GE Versatronic Control Dryer

[Versatronic]

Hello. This is my first post here. I have been reading along for quite some time and have really enjoyed the place. I'm amazed at the expertise here. I was wondering if anyone can help me with dating this dryer. I've tried flowers, candy...but still, I've come up empty handed. This was left behind when I purchased my current home 4 years ago and all the other appliances left behind date to about '57, but I'm not sure if this is the original dryer installed when the house was built or not. It seems as though it could be from that time period. It's got that little atomic symbol on it and a chevron. Seems to fit. And also, is there such a thing as a versatronic control washer? I would love to get a matching washer if such a thing exists. Thanks so much for any help any of you guys can send my way. I hope to join in on the fun when I have something to contribute.

 

[Versatronic]

Here's a close up of the control panel

Here's a close up of the control panel. It lights up when you turn the timer. Other unusual things about this dryer: it has a foot switch to open the door, when the door opens, a light comes on inside, and finally, it's a oil dryer.

 

[tolivac]

Interesting-It uses fuel oil for the heat source?didn't know such a thing was available.Learned something new.Its a really nice machine-and that cool lamp next to it!!

 

[gyrafoam]

A diesel dryer?

Wow! That is really a beautiful machine. And yes, I can see where you would like to match it up. Of all the modern GE's those were really the best looking.

I can thing of at least two friends who would love to have a set of those machines! Best of luck to you-----you never know where you might find that washer!

Thanks for posting the photo's!

 

[Versatronic]

Yes, it's oil powered

A belt broke on this thing about a year after I started using it. The noise about gave me a heart attack. I called a GE repair guy (yes, I'm not worthy of this place) and he put a new belt on. The guy said he's been repairing dryers for 30 years and he never actually saw an oil dryer. Then he gave me a date when the last oil dryer was made. I forget what he said but I want to say 1971 or something like that.

I just picked up that lamp yesterday. Don't get me started on lamps. I have a sick lamp fetish. I probably have about 200 fifties lamps. Here's one of my favorites. I hope the moderator doesn't bust me for this.

 

[Versatronic]

So there is a matching washer...

I didn't know if there was a matching washer. I've been looking for such a thing for four years now and figured it didn't exist. Thanks so much. I hope someone can date it for me. I just picked up a 65 kelvinator fridge. I got the eBay link from this place. It was a horrendous experience and I think I'm too traumatized to talk about it yet.

 

[launderess]

Have Something To Contribute!

My dear, you have just done so!

An oil fired clothes dryer! That simply has got me gob-smacked!

Guess propane tanks weren't around then? Either way you slice it hold on to that baby cause next to the Maytag combo units, they have to be rare as hen's teeth.

Welcome to the club, by the way. And good luck on your quest. As one of the resident eBay "trallers" look out for my posts. You never know what might pop up.

Launderess

 

[tolivac]

WOW!!Love it-maybe I will have to hunt the swap shops here for some 50's lights Really cool.Love the "space age" one.and the fifties looking corner of the drape.Looks like a fifties pattern.Have several issues of 1950's Better Homes and Gardens,and American Home,as well as "Progressive Farmer" Found the box of them at the used bookstore here(while it was still operating)for 50 cents.Still looking at them.Sounds like you have a really interesting collection of lamps.--I have a thing for industrial Metal halide and High Pressure Sodium lights. Buy them used from an electrical contractor out here.Love the quality of the Halide light-just like Sunlight!!Has the blue spectrum that Incandescent lamps lack. One of them I have came from the Hatteras Boat factory.They used them for inspection of the paint jobs on completed boats.The boat factories around here change their light fixtures frequently.They are not as attractive as your fifties light fixtures!!-but the Halides do put out the light.These are also sold as "plant lights" for folks who like to grow their plants indoors.The contractor that sold me mine said he got calls from indoor gardners for the lights he was selling.

 

[Versatronic]

Ooops

I responded to you guys, but somehow it became a new thread rather than a reply. I guess I don't quite have the hang of this yet. Maybe the moderator can delete that thread.

 

[southernmdgeguy]

67-68 vintage I think.

Welcome to the club, as a new member here as well, I think you will find this a great place to be with a membership having amazing amounts of knowledge and skills. Love that dryer, I never knew there were oil fired models, cool! One simular to that is on my wish list. Growing up we had a set like that, was not the fancy top of the line like that one appears to be, but the light and timer was exactly the same. We had the matching set, I seem to remember our dryer had like 4 different heat options and a start button at the bottom of the row. Somewhere around here I have all the factory paperwork from them.
Scott

 

[goatfarmer]

This website mentions Versatronic as being part of GE of Canada.

kennyGF

http://www.badcorp.com/company.cfm?caid=7528000&action=products

 

[goatfarmer]

Versatronic Range ad,circa 1971.

http://pages.tias.com/11382/PictPage/1922612874.html

 

[pulltostart]

Versatronic

I have a piece of GE literature from early 1968 that shows this dryer. This is definitely a TOL for GE. I don't think this dryer was offered after GE introduced their 18 lb washers - the matching dryers where the larger, 31-inch-wide models. I would guess it to be a 1966-1968 offering.
Lawrence

 

[goatfarmer]

Someone here has the control panel from a washer.

http://www.automaticwasher.org/TD/MEMBERS/deeptub-DISPLAY.htm

 

[geextrarinse]

Hi Mike!

Great Dryer! - I too am a GE fan and there IS a member on here who has a matching washer to your dryer - he sent me pics which i would post but my hard drive recently crashed and I lost them - I will look for the thread and see if i can refer you to him! - his washer is greeat and the perfect match I believe - same dash board at least!

Thanks for posting!

Matthew

 

[Versatronic]

Wow, a matching range

See, I already learned something. I had seen the bad company website before when I did a google on versatronic. And actually, that's how I originally found this place. Someone mentioned a versatronic in their profile and I got a google hit on this place and have been reading it ever since. I love when someone displays a new find and someone else begs them to pop the lid. It makes me laugh every time.

 

[Versatronic]

Thanks Matthew

I would be most grateful if you could hook me up with the fellow. Even if he's not willing to sell, I'd just love to get a picture of the match. Also, thank so much for dating the thing Lawernce. Everybody, thanks. Keep the info coming. This is even better than I expected. I'll keep checking back.

 

[geextrarinse]

Ask FilterFlo

Jim has the matching washer and if you look up the thread #2583 (i think) you'll see the washer just to the right of the laundry sink - he sent me some great pics but like i said i lost them. I'm sure he'll send them again if you ask him - i was very glad to see them and i'm sure others will be also!

Have fun with it!

Matthew

 

[geextrarinse]

sorry

that was 2853 - weekend washin at Gary's

 

[Versatronic]

I can't find that thread, but...

A very nice member just emailed me photos of the washer. This is the first time I have ever laid eyes on it. This is fantastic. Thank you everyone.

 

[deeptub]

Control Panel

I'd love to see the pictures of the Versatronic washer. The control panel I had off my grandmother's diappeared c. 1981 when my mother went on one of her cleaning rampages. I haven't laid eyes on a Versatronic washer since.

T.

 

[petek]

Mike, great dryer, I'd never heard of an oil dryer either. Does it say where it was made on the serial plate?

Would love to see pics of your lamp collection and other small appliances, as you've probably noticed there are lots of eclectic collectors here. Noticed your orange glassware as well, that's sort of where I started with this craziness, buying Murano glass etc. Now I can't stop.

 

[fixerman]

Here's an interesting link that could be useful in dating some of our machines. On the GE page it only goes back to 1980. If it is like it appears, the year letters seem to repeat every twelve years, one could make an guess/assumption for older models.

http://www.applianceaid.com/appliance_age.html

 

[fixerman]

What's the serial number on your GE?

 

[launderess]

What sort of "oil" does this dryer run on anyway? Bunker fuel grade 4? *LOL*

Launderess

 

[toggleswitch]

Hi and WELCOME!

Oil-fired dryer?
STOP THIS MERRY-GO-ROUND RIGHT NOW! LOL

PLEASE describe the burner, and does the machine have a fuel storage tank within or like today's oil burners, is the oil supply just piped in?

Since early oil burners were not the cleanest burning and did not have complete combustion, carbon and soot and odors would in theory be a problem. I am guessing, therefore, that a heat-exchanger would be expected here. (Like a frigidaire filtator that used room air to cool the warm moist air that circulated though the clothes and drum. The two air streams did not mix).

I am theorizing, then, that cool dry clean air is heated by passing over the air-stream of the combustion, but the two air flows don't mix. The dryer then may have had a vent for the warm moist air and another for the products of comustion (or perhaps hey were combined before exiting the machine).

I would personally kiss your feet for pics of the guts of this dryer.

Thank you so much for posting and sharing you insights and discovery.

 

[Versatronic]

Serial Number

The plate with the serial number is shiny like a mirror and I can't read the numbers in the current light. I tried putting thin paper over it and rubbing a pencil on it, but that didn't work. I think I'll have to wait until there is normal daylight to read it. The plate does say made in u.s.a. in appliance city, Kentucky. I'll try to get the serial number tomorrow in normal daylight.

 

[Versatronic]

Oil Dryer

This place has two big honking oil tanks in the bomb shelter in the basement. You know, fuel oil tanks. And there's a little copper tube that snakes through the place somehow, somewhere and come out of the floor right behind the dryer. So, it's normal fuel oil.

For the nice fellow who wants to see some of my small appliances, I'm posting some pictures. I have maybe a dozen blenders. This is my all-time favorite. The Galaxie Ten Oyster. This isn't my favorite coffee maker, but it's in my top 3 and happens to be on display at the moment.

 

[veg-o-matic]

Well, butter my butt

and call me a biscuit. An oil dryer. Never heeerd of such a thing!

Vers', I love your house! I have the same two-tier candy dish as you, but mine's in lovely Avocado green. Would that fabboo turquoise perc be a West Bend Fiesta (ole!) Perc? If so, I have a similar one in orange.

More pics, please! And welcome to the club!

veg

 

[Versatronic]

West Bend

The candy dish is Haeger Mandarin Orange. I have that stuff all over my living room. I'm doing a red, orange, yellow thing in there. I can't tell you if the coffee pot is a "Fiesta" but it is a West Bend. I love West Bend stuff. I even have an old west bend automic drip coffee maker in yellow and brown which I actually use every day. Just for you, I pulled out my all-time favorite coffee pot. It is also, you guessed it, a West Bend. Check out the George Jetson styling on this beauty. That's a GE can opener in turquoise in the background. I have 2 in white as well, and god knows how many sunbeam and other can openers. It's sick, I know, but that's why I fit in here, I think. Anyway, survey says...