GE Versatronic Control Dryer

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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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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?
 
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.
 
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?
 
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...
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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?
 
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.
 
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.

9-7-2005-17-01-38--Versatronic.jpg
 
Now that I'm home, I checked my dryer's #s and the model is 1220D2W. The W is the color. I caught hell for missing that D the first time I went to look it up for parts and the serial is RC219 386. Pretty soon it will be time to switch from the gas outdoor dryers to the electric inside ones as I do everything to keep the heating bills down and the temperature inside up.
 
Mike, each picture just keeps gettin better & better & more interesting--that last one above.

NOW FOR THE DISHWASHER. Yes, use the substance Tomturbomatic told you to use to rid the iron. But, do the following because the detergent dispenser cup does NOT open until after the main wash fill. So, here's what ya do. Put in that ctric stuff in the dispenser cup and close it. Then, START the dishwasher and let it fill with water as normal. Once the filling water has stopped, unlatch the door and have it stop. Then advance the timer knob until you hear the cup plop open. Then restart the machine. If there's that much iron, I'm somewhat concerne3d the solenoid may be full of debris and it's not getting it's full allotment of 1.5+ gallons per fill. Bob
 
The Kelvy Experience

The Kelvinator story. I been snooping around for a new vintage fridge for years. I've been close to purchasing a fridge several times, and each time something went bad. Like I purchased a fridge in the Midwest. A beautiful turquoise fridge. Had everything I was looking for. I arranged for the shipping which cost a fortune since the guy didn't live near any major arteries. The owner offered to crate it for me. When he tried to move it with a handtruck, it fell off the handtruck and damaged it. I cancelled the sale. The next one was about an hour and a half away from me. White GE with the lazy susan shelves. It was beautiful. That fell through. You get the idea. So, before I was a member here, I surfed this place and someone pointed out an eBay listing for three matching turquoise kelvinator appliances. I really only was interested in the fridge, although I would have picked up the matching dishwasher for a good price.

Well this story gets long and involved. Apparently the buyer I was buying from bought the appliance on eBay from the custodian. Then her new house deal fell through and she couldn't use them. These appliances were still in the custody of the original seller and they were in a shed in the backyard among a pile of debris and for all intents and purposes, completely open to the elements. They have been in complete squalor for months or possibly as much as two years. So, based on the listing, I'm expecting a fridge that is in terrific shape that's ready to plug in and use. I drive two and a half hours to pick it up and find these three appliances in this condition. I was mortified. I had to dig around in the debris to find the bottom grate cover. It was covered in crap, was rusting, had white house paint all over it. It was unreal. I was torn over whether to just drive back without it or not. I chose to bring it back for a number of reasons. I had already moved my working fridge down into the basement. Oh, and when they were stored, they didn't crack open the doors, so the inside is overwhelmed with mold and mildew and smells horrible.

There's a lot more to this story, but those are the basics. I now have this beast in my kitchen, where it's been leaking for 3 days now. It buckled one of my kitchen floor tiles, like huge bubbles coming up out of the tile. I put a heavy garden stone over it this morning flatten it and pray it will dry back into shape. I have tried various cleaners on the outside. Some are too strong and are taking a thin layer of turquoise paint off. Fantastic seems to be working the best for me but even with that, to get it fairly clean of the crap on it, I'm thinning the paint. I'm afraid that this thing is going to require a repaint for it to truly look great again. The white house paint splattered all over it will not come off easily. I posted one pic of the inside of the fridge in the Super forum. Well, the moderator moved the thread there, but the name of the thread is "Thanks". I have other pics to document the condition. I didn't contact the seller yet, but I'm very unhappy. And the woman who bought the stove, I contacted her and warned her about the actual condition of these appliances. She cancelled the pick-up by craters and freighters, but she sent a blank check to the woman and the bank won't put a stop payment on it.

There's more to this bad experience, but those are the basics. If I'm lucky, I'll have refrigeration in my main floor in a couple of weeks. Until them, I have to go to the basement. I plugged in a fridge down there to use until I either get this thing cleaned up for use or decide to scrap it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7542167948
 
As an eBay Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
The Dishwasher

Here's the info you wanted appnut. The four buttons say, from left to right, daily loads, pots pans, rinse hold, and china crystal.

Thanks for the comments on the house. Outside of my circle of friends, nobody's really seen this place. It's just my private little hobby/getaway. Speaking of getaway's, if the battery holds out, I may be able to post some pictures of another room.
 
Serial Number to tell age

There is not a "C" for the date code on the web site I posted earlier. Could the second digit be a "G"? If so it was probably manufactured in 1968 if the code repeats every 12 years. As for the model no. it seems to be missing the first letters. GE's usually begin with DDE or DDG. The older ones sometimes with the numeral 1 (on washers anyway). If the plate was worn off maybe the prefix letters were no longer visible, and only the stamped characters remained.
 
Fixerman, I looked at it again and yes, it could be a G instead of a C, so it is probably MG228 587. Does that date it to 68? Who would have believed that an appliance built in '68 would still have an atomic symbol on it?

Kenny, Yuengling is ok, but once you try a Troegs, you'll never yearn for a Yuengling again. Rated as one of the top microbreweries in the world at rateabeer.com, they make that necktar of the God's right here in good old Harrisburg PA. If you like beer, they make it best.

Nobody's yelled at me yet, so here's a pic of a little corner of the homestead.

9-7-2005-20-40-39--Versatronic.jpg
 
And as for that other number I posted, 122002 V, there are definitely no characters in front of that. The serial plate is acutally in terrific condition, just hard to read because of the glare, and maybe my eyes are going bad.

9-7-2005-20-47-38--Versatronic.jpg
 
I've got family in the Harrisburg area...look for "Winner" in the phone book. Chances are they are descandants of me from long down the family tree. I'm usually passing thru the Harrisburg area on my way to Williamsport during the summer for the yearly family re-union.

NEAT HOME! I love the retro / 50's stuff you have! I'll hafta drop in sometime as I pass thru!
 
Hi Mike, The pictures of your place are just amazing. How long have you been collecting? Thanks so much for sharing with us. Terry
 

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