GE Wringer Washer 1950

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vintagevillage

Active member
Joined
Sep 11, 2012
Messages
27
Location
Morehead, Ky
Hello everyone! I am picking up a 1950 GE Wringer Washer today, and would like to know if anyone would know where I could maybe find the owners manual? I am picking it up from a lady on craigslist. It is in wonderful shape, has the timer and pump, but I would like to have a manual. Also, it is missing the "knob" on the lid. Any suggestions? We have a couple Maytag Wringer washers, but have never owned a GE wringer. Thanks!
 
Hello,

I may have an instruction book I could make a copy of for you. If you will give me the model number I will look in my collection for it.

Jim
 
Photos, I hope!

Hello Joseph...first time I've seen a post from you here on the club, so I had a look at your profile - and I see that wringer washers are listed as your favorite major appliance! As a kid in the '60s, I used to see them everywhere, but alas, now it's up to us collectors to preserve them (and have fun using them!)

Hope you'll be posted some pics of the machine when you get it.

Regards from a like-minded winger washer "aficionado"!

...Brad
 
First Photo

Hi Brad! I have always liked Wringer Washing Machines. Maybe it is the sounds..lol When I was younger, I would help my Grandmothers and Mother with their wringers, and have been facinated ever since. Here in Ky, where I live, these are hard to come by, as everyone seems to use them. They are hard to find in good condition. I have always had Maytag Wringers, but ran across this GE. I got a great deal, however it is in need of hose replacements underneath. There is a hose from the tub about 6 inches, and a smaller hose that connects to the main drain hose. The drain hose is fine, it's the ones under the skirt that need replaced. Any idea where I can get these? The Model is 1WC830KP1F. I am not familiar with the GE wringers, but this one looks fun to use, so I can't wait to get the hoses replaced!

vintagevillage++4-5-2013-22-53-12.jpg
 
Hello Joseph,

Your GE is a beauty. It looks to be in beautiful cosmetic condition. The Maytag N is very nice also !!

The number you gave above must be the serial number. The instruction books I have all have 3 digit model numbers. I have a book with a pic of the TOL model that looks similar to yours but the wringer is different. I still have to look through all of the collection.

Please see if you can find a model number on the manufacture's plate. I will then look further.

Jim
 
The usual advice here from the Webmaster is to take the small hose to an auto parts store and match it up with one of their many hoses, and then cut to fit.

What a cool machine. Like other guys, would love to see inside the machine and the agitator.

I was so surprised and happy to read this: "Here in Ky, where I live, these are hard to come by, as everyone seems to use them." So wringer washer use is alive and well in Kentucky? Would you talk a little bit more about this when you have time. Thank You.
 
Thanks everyone!

Thanks for the tips and help. I will get some additional pics of the inside. It is two-toned. The top is white, and bottom skirt and lid is a darker ivory/tan color. I looked on the serial place, and it has the long model number and a different serial number. I will have to look it over good and see if I can find the model. What I like about this machine, is that on top of the wringer, there is a tension setting. You can set it to low or high, depending on the fabric and material you are running through! And yes, here in Morehead, Ky, the use of wringer washers is alive and well! It is very normal to drive through the country on a monday and see everyones wash hanging on the line in spring and summer, and seeing wringer washing machines sitting on porches. Lots of people use them, and have automatic washers too, but just use the wringers in spring and summer. We call it little Mayberry here. I will be 33, and have grown up around wringer washers. Everyone in my family had one. My wife is from Texas, and she didn't even know these still existed! lol My grandparents both had Maytag Wringers, and my mother had a Kenmore. One of my grandparents still uses her wringer, and she will be 85! The family gave her a automatic washer a couple years ago for her birthday, but she rarely uses it (only in the winter). As soon as good weather comes, she is filling her wringer and tubs with water. The round maytag I have came from my Grandmother, and I have had it 16 years. When I moved out on my own, this baby came with me, and am still using it. We have a front loading washer and dryer, but it is only used by my wife, I prefer the wringer washer. My mother was particular, and very OCD about her laundry. Maybe that is where I get it. lol She had a certain way of doing it, then refilling with new water. And the laundry had to be hung in a certain order on the line. lol Didn't mean to ramble on, but wanted to tell a little about myself, and where we live! I really enjoy this site, and appreciate all those who have the same interests as me!
 
Another reason to visit Kentucky!

Hey Joseph,
Thanks for sharing about "wringer washer life" in KY! I've wanted to visit the state for many years, so here's yet another reason to do so! LOL. I can just imagine driving down country roads, seeing wringer washes on porches. I have a favorite framed print in my main bathroom called "Maytag Morning" by the artist, Randy Souders, showing that exact thing.

I, like you, recall very early childhood memories (about 3 years old) of "helping" my grandmother do the wash. She had a Zenith wringer washer out in the wash house, away from the main house. We used to call it the "bunk house", because my uncles used to sleep out there in the summer. It had an old wood stove for heating.

Looking forward to seeing pics of inside the tub and agitator!

P.S. Nice to have you in the "club"!

bradross++4-6-2013-14-22-35.jpg
 
Hi Joseph,

I looked through all of my collection and believe I have found the instruction book for your washer. The pic on the cover looks exactly like the one you posted. It is a model #WC 830KP. It is the TOL model according to the book. Let me know if this is yours and I will make a copy and send you.

Jim
 
Joseph

It is almost as if an extinct species has come back to life. Before your post, most people probably were in your wife's position. Now, we know otherwise. Which leads one to wonder, how many other places are there out there like Little Mayberry where the wringer is indeed alive and well. Long live the wringer. "We are not alone.!" lol

Thanks for your eye-opening contribution to our history. Made me so happy.

Boy, I'd love to see that manual, Jim. Maybe you could get it over to Ephemera.

Great picture, Brad. Love the argyle sock in the wringer
 
I am

in the process of making a long list of the wringer washer instruction books and brochures I have in my collection. I will then send it along to Robert and he will make the choice as to what may be posted for download. I have talked with him about this but he is so busy right now that I have been bad in delaying my work here LOL.

Jim
 
That would be beyond Awesome

Jim, if you could do that that would be great. I would gladly pay ya for postage and your time! Thanks everyone for your input. We have a Whoesale Auto Parts store right down from my work, so I will stop in today. Mickeyd, glad to know there are others that appreciate wringers, like me!
Brad, when you get a chance, you will have to drive through good ole'Kentucky..lol Or West Virginia, Wringers are still thriving there too. Sometimes you can find Wringer Washers on craigslist, but very rare here. Most of the time, they come from used appliance stores, or sometimes the Amish have auctions, and you can find good used machines there. I will try my best to get some inside shots today! Great to meet everyone, even if it is over a computer!
 
Thanks, Joe.

A close-up of the timer so we could read the sayings would be another piece of history, since we haven't seen a GE timer as far as I know.
 
Timer shot

The timer is really neat. It has several settings including one that is a "hold" setting. On this particular setting, it will "hold", or continue washing until you manually turn it off.

vintagevillage++4-8-2013-19-05-37.jpg
 
VintageVillage, my goodness & congratulations. Your new GE looks brand new. Definately well taken care of. Welcome to AW.org. alr
 
"Hold" setting on timer -

The "hold" setting can also be used when operating the pump.

BTW - thanks for posting the pics! The inside of the tub looks pristine, and that 3-vane "activator" agitator looks great. All-in-all, G.E. and Kenmore had a very similar design, that is, until Kenmore changed to the "Visi-matic" wringer configuration.
 
Beautiful

It looks so good and the agitator is just like the one in the early automatics; those sharp extended fins make the water boil live.

How is the timer marked-- 5....10.? How high up in minutes? I like knowing the specs about the timers because some of them use words, "Lightly soiled, " etc, like the Norge, while other uses words and numbers like the Visimatic. So how does the GE roll?

Thanks.

What a pretty girl.
 
Hi Joseph,

Have you found the model number yet of this beauty? I am pretty sure I have found the instruction book but will need the model number to know for certain. Thanks !

Jim
 
Attention All Wringer Dukes and Duchesses-- and New Members:

There is a new gem in the POD (picture of the day). Go to main page, click on daily double (upper left top of page), then click on picture of the day.

It's an APEX with the automatic timer in a spiral dasher washer. Spiral dasher refers to a magnificent agitator that looks like two big angel wings. It's not visible in the pic, but I'll try to find a photo later.

What's amazing about the machine is the two giant dials both looking like timers, even though only one of them is the timer, in all likelihood. I have never seen two giant dials like this before on a wringer washer.

WOO HOO ~ To see this in the flesh would be a sweet day in Heaven.
 
Timer

Mickeyd, The timer has intervals starting at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, then the hold setting. I used this machine last night for the first time, after I replaced the hoses. This girl purrrrs like a kitten. It is so quiet. There is not a lot of splasing of water (like with my maytag), but the turnover is awesome! I guess my only complaint (if you would call it that) would be the wringer. There is not a whole lot of room to get the clothes in with my hands because of the release bar, but I guess it was made like for that for a reason. I really like the agitator!

Jim, from what I can find out the model number is WC 830KP. Thanks for all your help!
 
Yep,

I do have the book for your GE wringer. Please send me your home addy in the email here in the club and I will make copies and send them to you. No charge. Just like collecting these and finding someone who has one to share with. I will make copies today.

Best !! Jim
 
So glad she's up and pumpin.' I inherited a 50's GE from my Great Aunt Mary, and remember how quiet it was. It did not have a timer, and I can't really tell if yours is older or younger than hers.

Jim, have you been able to get the exact year for this model, or Joe do you already know the year for sure. Thanks.

I might still have Aunt Mary's GE today, but when we went back to collect it for our new apartment at the start of our senior year, the lady who lived below us had used it all summer and pleaded desperately with us to let her have it so we did. Glad I did because the good Karma from that gift has sent 6 beautiful wringers since.
 
Karma paid off!

It wouldn't bother me a bit to have one of each model of wringer washer..lol

Jim was able to help me out, so many thanks to him!! He was right on the model! My next venture is to find a Kenmore Wringer with the swirl agitator!
 
Sorry, Joe, I forgot to say thanks for the sweet timer shot.

It's another unique one, increments of 2. Pretty cool. The only other one I know of that start's so low is the Speed Queen, a precise old gal that starts at 1 and goes up to only 8.

Still can't get over how brand new the control panel looks.

I hope you can find a Lady Kemore Visimatic. They DO show from time to time, and they're one of the best toys in the box. Rotoswirl currents.

mickeyd++4-10-2013-17-54-23.jpg
 
Nice pics of all the wringers. MickeyD does the Visimatic wringer have a soft roll? IIRC, with the Maytags the buttons always went up facing the darker roll? The visimatics rollers resemble marble with the colors in them. I really like the Rotoswirl in your Kenmore. arthur
 

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