GE Versatronic Control Dryer

[tomturbomatic]

Mike, Another thing about the dryer is that it looks like the 4 inch vent is adapted down to a three inch rigid vent pipe. I don't know where the vent travels on its way to the outside, but if you ever have the chance to increase the whole run to 4 inch rigid pipe, it should be done and, at the same time, the flexible duct behind the dryer should be greatly shortened or eliminated. It will mean removing a clamp before you can pull the dryer out for cleaning or service, but all of that vent tube behind there is not safe. Any restrictions in an electric dryer's vent system can cause early failure of the heating elements because they run hotter with the restricted air flow over them. This can be a factor in dryer fires, too. You want to keep this beauty working right for many years like all owners of fine appliance treasures.

 

[Versatronic]

I hear you

I hear what you guys are saying. Could this oil dryer actually be an electric dryer? Well, yes, it could, despite the following items:

I bought the house from the sole heir of a deceased couple. The woman's husband seemed to know everything about the house. He told me the dryer was an oil dryer, which is the only reason he didn't pilfer the dryer before the house was sold. "I couldn't get 30 bucks for that dryer. Who wants an oil dryer?"

When I called the repair man to fix my dryer, I don't recall saying please come and fix my oil dryer. I recall just asking him to come and fix the belt. My recollection was that I just asked him to come fix it. I recall him saying, without provocation "Wow, I've never seen an oil dryer before." If I had said it was an oil dryer, he opened it up, replaced a belt and found nothing to dissuade him that it was indeed an oil dryer.

Obviously, the people who built the place overbuilt it and provided for just about every modern convenience that was available at the time. The guy who originally built the place was connected to the biz in someway and wasn't going to skimp anywhere. And he decided that rather than put a 220 plug in the laundry room for an electric dryer, he was going grab some spare copper tubing left over from connecting the oil tanks to the oil burner/heater unit, drill a hole in the floor, rip the plug out of the versatronic, direct wire a 220 line from the fuse box, through the hole in the floor, through the tube, and into the dryer.

Despite these events and oddities, could I in fact have an electric dryer rather than an oil dryer. Yes, and dammit, we're going to get to the bottom of it.

 

[toggleswitch]

I BELIEVE YOU!
I BELIEVE YOU!

so now the quesiton is is this thing home-brewed? probably not.

BUT DAMN it is thought-provoking.
Be forewarned there is already buzz as to distance to be traversed to get to you.

Beware of washer-heads bearing coffee cakes and inviting themselves in to inspect your...... toys..... and the parts that make them up.

 

[toggleswitch]

List Mikey

We all just heard from you (and have reasonably good proof) the earth is round, when we ALL knwo it is indeed flat. ("No such this as an oil-fiired dryer" HA) so cut us some slack ..

SO, that said.... when are YOU hostng the next wash-in?

LOL LOL LOL
Who loves ya baby?

 

[toggleswitch]

Listen.

Gete JasonL over there to make a video/ DVD with sound and sell it for $15 bucks a pop. I see money to be made here.I'm sure we'd all even chip in to get jason a round trip ticket. I'm sure he won't mind leaving Lousisiana just for a few days..

All you have to do is pry open the rear and stick the camera inside.. LOL

I'd loved just to hear the flame ignite (and the sequence of events leading to it) and figure out if the ffame size modulates, or like today's gas stuff cycles on and off.

I STILL belileve you Babe.

 

[thirtyater]

I want to believe! There has to be a 110 volt line out of that thing though if it is fuel oil. It is VERY unlikely that it runs out the bottom. Maybe there is a fuel oil generator in there too. On the down side, on my 1957 GE dryer there is a recessed panel on the lower back side where the vent comes out and the power line goes in the top of that recessed panel. That fuel line looks like it goes in the exact same way and spot my power line goes in. Oil or electric I still love it though.

By-the-way, I had a relative that was a foreman at GE's appliance park in Louisville, KY in the late 50's thru late 60's. I remember him mentioning the defunct models museum at appliance park. Has anyone else heard of this? If so was it open to public or just for company research?

 

[toggleswitch]

I SO WANT TO BELIEVE TOO..

1) An oil line would not curve up like that, and would probably feed lower into the machine. and yes there would probably be a filter and a valve near the machine.

2) There would be a plug-and-cord for the 110v "accessories" and motor.

I WANT to believe I WANT to believe...

Could it be that the hubby was speaking in front of the wife, and continuing a decades old hoax? Did she have an aversion to the cost of running an electric dryer?

I am so confused...

 

[petek]

If it is oil fired wouldn't there be a pilot light somewhere as well with access? This machine would pre date electronic ignition wouldn't it, even for a gas model.

 

[toggleswitch]

IMHO usually oil-burners (in a domestic setting) have a sparking-gap electrode ignition system.

In large commercial /industrial seetings there is uaually a natural gas standing pilot light... (in theold days oil was burned due to its cheaper cost over natural gas.)

Rule of thumb #1, the dirtier the fuel is the less expensive it is.

Rule of thumb #2 the dirtier you want your paid companion to be the MORE they charge.

 

[deeptub]

I hope its an oil dryer too, but that fuel line looks a lot like the brownish braided cloth covered electrical cable I've become so familiar with at my partner's house. I can't imagine a copper line with such a bend in it.
T.

 

[Versatronic]

The Silver Lining

I think some of you guys misunderstood my previous post. You really do have me convinced that it is an electric dryer. I believe. I was laying out the case why I thought it was an oil dryer so you could understand how someone like me could believe something like that. You know, so you wouldn't think I was a complete dumbass. Now I know that the excitment of discovering an oil dryer has now morphed into a room full of hollywood loafs, but there is a big sliver lining in all this, but only for me, not you guys. Had the guy who sold me the place not truly thought it was an oil dryer, he would have dragged it out of the place never to be seen again. He said he would leave a lot of stuff behind but didn't, only the stuff that I was smart enough to put into the contract, like the kitchen table for instance, except for the dryer. So it was the misconception that allowed me to gain possession of this wonderful machine. And I won't love it any more or less because of how its powered. And it's still the best dryer I ever owned. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[veg-o-matic]

Gas, oil, hamster in a wheel. Who cares? It's still a cool looking machine!

veg

 

[launderess]

There is really only one way

To settle this hash! *LOL*

Someone is going to have to either have a peep at the back of the dryer (away from the wall), or get the model and serial number so things can be researched.

Would LOVE for this to be an oil fired dryer, but several things come to mind:

Being that the oil is downstairs in the basment,and the dryer on the ground floor, wouldn't some sort of pump be required to push the oil up from the tanks?

Next is the problem of soot and emissions. Oil is not very clean buring, and can imagine there might be a whiff about whenever the dryer was operating.

Burner maintainence, sooner or later most oil burners would need to be cleaned, so how would one do this with a dryer.

Again, not trying to rain on anyone's parade, but inquiring minds want to know. Maybe a few members could offer to come out and help you carefully and safely pull the dryer away from the wall to better suss this thing out. Even if it is an oil burning dryer, the above suggestions regarding the swapping out of the vent hosing should be done, and probably a good cleaning out of link/gunk from inside the machine as well.

Just my two bobs worth

Launderess

 

[toggleswitch]

Adding more fuel to the fire.

Could the guy have said "Old-tired" not "oil-fired?" dryer

oooh a tongue twister.

LOL

 

[toggleswitch]

ah and what does the badge/label/nameplate inside the door say?

120/240 volts
60hz AC
5,600 watts (or 5.6KW)
3-wire

or similar?

 

[gansky1]

Easy to see...

Turn the dryer to run on a heat-cycle, open the door while pressing the door switch and start the machine. If it glows red behind the revolving drum, it's electric.

It makes sense, many early dryers were hard-wired and had three inch vents - this one was just adapted to the existing connections.

 

[geextrarinse]

has anyone ever heard of...

an oil fired dryer? - I didn't think such a thing even existed - I too am hopeful as the wonders never cease on here - but I think that one of you guys would have known of such a thing - were there ever any made or could this just be an adaptation or fluke if at all?

Just curious.... not downplaying anyone!

Hey Mike - btw... where in Harrisburg are you - I'll be passing thru next week on weds morn on my way to Ohio - will you be around?

 

[Versatronic]

It's time to butter my butt

Now that I'm home from work, I reached back and that is not a copper tube, although it is the same size as the copper tubing elsewhere in my house. It is flexible. It is electric. I really believed what I was told. The only time I ever had a fleeting doubt was when doing something in that area and I'd think it was odd there was no cord plugged into a receptable to power the lights and buzzer and such. That did puzzle me.

There a number on the serial plate that appears to say 122002 V but it's hard to make out. Another number says MC228 587 and that number I'm pretty much sure of. It also say 240 Volts a few time, gives the wattage, and mentions Appliance Park, Louiville Kentucky.

I guess if oil dryers never really existed, it would explain why this got peoples attention.

 

[Versatronic]

A Preview

For all the people who want a tour of my place, in this thread, and the other one I accidently started, here's the scoop. First, I will take complete pictures of the place at some point and you can get a virtual tour. I'll put the pics in the Super forum when I do. But not until I deal with the Kelvinator issue.

As far as having a get together here, that sounds great. One of my best friends who works for one of the best breweries in America has offered to supply the beer free of charge. He might want to put a little up a little sign that says "This space age bachelor pad sponsored by Troegs" or something, but that's it. However, none of this can be done until after I deal with this Kelvinator issue. I've got to deal with that now.

Now, if you happen to be in the Harrisburg area, well of course you can stop in and I'll give you tour, we can pull out the toys and check them out, tip some Mai Tais in the tiki bar, whatever you want to do. Just email me if you'll be in town and I'll make every effort to meet up with you.

Also, at some point in the near future, I will post pictures of what I believe to be a '50's GE Oven/Stove combo that blew me away. It's at my friend's sister-in-laws place and we stopped in to see it on the way back from picking up the Kelvinator. I was completely floored.

If you are going to be in town, below is the kind of thing you can expect to find here.

 

[goatfarmer]

You're in Harrisburg,and you don't drink Yuengling?
Like Veg sez,it's still a neat dryer no matter how the heating system works.

kennyGF