POD 12/20: Who made JC Penney laundry equipment?

[frigilux]

I've always been a little hazy about who made JC Penney washers like the one shown in today's POD. The controls look very GE, and the agitator and left-opening lid look like Hotpoint. Did GE own and make Hotpoint laundry by that time?

Hope someone can set the record straight for me. Thanks, as always, for sharing your expertise on such matters.

 

[revvinkevin]

YES!

 

 

JCP appliances (well, washers & dryers anyway) of that time period were sourced by Hotpoint... which was of course owned by GE.   I remember looking at them in the stores and realizing "Hotpoint"!

 

Kevin

 

[washerlover]

I can remember somehow as a shy and introverted kid asking the JC Penney salesman to demonstrate one of these washers so I "could show my Mom." Fun machine -- still unsure of the "speedy wash" function -- an entire cycle in 10 minutes?

 

[redcarpetdrew]

The refrigerators and I believe the microwaves were also made by GE/Hotpoint...

RCD

 

[Jsneaker]

If no one is aware...

Hotpoint's are still around! LOL

 

[jonvance1990]

Reply to Jsneaker

Yeah but they obviously don't make 'em like they used to. lol.

 

[circlew]

Eugene, Hotpoint has been a division of the General Electric Co. since 1918.
I've seen JCP ranges that were Hotpoint, too.

 

[ingliscanada]

GE/Hotpoint/JCP

GE made Hotpoint since the stone age, but until the 70's, they were build differently. After that, Hotpoint became mechanically identical to GE, but maintained some slightly unique traits. The washer had the ring filter while GE still had the agitator-mounted basket filter, and the tub was only perforated on the bottom and at the top of the sides, to give a "solid tub like" spin drain. By the 80's, they were completely identical. JCP was identical to Hotpoint.

Gary

 

[alr2903]

"A walk in the Park",  has a photo of the first ge/hotpoint machines that began the Penncrest "partnership"... alr

 

[ingliscanada]

GE/Hotpoint/JCP

GE made Hotpoint since the stone age, but until the 70's, they were build differently. After that, Hotpoint became mechanically identical to GE, but maintained some slightly unique traits. The washer had the ring filter while GE still had the agitator-mounted basket filter, and the tub was only perforated on the bottom and at the top of the sides, to give a "solid tub like" spin drain. By the 80's, they were completely identical. JCP was identical to Hotpoint.

Gary

 

[ingliscanada]

Sorry for the double...

The first time I posted this (GE/Hotpoint/JCP), it somehow got deleted.

Gary

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

The thing about JC PENNEY appliances is they were never as successful as Ward's or Sears...

GE even authorized its own service to repair JC P. appliances, in addition to its own General Electric & Hotpoint brands (although you still occasionally would see a JC Penney truck performing this function)...

Unlike the Ward Signature & Sears Kenmore Coldspot brands, the attitude among appliance buyers must'a been "Why not just get the "real deal"????", if the Penney/Penncrest brands looked so much like the "Hotpoint umbrella" they were under...

-- Dave

 

[frigilux]

Thanks, everyone, for contributing information! I can always count on the AW family to come through with the goods.