POD 2-09-2010

[dishwashercrazy]

Prefice:

I have a General Electric - On the Farm - catalog that Todd (varicyclevoice) generously gave to me because of my interest in GE appliances. The catalog is undated, but I'm estimating that it is a pre-WWII publication. A letter "To the Farm Families of America" on the inside cover of the catalog starts out "Your interest in this book suggests that you have or soon will have electricity. Assuming this to be true, I congratulate you, for I am sure that from the wide variety of equipment which transposes this great force into useful services, you will gain better living on the farm and better ways of farming for a living." And the letter continues for another 4 1/2 paragraphs. It is signed by Charles E. Wilson, President of General Electric. He was president of GE from 1939-1942 [then served in the war] and as president again from 1945-1950.

Inside the catalog, on page 14, is featured the exact same model of Electric Sink that is represented in today's Picture of the Day. In fact, portions of the ad in the POD are exactly duplicated in the catalog advertisement and description.

 

[dishwashercrazy]

On page 15 of the catalog, the Electric Sink Model DE-40 is shown with a description. It sold for the sky-high amount of $269.50. Wringer washing machines in the same catalog were selling for between $60 and $90.

Also shown is the bolt-down garbage Disposall model FA-2 selling for $99.50, and the Stand-alone GE Dishwasher Model BE-40 selling for $194.50

One really had be very wealthy to be able to afford such luxuries like owning a Dishwasher or Electric Sink.

In comparison, my Dad bought a brand new middle of the line Chevrolet car in 1951 for around $1800. And GE Electric Sinks were around $350 then. Clearly the cost of a dishwasher was nearly 1/4 the cost of a new car. WOW!

Mike

 

[appliguy]

Hey Mike......

Thanks for sharing the dishwasher part of the GE Farm Catalog with us but can you post the rest of the catalog as well???? That would be really awesome....PAT COFFEY

 

[spiceman1957]

Hey, I don't have a maid,

will the GE Electric Sink work for me? he he

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Pat....

Yes, I will work on scanning the rest of the catalog.

Mike

 

[turquoisedude]

Great stuff!

Mike, your collection of documentation on the electric sinks is almost as impressive as your collection OF electric sinks!! Thank you for posting these catalog pages!
My, but those early Disposalls took up a lot of room...

 

[circlew]

Thanks for posting this. I'd like to see the rest of the catalog, too.

 

[alr2903]

The book, "A walk in the park", uses a lot of print to describe the development process of the disposall, it was a good bit of money at the time. The > $260 price was probably to recoup some of this research and development money. Also notice the early disposalls required a mounting rod to the floor (weight and vibration). the one pictured looks like it has evolved to the point of being anchored to the bottom of the sink cabinet, it was years before the disposers we are familiar with that hang by a mount from the sink with support from the drain pipe were developed. alr2903

 

[tomturbomatic]

Seeing the picture of the free-standing dishwasher installed in the corner reminded me of the APEX in our friends' older home in Decatur, GA. It was on a wall by itself perpendicular to the sink and counter. Most of the other ancient installations were electric sinks. All of the dishwashers were new enough to be automatic.

Thanks for the pictures.