Clean FF

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

Help Support :

Reply# 1

I’ve used 2 versions of this washer over the years. They were extra large capacity machines with no filter flo capabilities.

The first one looks to be in excellent shape for being over 30 years old.
 
Believe it or not even back then there were many people who only cared about price. Commercial settings were probably the biggest buyer of these machines such as schools, etc. With a single speed clutch, a cheaper pressure switch, no water temperature switch, less wiring, a 2 port pump, a couple less hoses, no filter pan or flow flume, and simpler timers these machines fit the budget.
 
Not just that...

I knew a lot of people who were told by repairmen that the fewer bells and whistles on any appliance meant the appliance would be more trouble free. I don't know if this is true anymore, but even me own Mommy used to say "No Buttons!" when she bought things like dishwashers. Killjoy.

 

I love buttons.

bajaespuma-2022091510543804383_1.jpg
 
Bare bones washers and dryers

The main reason these basic machines were made as they were used in advertising to get people into the store.

 

They could use these models in advertising and say extra capacity or even two speeds but it didn’t have the other features it most people wanted.

 

The silly lint filter on the Filter Flow washers was not a bad thing to leave out however the only widely used lint filter that was more useless than a Filter Flow‘s one was on the Maytag dependable care washers. Many Maytag owners stoped bothering cleaning the filter after there is very little lint there and an awful lot of Ge Filter Flow owners didn’t even bother putting the lint filter in the machine because it collected so little lint.

 

It did save cost to have two different pumps for the GE however the two port pump for the Filter Flow washer without the Filter Flow lint filter was the same pump that she used in their combination washer dryer‘s anyway so it did save money in manufacturing cost.

 

John L
 
 

 

Have seen a handful of these BOL GE/Hotpoint washers around.  Just as John said, it was only a few dollars more (literally) to get the next model up with 3 temp/3 water level selections and at least the pretense of a PP or delicate cycle on the dial. 

 

 Mom's first GE FF was a 3/3 low end and she went for even less features on the 2nd washer, an A110 Maytag in '81.   More features meant more "troubles" in the minds of thrifty buyers and that pragmatism was hard to overcome when they recall their long-gone wringer washer had nothing more than an on/off lever or switch and "never gave me a day's trouble."

 

And then we all get back in the Buick Park Avenue Limited and head home.  Lol
 
Getting People Into Stores

Yup!

I remember Kenmore used to do this across their line, in fact several models would the same timer, but a simple jumper to enable a cycle would raise the price of the machine by $50. The sales man would do anything and I mean anything to get you to consider a MOL machine, and then up-sell you to a TOL.

Personally I find the whole concept unfair. Both for charging people absorbent amounts of money over 0.01 cents worth of wire and restricting simple features to higher end models that often had other cycles and features that were rarely used.

The Whirlpool built Maytag Centennials came to their senses. They offered single speed motors and BOL cycles but with a DA (dual action agitator), fabric softer and white porcelain basket. In other lineups you had to go to a MOL to get a DA, and another step up to get a fabric dispenser.
 
@bajaespuma: Its a cruel no win compromise.

That single knob dishwashers is all anyone really needs. A filter and two wash arms is all anyone needs. A heated wash is all anyone really needs.

But, the market doesn't work that way.

You could either buy a simple BOL DW that would have some unwholesome combination of no water heating (BOL Maytags), short main wash, no filter, fewer water changes, no upper wash arm, ect, ect but would last 40 years at the cost of having your dishware coming out of the machine like it went in the machine

-OR-

You could get clean dishes through a filter, water heating, upper spray arm, normal wash times, versatile racks ect at the cost of reliability/dependability/longevity brought upon by rapid advance timers and its complex interlocking circuits to mimic cycles and sequences that no one actually needs.

I've never seen a single knob fixed timing Whirlpool Power Clean Filter Module DW before, and there is lays the heart of the problem I think.
 
It would be far cheaper if an appliance maker made <span style="text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;">one</span>, solid model that offered the important features. Basically a middle-upper model in one color.

And that was the ONLY one. Think of how much confusion and time would be saved making <span style="text-decoration: underline;">that</span> model year after year until it was clear they needed to make some changes.

But people need drama....
they apparently need to play social games...
And we're so PICKY. Oh my lord.

I know <span style="text-decoration: underline;">nothing</span> about this. LOL And I know NONE of the drama queens on this very website knows anything about this either.   nope.

...it's just the people out there, ...in the world, who don't know any better.  YEP thats what it is.

Those people, getting rid of their perfectly good 1974 kitchenAid dishwasher for $25 because they are "upgrading"

 

lol

bradfordwhite-2022091613360801959_1.png
 
The panels don't even match

Entry level pair. Estimated year of 1988

You also got a free bike with the purchase.

I remember other stores advertising these at about $189+/- each.

Try finding that now.

bradfordwhite-2022091622553807594_1.png
 
@bradfordwhite: I'm not bashing appliance diversity. Don't get me wrong here.

However, just consider how many gallons of water would have been saved if GSD-500s had the same filter as GSD-2800s. It wasn't until 2008 that a fine filter finally came about to BOL models without having to pay for all the extras.

I'm not saying people here aren't aware of that, but the average consumer often finds themselves having to go up several models for the items they know they need.

Speaking from personal experience: I remember shopping for a Power Clean module in the early 2000s and thinking why we couldn't get the power clean without the cycle delays, thermal holds, and pushbuttons like the filter-less BOLs.

Results should not come with added complexity.
 

Similar threads

goatfarmer
Westy gas dryer
Replies
1
Views
32
tomturbomatic
T
goatfarmer
Hotpoint DW
Replies
5
Views
40
Chetlaham
Chetlaham
goatfarmer
Speed Queen projects
Replies
1
Views
28
circlew
C
goatfarmer
Hotpoint WD
Replies
1
Views
23
repairguy
repairguy
goatfarmer
Early Hotpoint DW
Replies
5
Views
283
peteski50
peteski50

Latest posts

Back
Top