Mini Basket for GE Filter Flo 1967

[tinkr]

Ad says it came from a 1967 machine

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-WAS...690942?hash=item51fbf816be:g:1OYAAOSw8TBZcTqh

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

Did GE have the 4 fin, strait vane agitator in '67?

 

[ken]

I know the machine this came from. In mid June a GE Coppertone W/D pair located in Coarsegold were posted under Fresno area CL. The ad was reposted here by Phil (ovrphil) in July. The top of the washer's inner tub was rusted through. They were posted as for parts or restoration. The poster of the ad was Eric. I called the number listed on the ad (916-792-8843 ext. 916) twice. I left a message both times explaining if no one were to take the machines or someone wanted only for scrap I would be interested in the filter pan and mini-basket as I had an old GE washer that were missing those when I got it. I explained they would have to be sent to me but I would pay the shipping. The guy couldn't give me the courtesy of a call back either time to say yes or no. Probably my interest in the pan and basket gave him the idea of listing them on ebay now that the W/D are gone. The screen name on ebay posting for them (Vonrad Trading Post) would give the impression of a business. Good business attitude considering he had someone contacting him interested in them and an opportunity to sell if they didn't go with the machine. Which obviously is what happened.

Here's the original ad from June.

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?71775[this post was last edited: 8/17/2017-12:46]

 

[bajaespuma]

Not 1967, more like 1970

The first year that this style of mini-basket was available was 1970. It's featured in a 1970 catalog that's part of the Ephemera library. Included in this sale is the matching filter pan with the sunken center that accommodated the short-lived Dry Detergent Dispenser. 1970 was also the first year since 1961 that GE (in the US) used blue plastic parts like filter pans, dispensers and mini-baskets for its "HEAVY DUTY 18" models. This basket fit over a "Straight-8" Activator.

 

[gyrafoam]

I saw the first GE straight vane such as depicted in reply 3 when our neighbor got a new set during the 1965-1966 time period in Atlanta. I do not recall what color it was. When I peeked inside there was little more than splashing going on with almost no roll-over. I remember thinking GE had made a mistake, as the spiral Activator was very aggressive and rolled clothes very well.

 

[bajaespuma]

Spot-on

The one you saw was its predecessor, the jade green (sometimes black)Straight-6 which can still be interchanged with any perforated tub Activator except the "HEAVY DUTY 18'S" . And I agree with your assessment of its performance. My theory is that GE adopted the design to improve the performance and capacity of the mini basket and sacrificed the rollover in the main wash.

 

I think that in Canada, these were also blue. Canadians?

 

[gyrafoam]

Ken

The more I think about it I believe the machine I recall had a black Activator. It was an upper MOL machine.

The worst was getting stuck using the coin-op machines with this Activator. I had a companion that lived in Ansley (aka "Anus-ly") Forest who kept kvetching that the coin op machines underneath the building he was in were terrible. So he used to bring his things to my place to wash.
One day I was at his place while he was at the office and I ventured down to investigate the laundry room. There sat a couple of Straight-vane Activator GE's. That explained the whole problem to me.

 

[bajaespuma]

Despite my criticism of the Straight-6 I'd still like to find a Black Straight-6 to complete my collection. Unlike the green ones, the original black activators had small lower vanes that stuck out a little bit from the base. I think this must have improved their performance at least a little bit.

 

[yogitunes]

interesting....I think the big change for GE's switch to the straight vanes, was to increase capacity, for at that time, was standard, and usually 8 to 12 pounds...

by using the straight vane, it eliminated the space taken up by the ramped activators funnel design....

and so before the 18lb unit came out, they could get away with 14 and 16lb rated capacities....

oddly enough though, the ramped activator of the V12 was very effective at turning over a heavy load....most likely why they returned to that design, just a bit more trimmer...