I HAVE ALWAYS DEPENDED ON THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

[bajaespuma]

Does ANYONE out there have any brochures, cut-sheets, pictures, information in print, ANYTHING that can give me information on GE Filter-flo Washing Machines and Dryers from the 1960 (Golden Anniversary line) and/or 1961 lines? They would look something like this:

 

[bajaespuma]

-Blanche DuBois interrupted

and this ( I'm not sure of the model numbers here)but I know we owned that washer once:

 

[bajaespuma]

-Blanche here, again

I am especially interested in these two years' model lines because they straddle the change point in the GE Filter-flo line from the solid tub 10 lb. models to the V-12 perforated tub line with persisted until the late 70's.

A 1960's model might maybe look even something like this (again, model number in question):

 

[jamman_98]

WOW

Those pictures are beautiful!!! How did you do that? Sure would be cool to see you do other machines lik this.

Joe
jamman_98

 

[Unimatic1140]

They are cool, did you make those in Adobe Illustrator?

 

[bajaespuma]

Thank you--I'm glad you folks like them.

They're done in a program called FREE HAND GRAPHICS (v. 7) by Macromedia. This is what I've been working on and why I'm looking for as much information on these Washing Machines as possible so I can get all of the details right. Unfortunately, I can't get all of the detail on the site because the files are way too large (1.4 M, avg.)so I've had to translate them to smaller JPEG's. I sent a whole portfolio of them to the webmaster so I imagine they'll be viewable in the "COLLECTIONS" area soon.

 

[Unimatic1140]

"I sent a whole portfolio of them to the webmaster "

I have not received them as of yet. So out of curiosity bajaespuma, why exactly are you working on these particular GE models?

 

[bajaespuma]

I posted them to the [Upload Photos to Your Photo Album] command, so they are in "bajaespuma's Photo Album", there are 28 of them now. Did I screw-up yet again? If so, I apologize. Please tell me how to get them to you.

Mostly I'm interested in these GE's because of nostalgia--extended family and friends owned about 11 of these models between the years 1957 and 1964. I've always been interested in Washing Machines and Vacuum cleaners--Dad and I(mostly Dad, of course) used to take them apart and do minor repairs on them so they became favorite toys. Now I am interested in the evolution of the industrial design of these machines. It's kind of fascinating to see how these appliances went from "Lucy and Ethel" to "The Jetsons" in just a few short years. The colors and bells and whistles are fascinating on all of these machines (not just the GE's) and its especially interesting to see how much money some of these corporations and makers spent on changing model lines every single year, given that for the last 20 years Washing Machines and Dryers have become homogenous, monochromatic and monotonous versions of the same design. Unfortunately we are witnessing the demise of the American Top-Loading design. It's dying slowly but no one is putting any imagination or money into their manufacture. Tooting my own horn here, but I remember coming back from a semester in Paris in 1978 and telling people that it was only a matter of time for Miele and Siemens andthe other brilliantly designed front loaders would take over the American Washing Machine market as Honda and Toyota was taking over the automobile industry at the time. Of course, no one cared.

By the way, thank you for posting the pictures today from "The Farm". They were amazing!(I've told some of my neighbors that this my plan for landscaping this summer.)

Remember what happens in a few short years--from this:

 

[bajaespuma]

...to this:

 

[Unimatic1140]

Wow Bajaespuma, your computer art-work is just incredible, I am very impressed...

http://automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/00ShowCollectionGETD.cgi?dir=/COLLECTIONS/BAJAESPUMA

 

[bajaespuma]

It's Just the Beginning

Thanks Unimatic. This website has been a dream come true, and of course I mean that literally. As soon as I can get my &@%$###&)%@##@!!! HP 6100 Scanner working again (apparently, new computer systems don't recognize SCSI devices anymore because USB has superseded them, but what I didn't know was that my beautiful and expensive flat bed scanner would become practically obsolete--I'm trying an adapter but it's got lots of issues) I'm going to start scanning all of my appliance brochures and cut-sheets for the site. I never realized that so many people out there shared my passion (mania) for classic appliances.

If I don't have luck with my scanner can I just mail some stuff to you via snail mail? Or is scanning as big a slow pain in the neck as it is for me?

 

[panthera]

memories and very very impressive

I have seldom seen such good artwork. Wow! My grandparents had the 1958 and 1961 dryer...Their '58 filter flo ran til 1973, washing at least two loads a day...but the original dryer broke so often the first year that GE sent some folks out to look at it. They gave my grandparents the newest - '61 - and took the '58. Maybe to be exorcised...
I used to bang my foot on the foot pedal from the dryer every morning on the way past it...but it sure was convenient.
Don't remember the model numbers - they were bought to wash my diapers...but it was great fun pushing the start lever down on the dryer.
Funny, if US quality today were anywhere near what these machines had - and they were nearly BOL, we didn't have money -GE would still be building the best washers.
Oh, the dryer was still going strong 35 years later, when the house was sold.

 

[peteski50]

GE

Baja
The artwork on these GE's are absolutly beautiful.
You must have put a lot of time and effort into this.
Many Best Wishes
Peter

 

[ironrite]

Just beautiful illustrations. I admire your talent. Can't wait to see more of them. And I very much agree, I do think that style is a very important part of what will sell the product. Be it washers, cars, etc.

Not sure if you've seen this website below. They have a lot of ads from the past. When you get there, just click on the giant Chrylser to enter.

http://www.plan59.com/

 

[jamman_98]

Awsome

Those pics are awsome. I bet you could do justice to some other very interesting matchines like the Philo Automagics and Kenmores. I love the colors and the detail is way cool!

Joe
jamman_98

 

[bajaespuma]

Thanks to all for the kudos.

Just so y'all know, I'm using a code. If the filter pan is on the dryer instead of on top of the agitator, it means I know this particular model exists but I'm not sure about the model number. Thanks to all of you and your pictures, I've been able to correct and update many of these, but I'm still hunting for my 1960 and 1961 Holy Grails.

Here's another one I've been working on. I think it's Unimatic that has one of these: