69' GE Filter Flo pics, videos, and updates

[jons1077]

swestoys

if you ever do away with your old 3-speed clutch, I'd love to get that from you. I'm hoping I can rebuild one because I'd love to have that medium speed. It does seem like this machine is quieter than my grandmothers was. I remember hers having a bit more "grind" to it so maybe that's a trait of those 3-speed machines?

 

[nasadowsk]

Ya know, that 'slow' looks a LOT faster than my parent's machine ever was. Until the clutch hung up on it, and it wouldn't do low.

Ok, let's see some mechanism shots - I'm curious as to how GE does slow on these machines - if it's a 3 speed clutch or a two speed and two speed motor....

And if that's a 3 speed clutch, we gotta see some dissasembled pics

 

[70series]

That slow speed looks pretty aggressive. How many OPMs a minute is that?

The videos were great. Thank you for sharing them with us. I haven't seen a Filter Flo in action in 15 years.

Have a good one,
James

 

[jons1077]

Now that I'm thinking about it...

I have a hard time remembering what speed was what. I was kind of thinking the machine was agitating a bit faster than "slow" but it has been so long since I've seen one. I bet you that was medium. I noticed also that this machine started directly on "normal" agitation instead of starting on "gentle" and shifting up once the tub stopped indexing. I bet the clutch is not shifting to "slow" for some reason. That could be good news since that may be fixable and I would be able to have all 3 speeds.

Nasadowsk,

I wish I would have thought to take some pics inside. It was a rather hectic day. I did take the back panel off and opened up the lid. Inside the cabinet was remarkably clean other than cobwebs and dead bugs. I don't believe either machine was ever serviced. Everything looked original. What I can tell you is that it's a 1-speed motor and directly attached to the motor are the pump and the 3-speed clutch. (That way, at any speed, the filter-flo is recirculating the same.) The belt is attached to the clutch and across to the transmission. So that must mean that all of the washers had the same transmission. THANK GOODNESS! This one may need one.

Hope you guys find this information interesting.

 

[pdub]

Jon-

It was a fun experience helping you and Tony get the machines down into your basement. I was as happy as you to see both machines fire up and run without major problems without really knowing their condition or how long they had sat prior to their sale.

I look forward to more in the future. It is a pleasure to know you guys.

Patrick

 

[jons1077]

Patrick

It was fun to see it wasn't it? I'm glad you had a good time and we sure did too. It'll be fun living there full-time and having you come over on a Saturday with your loads of clothes. You'll enjoy washing in a Westinghouse TL and a classic Filter-Flo! I told you you'd like that GE didn't I? hehe

Jon

 

[pdub]

Jon-

Now you've got me wanting a Filter-Flo. Look what you've done!

Patrick

 

[funguy10]

Wow. The machine operates a lot like Hoover3060's vintage 1975 Hotpoint Top Loader. If he were still with us he would say the same thing. Unfortunatly, all we have to remember him by is his completely blank profile page.

 

[jons1077]

Patrick

You should get one one to put in your laundry room and use. Think of how much dog hair you'd be filtering out of your clothes! Not to mention all of those cool sounds you'd hear in your house while it's washing... Definetly my favorite machines!

 

[funguy10]

If you want a washing machine that makes cool sounds you should hear our Kenmore Elite Oasis.

 

[vintagesearch]

omg finally i see a video that really takes me back thanks for uploading enjoy!

 

[jons1077]

hehe

It's even better in person! I never thought I'd be standing in front of that machine again so I'm very happy to have taken the videos of it. Thanks for the compliments! Enjoy!

Jon

 

[southernmdgeguy]

Mini wash in time for DC area

Jon,
Thanks for sharing those, they do bring back memories and I am still looking for a set like I grew up with as well, I remember the folk got ours late summer of 67, they looked very simular to those, but ours were white. Washer lasted until the early 80's and the dryer got a new motor and was still working away when they sold the house in 98.

Scott

 

[smokey2367]

Does anyone know if GE made any sud-saver machines in the 60's & 70's?

Doug

 

[bajaespuma]

Yes, GE made suds-saver models until at least the mid 60's. Another vintage feature that was killed off by Consumer's Union in the late sixties.

 

[jons1077]

hmm...

Would be interesting to see one of those at work. BTW, we got a new camcorder so hopefully in the next few weeks I'll have full-length videos of the machines at work. Thanks again for all of the support from everyone here. This really is fun!

Jon

 

[gelaundry4ever]

Shame!

It's a shame that GE had abandoned their filter-flo design. I remember I would sit by the machine, especially when running on normal speed. I remember it would always start on gentle and then shift to normal. Seconds later the tub would stop indexing after it shifted to normal.
Boy, I wish I had it back!

 

[gelaundry4ever]

one more thing...

It was a '93 model. The matching dryer would sit across from it. I miss it too.