Canadian General Electric score! A dream set found in Québec

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

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turquoisedude

turquoisedude

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The pandemic has put something of a damper on my collecting activities - yes, I've found machines but because of the border closure I haven't been able to get them.  Although I have been shipping and storing some at a good friend's place in Northern Ohio, I have had to pass on a good number of them. 

Well, last week fate took pity on me and dropped these into my lap.... 

(actual picture from the Québec City Marketplace listing)

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Within a couple of hours of seeing this ad (and, in fact, it was PhilR who alerted me to them) I had made arrangements to pick them up this past Sunday, August 29th. 

I called in a favour with a friend with a truck and off we went!  We got both machines and an added bonus vintage Admiral electric range safely back to Ogden.  

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I had just about given up hope of ever finding a 1964 GE washer and dryer set - my parents had a 64 pair, much lower-end than these, but I don't have words to express how happy I was to find these!

Here's some pictures of the washer, 'money shot' included!

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The seller had been clear that the washer needed work; it apparently would not stop filling and would flood the room.   I had my suspicions as to what might be wrong (and most often my first diagnosis is wrong...LOL) but this time I was right! 

My first thought was the water level switch was at fault; second thought was the water valve itself. 

 

In the 'post-delivery inspection' I was almost ready to conclude the water valve was the problem, but despite the scale build-up, this was pretty obviously not the original GE valve. 

I opened the control panel and my first diagnosis was confirmed...  The hose from the pressure switch to the tub had been chewed through.  Once again, mice have plotted against me.  Little buggers...   One of  'em even had the gaul to die in the control panel!

 

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I cheated the pressure switch and started the washer up...  It kicked into activate mode immediately!  It was like going back in time hearing the motor start up and the clutch spin up to regular-speed activation.   I didn't get any video of that, but here's what the motor and transmission sounded like in spin.  

 



 

The washer is in amazing condition.  It had been a kitchen installation, but I suspect the house where they were rescued from had sat empty for many, many years.  All hoses seem soft, I managed to run a hand around the transmission boot and it seems good, too.  Wiring is all good too!  I will have to replace the fluorescent tube, though.

 

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Next steps....

I'll be back down to the house in Ogden later this week and I'll be doing some more testing on the washer, hopefully repair the eaten pressure hose, and perhaps even get a water test in!  

I intend to take the dryer apart for a good de-linting and I'd like to get a relay in place to take the heat off the motor start switch.  

 

Now... the nomenclature of these machines is a bit different.  All-Canadian models with unique numbering!

 

The washer model is:  78 W51 1219 11.  Serial number is WY O2063

 

The dryer model is:  78 D51 1219 11.  Serial number is YY 12448

 

Based on what I have gleaned from the dryer booklet, I am thinking the washer is the Canadian equivalent of a WA850, the dryer a DA850.   Canadian-built model numbers do not contain a date code, however based on what I have learned about the ranges and refrigerators built here, that second letter in the serial number ('Y' in this case) is probably the date code.  Hence why I believe these to be 1964 models.  I'll be doing more digging, but probably after I get the washer water-tested the dryer cleaned up!

 
 
Very cool find Paul!!!! I found it interesting that the washer had the plain white filter pan, the exact same pan that came in my '62 GE. '61 was light blue, '60 was turquoise, they must have used white from '62 to at least '64.
 
Congratulations Paul! Those machines that were originally equipped with fluorescent lighting always perform better when the lights are working. Looks like these will be in operation very soon. Enjoy!
 
I’m so happy you got them!

Not that I didn’t want them for myself but I knew you had to have this set! If for any reason you ever get tired of them, I can manage to get them out of your sight quickly! :-)
 
Beautiful set, Paul!  Other than the infestation, they look to be in great condition.

 

That is indeed the 850 (equiv) set, I have the 950 Clothes Conditioning dryer, still watching for the matching washer/panel.

The Clothes Conditioning dryer is a pretty cool system, it uses a thermo-bulb ambient room temperature sensor to adjust the cutoff temperature in the Auto dry cycle.  Mine worked perfectly when I found it so yours will likely as well.  When removing the front panel of the dryer, just be aware that it's mounted on the right side front so you don't inadvertently damage it :-) 

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