I thought the delay in talking with the guys on the moon was long, imagine what is must be coming from Uranus!
GE sale to Haier complete
- Thread starter mattl
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The Filter-Flo washers certainly wash up a storm, but they drank water and ate transmissions. If they continued to build them today they'd be a laughing stock.
The old GE didn't take care of their service techs, and their parts prices to consumers were about the highest in the industry. Who wants to pay $95 for an evaporator fan motor imported form Singapore? That was the GE's price back in 1987.
The old GE didn't take care of their service techs, and their parts prices to consumers were about the highest in the industry. Who wants to pay $95 for an evaporator fan motor imported form Singapore? That was the GE's price back in 1987.
The simple truth is 95% of older appliance failed and are gone now, the remaining units are the cream of the crop, built well with well machined parts.
The quality of today's machines could be better but people today are always chasing newer and better. A 15 or 20 yo machine does not have the cache of "new" or current models. With that mentality why build better? True, marketing played a big part in that attitude but also improvements in performance play a part. I just replaced a 3 yo tol 4k LCD tv with a much better 4k OLED and it was worth every penny. Performance was the motivator for me.
The quality of today's machines could be better but people today are always chasing newer and better. A 15 or 20 yo machine does not have the cache of "new" or current models. With that mentality why build better? True, marketing played a big part in that attitude but also improvements in performance play a part. I just replaced a 3 yo tol 4k LCD tv with a much better 4k OLED and it was worth every penny. Performance was the motivator for me.
I think you also have to remember the price differential between say 1950s appliances and modern ones. The run of the mill washing machines sold in that era were seriously expensive relative to income. We often forget that when we talk about them.
You could be comparing something like a middle of the range, highly affordable washing machine or dryer to something that would have been a huge outlay for most households back in the day.
There was a time when those kinds of household appliances were serious pieces of durable goods and they came with a price tag that would make you wince.
Many of them, especially those that are still surviving as collectors items were probably very, very well built.
What we forget though is that if it haven’t been for manufacturing technologies, automation, plastics and standardised parts, cheaper materials and absolutely extreme efficiency, they’d simply never have become a product that absolutely every household has. Instead, they’d be priced like Miele or commercial machines and you would be seeing them more like buying a small car than just a simple appliance.
A lot of our huge steps up in access to technology are down to that. Machines that were almost hand built using extremely expensive materials, custom designed parts and so on are very nice, but they’re not very likely to ever be what drives mass market consumer appliances, and that’s the magic that put tech in our laundry rooms, kitchens and homes generally.
You could be comparing something like a middle of the range, highly affordable washing machine or dryer to something that would have been a huge outlay for most households back in the day.
There was a time when those kinds of household appliances were serious pieces of durable goods and they came with a price tag that would make you wince.
Many of them, especially those that are still surviving as collectors items were probably very, very well built.
What we forget though is that if it haven’t been for manufacturing technologies, automation, plastics and standardised parts, cheaper materials and absolutely extreme efficiency, they’d simply never have become a product that absolutely every household has. Instead, they’d be priced like Miele or commercial machines and you would be seeing them more like buying a small car than just a simple appliance.
A lot of our huge steps up in access to technology are down to that. Machines that were almost hand built using extremely expensive materials, custom designed parts and so on are very nice, but they’re not very likely to ever be what drives mass market consumer appliances, and that’s the magic that put tech in our laundry rooms, kitchens and homes generally.
Valid points. The '59 Frigidaire Custom Imperial range my folks bought new was about $700 then. It's built like a tank, would be quite a challenge getting it out of the basement where it resides now. Still works with a few issues that I have parts to repair but it's not my daily driver so no great need to do it.
fan-of-fans
Well-known member
I'm almost at the point that if I'm ever able to build a house, I'd almost want older appliances rather than new ones. Sure, I admit the new ones look nice with their electronic controls, LED lighting, etc. And the trim bits and how they fit together has gotten really slick.
But I just question will they actually last as long as older ones, or will the already old, older models still outlast the new ones? To me there's something about the simplicity of older appliances that to me at least, puts them ahead of new ones. Particularly when we're talking about yesterday's high end models.
Really, I'd love to have a houseful of TOL appliances from the 90s. Even then, they just had features that you don't see on new appliances. Things like lighted consoles, etc. Just the little oddities and niceties I find lacking in the ones today.
I've told people before that I'd rather have older appliances than new ones, and I'm always met with confusion. "But why, they're just old?" People just don't appreciate the little things as well as the longevity of older, and antique appliances, like we do, I don't think. To most people, they're just old appliances, outdated, and needing to be disposed of. Whether they still work or how long they'll continue to work, people aren't interested in.
I suppose this goes along with my preferences in clothing, and propensity for going to thrift stores as well. My style always seems to be at least a decade behind what's trendy. LOL
But I just question will they actually last as long as older ones, or will the already old, older models still outlast the new ones? To me there's something about the simplicity of older appliances that to me at least, puts them ahead of new ones. Particularly when we're talking about yesterday's high end models.
Really, I'd love to have a houseful of TOL appliances from the 90s. Even then, they just had features that you don't see on new appliances. Things like lighted consoles, etc. Just the little oddities and niceties I find lacking in the ones today.
I've told people before that I'd rather have older appliances than new ones, and I'm always met with confusion. "But why, they're just old?" People just don't appreciate the little things as well as the longevity of older, and antique appliances, like we do, I don't think. To most people, they're just old appliances, outdated, and needing to be disposed of. Whether they still work or how long they'll continue to work, people aren't interested in.
I suppose this goes along with my preferences in clothing, and propensity for going to thrift stores as well. My style always seems to be at least a decade behind what's trendy. LOL
bradfordwhite
Well-known member
"High quality" or "quality built" is subjective, generational, and even determined by the socioeconomic cohort that a person is in.
I remember when Maytag, Kitchen Aid, Reed & Barton, Mercedes, BMW, Lincoln, a French Tudor home, and traditional colonial furniture was "top of the line" and "high quality". And people would pay top dollar for them.
Now, not but a few decades later, you can find many of those brands or styles of "the past" for free or for very little money.
Personally, I won't spend a dime on the ugly gray particle board that's passing for furniture these days.
I remember when Maytag, Kitchen Aid, Reed & Barton, Mercedes, BMW, Lincoln, a French Tudor home, and traditional colonial furniture was "top of the line" and "high quality". And people would pay top dollar for them.
Now, not but a few decades later, you can find many of those brands or styles of "the past" for free or for very little money.
Personally, I won't spend a dime on the ugly gray particle board that's passing for furniture these days.
bradfordwhite
Well-known member
#35
I hear you Cole.
The only NEW clothes I buy are things like underwear, socks, sweats, and the new stretchy disposable shoes they make for $12.
When it comes to pants and shirts I find lots of things at thrift stores for $3-$5 each.
Same goes for linens. Sheets, curtain panels, blankets. You can buy stuff that's all cotton for like $1-$4 each. Compare that to $50-$150 new.
The shopping environment is often more pleasant compared to the merely business environment of Walmart.
I hear you Cole.
The only NEW clothes I buy are things like underwear, socks, sweats, and the new stretchy disposable shoes they make for $12.
When it comes to pants and shirts I find lots of things at thrift stores for $3-$5 each.
Same goes for linens. Sheets, curtain panels, blankets. You can buy stuff that's all cotton for like $1-$4 each. Compare that to $50-$150 new.
The shopping environment is often more pleasant compared to the merely business environment of Walmart.
tjb
Member
One more fine American-owned company gone, just like the now Japanese-owned and now poorly named "American Standard".
tjb
Member
One more fine American-owned company gone, just like the now Japanese-owned and now poorly named "American Standard".
One thing I find these days is that high end often means a run of the mill, standard washing machine, built on a standard design with the same components as mass market and cheap stuff, but they whack a display on it that equivalent of a smart phone, add 100% to the price tag, style it up a bit and call it premium.
In this market the only machines that stand out as different these days are Miele or maybe an Electrolux semi pro machine.
Also don’t get me started about smart fridges. If I wanted a side by side and an second rate tablet, I’m perfectly capable of my retired iPad to the front of one and at least I wouldn’t have to put up with Android for Fridges.
In this market the only machines that stand out as different these days are Miele or maybe an Electrolux semi pro machine.
Also don’t get me started about smart fridges. If I wanted a side by side and an second rate tablet, I’m perfectly capable of my retired iPad to the front of one and at least I wouldn’t have to put up with Android for Fridges.
kenmoreguy89
Well-known member
LGB
vacerator
Well-known member
"American Standard"
was owned by Bain Capital when it was sold offshore! Guess whose venture capital firm that is, and who was in charge? Mitt Romney. We sell are selves out!
was owned by Bain Capital when it was sold offshore! Guess whose venture capital firm that is, and who was in charge? Mitt Romney. We sell are selves out!
vacerator
Well-known member
Also, if I were
Chinese, I'd be a "TOKEN" capitalist too! Getting a start from the Govt., becomming filthy rich, buying digital collectables for 6 figures, etc. from westerners, and gladly returning up to 40% of the gross back the commies.
Chinese, I'd be a "TOKEN" capitalist too! Getting a start from the Govt., becomming filthy rich, buying digital collectables for 6 figures, etc. from westerners, and gladly returning up to 40% of the gross back the commies.
to kenwashesmonday...
I stand corrected. I blame Jack Welch who started this stupid crap!
I stand corrected. I blame Jack Welch who started this stupid crap!
GE has long been into more industries than just appliances (and also financial services, although I believe all of that was sold to other entities some years ago).
GE (General Electric Company) stock in January 2023 did a 1-for-3 spin-off of GEHC (GE Healthcare Technologies Inc.).
GE then in April 2024 did a 1-for-4 spin-off of GEV (GE Vernova Inc.). GE at that point became GE Aerospace.
GE Aerospace is aircraft/jet engines and such.
GE Healthcare is diagnostic/imaging equipment and other healthcare/laboratory equipment, products, and services.
GE Vernova is electrical/energy equipment and services.
I received 3.125 shares of GE and 1 share of GEHC via inheritance from dad. I had 0.783 shares of GEV for a moment but the brokerage firm immediately sold it to cash, presumably for less-than-one-share being too little to maintain.
