GE Plastisol to Perma-Tuf transition case history

[Chetlaham]

For those interested in the history behind GE's Perma-Tuf dishwasher this is a great read. Answers a lot of questions along with the thought behind Potscrubber II dishwashers. Starting on page 179:

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[bajaespuma]

Thank you; good information!

 

[johnb300m]

FASCINATING.
If they knew Plastisol was such a weak material....why did they keep it so long?
Why not just do stainless??? Or full porcelain in their upper market units?
GE.....they're always so reluctant to put out the BEST product.

 

[Chetlaham]

Welcome

I wonder the same. GE could have just ended plastisol tub production in the mid 60s and sold only the Hotpoint porcelain tub design while gradually introducing Perma-Tuf starting in the late 70s early 80s from BOL working on up. At least thats what they somewhat did in the 80s, as porcelain tub Hotpoint where still available up until 1991 or 1992.

The Hotpoints certainly were not perfect, but light years ahead in longevity. Around here there are dozens of hundred unit apartment/condo complexes from the 80s with porcelain tub BOL Hotpoints. Many still going 30 years latter. Those getting thrown out often have very little or limited rust on the inside. If anything its the seals or pump that give out rather then the tub itself with life expectancy comparable to mid 80s PermaTufs. The top racks were a poor design, but if the GE design was modified to fit those they really would have been admirable.

GE does at times bite off more then they can chew, and as someone once told me "they are to smart for their own good" to which I can agree with.

 

[cadman]

I love GE, but they sure know how to squander a good thing. Or 'value-improve' a product to death.

People forget that at one time they accidentally stumbled into the computer business, designed and built some pretty decent mainframes that even had IBM running scared, and of course decided to only make a half-hearted attempt at keeping the business. The stories from the field engineers are cringe-worthy ; )

"Let's go to a cheaper plated screw to save a few cents in these 100-amp power supplies. Hmm, why are we having all these voltage spike failures? The design is the same." LOL.

 

[joeypete]

When I was a kid, we bought a house in 1987 that was built in the early 70's. It had what was probably the original GE dishwasher (in avocado green) with a porcelain enameled interior. That thing worked great despite having a huge rust spot on the inside of the door. I guess my parents weren't worried too much about it because they never replaced it. LOL. I don't remember how it cleaned though...

 

[Chetlaham]

Porcelain interior

Did GE ever make a porcelain tub machine the 70s? I know the ones they did had a Hotpoint name on them, but it was not until the mid 80s that GE started putting their name on Hotpoint machines. Of course, I could be wrong on that one.

 

[joeypete]

They must have unless the one we had was even older, but I doubt it. It was def a GE though.

 

[Chetlaham]

Could it have been a plastisol liner? Might explain the rust spot as those were notorious for rusting.

 

[joeypete]

Yes indeed maybe! I could have sworn it was enamel though. But that was over 20 years ago haha

 

[Chetlaham]

I could be wrong though

My bet is on a plastisol tub, however do not take my word 100%. I still find new facts all the time lol.

 

[turquoisedude]

Funnily enough, the Canadian-made GE dishwashers had porcelain tubs right into the late 1980s.  My folks had a 1978 GE Contessa portable and my first house had a 1988 GE Potscrubber II, both of which had porcelain tubs.   I have a feeling that the Canadian models were all based on the Hotpoint design (store brands Beaumark, and the 80s Vikings had porcelain tubs and were definitely Hotpoint-style machines). 

 

[mixguy]

GE with Porcelain tub

I purchased a GE portable dishwasher having a white/light gray porcelain tub in 1983 that had 4 cycles and energy saving feature for heated dry (two other buttons).

 

[Chetlaham]

Was it a Hotpoint tub? Do you remember the model #? You've now peaked my interest

 

[johnb300m]

When I was a kid our house had an oooold GE with the fat steel wash arm and Plastisol interior. I remember my dad fixing several rust spots inside the sump with some kind of white epoxy. That was in the late 80s when the machine was already 10 years old.
That machine lasted until we moved in 1996!
Other than being LOUD and rickety. That thing ran alllll those years.

It looked like this:
No features. Heat dry on or off.
Dial Normal wash, short wash and rinse hold.
But it had wood door inserts.

 

[Chetlaham]

Nice!

Im in love <3 lol. Do you happen to know the model number? I could see if GE's site still has the manual, they do for some machine going back into the mid 70s.

 

[johnb300m]

Ha!
I only remember part of it was GSD500.
The house was built in 1978.
So the dw could've been a 1978 or earlier, really. Depending on how builders stockpile things.

 

[launderess]

Knock on wood

If Plastisol interior of dw is repaired promptly and well things generally tend to hold. My efforts on the Mobile Maid have served well going on over one year.

Of course the thing is to prevent tears and nicks in that lining from the start. This requires caution when loading/unloading anything with sharp edges like knives, forks, etc....

 

[panthera]

Laundress,

I recollect your considerable efforts and talent in restoring yours. It is possible, I know of one from the late '70s without damage.

Sadly, though, for most of them, it's too late.