Button Count
GE had a problem with their buttons - they couldn't "stack" any more than five on this backsplash. If you look back, the 1964 TOL washer was programmed (first edition of the linear control) and offered 5 programs. The buttons were arranged horizontally just like the timeline timer. But in 1965, and continuing with the 1966 models, the same backsplash/console offered 7 programs: again in a horizontal configuration. But in 1967, they abandoned the linear control and went to the console like Melvin's 1968's, and the buttons were once again stacked, and space limitations would only allow 5 buttons (i.e., 5 programs). In 1968, in order to offer 7 programs, the buttons had to be arranged horizontally, and we see the results with this pair.
It's been a while since I've seen a close-up of the 1966 controls, so I'm not certain of what the additional two programs were, and don't know how what they offered affected the type of clutch/controls, either. But it must have been interesting from a sales point of view when trying to sell these machines to lose two cycles (programs) in 1967 and trying to "sell" the customer on the idea that less is better.
lawrence