The Brand Spanking New 1962 GE V12 Comes Home

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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.
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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
 
I love GE filter flo's !

This one really takes the cake!I am so happy to see that something like this could still be found out there and that it went to people who will love and care for it.I could only hope to have a find like that cross my path.Congratulations on your new baby!I would be torn about using it or keeping it immaculate too.....
 
WOW!!!

Robert, you live in a wonderfull area. Didn't you find the Apex not to far away from where you live as well? What other undiscovered treasures live in "The Robert Triangle"?

Terrible decision, isn't it? Leave her a virgin or let her strut her stuff...

RCD
 
Museum Piece!

Wow Robert! I am impressed that a brand new never used vintage machine like this was found just 12 blocks away! Luck is definitely with you! I think the harder decision is whether to use it or not! I'm sure you'll make the right decision though! This is a wonderful happy ending and I'm sure there are a few more of these chapters to be found! I'm also impressed with that vintage green GE box fan that's on the floor in your basement. Looks like it was all metal/steel construction (including the blades). I'm almost certain that is a 3 blade fan. As you know GE went to the plastic five blade model later. Quality washer, quality fan - I'm sure both will give you many years of service! Judging from the photo all of your appliances are treated with TLC!

Congrats to both of you on such a great find! You just won the laundry jackpot!

Mike L.
 
<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: small;">Bob & Pat:  Thanks for clarifying my earlier post.</span>

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: small;"> </span>

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: small;">Jeff:  You're correct, the Filter-Flo system didn't start working until the tub was about 1/2 full, at least that's how it worked in my Mom's 1967 & 1982 GE's w/ suds-savers.</span>
 

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