Heads Up! Nice GE Potscrubber's for Sale

[washer111]

Here is one in the "Ashton" area:
http://medford.craigslist.org/zip/3186120327.html
Apparently does not pump. Sounds like a motor failure. For that price (appears to be free), its well worth the money!

This one in Frenso:
http://fresno.craigslist.org/app/3141344166.html
Still working too!

Another in Myrtletown:
http://humboldt.craigslist.org/app/3114405689.html
The owner claims to have wanted a "quiter" dishwasher. They apparently didn't get one (ouch!)

I've never seen so many units hanging around. Oh well, good luck people!

 

[washer111]

By the way, if I were closer (around 18,000km closer), then I might acquire on of these.

I wonder what sort of freight costs would be incurred... Other point, I wonder if I did manage to get one, if I'd be able to disconnect "Calrod" and run a 240v-115v converter on the power supply. I'll have to see the wattage of the motor, though

 

[danemodsandy]

Meh.

The problem with GE Potscrubbers is that many of them have what GE branded a "Perma-Tuf" interior liner, which was plastic over steel. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: this technology was none too perma and not very tuf.

The coating is easily scratched, exposing the steel beneath to the certainty of rust. It's also thin where it's supposed to cover an edge, like the lip of the lower edge of the door opening and the lip of the sump opening where the motor is mounted, so rust can start there too.

GE used to make a repair kit for Perma-Tuf, sort of a two-part epoxy deal, but the completed repair always looked like some form of necrosis was setting in, and it usually began rusting again within weeks.

If you find a GE of this vintage with a porcelain liner, by all means, consider it. But Perma-Tuf units are getting pretty rare, and there's a reason for that.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Sandy -

Your information is incorrect, you have it confused with another GE product. You are on the right track in certain elements however.

The Perma-Tuf tubs are solid plastic. They are not lined. They don't peel, and they don't rust, and from what I have seen and heard, are very durable. In fact I have heard some long-time service professionals here praise the perma-tuf tanks for long-term durability.

Perma-Tuf debuted with GE in the second half of the 1970s I believe, and thus has been in production for more than 35 years. I believe it was the first mass-produced plastic tub dishwasher material. Our 1977 GE Potscrubber II had it in fact, and every dishwasher we have owned since then has had it.

I think what you are thinking of is GE's previous tank configuration, which for a while was produced concurrently with the Perma-Tuf.

The Perma-Tuf name is still widely used today by GE and can be found referenced on their website. Much later GE began making washer baskets of the same plastic and the name Perma-Tuf was used in marketing them.

Oddly, Hotpoint dishwashers seemed to have genuine porcelain coated tubs/tanks when GE counterparts used the coated steel, which I believe was called Plastisol.

Gordon

 

[DirectDriveDave]

I love those dishwashers, I still miss the one we had. I don't know if I am in the minority here, but I love appliances that make noise.

 

[danemodsandy]

Gordon:

The 1977 GE Potscrubber I had was equipped with the plastic-on-steel liner. It also came with its original Use and Care manual, which referred to the liner as "PermaTuf."

It may be that GE used the name on more than one technology, or that there was some disparity between the info in the manual and what was actually in the machine.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Sandy -

The Potscrubber II dishwasher debuted the new PermaTuf door and liner according to the brochure in the link below. We had the '950 model. Previous generation Potscrubbers would have had older style tubs, just like you said.

GE may have used that name before; that is an interesting concept. It seems like GE was trying to pave the way for something new, and to distance the new product from everything else, but without other brochures or owner's manuals, anything would seem possible at this point. I have a few times seen the earlier tubs called "TufTub".

Might you have had a Canadian model? Sometimes these seem to be hybrid models for GE, even in later production, as some Canadian models retained features of earlier models, such as detergent cup shape and location, but had current marketing names on them. I found a pic of one that looks unusual, that I'll link in another reply.

Check out the thread below. It has the brochure I mentioned.

Gordon

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?24910

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Here's an interesting Canadian machine which might have the older style tub?

Thanks to MaytagA710 for the post last year...

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?34227

 

[kenmoreguy64]

On to the three for-sale ads - all are for Potscrubber 1200s (my all-time favorite dishwasher). The one in Fresno says "Time to upgrade". I'm tempted to write that seller and say "I hate to tell you, as I've been there and tried to replace a 1200 with a GE Profile tall tub, but you won't be upgrading, not by my standards anyway. If you want a machine that uses less water, that you can get, but it will take more time by far, and will leave you with questionable results unless you ad heat boost to the cycle, which takes even more time. I eventually replaced the tall tub GE with another 1200 and no longer fret over supposedly clean dishes".

 

[danemodsandy]

Gordon:

"Might you have had a Canadian model?"

If it was a Canadian model, it had wandered awfully far South; I lived in Atlanta at the time.

I also ordered parts for it a couple-three times; its model number never caused a flurry, which I think a Canadian model number might have done, particularly at Fox Appliance Parts in Atlanta, where the help wouldn't have been able to find booze at the Jack Daniels distillery.

 

[washer111]

@danemodsandy

Having looked at some of these advertisements my self, I will have to tell you that the thread "GE Dishwashers" (in the link provided by KenmoreGuy64) suggests that Potscrubber II's introduced the "PermaTuf" tub.

And I quote, "It won't chip or crack in normal use. It cannot rust. It is molded in one piece without seams. It is thick and permanently tough. It is immune from the problems associated with porcelain and Stainless Steel tubs. It incorporates sound dampening characteristics for quiet operation. It is designed to keep its clean, bright appearance for years."

@kenmoreguy64
It seems that GE in Canada might have made some "hybrid" models as you suggest. You are 100% correct about what you say about "Downgrading" to a newer dishwasher (lol). You can't really get any better than a nice, old dishwasher (especially a Reverse Rack, GE Potscrubber or KitchenAid) - unless you buy yourself a commercial steam machine (expensive?)

How is your Potscrubber going? By the sounds of it, it certainly doesn't sound like it has gone kaput at all over the last few months or so! (Yes, I read the "tragic" story of the GE Profile Tall Tub and its subsequent replacement)

When you started to mention that you were going to contact the Seller in Frenso, I began to think you were actually considering a purchase of that mighty machine, but then you surprised me and said you'd send an e-mail telling the seller how silly an idea it was to upgrade.

Certainly would be nice if someone could save one of these. Based on my searching, it also appears there are No GE 2800's for sale (remember, the digital Potscrubber we all want?)

 

[washer111]

Great!

Heres another: East Tucson, only been used "A handful of times." $20
http://tucson.craigslist.org/app/3203419175.html

A $250 machine. Recently removed from a Kitchen Remodel, Thurmont, MD
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/app/3198800121.html

Another kitchen remodel, NE San Antonio. $50
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/app/3196879745.html

Could anybody shed some light as to why so many are showing up lately? Are people "upgrading" for the looks or are a number of 1980's houses started to be refurbished and given new kitchens?

I guess now is the time to buy... Just wish I would find one over here (lol!)

 

[appnut]

It's both I am sure.  These are 25+ year old machines.