POD 7/10/2017

[brucelucenta]

GE was well into the Filter Flo models by this time. From what I understand, this is the only year they made the timer dial on the opposite side of where they normally placed it. This machine is a very nice flexible machine that you can set any temperature and speed combination for whatever your needs might be. With the exception of a cold wash, it would do just about anything necessary. These washers did a good job of washing, rinsing and spinning out the clothes. I would say that the load capacity was about average for a solid tub model. The FF feature served to be a good selling point for some people too. I used to enjoy watching our neighbor's washer as it washed. I thought the FF circulating through the filter pan was cool.

 

[frigilux]

I've seen this POD a number of times and thought the placement of the cycle dial to the far left on the console was a unique set-up. You certainly don't see that very often. The dial is almost always to the right or in the center of the console.

If not for videos at AW and YouTube, I would have never seen a solid-tub GE in action.

 

[wft2800]

Is there any particular reason why PotD is always an American vertical-axis top-loader? Personally, I would be more interested in seeing front-loaders (especially Bendix), and perhaps even some European content. The big agitator washers are all but unknown this side of the Atlantic.

 

[hilovane]

This is another washing machine I remember vividly from early childhood, as one of my aunt's had one. Since at the time my family lived in an apartment complex, we did't have our own laundry machines.
So, occasionally, my aunt would invite my mom to come to her house, and do our laundry there.

The GE FF's fro that era, and a very distinctive sound; I can only describe it as a "mechanical gurgling" sound, which I assume might have come from the FF system?

Any info on that, would be appreciated.

Thx.

 

[tomturbomatic]

I have the dryer from this pair and the dryer has the push to start switch and another pink switch to turn the light on and off.

 

This dryer was the first with the solid drum and the heater in a duct behind the drum so while the washer mechanism resembles the one of the previous year, the dryer mechanism was a new design.

 

[pulltostart]

Re: Tom's dryer

The new dryer design that they introduced in 1957 was called their "High-Speed" dryer, and used negative pressure, whereby the blower pulled the warmed air through the drum (and the clothes) rather than blowing/blasting the warmed air through the drum.  With a few minor tweeks, GE kept this design through the Filter-flo run, with the exception of the last year.

 

lawrence

 

[turquoisedude]

Guilt....

Seeing this ad reminds me, yet again, that I have the Suds-Saver version of the '57 Filter-Flo washer and the matching dryer and have still not done anything with either... Still traumatized by my epic fail with the '60 BOL GE washer, I guess!    

 

[Unimatic1140]

I'm curious Paul, I can't remember the mechanical failure/challenge on your adorable '60 BOL. Was it transmission or clutch related?

My '58 Washer has the best fabric softener dispenser of any vintage 1950's machine by far. Spins at 650rpm and has slightly larger usable capacity than most other machines from the late 50's. The only thing I would add to the 57-60 Solid Tub GE Filter-flo design is a spray rinse during the wash spin off. Overflow filtering of the solid tub GE's is excellent, IMO the best of any washer if you have pets.

A peek at my wonderful '58 Filter-flo-ing...


post was last edited: 7/10/2017-13:30]

 

[turquoisedude]

Hi Robert!  It was the transmission, alas.  I could get the washer to spin but not agitate; when I finally got the transmission out and opened up, there was not a drop of oil left in it.  It was a wonder it could still spin!  

 

I'm still scared to tackle the '57 WA855 in case the transmission in that one is shot also...  

 

[Unimatic1140]

It was probably just gummed up with dried oil/fine metal gear shavings. It would need to be turned upside down, filled and soaked overnight with a solvent (mineral spirits, acetone or xylene) and cleaned/re-oiled properly. There is a chance that the clutch spring at the bottom of the transmission broke and that is why it wouldn't agitate. It depends on whether you can turn the pulley in either direction or not.

ps, Only play with those solvents outside of the house, they are all somewhat dangerous. Mineral spirits is the safest but the least effective, in my opinion.

 

[frigilux]

GE Agitation Speed: When did GE switch to the significantly more rapid agitation speed that I recall from their late 1960's washers? Until the direct drive Whirlpool/Kenmores came along, GE had the fastest opm I'd ever seen. I was watching the video of Robert's '58 above and kept waiting for it to kick up to high speed.

 

[gyrafoam]

OPM increased with the arrival of the perforated tub and spiral Activator.
These solid tub machines had a deceptively larger tub than it looked because of the small diameter of the opening. Even the filter-pan makes it look small.