BOL GE Filter-Flo and Hotpoint machines from the 1970s and 1980s

[kenmoreguy64]

Well, some may be surprised by this, and as Martin/Yogi once very well described it, there was a recent disturbance in the force when I housed a GE FF washer in my garage for a few days at the end of summer this year.

I find myself being interested in a few other brands of machines - not enough to get all bent on collecting lots of them (thank goodness) but a good GE FF or a nice Maytag might be a fun diversion on occasion.

Well, it seems that a fellow member may have an early 80s true BOL Hotpoint one-dial wonder for me, which is VERY cool on several fronts, as I like BOL appliances and I have always been most interested in GE behind the WP Belt-drives. I feel a little-bit like a kid waiting for Santa about it.

I remember being fascinated by the $248 dollar special BOL GE that was advertised nearly weekly in a Denver newspaper from 1980 or so to 1983 when we moved. It was a one-dial wonder also, didn't have any toggles, but had plastic blanks in the toggle cut-outs. I think there were standard and larger capacity models. Single cycle, hot or warm wash, and nearly 360 degrees of timer arch for the normal cycle. Seems like some had a FF pan, others had no recirculation at all. I thought this machine was WAY cool. Kenmore had a couple models like this too, but seldom could I find them in the stores.

So, my question is this, to all the GE knowledgeables out there - can you tell me about the various BOL models over the years? Does anyone have literature on them? I know sometimes manufacturers left these models out of their brochures. I am simply anxious to learn about these.

I'm looking forward to whatever you guys can tell me! Maybe this will be a fun thread?

Gordon

 

[akronman]

BOL FF

These 2 pictures are from late 77 or early 78

 

[akronman]

last one

2nd page of catalog pictures

 

[mickeyd]

2nd page, 2nd control panel

the one with FIVE switches on the left. Have only ever seen 4. Does anyone know what the 5th button is for? Thanks.

 

[pulltostart]

BOL

Gordon,
Most of my exposure to GE literature has been the catalogs that GE/Hotpoint inserted in the Sweets catalogs over the years. I don't believe I've ever seen anything in print with less than 2 toggles; this goes for both GE and Hotpoint. I know the more-basic versions existed but apparently were not widely promoted. I suspect these models were available as contract goods, in lieu of to the general public. But this is just speculation on my part.

Lawrence

 

[ozzie908]

To those that know these machines???

How did the dryer vent if no outside exhaust was needed?
Is is a condenser dryer?

Austin

 

[peteski50]

BOL!

This is the real hotpoint BOL from the late 60s.

 

[yogitunes]

The "5" button machine was a Program version...matching wash/rinse temp to speed control for that particular load.....no guess work

Colorfast cottons
Non-Colorfast cottons
Permanent Press
Polyester Knits
Silks and Woolens

I prefer seperate wash and spin speeds, and seperate wash and rinse temps.....with controls like that.....there is no load that can't be done in a machine like this....you could turn a Gentle cycle on the timer into a short wash cycle for a quick load, at Normal speed, all with a few flip of the buttons....the variables are endless!....I think for the most part if you have only one vintage machine in your collection, it should be a MOL to TOL FilterFlo......very few machines out there give you this much control over every aspect of washing.....and add the Mini-
Basket option......versatile!........and this comming from a person who used to despise these machines!........once you see the guaranteed roll over from the ramped agitator, and the clear rinses......water hog or not.....you will be sold!

of course we are waitng for JammanJoe......tap, tap, tap......to get his new toy hooked up.......and then we'll have one more member converted!

 

[mickeyd]

Always wondered

Why later GE's didn't have fabric selections the way everyone else did, 1-18 etc. And so they did. Thank you, Martin.

 

And I know what you mean about the versatility of the 4 toggle temp&speed combos with the mini-quick button. You can deliberately create impossible cycles: cold wash, warm rinse, slow agitate, fast spin, extra rinse, basket water level, 18 minute wash on mini quick. Then what the heck kind of load would you put in it ?

 

Pete, that BOL Hotpoint is awesome, truly a machine after Gordon's heart, except, of course, for that irritating second speed. Damn.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

This is the most BOL machine I have....

Actually this and a close cousin.

This is a 1981 Kenmore 200 series washer. Not bad at all for almost BOL. There was a 100 series too that was truly B O L , as it had no adjustments for water level (22-gallon fill only!!!) and a white timer knob, the Perm cycle was inactive and marked as a giant OFF section, and no ebony insert on the left. I would go nuts to find one of those.

I also have a 1980 Kenmore 200 - same basic machine but the larger 25-gallon tub, again no water level, and no black insert on the left. Because both have the perm press cycle, they aren't quite true bottom of the line to me.

G

 

[mrb627]

Agitator?

Gordon,

Did the Kenmore above have a Straight Vane or Penta Vane agitator in it?

Malcolm

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Malcolm -

It's a Penta-Vane, as it is considered a large capacity machine and this is the lowest on the totem pole of the large cap. agitators.

In 1980 there was a 100-series standard capacity machine (single cycle, no frills) and it had the straight-vane agitator (but it was used in several other models as well).

I have found both of these agitators to be very effective. The standard straight vane is silly-splashy in lower water levels (put a smock on if you're going to watch the machine with the lid up) but the Penta-Vane with its shorter vanes and deeper tub is more sensible.

Interesting note: I just took a Penta-Vane machine out of service which has a manual filter, and put in service a straight-vane machine, with the identical pump and lint filter. Granted the straight-vane machine holds less laundry, but the filter takes five or six loads to fill, vs. two in the Penta. Odd...

Gordon

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Here's a pic for you Malcolm

1981-1986/7 Penta-Vane. 1980 and earlier were gold.

 

[macboy91si]

BOL One-Dial Wonders

We had the DD version of the washer in the late 90's, temp on the dial and a blank section to the right with huge "OFF" section. The pump leaked forever and since the machine was in the basement it never mattered as much. It went to storage when my parents moved some bit later and I later resurrected it and sold it to the local high school for the locker room. The machine worked great, but was pretty rusty and scuffed from the years of abuse and neglect. This is the machine, after working on it and seeing the abuse they can take that made me appreciate the DD machines.

 

-Tim

 

[MaytagA710]

Here is a 90s GE FF Brochure, showing the BOL machine at the bottom.

 

[MaytagA710]

More BOL goodness.

 

[MaytagA710]

Again...

 

[MaytagA710]

And why not some more!?

 

 

 

[MaytagA710]

Here is a control panel of a McClary that showed up on Kijiji not too long ago.