That light blue tub is really nice, did this colour tub have
No, unfortunately it didn't.
I don't know about the 1968 TOL model but the new 18 lb. capacity 1970-71 TOL models had a light blue tub (matching the 18 lb. activator) , the "Versatronic" model had it too, and then the models changed. We bought a TOL GE model in 1972. At that point the "Programmed" models had been eliminated; the straight-vaned light blue 18lb. activator remained but the tub was back to speckled gray. IMHO it was the end of a grand era for GE.
The unusual feature that our machine had, which I haven't seen since, were solenoid-operated bleach and fabric softener dispensers mounted on both the left and right hand sides of the tub--they worked magnificently and solved the problem of dispensing softener when an optional 2nd rinse was chosen. I think our machine was the predecessor to the Dispensall. An unusual "powdered detergent dispenser" (which looked like a space-ship)took the place of the activator-mounted softener dispenser. It sat on the filter-flo pan which was then oversized and had a depression in the center for when the detergent dispenser would "fall" after the pre-wash spin. It was a gizmo--it worked though. If I ever find the literature for this machine (and I'm trying hard to sift through all the storaged stuff), of course I'll post it.
