GE Activator's through the years...

[machinehead]

Hi all--

After seeing so many fantastic pictures and video's of GE FF's, i have a question for the experts: what year and or model GE was it that used a black-based Activator with that turquoise colored cap top? I think this was a ramp-type, but i'm not sure. I ask because this is one of the first GE's my Gram had that i'd watch, but have no idea what year it was! Anybody gotta picture set or breakdown of some kind what year GE did to their Activators?

 

[jons1077]

hmm...

Someone...I think Bajespuma did a timeline of GE activators with pictures of each of them. I'm looking for it, but I can't remember where I saw it. I'll keep trying.

Jon

 

[bajaespuma]

Time line

It may need some updating soon,as I'm always finding GE transitional models, but here it is (please note that the 1960 series should read "T", not "U"):

 

[spinout]

activators

Nice pictorial, Baja. I just want to add that the 1957 P series appears to be identical to that you illustrated for 1958, pink cap and all. I am absolutely sure of this as we once owned the '57 set. Ours came with the copper lint pan.

 

[fa_f3_20]

Did those V/W/X/A series agi's leave any room in the tub for clothes???

 

[jons1077]

I can say...

that the V-16 straight vain does quite well with any size load. I did a really full load in the GE with the 3 large straight vanes and the turnover and cleaning was excellent. Plenty of room!

 

[brettsomers]

can anyone explain why GE flip-flopped on the str8/ramp design? did GE advertise benefits of either one?

 

[bajaespuma]

The 1957 "P" series was identical except that the bottom part of the activator, right below the pink screw-off cap was grey-ish.
The images got squished when I translated them from Freehand to JPEG; that black V,W,X,Y activator was squat to begin with in the drawing, so sorry.
GE switched back to the spiral ramp design when Whirlpool/Sears came out with their ratcheting cork-screw design and made a big deal out of rollover. GE must have realized that it had a good thing and reinvented the wheel for nothing.