The Brand Spanking New 1962 GE V12 Comes Home

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Wow

Congrats to Robert and Fred on this amazing new find! The mintier the better and i am just amazed at this machine!
 
Robert,

Are you sure that machine didn't leave Appliance Park about a month ago?  I can't believe how pristine everything is for having sat in a basement for so long.  It was nothing but pure karma that you should acquire this beauty.  Congrats!!!
 
NEW V-12 GE WASHER

WOW thats in great shape, its really great that some people that took such good care of things like this that they didn't even use. I am sure that she always though that one day she might get around to having it hooked up and learning to use it. Tom has almost the same model in great shape and I worked on more of these than I could ever remember. This was the model the model that Levett used in thier homes here in Maryland, [except the 1 speed non suds-saver ] and they built over 30,000 homes here. When you start to use it be sure that all the feet are adjusted properly as these GEs were notorious for walking before they added the self-leveling rear legs. Have fun with it Smitty and I will be out to visit soon.
 
WAIT!

Before you put one drop of water in that fine looking REAL washer,you should actually invite G.E. representatives over with notepads,so they can take notes on how to build a real machine, and how smooth it runs. Everytime I see what they're charging for appliances they make today,one word comes to my mind, LARCENY!
Yes, I think every manufactuer needs a refresher course on how to make things right. Enjoy your machine, and have a nice day.
 
Robert

Congrats......and admiration......it couldn't have fell into better hands......

How about a DVD video?.....I'd be the first on the list to want one

I loved how this machine hid the water valves, so it was able to sit flat against the wall.........great memories of my Mom's......Thank you again

grab the plexiglass for operating this machine with lower water levels, not optional, you will get soaked, that activator means business!!!.....lol
 
Miraculous!

Congratulations, Robert!  Was it luck?  Fate?  Karma?  It doesn't matter.  It's hard to believe that lovely washer has lasted so long in such pristine condition, with not so much as a cobweb in sight.  I bet you didn't get much sleep last night and made a bee-line back to the basement the minute you woke up this morning!  Such a wonderful piece of appliance history couldn't have gone to a better, more appreciative home.  I can't wait to see it!
 
WOW Robert,

Absolutely amazing!!

It had to feel somewhat surreal to lay eyes on it  ..... I can only imagine.

I absolutely love when synchronicity "kicks in" and truly amazing encounters like what you experienced "just happen."

Relish the moment and feeling.

Can't wait to see it in action and feel that "time machine" sensation.

psf
 
Robert,

I'm in complete agreement with Don, you need to find a vintage Homart (Sears) suds tub so this beauty can really strut her stuff.  Even my wife is impressed, and jealous.  Now that's saying alot!

 

 

 

P.S. I seem to remember that you don't care to reuse your wash water, am I correct?

[this post was last edited: 8/13/2011-12:33]
 
Essential question :P

Hello! Awesome machine!

However, as I am not much into vintage washers (specially American), I am gonna ask an probably essential question that everyone knows lol

What is Suds return option for? and how does it work? on that button I could also see the ''Save'' option too, what's that all for?

Thanks a lot indeed,
Dex
 
12 BLOCKS AWAY--MIND-BLOWING

Your Karma is unbelievable, Robert, and to have it arrive through Ted makes it all the more marvelous and wonderful.

 

The close-ups are spectacular, especially # 3 the SUDS RETURN, which got the biggest button. YAY! I am drooling. Love how the black, white, and chrome on the panel is picked up again in the bottom shots of ## 15 & 16.

 

You have to appreciate the irony that this machine would not have come to you if the seller's sweet mother didn't love her wringer. Now maybe you'll have a greater love for all your wringer men who are a minority here. Our kind made your treasure possible.
smiley-wink.gif


 

When you decide to get him wet please do a clean water suds-return so we can learn:

 

Does the water come back through the Filter-flo system the same way it does for the mini-basket fill, or does it pump back through the bottom drain port?

 

This is fabulous; you guys must be deliriously happy.
 
Note several things which changed as years went on, but yet the start of a 30 run of a design barely unchanged:

cast metal pump...
filter flo draws water from the side instead of the bottom...
pressure hose is from the side, not from the outter tub drain port...

this is of course pre-mini-wash era...and yet the mini basket is just a smaller version of the original GE solid tub design....they just skipped a few years...

I am suprised it doesn't have the jet-swirl fabric softner dispenser....maybe not invented yet.....

was the agitator in these bakelite?....its the only one by GE that had the extra support screwed in underneath...

what is not to love about this machine?.....and yet as a kid I hated these machines...go figure....but I think it was because Mom would not let me watch with the filter pan removed...it blocked all the action!
 
Suds return answers,

<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">The suds return was an option on US washers that allowed a person to save the wash water from one load to the next.  Water was pumped out into a tub or sink (providing you remembered to select that option, put the stopper in the drain, and your sink was big enough to hold 18 gallons, more or less).  Then for the next load, you moved the dial/lever/switch to "Suds return", and the pump reversed, sucking the wash water back into the washer.  During the rinse cycle, any heavy soil in the saved water would sink to the bottom, allowing it to be reused for the next load.  For the 2nd, 3rd etc. loads, US detergent mfrs. suggested adding about 1/2 cup of detergent to each subsequent wash load.  In GE machines, the returned water was indeed pumped back into the tub via the Filter-Flo system. </span>

<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span>

<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Maytag was the last US mfr. that produced a suds-saving washer.  They stopped production in the mid-'90's I believe.</span>

<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span>

<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Feel free to correct any mistakes I might have made.  A suds-saver is actually quite a "green" appliance.  I wish they would make a comeback, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. :(</span>
 
Partially understand...

Ok, so I got that machine drains its Main wash water into the sink (if everything's set properly), now what I mis-understood is what actually happens with water from the rinses? does it go into the same sink altogether with main wash water? or it is drained somewhere else... after rinse I understand it.. 1st load is finished, and the other one's going in..

thanks! :)

Dex
 
Dex, there are two drain hoses on this machine.  With control set properly, the wash water drains via one drain port and goes into the sink that's stopped up to reserve the water.  The rinse water drains into a 2nd since or typical drain pie arrangement as any other washer.
 
Now I get it!

Thanks for the answers, now I understand how it completely does that :)

Very interesting solution! This solution kinda reminds me of a system used in twin tubs in which the same soapy water was used for 2-3 loads :)
 
Suds Saving in action:

Here is how it works if I remember correctly.

All suds saver washers have 2 drain hoses.

One has a long snoot that can reach the bottom of the tub where water is saved.

That tub was only used for suds saved water.

Typically, another tub (or a stand pipe) is used to drain rinse or wash (when suds are not saved) water from the short snoot waste hose.

I also remember seeing the water come up through the bottom of the machine tub when suds water is being returned.

Mom would usually save a hot water wash w/o bleach and use it for a load of darks and then finally to wash throw rugs.

Mom's machine was a GE from the mid 60's.

Greg Nunn has the same machine in his collection

Great fun and fond memories.

And yes, it is very green.

psf
 
Suds water return.

The solid tub GE's returned the wash water thru the Filter-Flo nozzle. The perforated tub models return the water thru the bottom of the tub, just like the Whirlpool and Kenmores.
 
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