30's/40's GE Dishwasher/Dispos-all Combo (Custom)
- Thread starter frank1492
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Frank set me a few other pictures that were very cool:
2
3
dial close up.
It appears he took a pre-war GE top-loading dishwasher and converted it to a spray arm dishwasher...
It appears he took a pre-war GE top-loading dishwasher and converted it to a spray arm dishwasher...
dishwashercrazy
Well-known member
Now THAT's an interesting conversion...
Robert, you are correct. This would have been a pre-WWII semi-automatic dishwasher. At the time of the conversion from the impeller to spray arm, I'm guessing that the left and right control knobs were replaced with the timer unit.
On these pre-war machines, the left handle started the motor, and opened the water valve. Resistance on the motor was measured, and the water valve would cut off when the proper amount of water had been measured into the machine. The right handle controlled the drain valve. One needed to leave the drain open to allow hot water to fully enter the machine, then the drain was closed manually. The machine didn't have a soap dispenser, so after the water valve cut off, the operator moved the left handle to the 'off' position, then opened the lid and manually added detergent. Closed the lid and moved the left lever to the run position. After a sufficient time of washing, the drain was manually opened. When the water was gone, the drain valve was again closed, and the left lever was moved to the water fill position. The rest of the procedure was repeated for the two recommended rinses. The machine shown here is virtually the same as the 1937 machine that I have which came from Monticello, Wisconsin.
Mike
Robert, you are correct. This would have been a pre-WWII semi-automatic dishwasher. At the time of the conversion from the impeller to spray arm, I'm guessing that the left and right control knobs were replaced with the timer unit.
On these pre-war machines, the left handle started the motor, and opened the water valve. Resistance on the motor was measured, and the water valve would cut off when the proper amount of water had been measured into the machine. The right handle controlled the drain valve. One needed to leave the drain open to allow hot water to fully enter the machine, then the drain was closed manually. The machine didn't have a soap dispenser, so after the water valve cut off, the operator moved the left handle to the 'off' position, then opened the lid and manually added detergent. Closed the lid and moved the left lever to the run position. After a sufficient time of washing, the drain was manually opened. When the water was gone, the drain valve was again closed, and the left lever was moved to the water fill position. The rest of the procedure was repeated for the two recommended rinses. The machine shown here is virtually the same as the 1937 machine that I have which came from Monticello, Wisconsin.
Mike
Interesting indeed! Wonder how well the spray arm water flow works with the 'round' racks... I guess I'd be concerned about water reaching the top rack, but if it did with an impeller, the spray arm should do it, too, no??
lotsosudz
Well-known member
The funny thing about the replacement timer knob, was that it was taken off a 68-70 Kenmore dishwasher. My parents owned that kenmore. The knob was originally backlit, with an indicator light. It is funny to see it on such an old machine.
I guess the saying of everything old is new again, is true. Its cool that at least the original body and racks were saved.
Odd but cool re-do.
David
I guess the saying of everything old is new again, is true. Its cool that at least the original body and racks were saved.
Odd but cool re-do.
David
Nice
Wow, that machine is absolutely beautiful! The racks, sink and top (is it stainless or Monel Metal?) look factory new. I'm used to seeing them in white enamel, which obviously doesn't usually hold up over time as well as this. It looks to have been very well taken care of. That was an excellent idea to put new works in to keep it going.
I imagine this was a very expensive piece of equipment in its day. My dad's aunt and uncle's house, built in 1936, had cabinets and top very similar to yours, but no dishwasher (why, I don't know - they could easily afford it) though it had a big double sink. When we sold their house in 1991 after his death, the sinks and top looked almost new. They were Monel Metal by Whitehead Metal Products. I remember the sink drains were oversized, and their new disposer had to have a reducer ring like yours. I think only large commercial disposers use that large size opening now. Anyway, you have something very unique and highly prized.
Wow, that machine is absolutely beautiful! The racks, sink and top (is it stainless or Monel Metal?) look factory new. I'm used to seeing them in white enamel, which obviously doesn't usually hold up over time as well as this. It looks to have been very well taken care of. That was an excellent idea to put new works in to keep it going.
I imagine this was a very expensive piece of equipment in its day. My dad's aunt and uncle's house, built in 1936, had cabinets and top very similar to yours, but no dishwasher (why, I don't know - they could easily afford it) though it had a big double sink. When we sold their house in 1991 after his death, the sinks and top looked almost new. They were Monel Metal by Whitehead Metal Products. I remember the sink drains were oversized, and their new disposer had to have a reducer ring like yours. I think only large commercial disposers use that large size opening now. Anyway, you have something very unique and highly prized.
Thank You!
Thank you all for your kind words and help. I never dreamed anybody would care about this! Or that I would be able to track down all this information.
I can't say for sure what the top is made of, but my guess is it's just a high grade stainless steel. Elsewhere I believe I posted that the 6' metal cabinet with drawers and counter was manufactured by Art Metal Kitchen Equipment, div. of Art Metal Construction Co., Jamestown, NY.
I was pleased to get a date on the knob, in case I need to look for another "guts" some day. (Had forgotten the Kenmore date.) As I recall, Sears used a company called Design Manufacturing for many of its washer movements in those days- this is one of them.
A couple of the hoses I used were aircraft rubber tubing. Nothing has ever leaked though the timer went bad and had to be replaced. (Sears still had them.) Also I had to do some work on the motor assembly.
I am reminded that the impeller had one major advantage over the spray arm (although this new arrangement cleans the dishes *much* better than the impeller did.) It served as a drying fan.
Watching the antique road show has taught me that good antiques are ruined by retrofits. But whatever metal they used in the dish washer castings and dispos-all, there was no hope for these. As noted elsewhere, my father patched them with fiberglass many times until he finally gave up.
Thank you all for your kind words and help. I never dreamed anybody would care about this! Or that I would be able to track down all this information.
I can't say for sure what the top is made of, but my guess is it's just a high grade stainless steel. Elsewhere I believe I posted that the 6' metal cabinet with drawers and counter was manufactured by Art Metal Kitchen Equipment, div. of Art Metal Construction Co., Jamestown, NY.
I was pleased to get a date on the knob, in case I need to look for another "guts" some day. (Had forgotten the Kenmore date.) As I recall, Sears used a company called Design Manufacturing for many of its washer movements in those days- this is one of them.
A couple of the hoses I used were aircraft rubber tubing. Nothing has ever leaked though the timer went bad and had to be replaced. (Sears still had them.) Also I had to do some work on the motor assembly.
I am reminded that the impeller had one major advantage over the spray arm (although this new arrangement cleans the dishes *much* better than the impeller did.) It served as a drying fan.
Watching the antique road show has taught me that good antiques are ruined by retrofits. But whatever metal they used in the dish washer castings and dispos-all, there was no hope for these. As noted elsewhere, my father patched them with fiberglass many times until he finally gave up.
westyslantfront
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2004
- Messages
- 1,718
Hi Robert. Thank you for posting the pictures...they sure were fascinating.
Ross
Ross
Dishwasher!
This machine is absolutly awsome! I always like to see things done that are very out of the ordinary. Does it actually change the water 6 times? Do you have to add soap for the 2nd wash. What is that funel device in the middle? This is one very different thing I ever seen done.
Best Wishes,
Peter
This machine is absolutly awsome! I always like to see things done that are very out of the ordinary. Does it actually change the water 6 times? Do you have to add soap for the 2nd wash. What is that funel device in the middle? This is one very different thing I ever seen done.
Best Wishes,
Peter
Second Wash
I would say the water was changed 5-6 times, whatever the old Kenmore did. Never kept exact count. You can add soap manually somewhere in the middle, but I almost never do. This is *not* a "pot scrubber," believe me, but with a good manual pre-rinse, the results are generally awesome.
As noted, it seems the funnel in the middle acts as a deflector to get the water more evenly distributed across the top rack. Also you can put detergent around the lip, but I use the little basket which I put at the front.
The SS counter *does* look expensive. My grandfather had nothing but the best.
*QUESTION* The round SS flatware holder was moved to the lower left corner by me. I can't recall where it was originally. Anybody know?
I would say the water was changed 5-6 times, whatever the old Kenmore did. Never kept exact count. You can add soap manually somewhere in the middle, but I almost never do. This is *not* a "pot scrubber," believe me, but with a good manual pre-rinse, the results are generally awesome.
As noted, it seems the funnel in the middle acts as a deflector to get the water more evenly distributed across the top rack. Also you can put detergent around the lip, but I use the little basket which I put at the front.
The SS counter *does* look expensive. My grandfather had nothing but the best.
*QUESTION* The round SS flatware holder was moved to the lower left corner by me. I can't recall where it was originally. Anybody know?
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