GE Filter Flo

[mixergal]

Hi there! This is my first post, although I have enjoyed visiting this website for quite a while now. Although I don't collect washing mashines or other large appliances, I do collect stand mixers and am a member of the Yahoo group WACEM.

As a collector, I know how hard it can be to get specific parts for one machine or another. I recently had my old (I'm guessing it to be 1980's, but I really don't know the age) GE washer give up the ghost. It started spewing water from underneath - probably a failed waste pump. The machine is (was) one of the GE models with the "filter flo" and "mini basket". As I am only the second owner of the machine, it still has both the mini basket and the filter flo filter. Again, as a collector myself I realize these items may become separated from a unit over time, so it occured to me that there might be someone in this community who would be interested in these parts. Neither my husband or I are very mechanically inclined, but I am an artist, so I am pretty good with my hands and familiar with a variety of tools - so if there were other parts someone was interested in, I might be able to harvest those too - if the disassembly wasn't too complicated.

I don't know what protocol is here on this message board for this sort of thing, so I may just put the parts up on eBay to make it easy for anyone to see and bid on if they wish. However, before I do so I am wondering if it would be worth my time. I'm not looking to make a fortune off of them - I would need postage, of course, but mostly I would like these parts to get into the hands of somebody who could use them and would appreciate them like I do. I always thought the filter flo basket was a cool idea, and it worked great! The mini-basket was useful for lingerie - I never had snagged nylons using the basket - I'm really going to miss it. This washer was in the house when hubby and I bought it, and I have always loved it.

My mother moved to Texas recently and she left me with her "nearly new" (less than 5 years old) washer and dryer. My hubby and I have already moved the new washer in, so the old washer definately has to go out (sadly). I suppose I could try to fix the GE, but my hubby has been very patient with mixers and their accessories everywhere - I don't think I could talk him in to multiple washers

Sorry such a long post for my first one - thanks for reading it!

So, would anyone be interested in these parts?

Thanks,

-Sherri

 

[volvoguy87]

Easy.

Welcome, and you may want to rethink a few things.

Your problem, if it's a small leak, could be the drain pump, but if it is a gusher is likely a slipped $2.00 hose clamp around the rubber boot at the bottom of the outer tub. It's not hard to fix. If you choose not to fix it, thanks for listing the whole machine or parts. The model number tag may be on the front bottom corner of the left side of the washer.

What mixers do you favor? I tend to prefer my grandmother's Hamilton Beach model G, although my other grandmother's 1963 Dormeyer (spelling?) has its nice features.

Welcome to AW.org,
Dave

 

[turquoisedude]

Welcome!

Someone will surely take you up on the GE parts, Sherri! GE Filter-Flo machines are quite popular around here!
Just an aside, I am a mixer collector nutbar too - email me if you ever need any bowls or beaters 'cuz I am WAY overstocked and it's trying my hubby's patience! Well, that and the last two washers I picked up.. lol

 

[goatfarmer]

Where ya at in Michigan?

 

[mixergal]

Up for grabs

The GE is really up for grabs - although thanks for the tip! Although I love it, it also didn't have a large enough capacity for my needs. (i.e I'm tired of going to the laundromat to wash my comforter lol!). My husband wants to give it to someone for scrap, but that just breaks my heart. I had 8 good years with the old gal, and who knows how many before that the previous owner had. It would be wonderful if somebody could get some use out of her some way. Oh, and yes Dave, the leak is a gusher. My hubby and I couldn't figure out where the water was coming from - until we were in the basement the other day as I started a load of clothes. What a mess!

I just used my "new" Frigidare and zowee! I think I'm in love all over again! Hopefully it will have the longevity that the old GE had. I used to work at Best Buy and was friends with the guy who sold my mom the washer - he wouldn't sell my mom a dud on purpose, so I trust that it will be a good machine.

I can see why the filter-flo is so popular - it's a very cool feature and it's nice to have a lint basket that's so easy to clean

What mixers do I favor - that's tough. Sort of like asking which is my favorite kid. My collection has grown rather organically - as I find mixers I pick them up if they're in decent shape, fairly complete, or I think I can fix them (I love to tinker). Out of the bunch (I think I'm up to 24) my favorite would have to be my Sunbeam model 12. It's turquoise with matching turquoise bowls. My hubby bought it for me when he was in the army and home on leave, so it has great memories (besides - it looks like a rocket and matches my mostly vintage kitchen). Second to that (but only slightly) is a chrome Sunbeam Vista. When I bought it the beater-release plate was missing. A good friend and fellow mixer collector tore apart one of his "parts machines" and sent me the whole ejection assembly free of charge. This dear friend recently succombed to brain cancer, and I am homored to have that mixer in my collection.

Dormeyers are great mixers, Dave. We (the group of mixer collectors I belong to) don't know much about them as a group, but as a rule they seem to be universally over-engineered and hard to kill. HB's are cool - what model is your grandmother's?

I'll have to check tomorrow on the model # of my GE - thanks for letting me know where to find it.

Oh, and turquoisedude, based on your handle it sounds like we will get along great - I'm a nut for vintage turquoise colored appliances et al. Thanks for the offer of bowls and beaters - I'll keep you in mind for sure!

And I'm in Bay City, goatfarmer. If you're not from Michigan that's about 2 hours due north on I-75 from Detroit.

Thanks for the warm welcomes everybody - this seems like a great group, and I am glad to be among your number.

-Sherri

 

[mixergal]

One other problem with the GE

I almost forgot - it did have some symptoms of impending trouble over the past few months - I noticed that it wouldn't always drain all of the water out. Sometimes there would be standing water in the bottom of the tub, but more typically the clothes in the tub would still be soaked after it had completed the spin cycle. I would set the washer to spin a second time and it would do okay. I forgot all about that until just now. It didn't do this all the time - just sometimes. There was once or twice that there was still soap residue on the clothes and I had to run it through the rinse cycle again. That's why I thought it was probably the pump when it started spewing water from underneath. It was pretty comical - when we noticed it was gushing water out as it was filling, I immediately shut the machine off. There was still water in the tub, so I turned the dial to "spin", and it was like Niagra Falls - all of the water just let go all at once! You should have seen the looks on our faces we looked at the washer, then looked at each other, and then started to laugh as we both grabbed brooms to try and keep the water around the floor drain.

-Sherri

 

[everythingold]

Where are you in MI? matt

 

[norfolksouthern]

Getting rid of a Filter Flo?

That may not be a very smart move these days, especially if you have one that can be repaired with a simple pump replacement. But if you insist, there are several of us who will gladly pick it up, free of charge!

Meanwhile, Frigidaire front loaders have had issues with bad bearings. I saw one listed on Craigslist for $25.00, but resisted. A pump on a GE? No sweat. A bad bearing on a front-load Frigidaire, however, usually means that it's done and you can stick a fork in it. Good luck.

NorfolkSouthern

 

[mixergal]

Location, location, location

Hi NorfolkSouthern! Thanks for the tip about the frigidares - mine is a top loader - any issues known with them? I can't find a model number on it (probably on the back - I'll have to wait for hubby to come home and help me move the behemoth). The only specs I could find was it sports the "Titan 25 washtub". I'll look up the model and post a new thread in the appropriate place.

As for the GE - it's model number is wwa7070galwh. I'm still guessing as to the age of it, but I guessed it to be early to mid 80's based on stylistic markers and my knowledge of small appliances. Any insight? I've included a pic.

I'd forgotten that my machine had the "Energy Guide" label on it. When did these start to be used? I made the assumption that this would help those of you "in the know" date this unit more accurately (and if it's considerably newer than I thought, I aplogize for having this thread in the wrong place - rookie mistake for sure!)
Of course, if it's significantly older the collector in me may rear it's ugly head and I will be looking to you for justifications for owning two washers. Justifications a non-collector would buy, of course. I only need gentle prodding. Something I can say while batting my eyes and serving him his favorite meal and not sounding too contrived

Oh, and Everythingold, I am 2 1/2 + hours due east of you in Bay City. I find myself in Mount Pleasant frequently (I did my undergrad at CMU and still visit friends from time to time), and I love Grand Rapids! Hubby and I have thought of moving that way once I finish graduate school (Wayne State University).

 

[mixergal]

Another pic

Here's the basket

 

[mixergal]

One more

Here's the filter. Let me know if anybody wants to see more pics. The rust spots by the hinges are the most serious cosmetic defect that I have seen. There may be a few nicks in the paint here and there - my basement is pretty dark and it's hard to see, but to the best of my knowlege it hasn't moved since it was installed.

-Sherri

 

[goatfarmer]

Been thru Bay City a few times, know of a few places. Nice looking washer, should be an easy fix for someone.

 

[volvoguy87]

My grandmothers' mixers.

A new tub boot clamp and maybe a new clutch & relay and your GE is good for another 20 years. Be careful not to overload your new Frigidaire, they have an indexing tub which doesn't respond especially well to overloads.

My maternal grandmother gave m her Hamilton Beach model G. It is back in Virginia at my parents' house right now but I recall the serial number was strangely even, like #1000 or something like that. I will have to check when I am next at home. She was given the mixer as soon as civilian production resumed after The War (they were married in June of 1945 and are still going strong). I have the juicer (all the parts!) and the drink stirrer. I have also found an original instruction and recipe book and a replacement for the long-vanished large bowl. Were there any other accessories offered by HB for the model G?

My paternal grandmother gave me her Dormeyer. Sadly, it is also in VA. I don't know the model, but it has a black base, a chrome stand, and the mixer is also chrome. It has 2 stainless steel bowls and the meat grinder, complete with wooden "stuffer" stick and chrome support leg with a rubber tip on the bottom. I have the receipt for it along with the warranty card, the receipt is dated 1963.

My housemate here was a friend of mine from grad school in Savannah, GA and he did see my Hamilton Beach G there. He liked it so much he bought one too. I still like mine, but I used his last night to mix cake batter.

All vintage all the time,
Dave

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Nice machine, I had one that looked exactly like that one except no mini-basket feature. I ended up parting it out because the agitator and shaft were rusted and eaten up and the transmission was locked.

 

[jons1077]

Nice machine

Have yet to be dissapointed in mine. The washer kicks butt and so does the dryer. All of my machines are daily drivers but especially the GE for the pure versatility and cleaning ability. The mini-basket is a great option too. Something I never really thought I'd use much but, in fact, I use it quite a bit.

They are great machines and still plenty of parts out there to keep them going for decades to come.

Jon

 

[mixergal]

HB's and Dormeyers

Hi Dave!

HB model G - very cool! Yes, I believe there is a host of (somewhat hard-to-find) attachments for your baby. These can end up being somewhat of a "Holy Grail" for collectors. First you need a power transfer unit - this "steps down" the speed your mixer runs at and ups the torque to run the attachments. I don't have one myself, but I understand there are two different styles of PTU's - one fits onto the stand of your mixer, and then you mount the head of the mixer onto it, and one is a stand alone unit that you hook the mixer onto instead of the base. I understand the stand-alone type is more stable than the other.

As for attachments, I know there is a meat grinder (fairly easy to find), and a coffee grinder (Holy Grail). I'm not sure what else is out there. Probably at least a shredder/slicer and possibly a knife sharpener (those are fairly common attachments in the vintage mixer world).

That's very cool that you still have the drink mixer for yours - I understand that very often those get separated from the units as most people don't know what it's for when going through an estate. I think HB makes some of the most elegant juicers too.

In general Sunbeams and Kitchenaids are more plentiful around here, so I'm far more familliar with those attachments - hope I was at least a little helpful!

I think I know the Dormeyer you are speaking of! It might be a "Princess", a "Silver Star" or a "Silver Chef". I have one of the latter two - I can't remember which one it is right now and don't feel like pulling out a stepladder to see (it's on top of a bookcase). Those all are great mixers! I polished my stainless bowls up and the whole thing gleams and glitters like a mirror! Next time you see your Dormeyer you'll have to see which one it is. Some models had a port on top - like the HB - for the juicer, and some (like mine) use the front hub like a Kitchenaid. If there are any other attachments for a Dormeyer other than the grinder and juicer, I am unaware of it.

Speaking of Kitchenaids - did you know that they haven't changed the front hub on their mixers since they first rolled out of the factory in 1918 (I think I have the date right)? That means that even a modern Kitchenaid from Macy's can use any of the attachments that have ever been made (with very few exceptions)! Also, the mixers are made in the same factory they have always been made in down in Ohio. Pretty cool, eh?

I'll stop now ::sheepish grin::

-Sherri

PS - Here's a pic of my 1930's GE on its PTU, since I don't have a comperable HB, just to give you an idea of what I was trying to describe above. This is similar to the HB stand-alone power transfer unit, although I think HB's design is more elegant than this.

 

[norfolksouthern]

It's not really a question of if, it's when.

"Hi NorfolkSouthern! Thanks for the tip about the frigidares - mine is a top loader - any issues known with them? I can't find a model number on it (probably on the back - I'll have to wait for hubby to come home and help me move the behemoth). The only specs I could find was it sports the "Titan 25 washtub". I'll look up the model and post a new thread in the appropriate place."

As Volvoguy said, be careful with that indexing tub. I saw one recently as a free pickup, but I passed. Once these machines go out, repair isn't usually an option. Fix one thing on a Frigidaire top loader, and something else will break. People on this message board know what they are talking about, as they have had experience with just about every machine you can possibly conceive.

There are two possibilities with your GE. The most highly recommended would be to fix it. It has a mini basket, which increases its versatility and thus, its value. A few simple readily available parts and some turns on a wrench, and you're good for another 20 years. It's a lot easier to fix a washing machine than it is to disassemble a Sunbeam 7B. I mean it!

The other possibility would be to hang on to it until one of us can come and pick it up. It won't cost you anything, except for the space it takes up until one of us can get to it. But then all you'll have left would be that WCI Frigidaire, and those have proven to be a problem for many owners unfortunate enough to need service. I would rather fix an older GE once than do multiple repairs on an indexing-tub Frigidaire top-loader.

The two of you should make the decision that's right for you. You can buy a lot of nice old Sunbeams for the price of a new Cabrio HE should your Frigidaire give out. It's not usually a question of if, it's when. The Frigidaire front loaders typically have the better reputation for reliability.

NorfolkSouthern

 

[volvoguy87]

Interesting.

I'm going to start a new thread in the Super forum to continue the mixer theme so this thread can continue with the GE Filter Flo.

Dave

 

[mixergal]

Good idea, Dave...

...I'll follow the conversation there.

I want to thank you all for giving me your honest advice about my GE. Frankly, you have all convinced me to keep it and tinker with it for the day when my Frigidare gives up the ghost. You've convinced me that my new machine is not to be trusted. I'm glad I came here and talked to you guys about it first! My hubby was ging to have it carted away this week, but I couldn't stand the thught of it going to the scrap heap when it has so much that works on it. I talked to him last night and convinced him that we should hold onto it for the inevitable day that the Frigidare goes belly-up. I'm still using the frigidare for now - it's nice to be able to do large comforters in! Thanks for the warning on overloading it - I think a couple of you mentioned it - I can't imagine overloading it right now because the tub is so much larger than the GE. However, I'm sure I will "grow" into it and someday forget how much larger it really is.

So, sorry to withdraw the offer, I think I will keep it for a while. Now you'll have to put up with "what's this for" and "where do I find that?" questions

This is definately a good group - it would have been easy to take advantage of my lack of knowlege - thank you so much!

Oh, and hubby gave in pretty easy. I told him that the GE was easy to fix (hey, if it's easier than a Sunbeam model 7, I'm in good shape - I've stripped and repaires several 7's!), and the Frigidare was unreliable. It's under warranty still right now, so I think I'll call the repair guys and have them look it over and make sure all is well.

Now I get to figure out how a washer works. Any good repair guides you can steer me toward?

Thanks!

-Sherri (I do not collect vintage appliances, I do not collect vintage appliances, I do not collect vintage appilances....)