The Brand Spanking New 1962 GE V12 Comes Home

[goatfarmer]

Did you send in the warranty card?

 

I did have the dryer to match, it was scrapped several years ago.  However, someone here, can't remember who, received the console.

 

[yogitunes]

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!

 

[polkanut]

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>

 

[nrones]

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

 

[maypool]

congrats man

how's about vids man i enjoy your videos

 

[appnut]

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.

 

[nrones]

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

 

[wringer_clean]

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

 

[DADoES]

 
This kind of situation would never be found here. Nothing could survive for the duration.

 

[jeff_adelphi]

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.

 

[76speedqueen]

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.....

 

[rocky2]

So Cool

Congratulations Robert on the neat find!

 

[redcarpetdrew]

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

 

[frigilux]

Cool! It's wonderful to see all that gleaming chrome on a brand new vintage machine. Congrats, and I hope we'll see some video when you have it up-and-running.

 

[djmjlcst]

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.

 

[spankomatic]

I love it when you post stuff like this,Robert! So exciting.... Thanks for sharing with us.

Jim

 

[foraloysius]

Congratulations you lucky devil! The things that can be found in Minneapolis! Amazing! I'm wondering why they never used it. Did they have another washer? Perhaps also from that time?

 

[pulltostart]

Holy Activator, Batman!

Robert - congratulations on a most-excellent addition to your collection!!! I'm definitely salivating.

L

 

[polkanut]

<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>

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hey everyone, thanks for the very nice congratulations!

 

Let me try and answer some of the questions here, it looks like the suds saver questions have been answered.

 

 

WILL YOU NOW USE THIS AS YOUR DAILY DRIVER??

Nah, I use all of my machines over time.  Although, my 1948 General Electric AW6 is my most used machine by far.

 

What's the story behind this machine that it was never used?  I nkow, probably some wringer that no one was willing to relinquish the use of. 

Exactly, she refused to hook it up.  It sat under a sheet in the basement, away from the laundry area for 49 years.  They delivered it, removed the shipping braces and sat it down on the edge of the basement.

 

did all subsequent models have the cardboard backs on them??

Mike its sort of a hard fiberboard back.  GE used this for decades.

 

How are the internal rubber hoses? Are they hardened at all?

Actually they are pretty hard, but because the GE design does not attach them to suspension system, they don't move so they should be ok.  The only area of concern is where the molded rubber ends are pressed into the outer tub.  I might need to heat them and remove them and then use silicone to seal them if they leak.  (I suspect at least one will).

 

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

Correct, I wont do that, I will however reuse the rinse water if I didn't use softener.  My 1947 and 1948 GE washers automatically save the rinse water for the next wash.  After the cycle is over I can then decide to use it or drain it and start fresh for the next load.

 

was the agitator in these bakelite?

Yes totally.

 

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

God the decision is eating me up.  For now I'm working on another appliance project that will take a week or two more.  I'll think about it after.

 

The other two threads of interest along this same line is when I found the 1961 version of this machine which now resides with Ken (bajaespuma) in Connecticut and when I found the 2nd from the TOL 1961 Filter-flo which is in my collection now.