OK GE Boys, Here's Something New

[laundryshark]

How About a Nice Video?

...And with some great audio as well. Feel free to clown around and have fun as you are testing your latest classic GE find. Am eagerly awaiting to collect that video.--Laundry Shark

 

[bajaespuma]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

Oh Lord! Every stinking time I think I've figured them out, they go and throw in another ringer!!!!! This machine looks like a prototype. WHAT'S THE MODEL NUMBER????? I can't even begin to guess. Excuse me but I'm plotzing here. It looks like it would be a WA-655V, but the colors are all wrong. I've NEVER seen that color combination on a 1961 GE until now. They did something like that in 1963 with their BOLs, and that "V-12" badge on the front of the cabinet was also something I've only seen in the very early ads introducing the new line.

Also, it has the old-style filter-flo flume that would be replaced later in the model year. Where do you find these things????

 

[lesto]

Way cool, Robert. Very similar back panel to our old 59 model. The timer control on the 61 is very similar except the short cycle was in red and the normal wash had 15 min to 3 instead of 12 to 2. What year did GE move the filter flo spout from the center over to the right, anyone know?
Isn't the 61 the first year with a perforated tub?
Les

 

[jons1077]

Robert,

That's a really neat machine! Mark in Roanoke has this machine as well. Not sure if it works or not though. Funny how that design stayed in play until the 1990's and yet I just remember the later ones being so loud! Turn on an older model like yours or mine and it's soooo quiet. shhhh....

Jon

 

[gansky1]

It doesn't tell you it's an AUTOMATIC washer....

Oooh, that's very fun to see. It just goes to show, there are still lots of good things around waiting to be rescued.

I love the label on the front - it's huge!

 

[commodorejohn]

A 1961 model? That's the year I was born! It's in better shape than I am! GREAT MACHINE-I LOVE IT! Back in the 60's, my entire family worked for GE, so everyone had a FILTER-FLO-I always thought they were a very pretty machine. They still ARE!

 

[Unimatic1140]

It looks like it would be a WA-655V

Ken the model # is WA-655V, I'll take more picts tonight.

 

[pdub]

Another very nice find Robert. Congrats!

Patrick

 

[peterh770]

Is that just a touch of rust around the balance ring?

Beautiful find! I bet GE Mike in Long Beach will come fetch it when you are done!!!

 

[turquoisedude]

Wow, what a cool machine, Robert! You have such amazing luck finding things!

My folks had the 1962 V12 set; the washer was scrapped in 1973 when it started leaking oil into the wash tub and the dryer hung on until 1998.

All the best with your latest find!!

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations! Interesting how the Filter-Flo stream uses half of the opening so that the Suds Return can use the other half. You told us long ago that this was the only year that the V-12 used the rear position for the filter stream.

 

[pulltostart]

Congratulations, Robert! A beautiful machine!!!!

Lawrence

 

[toggleswitch2]

OH MY GAWD. GAWGEOUS DAHLINKS!

I think I jsut dropped my nail file.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Nice find!

That is a fantastic machine!

By the way, in the picture, I saw a Escalara stairclimber in the background. We have 3 with the big wheel attachment. Isn't that the slickest power climber handtruck ever?

RCD

 

[bajaespuma]

Made my freakin' day:

I am so grateful for these pictures I went into the portfolio and immediately changed my WA-650V from this:

 

[bajaespuma]

to this:

 

[bajaespuma]

Raider of the Lost Filter-Flo

...now, to really bore the hell out of you people(sorry, but 1961 is/was my FAVORITE model year for Filter-floozies), I can tell you that our downstairs neighbors had my first depiction of these with the all-blue panels.I never knew the actual model numbers of those machines, but they correspond to the ones listed and pictured in a GE catalogue I have from that period. Also, for some reason, at some point during the model year, GE switched the filter-flume from 12:00 to 1:30 (where it remained for more than 30 years). One of many things I love about your new find is that great color blue/gray, as far as I know, was never used before or since. I wish I could find an engineer or designer from that period so I could ask them why there were so many variations produced. It's hard to believe that they would spend so much time and money changing these things. Were they just throwing washers together from spare parts?

Sorry to rattle on, but I always wondered if this machine existed and there you go and find one. Is that giant "V-12" badge a sticker or a plate?

 

[spankomatic]

What a nice find! Thanks for sharing photos Robert!

Jim

 

[Unimatic1140]

Is that just a touch of rust around the balance ring?
Not exactly, the balance ring must have been been contaminated with moisture at some point and there are a few areas where the porcelain is pealing off of it and its rusting in those spots. The wash tub should really be replaced. This shouldn't be too difficult as I'm almost positive any standard capacity GE washer basket will fit from '61 thru '95 will fit.

Interesting how the Filter-Flo stream uses half of the opening so that the Suds Return can use the other half.
Tom the Suds Return fills through a second flume with is located at the 10:00 position right next to the standard water flume. The Filter-Flo hose had some gunk built up in it, now that I cleaned it out it's flowing the way its suppose to, see much better...

 

[Unimatic1140]

Ken here is a close up of this sticker. You know I really think this washer should go to you, according to your profile its one of you dream machines. I'll be looking for a good home for this machine and you should have first pick.