Porcelain tub, Highpoint dishwashers
GE sold these under the hot point and GE name mainly as portables at first because it was easier to build a portable dishwasher where you needed the extra strength of the metal tub and GE was switching to plastic tubs for their dishwashers.
GE also sold low end porcelain tub GE dishwashers for a while in the 80s because there was a serious kickback from their property management accounts because they thought the plastic tub dishwashers would never hold up so GE had these in the line for a while. They were never pushed on a retail basis ironically, the plastic tub GE dishwashers were much more durable and much less leak than the porcelain tub models.
Ironically, the plastic tub models from the early 80s had an energy saver switch that could overheat and catch fire and set the entire dishwasher on fire, GE refused to recall these when they’re in consumers hands, and instead tried to give consumers a discount on a new GE dishwasher which only covered selected models which they marked up in price so it was no deal at all to the consumer, GE maintained that the dishwashers could not be repaired in the field.
The interesting thing was for the companies that owned big apartment buildings full of these dishwashers. They came up with the switch and they came out and fixed them for no charge, somebody in the consumer product safety commission approved them claiming these dishwashers couldn’t be repaired and allow them to only offer a discount on replacements, GE was later forced to repair them for everybody, but unfortunately tens of thousands of perfectly usable dishwashers were thrown away by that time.
John
