Progress report on the 57 GE washer

[turquoisedude]

Agitation without water...

It's not wizardry, honest!  GE solid tub machines from 1953 on had a 'water saver' button on the upper-end models - it simply bypassed the pressure pad at the bottom of the tub and started agitation.  Unlike the WP/KM/Inglis models with Suds-Savers, GE doesn't have a 'spot' on the timer where the agitator runs while the pump returns saved water to the tub. 

 

Why I know this was in place in '53 was because that's how I got that '53 of mine to agitate!   Actually, the switch on the '57 is a little sticky; it should be a momentary contact....  

 

[Unimatic1140]

Super cool work Paul, very impressive! You'll love the '57 GE. That pump flapper was an issue for sure in that design. Can't wait to hear about its first wash in decades!

Working on my '58 GE I've learned a lot about the electric circuit of this machine, and it's quite complicated compared to most of the time, but it works well.

 

[appnut]

Great work Paul!!  Proud of ya!!!

 

[lesto]

This is so exciting. The 57 was such a unique and attractive model with the timer on the left. Can't wait to see pics and video of it's maiden wash!

 

[turquoisedude]

It was a long weekend here in Canada and it was also the first time in three weeks that Hubby and I got to spend an entire weekend together. But I wasn't going to let that get in the way of the 57 GE washer restoration!!

So, the goal this weekend was to leak-proof the pump/tub area...

 

[turquoisedude]

I got it right this time. It 's holding vater!

In the 2nd picture, I wanted to see just how much water was needed to make the pressure pad switch click on. It's a lot! Oh, right, it's a GE...LOL 

 

[turquoisedude]

As the leaks were resolved, I figured this would be a good time to start prepping the cabinet for a new paint job.  There was a lot of grime on the cabinet from storage but also quite a few rust spots (the machine sat idle in a basement for 32 years).  Getting the trim plates off was a challenge but I did it!  The only paint that got applied today was a good coat of POR15 on the base.

 

[turquoisedude]

And just for the thrills of it, I thought I would investigate the suds valve assembly.  Full disclosure: I am most likely not going to put the suds saving system back into this machine initially. I already have 2 suds savers and only 1 washtub!  And restoring this GE system is going to need some creative and innovative thinking. Which means I am beat... lol

Well nonetheless I took the suds valve apart.  The word 'cruddified' is all I could think of ( if that is even a word).  Look at the stuff that was in there! Even the ubiquitous bobby pin...  Well at least I have a NOS gasket for the valve!

The plan for this coming weekend is to paint the cabinet.  But there is a washer rescue mission planned for this week also.  Such excitement!!

 

[pulltostart]

Paul,

Looking good!  Two comments about your progress - 

 

First, don't be so quick to discard that bobby pin.  It's vintage!

 

Second, the three black spots on the lower front of the cabinet - is that aluminum panel installed with adhesive?  Or a combination of mechanical fasteners and adhesive?

 

lawrence

 

[turquoisedude]

Lower panel

Lawrence,  it is held on with both mechanical fasteners and adhesive.  Those three black blobs remind me of the stuff used on the old asphalt floor tiles.  I'll guess that was a mid-production-run hack by GE to assuage complaints of the panel vibrating when the machine would spin...  I shall use the same technique on re-assembly!

 

[Unimatic1140]

In the 2nd picture, I wanted to see just how much water was needed to make the pressure pad switch click on. It's a lot! Oh, right, it's a GE...LOL

LOL is right Paul. The service manual says to adjust the switch (I assume by bending the metal actuating arm, ironically they never tell you how to adjust it) so 4 to 6 gallons is in the outer tub before activation begins. I've found that about 2 gallons is more than enough to operate the filter-flo stream just fine, thank you. GE.

 

[bajaespuma]

Solid tub FF's

I should pay you for these lessons. I really should.

 

[turquoisedude]

Ken, if you are keen, I'm planning on attacking the '53 GE this summer too.  It would be a reason to come back and visit.  Or another reason, perhaps.... 

 

[turquoisedude]

A trip to the beauty parlor for the 57 washer!

Amazingly, I managed to mostly ignore the 'new' 58 Philco Bendix combo and continued to work on the 57 GE.  

This weekend was devoted to its beautification - which pretty much meant painting.  I think it went well!

 

[turquoisedude]

I almost made a big blunder... the housing for the control panel was not going to look nice on a freshly-painted body. So I repainted it, too!

Bonus - with the switch bank out, I was able to get the water saver switch to release as soon as one takes one's finger off.  That's what the manual said it was supposed to do.  Sonny Service would be proud....

 

[turquoisedude]

The lower aluminum trim panel looked way better after a bath!

 

[turquoisedude]

And the washer top needed a good scrub.  I think I'll need some rubbing compound on those water stains on the lip. 

 

[turquoisedude]

Of course I wasn't going to forget the plastic control panel. It cleaned up very nicely.  There was a section of paint missing where the fluorescent tub would shine through - wasn't sure what to use but drywall primer/sealer seemed to work. It will be a bit lighter than the original paint, but if I take up smoking....

 

[turquoisedude]

And for my last trick, I thought I'd get the trim panel and strip back on.  Hubby and Canyon thought they were hearing the soundtrack from "The Exorcist"...

It did not go well... I had a devil of a time trying to seat the lower panel on its three upper mounting lugs. In the end I gave up and used construction cement.  Same for the upper chrome trim strip. I broke off one of the mounting tabs on re-installation so I tried cementing it, too. We will see next week when I take the straps off how well my idea worked.  Fingers crossed!!

 

[pulltostart]

Looking beautiful!

Can't wait to see it all back together.  How do you go about painting the cabinet?  Do you have a spray booth or do you take it outside, or what?

 

lawrence