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.

 

[macboy91si]

BOL

Apparently these machines are so BOL they don't show up in the brochures.

 

-Tim

 

[kenmoreguy64]

That McClary is pretty much the BOL machine I'm talking about, but as a matter of good measure, McClary had the sense to add a water level adjustment. The BOLs of GE and Hotpoint that I've seen don't even have that.

 

[pulltostart]

Tim,

Your comment is consistent with my earlier post.  These catalog sheets that are shown are taken from GE's Sweets inserts.  They never did publicize a washer more basic that the models with 2 cycles, 3 temperature combinations and 3 water levels.

 

The only current day BOL I'm aware of is the Roper washer with the "stainless steel" control panel and a black timer knob.  Turn it on, it works, then it shuts off.  End of story.

 

Lawrence

 

[pulltostart]

Gordon - would this meet your requirements for 'BOL'?

 

Atlanta CL.

 

Lawrence

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/app/2701769241.html

 

[pulsator]

I absolutely ADORE BOL washing machines! I would love a front load washer with 2 buttons: warm and hot!

I remember pining away over those Galaxy machines at Sears when I was younger. I almost bought one too, I decided on a portable World Washer instead. Still regret that choice to this day!

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Hey there Lawrence, YES, that is about as BOL as you can get.

These low-end machines typically all had the straight vane agitator, which was ordinarily white. For several model years, some really BOL models had special agitators molded in a medium gray (possibly to use up scrap regrind plastic which can become a bit discolored, so it gets tinted gray to make it uniform). Many of those models that had the gray agitators also got special blue porcelain baskets, which were a step down from the speckled baskets, and were very much like the old blue baskets that Kenmore used in the 1960s.

They sold A LOT of these basic machines with the brown panels...

Gordon

 

[peteski50]

Hotpoint!

This is the BOL 1955 Hotpoint we had - my parents got this just after I was born and it lasted until 1961. As basic as they come with black goose neck adjator.
Peter

 

[combo52]

BOL WASHERS

GE, WP, KM, HP and even MT made BOL machines mainly for getting customers into the store with the hope of stepping them up to something more expensive. These machines were often called NAIL DOWN models because the salesman was to think about them as if they were nailed to the sales floor. In some cases if a salesman actually sold one of these models he LOST commission from other sales and needless to say earned nothing on the sale of the BOL model.

 

The machine that has Gordon excited is a 1984 HP super capacity one dial washer that only gives the choice of hot or warm wash with only cold rinses all at full water level [ 25 gallons per fill ]. There is no lint filter so I guess we can't even call it a Filter Flow washer LOL. In any case the washer is in great shape and it will make its way to Gordon's collection at some point soon.

 

[MaytagA710]

Here is a picture I took from Kijiji, BOL Kenmore set that is like the Galaxy or Capri models, white plastic top.

 

[bajaespuma]

How BOL will you go?

We had family friends who were quite well-off, but they ALWAYS bought BOL GE appliances because Warren, the Father , of course, felt that spending any more money on a home appliance was idiotic to the point of being criminal. The wife chose her battles wisely; she didn't care about the white goods and spent a fortune on lots of other more fashionable stuff.

 

Even at that age I remember being fascinated by their albino Filter-Flo's that had almost all of the same warts and wrinkles as our own, but were monochromatic and missing things like backsplash pedestals, panel lights and the gadgets. Still, as long as that pretty blue filter pan was found on top of that shiny black bakelite Activator, I was a happy customer (from some of the brochures and manuals I've been able to find, it turns out that we owned a later version of this same model; later in 1960 somebody decided to declare that year their "Golden Anniversary Year". This and a couple of other models from this line, including Gansky's gorgeous silver WA-855T were redesigned to sport some gold in the control panels. This BOL also got a lift from a couple of pedestals. GE had a habit of continually changing model specs throughout the model year and sometimes had 7 or 8 versions of the same model. I loved this machine):

 

[circlew]

I remember seeing very basic models of washers and dryers at the GE dealer a few blocks from my house. This hardware store (Snyder's) had everything from these BOL to the Americana TOL models on display, and at one time was one of the largest GE dealers in southwest Ohio. The most BOL set I recall seeing was the same as a coin-op model without the coin box.

In the early-mid 70's, I sent to GE for their full line appliance catalog. What they sent was the same as what was in the Sweet's catalog set, and did not have these lower models, nor coin-op. The GE dealer had a much larger catalog at their desk, which included coin-op machines and I think these most basic models were in that section. One of my neighbors had a BOL GE dryer that said "Commercial Dryer" on the control panel, but it wasn't a coin-op.