Am I crazy or did this machine exist

[monkeyward40]

does anybody remember a GE washing machine that had a lid within a lid? That after you put the clothes in the machine, you close the main lid, and then on top of that lid is another small lid where you put the soap softener and or bleach? i say it exists and my friends say it never did.

please help

 

[veg-o-matic]

Calling Austin!

Care to post pics of your Dispensall?

veg

 

[westytoploader]

Hi Monkeyward40, that was the GE Dispensall of the 1970's. It had a plastic lid with another lid where you added the detergent, bleach, and fabric softener. Below that was a "tank" that held all of the additives, and when the machine started for wash and rinse, the Filter-Flo stream was diverted in different directions corresponding with the holes in the tank, and then into the filter pan. Unfortunately this wasn't the best design, and all 3 Dispensalls I have seen (in pictures and in person, including mine) have had their tanks removed and were used as regular Filter-Flo washers.

Here's a picture of my machine, circa 1977, with the smaller lid open. It's in my workshop right now with the inner tub removed, waiting for me to sand and POR-15 the rust in the outer tub, and replace the top seal, transmission boot, and tranny (works fine but outer case is corroded BADLY). I hope to get it washing again soon as it is a fun machine and holds a huge load!!

--Austin

 

[toggleswitch]

Austin, thanks for the insight. If you have any more info, you have a dedicated audience in me.

Can't really read what goes in to each position
except liquid bleach (front left.) Care to enlighten.

BTW my 90's Flter-Flo has a tub that will not "lock" and it keeps banging during one direction of agitation stroke.

How do I fix this?

Also do these machines have a weakness? What do the usuually die of?

I also find it interesting that you feel a GE has a huge tub...most people bought a WP or KM when capacity was the issue..

TKS.

 

[bosch2460]

Here is my dream machine again. Austin, is the Mini-Quick option on your Dispesall? I guess its safe to assume u have tried it. I love that option, beings that sometimes I need just one shirt and dont have time to run a whole load. This completes in 15-20 minutes. My aunt has this exact machine when I was growing up....it ran at least once every single day for 28 years...including cloth diapers for 3 kids. The timer started being funky, so they replaced it like idiots. I've got a mid to late 80's Filter Flo with a Ramp Activator to play with....almost the same, but not quite as fun as those TOL 70's GE's with the Straight Vane Activator. Ramped agitators are more dramtic and make for great turnover,but I think straight vanes make more suds and create pretty good action, too. Take care, all.

Joel

 

[joe_in_philly]

Toggleswitch,

Growing up, my family had a Filter-Flo with a tub that did not lock. The repair person said we needed a new transmission to fix it. Well, the washer washed away for many more years w/o that fix. The only down side I saw was that turnover was slightly reduced with very large loads.

Joe

 

[appnut]

The capacity between my 1978 GE vs. the DD LK was like night & day. I actually went out and bought more towels for each sorted towel load so I could have a full load each time. LOL

 

[kenmore1978]

DD vs KM

so which held more?

 

[DADoES]

He has the DD LK now, so it replaced the GE, and he bought more towels to insure a full load ... so the DD LK holds more.

 

[jasonl]

GE Love

Those Toggle Switches make me wanna touch them and flick them all night long, but don't flick it while in action or it might get bad.

 

[frigilux]

Our house in town C wasn't ready, so we moved to town B for a summer. Our next door neighbors had a mid-60's (it was new) GE. I loved how, at the end of the fill, it would begin agitating slowly, then suddenly kick up to full speed. Having grown up with a neutral-draining KM, I was always fascinated by machines that spun the water out. And that fast GE agitation really kicked up the suds.

 

[aamassther]

Coincidentally, here's one listed on Ebay. The "dispense-all" even works!

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[Bearpeter]

Vertical toggle switch

Does anyone know what the vertical toggle switch is for to the left of the main timer? You cannt see it on the photo with the lid up but it is on the photo attached to "aamasthers" link.

Also, how did the mini basket work? was there only the holes at the top of the basket and when spinning that was how the wtaer was discharged?
Thanks!

 

[DADoES]

As I recall on Austin's machine, it appears to toggle(switch) the timer between Mini and non-Mini mode.

The main tub/basket filled to a low level. Filter-Flo recirculation filled the Mini-basket, and water spilled through the top holes to continue recirculating/filtering, and for spin.

Hey, maybe that toggle(switch) also turns off spray-rinses, if there was any concern over water usage. No way a spray could get into the Mini-basket.

 

[toggleswitch]

I'm not sure....

but I think I need a cigarette!