The Incredible 1947 General Electric Automatic

[Unimatic1140]

The very first GE automatic is just an incredible washer!!! I can't say enough good things about it. I washed seven loads in it during the course of the day, after each one making some adjustments on my way to getting the machine back in perfect working order. Just a couple left minor adjustment left and a paint job is all it now needs.

I’m so very impressed with this washer, it’s by far one of the best automatics I have ever seen. Its spin is just amazing with the ribbed wash basket and nine minutes of final spin at 1140rpm, the washer can’t keep up with the dryer. Loads spun in the GE dry in the ‘57 High-Speed Kenmore dryer in less than 20 minutes, some lighter weight things dried in less than 10.

I love being able to save the rinse water in the outer tub and reuse it for the next wash. If I didn’t use fabric softener in the previous wash, I reused the rinse water and it works great and saves a wash tub of water. I feel much more comfortable reusing rinse water for the next wash than I do reusing the previous loads wash water, I’ve never been a believer in suds saving, but this was is very cool.

Here are some pictures from the final tests and today’s first wash load. Now I better get out the video camera.

http://automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/00ShowCollectionGETD.cgi?dir=/COLLECTIONS/_1947GE

 

[helicaldrive]

It's

absolutely awesome!

Definitely one of the most interesting.

What does the machine sound like?

 

[JerseyMike]

Incredible is an understatement!

What an awesome machine. A lot of thought went into it's design. I can't believe the features that they included in this washer.

I'm glad that you were able to save this. Once again, my hat is off to you.

Can't wait for the video.

Mike

 

[utjj99]

JOYGASM!

Robert

Very happy that you got this one going and love it so much. The trick is not getting what you want....its wanting it after you got it. Best of luck with your new washer and the one soon to come.

John

 

[gansky1]

Very cool - I can't wait to see it very soon!

Is the tub filling at the same time it's spraying into the dispenser and the outer tub, or does it measure the water in the outer tub, shut the valve off, then pump it into the washtub?

 

[brisnat81]

Wow

Thats a pretty amazing machine I'm glad to see you've got it up and ticking happily along. I cant wait to see it in action next year

 

[Unimatic1140]

Thanks everyone, I sure am excited about this washer. Its something I've always wanted to see.

Is the tub filling at the same time it's spraying into the dispenser and the outer tub, or does it measure the water in the outer tub, shut the valve off, then pump it into the washtub?

Hi Greg, no the wash basket is pumped with water at the same time that incoming water is filling into the outer tub. There are two seperate water measuring devices. When the water level reaches the top of the wash basket, water then overflows out of the basket (thorough the holes at the top of the agitator) and the weight of the water hitting the metal cup pushes it down and this starts agitation. But the washer continues for fill for another 45 to 60 seconds until the float in the outer tub is also satisfied, this assures that the pressure is the recirculation pump is at full force.

And all this without any electronics!

 

[gansky1]

There is a lot going on in that outer tub, maybe you should put in an observation window and light!

 

[appnut]

Robert, is the agitation any different than say GE machines from 1955 to 1960? Now if ya had some vintage Blue Cheer, that is what my gamma used in hers.

 

[mickeyd]

So nice

Like Bob, I'm wondering about the stroke, and I'm assuming it's the full stroke rather than the short one, but those jeans are really rockin'.

As the kids would say, that chine is the bomb, phat, and all that.

 

[scott55405]

...does anyone else see the similarity between this washer's filter and that of later-day Hotpoints? ;-)

Very cool machine!

 

[DADoES]

What's the acceleration rate to 1140 RPM?

 

[mayfan69]

What Ingenuity!

That is some machine....GE definately had vision in 1947 and can't wait to see the videos Robert!

Leon

 

[tolivac]

Robert:--Now THATS a GE washer!!The idea of the Rinse water reuse is unique-good idea.Now if we can revive the water reuse in todays washers!That could make everyone happy!I used to have a GE washer that used the outer rim of the tub as a lint filter.

 

[brettsomers]

its only fitting that our Webmaster has change his panels background from Fri-aire to GE!

 

[angus]

I am amazed how progressive that machine was and the saving of rinse water combined with 1140 rpm spin would certainly qualify this as a real energy efficient machine. Perhaps we should take a step back in time......

 

[askomiele]

Well I save both wash and rinse water. Yes I have a frontloader but I do like to save the water. My huseband installed 2 gigant laundry tubs. My washer drains normally around 10 l of water. I save the sudsy wash water to soak heavy soiled things like my rugs or do the prewash when I wash my whites. The first rinse water I add to the saved wash water. But beginning with the second rinse I save all the water seperatly. This water is mostly fairly clear enough to re-use for washing the rest of my washday loads. Why have the new GE's not those kind of perfect comfort and the gigant spin speed???

 

[eddy1210]

That's an incredible machine Robert and congrats on your work to get it up and running! Does it have a tub brake or does it coast all the way from 1140 down? And how long would that take? I'm utterly fascinated with the AW6.

 

[mayken4now]

Robert, wow, you have completed that one already. It has some unusual features, like almost ahead of it's time. Thanks for sharing.

Steve