GE Undersink Dishwasher

[philcobendixduo]

I just came across this dishwasher advertisement in the June 1982 issue of "Housing" magazine.
I have never seen THIS model here on AW.
Has anyone seen it in person?
Must be a rarity!

 

[chachp]

They pop up from time to time

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<span style="font-family: helvetica;">https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...wse_serp:9f3f7f98-14a0-4d2e-b2ae-20b385d0294d </span>

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">I saw one at an estate sale a few years ago.  I would think it would be really awkward directly in front of a sink but it is better than nothing if that's all. you have.  This particular kitchen was small and U shaped.  It was only as wide as the dishwasher so with the DW open you couldn't even get around it to the sink.  I guess with the right set up it might work out.</span>

 

[bradfordwhite]

They still make it for some reason. It's a bad concept.

The 18" wide dishwasher is a better idea.

GE Front Control Under-the-Sink Dishwasher in White, 63 dBA GSM2200VWW - The Home Depot

GE - Spacemaker Under-the-Sink Dishwasher in White - Featuring a quiet motor to keep your kitchen peaceful, this space maximizing design installs beneath - THD SKU# 527341

www.homedepot.com

 

[syndets2000]

First generation...

My Dad's small townhouse was built in 1967 with these in the all GE kitchen. It still had the motor and pump located in the center of the tub, with blue coated racks, and plastisol coated tub ( blue with white speckles ) it was installed about 2/3 under the sink, which had the new style GE disposer. I suppose without a disposer, it could have been completely underneath the shallow sink, which had the drain opening in the rear corner... The dishwasher was not sound insulated, so it was very loud. We also had a GE washer/dryer combo, a 27 inch drop in range ( manual clean), and a single door fridge. All the appliances were shaded coppertone...

 

[syndets2000]

Good Idea...

We serviced many later generation models downtown in DC, and given the small kitchens in apartment buildings, this design worked very well. The newer versions offer a more substantial and usable upper rack, as opposed to the half rack version that the older ones had, when u had to remove it to load part of the lower rack...

 

[combo52]

GE Under Sink DWs

GE has built these for over 50 years and they are sure a better bet for a compact kitchen than an 18" machine especially when you consider that the only 18" machines available in the 70s-90s in the US were POS D&M machines and now that they are gone from the market the only thing is POS Chinese 18" DWs that hold almost nothing.

 

[ Yes you can get a Bosch or Miele 18" DW if you have $1000-1500 to blow on a DW that you will either have to pay through the nose to get fixed or you will just have to keep buying new ones when they break ]

 

John L.

 

[jamiel]

I've been in vacation condos with one of these--they actually work just fine. You can put shallow dishes (1 1/2 inch depth) cereal bowls flat in back, the glasses in front. The lower rack is the standard GE low-end lower rack and the wash tower is normal They never put the higher-end wash system in...but far better coverage than the 18" units and eminently repairable...only thing out of the ordinary was the molded Permatuf tub (and everyone knows how trouble-free those are).

 

[pulltostart]

I've always thought these were a great solution to a small kitchen.  The dishwasher could be installed under a SS sink, taking up a combined width of 36".  It required a shallow (6") sink with a rear drain, suitable for a disposer.  Like John said, this would usually be a better solution than an 18" dishwasher.

 

GE liked to claim a focus on the compact (spacemaker) appliances, but I'm not sure how space-saving they actually proved to be.  The Mark 27 is a perfect example.  On the surface it does save space, but when you stop to consider that, unless the builder was using totally custom cabinets, the 27" drop-in would still consume 30" of base cabinet space, without the benefit of a storage drawer; not such a great idea maybe.  And I'm not sure anyone actually manufactured a 27" wide range hood, so again, you'd be forced to use 30" of wall space.

 

This dishwasher was a pretty good idea for a small kitchen, especially during the 1960's.

 

lawrence

 

[bradfordwhite]

These are a bad idea because of how they block up access to the plumbing connections for the sink they are supposed to fit under.

If you should have a leak back there it will be difficult to impossible to access it. That will certainly lead to other maintenance issues.

One also has to coordinate this dishwasher with the choice of the sink and fixtures. A special sink with rear corner drain is non-standard and adds to the costs. As does a non-standard sink elbow arrangement. You are limited with sink depth as well.

These dishwashers may wash fine, maybe. They are very basic looking.

An 18" dishwasher is a much better choice as it's standard install just in a narrower space and there are many models to choose from.

If a kitchen is so-o limited in space that it can't possibly fit a standard or even 18" dishwasher; it's doubtful it actually Needs a dishwasher.

This under sink dishwasher is part of the plethora of prototypes that GE was doing in the 60s with the likes of their variable speed washer, and the utility sink top washer, the combination washer/dryer, and a variety of other appliance designs that didn't make it to commercial success.

Obviously, the only reason they still make this is for the replacement market.

Bosch 300 Series 18 in. ADA Compact Front Control Dishwasher in Stainless Steel with Stainless Steel Tub and 3rd Rack, 46dBA SPE53B55UC - The Home Depot

300 Series 18 in. ADA Compact Front Control Dishwasher in Stainless Steel with Stainless Steel Tub and 3rd Rack, 46dBA. ADA compliant and compact size for small spaces. 3rd rack and adjustable middle rack for loading flexibility.

www.homedepot.com

 

[bradfordwhite]

Also

It just looks weird. It's an unnecessary and unplanned optical illusion.

You know when you look at the sink there is a cut-out in the counter for a recessed tub with drain.
And the dishwasher is an enclosed tub accessible from the front, so
how...
why...?

No. Bad design. Good intentions back in the day to try and please everyone and we can appreciate that, but....no. Just no.

 

[pulltostart]

Reply #9

That particular installation would be a plumber's nightmare.  Although this arrangement was offered by GE, the preferred arrangement would have the dishwasher and the sink offset by 12"; with the combination using a total width of 36".  The sink required a rear drain (both right and left were available) and plumbing connections (including a disposer) could be located in the 12" cabinet beside the dishwasher.

 

I believe this model dishwasher was introduced with the 1962 model year.

 

lawrence

 

[circlew]

I've known several people who lived in apartments with this dishwasher arrangement. All of them had it offset from the sink, and had either an 18" or 21" sink base cabinet to the side of the machine. I don't think any had disposers. The recommended sink to use is Elkay model GECR2521 L or R, which lists at $558.00.

 

[DADoES]

 
1962.  There apparently is a market for them if they haven't been discontinued for the duration of 60 years.

 

[bradfordwhite]

#12

It's just like the 24" wall ovens. The major manufacturers still make 1 or 2 models, but they are basic and they are intended for the replacement market.

No new buyer seriously considers them. New installs are 27" or 30"

Haier/GE is the only manufacturer of these underSINK dws.

--

I am amazed just how many choices there are these days for 18" models. Back in the 80s all I knew was Kenmore's 18" D&M made model that was successful enough to continue to be made for decades. Then other brands started putting their name on the D&M made model.

My guess is this is an international market. I know the UK has recently been taken up with the dishwasher fad that the U.S. was doing in the 70s. They are however with limited space in their kitchens.

 

[combo52]

GE Under Sink DWs

Must have been a bad idea since they only built them 60 years, oh wait they are still making them, LOL

 

I have never seen one directly under the sink like in reply #9, I don't think that is a real kitchen installation.

 

If you wanted to do it like that you just put the plumbing and shut off valves to the Rt or Lt in the cabinet next to the DW.

 

Here I mostly see a single sink with the drain opening on the Rt or Lt because we are required to have a disposer here.

 

John L.

 

[Chetlaham]

Big Market

There is a huge market for these in existing rental properties.

There are plenty of economy apartments from the 50s, 60, and 70s which have these. Either original or added latter during a unit overhaul.

It lets the owner advertise the Kitchen as fully applianced. Mention heat and hot water included with the rent and the line of people interested ends up leading out of the rental office.

Just to give you an idea here is the size of a typical Kitchen:

 

[Chetlaham]

Bad Concept

To all those saying it is a bad concept you're correct- to the household occupants who have to live with it. But at the same time you have to take into account that the landlord world is very, very different than the buyer/owner's world. And that is the spot GE has always appealed to.

Landlords just want to get someone to sign an unbreakable 1 year lease. That takes the visual presence of convinces, amenities and promises. (Like a full size {cough-under -cough- the sink- cough} dishwasher) Whether or not those offers live up to expectations or preconceived notions is another story that is not of interest the landlord after the ink drys.

In simple terms get a dishwasher into a small space at the lowest price.

*In no way am I defending this business model, rather I am just sharing insight*

 

[Chetlaham]

Cleanability

Except for the pop up tower being a bit different and shorter, everything else is 100% identical to a full size standard tub GE dishwasher. Water charge was the same.

At the apartment maintenance scrap pile which typically had 6-12 DWs added every week these consisted of 1/4 of the machines.

 

[tomturbomatic]

The main problem with the D&M 18" dishwashers is that the standard construction machine is more narrow than it is deep so the wash arm cannot provide coverage to the entire area of the racks.