1968 Programmed 4 Speed GE Filter Flo And Versatronic Dryer

[repairguy]

Thanks to Dan I was able to give this beautiful GE set a new home. The washer is the programmed 4 speed model and the dryer is a versatronic. If I deciphered correctly these are 1968 models with the dryer being built in January and the washer in May. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong. The washer works great with no leaks or signs of previous leaks. I believe it is the quietest filter flo I’ve ever owned. Both machines look to be all original and all 4 agitation speeds work correctly on the washer. I haven’t used the dryer as much but when I did I had excellent results with the automatic cycle. I really can’t believe I was able to get these. I will have to remember to get the obligatory night shots of these awesome panels lit up.

Washer model 1WA1250D2A
Serial HD117722

Dryer model 1DE1220D2A
Serial AD219801

 

[repairguy]

Some more pictures.

 

[appnut]

Melvin, thank you for the terrific pictures. Absolutely stunning presentation. In some ways, doesn't surprise me how thick the panels are. I'm assuming that's a timed release bleach dispenser. Did he mini basket come with it? Is their a fabric softner dispenser? Wow, to thing that could go all the way through a prewash through extra rinse. For that requirement, that owul have to be one helluva soiled load. Just wonder what the soak button actually causees the machine to do automatically.

 

[repairguy]

I thought I had a picture of the lid but I guess I forgot to add. Unfortunately it only came with the lint filter pan. I’m sure all of the accessories were near this machine when it was removed but were left behind simply because someone probably didn’t know what they were. Over the years I’ve collected all but the mini basket.

 

[appnut]

Melvin, thank you so much for the thoughtful, detailed close-up photos. I didn't know TOL GE models with the horizontal arrangement of the buttons ever existed until this sight. I would have wished they'd have continued that panel style as it had more flexibility and programming, i.e. Perm Press sturdy with hot wash. That got it to match LK cycles.

BTW Melvin, YOU ROCK!!!

 

[jons1077]

Beautiful find

Glad you got these! Honestly, had I seen that link for eBay, I’d have snagged them. They are a unicorn. I keep crossing my fingers for a Versatronic set. I’m always curious about the history behind such well-preserved machines such as these. All of my GE washer came to me as virtual train wrecks needs lots of rust repair. One of my clutch solenoids was dead on the three-speed machine. Thankfully Ben Swestka had some parts for it.

Heartfelt congratulations to you!

 

[DADoES]

 
Videos required of the four agitation speeds ... and some full cycles!  Thank you very much in advance. 

 

[jons1077]

Maybe a video like this?

I’ve never seen the gentle speed.

 

[peteski50]

GE

Melvin what a awsome set Best Of Luck with them
Peter

 

[combo52]

Wow, wonderful find Melvin

It looks like we both got avocado GE Versatronic appliances this year so far.

Those are an absolutely amazing condition obviously used but not very much, that was the best agitator GE ever put in the Filter Flow’s I think, I’m sure I have a mini basket for it if you.

Does anyone know when GE changed the pattern of the holes in the wash basket to minimize redepositing of lint during the spin cycle? I see this machine already has the better basket in 1968.

Now, if someone can just find the Versatronic Filter Flow washer that would be amazing, I still have a clutch for one.

John

 

[jons1077]

Mini basket

I have several so I might have one to fit this machine. Will check today.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations

John and I found the dryer in November, 2002. The board that ran the electronic dry control was bad after 33 years and I found one of the last ones in captivity to make it work as designed. It is a very good dryer. It dries as fast as the KitchenAid with equal sized loads, but does not hold the giant loads that the KA does. Balancing that, I don't have to hold on to the top of the machine to keep from falling in while fishing socks from the back of the drum like with the KA. Even though this dryer does not have a wrinkle guard, it manages to cool down a load of shirts so well that if it shuts off and the clothes sit in it for a while, they don't wrinkle.

 

[goatfarmer]

Beautiful set

 

[gansky1]

 

Just an incredible pair, such nice condition all around.  Congrats on the great find!

 

 

[repairguy]

Thanks everyone they were really fun to play with this weekend. I’ll take someone up on the offer of a mini basket. Email me how much you’d like for it and shipping costs and I’ll take care of it. Thanks for your generous offers.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

They look nice and I hope work eternally--like I said something peeking out of the box, that strip of chrome up along the top was the dead giveaway... Enjoy!

 

 

 

-- Dave

 

[mielerod69]

Straigh vane vs. ramp agitator

It would be great if anyone could shed some light on why GE used two different types of Agitators in their washers.
I personally am a fan of the ramp as it seems more gentle than the straight vane one.
Great looking machines.

 

[vacman1961]

Hi Melvin, OMG, these pictures brought back some childhood memories, we had the same exact model washer and dryer in our house from 1968, The washer was the only GE washer that I remember having individual lights around the timer dial that coordinated with the programmed selection buttons on the left. One thing I did notice, is the clutch, for some reason I remember the rotating part of the clutch to be more of a diamond shape with areas that were open that the shifter could fit into when the correct speed was pressed. nIt actually used the GE 3 speed clutch with an added sector on the control panel. Not many technicians knew had to service this clutch or the Versatronic clutch, so they were changed to the single speed or in some cases the 2 speed clutch, which looks like your machine might have? The 4 speed clutch was interesting the way it worked, since there was 2 shifters it worked like this, on the normal speed selection, neither shifter was activated and allowed the machine to agitate and spin fast, when the medium speed selection was selected the upper shifter would kick in to slower the inner clutch, when the delicate speed was selected the lower shifter would kick in and the upper shifter would disengage allowing the machine to select the delicate speed selection and finally on the gentle speed both shifters would engage causing the machine to go into the slowest speed. The 4 speed clutch was much quieter than the standard 2 speed clutch. If you get a chance can you post a better picture of the clutch maybe showing how the shifters poke into the clutch to change speeds. I have to look for the manual, I have one on how to repair the 3 and 4 speed clutches and also the Versatronic clutch. Good luck with this beautiful pair, I would love to have them, they were my favorites. Please post a picture of the light up dial with the orange indicators.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Was this the last model dryer with a pedal for opening the door?

 

[toploadloyalist]

Agitation Strokes per Minute

Which agitation speed was slower, Gentle or Delicate? And how many strokes per minute was each of those four speeds?

 

[angus]

That is a beautiful set and in incredible condition. Can you give us a history of where they came from, etc...? Always interesting to know the details behind the find, especially when you see units that are in such great shape. Anyway, I am a sucker for a lighted control panel...

Personally, I prefer the GE straight vane activators. The GE's I have had used the ramp style activator and I found that unless very carefully loaded, tended to go out of balance more frequently.

 

[combo52]

Three and four-speed GE Filter Flow washers

The three speed and four speed clutch was the same thing. The model said only gave you three speeds. They just didn’t use one of the available speeds.

Hi Charlie, great explanation of how the clutches worked. There were not many of these machines and GE didn’t continue the three speeds very long in the overall history of washers that is.

I think the strokes per minute of agitation varied from 80 to 60 to 50 to 40, the three speed models left out the 50 strokes, per minute speed.

John.

 

[pulltostart]

Re: Reply #18

Tom,

GE offered the magnetic catch (with pedal) for one more year.  They used the "16" badge through 1969, too.  The introduction of the large capacity, 31" wide dryers in 1970 killed the pedal (I'm guessing that the cabinet design eliminated the toe space).  These 1968's were also the last year for all of the nice front trim - the 'Custom' badge, the chrome trim at the toe space on the dryer, and the chrome trim and black panel on the faux toe space on the washer.

 

lawrence

 

[tomturbomatic]

Thank you, Lawrence. The foot pedal added elegance to the dryer by eliminating the need for that ugly, protruding door handle. Part of the reason I wanted my 1968 model and hope to be able to keep it is that it represents the culmination of features and design in the proud history of GE dryers and the next to the last year for so many of the features that made the TOL GE dryers distinctive.

 

[repairguy]

This set came from an elderly couples home where I’m told they were very meticulous in keeping their older home in good condition. He passed away and she was put into assisted living so I guess the house was probably liquidated and sold. The people that I bought them from either helped with a possible estate sale or bought them to flip.

The agitation speeds are in order from highest to lowest: normal, medium, delicate, gentle.

The lighted controls:

 

[jons1077]

Really beautiful

These were my favorite GE designs. Nostalgic for me but also they’re just very attractive.

 

[pulltostart]

Gobsmacked

These are just awesome.  Their styling is so well thought out.  If they're not in a design museum somewhere, they should be.  They represent the height of a design evolution that started in 1957.

 

lawrence

 

 

 

[DADoES]

 
Super spiffy!  A tiny glitch in the console design is that the water level control doesn't have a backlit lens.

 

[jons1077]

This is why…

A toddler in the early 1980’s would strip naked just run his grandmother’s ‘69 FilterFlo! Compared to our 80 series belt drive with the DA agitator, the GE was hands down a showstopper!

 

[repairguy]

Jon I’ve always thought the set you have is beautiful and they inspired me to want a set like them. I’ve looked for a set like these for many years before I was finally able to get this set. I’ve always liked the filter flo machines but they have been hard to find in this area for the last 20 years.