How Cool Is This Water Valve?

[Unimatic1140]

Work Continues on the 1947 GE Washer...

With all of the timer and temperature switches finished and back together, I decided it was time to clean the water valve. Well just like the Timer, the water valve not surprisingly is also quite unusual. It has two separate water flumes, one for hot water and the other for warm water...

 

[Unimatic1140]

Post-War Primitive

Very early!

 

[Unimatic1140]

Here are the two seperate fill flumes, I have never seen a washer water valve built like this before.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Even the water hose markings are different...

 

[Unimatic1140]

Here is the entire valve apart for cleaning. I was also surprised to find weights and not springs to hold the valve plungers down when the solenoid is not energized.

 

[gansky1]

That is the coolest thing yet! The valve-seats look rather familiar, are they standard size? Is there any kind of flow restrictor?

Weights! Wow.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hi Greg, the valve seats are the large size and I have some NOS large size seats, but of course they are a slightly different size as well. Those two big washers to the upper left of the solenoids are the supposid flow washers, but the openings are so large I can't imagine they slow the flow down very much! Get your goggles on!

 

[monkeywards40]

Unimatic1140

i must say you are my idol when it comes to rescuing the old model washers and dryers and repairing them. I wouldn't mind seeing your washer collection which i think is better (from the pictures i have seen) then any old museum or amusement park, i have always loved washers and dryers from an early age, and to think your collecting and rescuing them and making them like they just came off the showroom floor, which long ago i wanted to (when i was a teen) wanted to start a club like this. I would be honored more in meeting you and seeing your collection, then meeting any actor or athlete in the world.
Kelly

 

[pulsator]

Once again Robert, you've proven how much patience you have when dealing with these things. Taking it all apart and cleaning it all up. It looks wonderful so far! Keep up the awesome work! I anxiously await the next set of restoration pics!!! YAY!!
-Jamie

 

[panthera]

Robert,

this is beautiful. I wonder, were the weights an attempt to reduce corrosion problems?
I've never seen high and low temp before, what a treasure trove of technical "could-have-beens" you are giving us here.
Thanks!

 

[retromom]

WOW Robert!

Restoration seems to be going smoothly! Can't wait to see the splash-o-lation!

Congrats on a real gem!

Venus

 

[gregm]

how long design ?

how long (# years) did GE use this design/type ? very interesting ........

 

[Unimatic1140]

Thanks everyone, Hi GregM I assume you mean the entire AW6 design and not just the water valve? It was built from 1947 thru 1950, but with each passing year they cheapened the machine, by 1950 most of the bells and whistles of the 1947 machine were gone, including the reciruclation and filter, rinse water storage and pre-soak cycles.

 

[Brent-Aucoin]

Robert,
This water valve is way to cool! It almost looks like it was meant to be taken apart and cleaned!
You are so lucky to get this version of the machine!
Thanks again for the pictures.
I don't know if you know yet, but I am wondering if the valves "clunk" when they are energized.
Brent

 

[dalangdon]

1947. How cool!

Most factories in the US converted to war production during WWII, and it took a while to re-tool back to civilian production. Was 1947 the first post-war model year? I imagine the designers and engineers were eager to design non-war products, and to use the stuff they had learned during the war on their civilian wares.

 

[swestoyz]

Hey Robert - the progress is wonderful! It is good to hear that you have NOS seats for this. This machine surely is the wonder of all pre 1950 machines. Thanks for posting!

Ben

 

[toggleswitch]

Amazing. Truly amazing lessons here!

 

[JerseyMike]

Amazing!

Wow! 1947! How cool is that! It looks like it was truly an awesome design.

I wonder if they "cheaped" the later models in order to lower the price? They probably didn't sell many machines in the years immediately after the War, because automatics were considered luxury items. (My mom didn't get her first automatic until 1960 for that very reason.)

And, once again, you never cease to amaze me with both your talent and your patience. I can't wait to see the finished product! (Not so subliminal suggestion: video, video, video!)

Mike

 

[jetcone]

Cool

Why on earth would they plunge warm water to the outer tub?
Does this machine recirculate constantly when washing? I thought it needed water there to kick off the start float switch?

inquiring minds want to know...........