Calling all GE mini-basket owners - Info needed please

[ken]

Greetings,

Need some info from those who have a GE mini-basket. Please give the height, without the lint pan in place, and state if its for a standard or large capacity machine. Im guessing the diameter would be the same on either? If not please give that also. Trying to determine the correct size basket for my 1978 "extra large capacity" FF.

Have found one for sale and the seller states its 10 1/4" tall. Would like to know if this is the small or large basket. Its the style with the edge on the top the lint pan sits on.

Thanks, Ken

 

[bajaespuma]

Ken, the one in your picture<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> looks </span>like the correct basket to use with your machine, I'm only judging the size by the distance between the inner rib to the row of spin-holes.

 

The large basket on the right in my picture below, which is the correct one to use for your machine, is exactly 11 1/2"; the smaller one is 9 7/8". Both baskets have identical filter pan openings.

 

If I may ask, how much does the seller want for that basket?

 

[tomturbomatic]

There were some large green mini-baskets that had straight walls and the large filter pan sat inside the opening, but those were much older, from when the dishwashers had green interiors.

 

[ken]

Ken,
Heres the other pic from the sellers ad. This one may give a better judge of the height. Looks more like the shorter one in the pic you posted. Maybe her measurement was off a little?

The seller has a price of $25.00 for all three pieces which I realize is very reasonable. But the shipping will probably be as much and Im thinking not really worth it if its not the correct one for my machine. I do need the lint pan too but thats available from easyapplianceparts for less than $11.00. I realize Id also be getting the fabric softner dispenser but Im not a big fan of fabric softner and dont think Id use it very often. [this post was last edited: 12/13/2013-10:36]

 

[bajaespuma]

An offer you CAN refuse

It's very hard to tell correct size from photographs (am I right, Toggles?).

 

I'll make a deal with you. Go ahead and buy your seller's mini-basket; that's a very good price.

 

If it fits, great, you're all set. If it turns out to be for the Standard capacity machines, I'll trade you the correct one out of my collection for it in exchange. The filter pan and the softener dispenser will fit the one you'd get from me.

 

[ken]

Ken,

Thanks. Sounds good. Will let you know how I make out with it. As I understand it the smaller ones are hard to come by today.

 

[tomturbomatic]

the smaller ones are hard to come by today

It's just that no one will admit to having one. Oh, wait...

 

[ken]

LOL. Does this thread now need to be moved to a different forum?

BTW...The seller of the pieces told me she has had them advertised online for two years and I was the first person to contact her. [this post was last edited: 12/13/2013-11:48]

 

[tomturbomatic]

I guess that proves what a vital piece of equipment this is to the average owner of a GE washer. We did not use ours much. I remember doing mom's nylons in it a few times. Ours was the first MB and was sorta small. I found that it could be used for delicates while washing a small load on the 1-6 lbs water level, almost like the Hotpoint duo load thing. It worked well for that since you had to use Normal agitation and spin speeds with the mini basket. Every time I see a "Normal" speed setting, I think what it would be like to have the other setting be "Abnormal." Speed Queen was the most inventive with "Brisk" agitation.

 

[ken]

When did GE produce the last FF/mini-basket machines?

 

[yogitunes]

I think 1995-97 was the last era of the Filter-Flos with a Mini-Basket option...SpotScrubbers were still available as well....

also, if there was no mini-basket feature, you got a Rim-Flo design as well...

wether you use softner or not, I would keep the dispenser just the same to have a complete setup to your machine...

 

[ken]

Martin,

You're right. Nice to have a complete set of accessories even if seldom used.

 

[bajaespuma]

The first Mini-Basket was actually called a "Daily Dipper" and was offered as an accessory to GE Wringer Washers in the early Fifties. I do not know whether the daily dipper could have worked on early GE Automatics. When I finally get one, I'll try it out.

 

The first real Mini-Basket was offered on the two TOL Filter-Flo's in 1962. They were offered until the mid-Nineties, when the overall Filter-Flo design was scrapped for the new improved generic Mexican top-loaders. I don't think the Mini-basket was ever the big star that GE hoped it would be for reasons already stated. I knew several housewives who used it as a salad spinner more than they ever used it for laundry. Like most gimmicks it appeals to us geeks, but most women have no problem hand washing a couple of items in a bathroom sink.

 

[ken]

Neat ad and machine. What is that device on the front panel?

 

[yogitunes]

Ken...that would be the automatic bleach storage and dispenser.....I have never seen the whole inside unit....but it held something like 1/2 gallon or more of bleach, and you slid the lever for how much you wanted dispensed per load....

the minibasket was a gimmick of sorts, and as mentioned for geeks like us, I find it more useful now than ever before.....a real kicker to me was when they combined it with the Mini-Quick cycle...a small load done in 15 minutes....there were times it just came in handy...

and if there ever was a time for 'Objects in mirror are smaller than they appear'.......just sayin'[this post was last edited: 12/13/2013-17:25]

 

[ken]

Ken,

Spoke with seller last night and had her measure the distance from the top of the indentation at the bottom of the basket to the spin hole. The distance is approximately 3 5/8". How does this compare with yours?

Also Im curious as to whether or not the smaller basket could be used in the large capacity machine? What would you have if you did that? Would there just be a gap between the bottom of the lint pan and the basket because the basket was too short?

As I stated before I'm surprised on how small the tub seems considering it's an "extra large capacity" machine. The tub measures 16 1/2" deep.

 

[yogitunes]

the small capacity tub will fit, but it will be wobbly because it is not touching the bottom of the agitator for support....

don't let that tub size fool you...it can handle a good size load with ease...in it's day, these were some of the largest tubs available....most all were around 18lbs....with a few exceptions like Norge with 20...