short length of the cycle of your Mobile Maid is certainly not giving it the time component it needs to etch. If your water temp is not over 140 you are not giving it the temperature component. So that leaves the detergent itself causing the problem and/or the quantity you are using.

Contrary to many people's beliefs modern detergents work quite well in the shorter times of the vintage dishwasher. The enzymatic action of today's detergents do require time to make up for the lack of cleaning power in today's anemic machines that just "pee" on dishes instead of truly scrubbing them.

With the hurricane scrubbing action of your Mobile Maid you do not need the hour or more of wash time that today's machines need for the enzymes to do the work of what the dishwasher should be doing. Case in point, if you read my most recent post on my Maytag Reverse Rack, I found that it cleans every bit as well, if not slightly better, than my newer Maytag tall tub machine which as a VERY long wash cycle.

Using the same enzymatic detergent (I use Cascade Platinum or Finish Powerball Max-In-One) my 36 year old Maytag Reverse Rack scrubs dishes perfectly clean with only a 13 minute main wash, including baked-on grubby pans and casseroles. (and the way I cook, it gets plenty of them!) The main wash alone on my newer tall tub machine is well over an hour, with a total cycle time of almost two hours.

I would recommend you use a tablet or pod, and only one in the main wash. Try Cascade Platinum 16X or Finish Max-In-One. Both are sterling performers and work well in a variety of water chemistries. (I love both, I think the Finish might have a very slight edge in pots and pan scrubbing, but the Cascade seems to have a very slight edge in sheen, especially on the glasseware.)

I get no noticeable etching in the Maytag Reverse Rack because of the short wash, so you shouldn't get any either in your GE. Modern dishwashers with their outlandishly long wash times etch the beejeebers out of glassware, especially if you have soft water.

I am curious on your water parameters, Laundress. What is your water temp entering the machine, what is your hardness in grains per gallon and what detergent, and quantity, are using??