The Brand Spanking New 1962 GE V12 Comes Home

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Fantastic, Robert! I am so happy for you! The washer gods surely are watching over you. I hope to come visit in 2012 and see this beauty in operation. Are you going to put her next to the 58 and 61 and make a Filter Flo corner? Does the timer dial light up like your 58, 61, my mom's old 59 and Greg's 60?

I look forward to pics of it after she's de-virginated.
 
I always assumed the words "ACTIVATOR" had somehow worn off of the sample from your WA-950V. Now that I see that picture again, it does look like they were never there. I have to read that book on Appliance Park; I'm assuming that none of the parts for these early Filter-Flo's were outsourced but you're right: there's too much redundancy.

 

The washbaskets are another good example of this. From 1961 to 1963, at least, there were two distinct styles of washbasket for these models. They were exactly the same dimensions in every way, but there were two different perforation patterns. Up until you found this 1962 "W"machine I always thought this hole pattern (which was the first) was used exclusively on "V" and "X" models:

bajaespuma++8-16-2011-11-16-48.jpg
 
Combo John's combo:

...and, up to now, every "W" model I ever saw, including the one I grew up with (Pull-to-start's machine BTW), had the offset pattern (and tone) pictured below. Makes me wonder if GE had another plant somewhere that made the same models with different parts. A minor point, as you say, but for a GE psycho like myself, a puzzlement. Especially when one considers that every variation cost the company a considerable amount of money. The first example seems to have more holes than the second, but I wonder if it made any difference in performance. Wouldn't it be interesting if all of this just amounted to mistakes?

bajaespuma++8-16-2011-11-20-30.jpg
 
Now that I think of it, Mark's prototype V-12 had a "naked" activator cap as well (I'd bet my bottom dollar this was a Series 1 WA 850V; they hadn't even changed to escutcheon from 1960 gold to baby blue yet). Now that I think of it, those "naked" activators were probably the first run off of the press. Some exec must have demanded there be some brand recognition stamp on more parts. Compare these machines to those made in the early seventies; the "GE" emblem is stamped prominently on almost every visible part:

bajaespuma++8-16-2011-11-26-6.jpg
 
Agitator Caps and Basket perforation patterns

Robert and Ken wonder about the printed words on agitator caps. My interpretation is that at some point the machine with no words on the cap had either the cap or the entire agitator/cap replaced -- at least that's what has happened to neighbors that had washers with bakelite agitators, sometimes they'd break and the replacements were "generics" even when made by the same company, so they'd fit different models/model years.

Ken wonders about the perforation patterns on the washer baskets. My gut feeling is that the one that has more holes is probably made of thicker walls and more expensive to make -- you do need stronger walls to have more holes and closely spaced holes, the offset/diamond pattern could get away with thinner walls and cheaper materials, which could make the price of the washer/sink combo more affordable.

The tools that are used to make parts like that wear out after a few thousand parts have been made, so they need to be replaced regularly, and it's not significantly more expensive for GE to have two different tools, but it might lower other costs, and thus increase profits.
 
How is the 12 O'Clock filter flume plumbed compared to the changed 1 O'Clock position.....considering the outter tub just about touches all 4 (12, 3, 6, 9 O'Clock) positions......just wondering if it could be relocated to 12 from 1, yet still come thru the splash shield.....

If I remember correctly, the holes in the tub whistled while spinning with no load....at the shop I worked at, if it didn't whistle, something was wrong (loose belt, clutch slippage, bearing drag).....

these GE machines really extracted a lot of water from heavy loads, considering it wasn't all that much faster than a Maytag or Kenmore....of course it could be our only option was a warm rinse, the clothes seems lighter, and fluffed up
 
Do all washers with perforated tubs have that big a gap between the inner and outer tubs? No wonder the GE's with perforated tubs were so thirsty. There's a lot of space to fill between those tubs. It's so cool to see all the photos of a pristine, unused vintage machine!
 
Just returned home from vacation and look what I see on AW!  What an amazing (seems to be the most used word in this thread)find.  Robert, you eiher have the luck of the Irish or the Vintage Washer God is watching over you. Way-to-go!

Certainly brings back memories of my Aunt Alice's 1964 BOL filter-flo hooked up in the bathroom of her farmhouse, draining thru a stand pipe right to the backyard (no suds saver of course). I kick myself over and over for having gotten rid of our 1982 TOL filter-flo for a small oil leak underneath in 2002. That machine was truly wonderful, only replaced the belt, and the clutch drive twice, in 20 years, no other repairs.  It was noisy but cleaned great.  One of my dream machines (1960's). Can't wait to see some videos of your baby in action.  Best of luck, he sure found the best home.
 
BASKET HOLE DESIGNS IN GE FF WASHERS

These were changed in the later machines to combat the consumer complaints of redeposited lint and scum streaks left on dark colored clothing. The problem can occur on any perforated basket machine that spin drains. Both MT and Frigidare 1-18s had problems with this that they never really addressed. This is why that on WPs new DD machines they had to come up with a fix for this problem as both WP and Sears were taking DD washers back and exchanging them with BD machines as many consumers that line dried  clothing were complaining.

 

As we all know the original V-12 machines worked well as can the MTs and Frigidare 1-18s and all were heavily tested before being sold. But interesting things happen when they are in the hands of consumers. But of coerce if you properly sort your clothes and use the correct amount of detergent etc you will never have this problem. Much of this was written about in GE service manuels and discussed at the dozens of service meetings that I have attended over the years.
 
Do all washers with perforated tubs have that big a gap betw

Eugene, good question. No, GE had a large gap between the inner and outer tubs because the Filter-Flo machines were essentially solid-tub machines that had been converted to a perforated-tub design. The outer tub was stationary and bolted to the cabinet, and the inner tub and transmission were allowed to move and oscillate inside of it, and this was accomplished with a rubber boot between the transmission and outer tub, similar to solid-tub machines of the past. The inner tub is bolted to the top of the transmission hub.

In an off-balance load condition, since GE had no out-of-balance trip mechanism, there was room for the inner tub to swing and oscillate. Even so, most machines have racing stripes knocked out of the outer-tub porcelain due to collisions between the inner basket and outer tub that happened before the owner (if even present) could race to the rescue of the machine.

This is why, as you noted, there's such a huge gap of unutilized space between the inner and outer tub.
 
First spin on 62 GE

Hey Robert,
does this model have the pause during the first spin like the solid tub filter flos or does it have a spray rinse instead?
 
S W E E T !!!

WOW! Robert and Fred You hit the vintage washer lotto. OMG , Does it still have the " New Washer Smell" Enjoy you guys !!!!

Mike
 
does this model have the pause during the first spin...?

I can answer this: No, it does not pause during the first spin and it does have a decent-to-generous spray rinse during that interval.

 

Tom Turbomatic, I think, gave the definitive and very thorough answer as to why the solid tub FF's did have a pause during the first spin that had to do with a complicated cam arrangement on the timer. It was very satisfying to read because, after 45 years I remembered that odd pause that seemed to occur for no reason whatsoever in our beautiful "gold" and white 1960( the Golden Anniversary Year) FF. Our 1962 FF just spun and sprayed away. You might try to find it using his name and some reference to GE and/or Filter-Flo solid tub pauses in the Searchalator.

bajaespuma++8-19-2011-18-09-58.jpg
 
spin pause vs. spray rinse

Thanks for clarifying it. Looks like the spray rinse was added with the perforated tub and the pause was on the solid tub models. The 59 I grew up with was a solid tub and had the pause in the first spin both on the normal cycle and the red-lettered short cycle.
 

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