Keith, I guess you probably read about very early GE or Frigidaire automatic washers from the 1940s.
The 1963 GE is a regular perforated basket washers. In the 1950s, GE also had solid tub Filter Flo washers that had one small drain hole at the bottom of the inner tub (or does one hole make it a perforated tub?). There was some water going through this hole while the washer was agitating, enough to make it to the recirculation pump.