GE - spin drier?

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GE made twin tub (washer/extractor)

From maybe the 1930's until shortly before or after WWII, when they stopped production. GE saw early on in the post war years that fully automatic washing machines were where the market was heading, and in short order they even stopped making wringer washers as well.

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?7476

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GE called their machines "Double Tub" and like others marketed as a fast, efficient and safe way to get through washday without the bother (and danger) of wringers.

Everyone tends to think of Easy as the first and only maker of twin tubs before Hoover, but there were others such as Norge. Easy simply stuck with that design longer while others gave up or moved away from semi-automatic washing machines all together.
 
AW-812

Thank you, Laundress!  I'm amazed that 10 years ago this very topic was being discussed here on AW!

 

And I'm impressed with the listing of the spin-driers that Robert posted in the archived thread.  Very, very useful!

 

I really don't need this machine, but I did shoot the seller a message.  Since it's on wheels I might be able to deal with it in the basement.  :)

 

Ben

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There have been much nicer versions of this machine

In recent past on eBay and CL.

Didn't really bother as the machines are to bulky and as spare parts are long NLA didn't want to take the risk.

Thing is despite the obvious advantages Maytag conventional washers along with SQ and a few others far outsold various twin tub units. This even with Consumer Reports year after year ragging on wringer washers proclaiming them to be "unsafe".
 
I remember my dad telling me they had a GE twin tub (he called it a washer with a spinner on the side) in the garage apartment they rented after he came home from The War and before they moved into the new house in July 1948  Of course I couldn't grasp the concept until I saw my first easy at one of the Wash-Ins. 
 
I came to my senses and passed on this one, as I have other projects that need attention before this GE.  Let's admit it though - that drain board is too cool!

  

However, if I stumbled across another one in the future, I'd certainty give it another look.  I like these GE's!
 
Ben

Those GE's showed up around Atlanta well into the sixties. Just didn't see too many Easy machines in the Deep South. Rich's must have really pushed them.
They worked better on a basement floor than hardwood. The weight of water in the wash tub being the only thing that kept it from going airborne if the spinner got off balance. They could send some alarming noises through structures with hardwood floors. People used to try to keep them from dancing by setting the little wheels down into rubber cups. It worked most of the time.
Mark might have one in storage down in wytheville.
 
Am guessing between the vibrations and limited extractor side capacity many decided to pass on these "twin tubs", and stick to wringer washers.

While clothing wouldn't be a problem, don't think you can get a large blanket or thick quilt into some of these extractors. OTOH if one goes about it properly such things will go through a Maytag wringer.
 
Did some research

Apparently many preferred conventional/wringer washers over the various twin tub units for several reasons.

First there was the matter of transferring wet and possibly heavy laundry from wash to spin basket. With a powered wringer you just feed things in, guide, and that is that. With a twin tub you've got to not only get all that wet laundry into the spin basket, but you've got to arrange (and possibly rearrange later) things so load is balanced. Even then the thing is likely to shake and vibrate, sometimes often violently.

Other concern was size of twin tub units. Wringer washers could be easily rolled out of the way into a small space if necessary. The various separate tubs (if used) could be packed away between wash days as well. OTOH these twin tub units were rather large and thus took up real estate.

Whatever the reason you see far more older wringer washers about than vintage twin tubs. Probably the most commonly found (aside from the smaller Hoover and Maytag units) would be the Easy spin driers. There because that company remained with format longer may have something to do with things. As noted GE, Norge, ABC, etc... all pretty much abandoned twin tub washers either before WWII or shortly afterwards.
 
The U.K. Thoughts

In the uk we love both however there are some significant benefits for the housewife progressing to a twin tub machine
The speed to get a large wash completed in has to be a significant benifit with a twin tub washer.
Most twin tubs were fast as two processes being undertaken at the same time. Rinsing being undertaken in the spinner while the next load is going through the washer tub.
Also a real benifit over a wringer model is that the wash is really dry coming out of the spin dryer. From the inception of the early twin tubs the spin speed of these machines were fantastic. The first hotpoint twin tub had a spin speed of approx 2800 rpm . The later series had a speed of 3100 !!!!!!!!!
The U.K. homes at that time didn't usually have tumble dryers so drying a weekly wash could be a challenge with our often unpredictable climate
The humble UK twin tub in my opinion are fantastic machines .Most had heaters and are able to boil a load of whites to perfection. They are very versatile often reliable and great fun to use and to restore.
You right I love a good twin tub !!!!!!
 
The UK twin tub

The first few photos are of a lovely English Electric twin tub . The next batch are of the first Hotpoint supermatic. Some of my favourites !!! Very stylish then and now !!!!

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You need to see this one

The little Hoovermatic twintub. Super fast to use and again really stylish . You haven't lived if you have never used one of these !!!!!!!

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