GE NON-FilterFlo Set

[appnut]

Jimmy, outstanding. I wish someone around here knew the GE history right about that time. Friends of my parents had a similiar style set. The difference was, there were parallel knobs on each machine. On the washer, inbetween/middle of the two kinobs, was the turqoise water saver button that ya pushed down to activate. The 2nd know was water temp as well as "off". I remember our owners manual had a looseleaf marketing piece in it and I believe the temp dial was referred to as the fabri-flex dial. And here's the confusing part. The washer we got, to replace the 48 bendix to keep me out of it, did not have a FF in it. It looked just like the inside of this machine. However, the panel looked exactly like the FF Jon Charles has--center lighted dial with the copper accents and turqoise buttons on the right for water saver, hot, warm, and off. I did not have a FF, I would have remembered!! I wish someone around here could place exactlyu what we had. It also had on the front left of the cabine, in a turoise banner on the right, emossed with chrome automatic washer words.

 

[filterflo]

Bob, the GE with the two knobs on each side is just a slighter later model than this one. That model was in response to this model, as this model surprisingly has no OFF position on the dial. Once you start it, it either has to run thru the complete cycle or you turn it by hand thru all the cycles to OFF. There is no PUSH/PULL Off on this timer. Not the best design........I believe they incorporated the OFF swich on the Water Temp control dial on the two dial models..........

 

[mayken4now]

Jimmy, how cool is that. It is a first for me to see them. Very simple like gregm says. Almost Maytag simple! LOL

Steve

 

[maytagbear]

Wow, Jimmy!

What a find!

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[rickr]

Great find Jimmy! And that washer is sure a rare find. My mother had that same model dryer, but with a Kenmore washer with the "target" type timer console.

 

[toggleswitch]

Maytag simple? Hardy har har..

Again, a very cool and unique set. Thanks for posting them for all to admire.

 

[appnut]

Rick, are you meaning the frog-eyed timer?

 

[spinout]

Congrats! It's beautiful set...

Your washer's configuration seems to suggest that it's actually a K or L series machine, model 450 or 550 (K=1953 or L=1954--they appear to be virtually identical), based on GE service literature. The "M" series '55's appear to have the single belt and a slightly different bezel than your machine.

Additionally, the two-dial "650" machines were also produced during all of K,L & M series years.

Moreover, the interesting two belt drive system allows it to have a higher spin speed than the later single belt machines.

I have attached the exploded pics of "representative" machines:

 

[spinout]

And the corresponding parts list:

...

 

[spinout]

And the dryer:

Enjoy!

 

[frigilux]

I'm looking at the lid instructions; Under group B it says 'Heavy Soil', the 'Light Soil', then it says....what? Batiste? Dimty? Organdy? What do those words mean?

 

[toggleswitch]

I had never heard of these either...........

Batiste: A fine, plain-woven fabric made from various fibers and used especially for clothing

Dimity: A sheer, crisp cotton fabric with raised woven stripes or checks, used chiefly for curtains and dresses.

Organdy: A stiff transparent fabric of cotton or silk, used for trim, curtains, and light apparel.

www.dictionary.com is a girl's best friend.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/organdy

 

[swestoyz]

Jimmy - what a cool score! This will be a set sure to please.

Ben

 

[filterflo]

Thanks Ben, yes its a great set, and especially since it IS a set. I love my sets. Rather hard to find a complete GE set from this era for some reason. The Frigidaires seem to have a higher rate of survival. I dont want to seem rash, but geez, I just wish this set had at least ONE light on it!. Its obviously from the school of thought where "less is more"........I really went to DC to get the full size Hoover set shown in post #6808. That set Im REALLY thrilled with! But this GE set is great too. BTW the date stamped on the timer is Dec 1954, so it is pretty close to being a 1955 set as I initially suspected.......

 

[appnut]

Spinout, do you have the service/tech info that would help solve what washer we had in my early childhood up in post 135905?

 

[launderess]

Cotton Bastie was common for ladies undergarments (slips, night gowns, etc), as well as baby's gowns,sheets, and other nursery items.

While both organdy and dimity were popular for curtians, both were often used for those puffed sleeved sheer blouses ladies and little girls wore from the 1940's through 1950's. Also because both materials were somewhat stiff, they also were great for pouffy dresses, worn by girls and ladies during those same periods. Last use was for fancy aprons and pinafores, also popular during the period. Think Mrs. June Cleaver serving tea or whatever it was she did all dressed up on a starched shirtwaist dress, pearls and high heels. It certianly wasn't house work,that is what "Dahlia", "Beulah", or whatever their "girl" or cleaner was called. *LOL*

L.

 

[helicaldrive]

Wow, they certainly did a lot of laundry in hot water back then. I would never put clothes in hot water! (just sheets, towels and underwear) Maybe people wore clothes multiple times inbetween washings and so they had to use hot water to get them clean?

 

[launderess]

Most everything was washed in hot water because legions of houswives had been told it gave the best cleaning performace, and provided a sanitary wash. What woman would risk putting the health of her family in jeopardy by washing in warm or *gasp*, cold water. *LOL*

Before enzyme detergents, when laundering with soap and or the new "detergents" hotter water temps did provide best cleaning, especially of oils, grime and muck. Some soaps like Fels, and detergents that were petrol based did a reasonably good job at cleaning in cold water, but in general soap and many detergents of the day not only did not clean well in cooler water, they did not disslove/rinse well either. This was also the era of hot wash and warm rinse, a setting you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere on today's washing machines.

It should be noted that up until around the late 1950's or so, many bed/table linens, shirts, undergarments (non dainties of course), and the like were all designed to be laundered in hot water, even jeans. Textiles were woven differently, and sized to allow shrinkage.

 

[launderess]

And Furthermore To That

Now you understand why there was so much ironing! All those heavy cottons/linens and all that hot water made for some badly wrinkled laundry! *LOL*

 

[spinout]

Appnut, yes I probably do. I would be glad to help you solve your mystery. I just need a place to start or something to go on.