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Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

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roto204

roto204

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Feb 5, 2010
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2,779
Location
Tucson, AZ
...in household appliances, of course!

I'm sorry to have dropped-off the radar screen--things have been busy here, and to those of you who were so kind as to keep in touch with me (or attempt to), I apologize, and will continue trying to get my act together. (I have accepted that that will be an ongoing process.)

That notwithstanding, I thought you might want to see the kitchen with which I have to work at the moment. :-)

The apartment complex only has one coin-op, direct-drive, standard-capacity, straight-vane Kenmore washer with a bad suspension, and a matching (but decent) gas dryer, both Of Which We Do Not Speak.

However, seeing as it was built in '67, the kitchen is fun. (The bathroom is all turquoise, too--very fun and friendly!)

I LOVE ceramic tile, but I never envisioned inhabiting the kitchen that M.C. Escher commissioned. Here's a close-up of that funky tile. Makes you want to plant a harvest-gold Hotpoint Lady Executive right in the middle of it, doesn't it?

It's pretty cool, even if it wouldn't be my choice of colors. Reminds me of tesselations and pie crust lattices.

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The kitchen in totality

Sorry, I can't make it look very glamorous. At least it's clean! Note the Sears' Best trash compactor with SelectaSpray hiding on the right-hand side (and it still works, including the automatic deodorizer).

The top panel on the stove above the microwave flips open, and reveals the exhaust fan. Steam and smoke come up the front of the stove, and are sucked into the fan. Very Jenn-Air! (Unfortunately, the idea breaks down when you realize that all the steam, smoke, grease, and yickage are making their way across the entire control panel on their way out.)

Yes, everything on the stove still works, including the mechanical flip-number clock.

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The stove

Nuke by time, or by temperature! Push in the knob in the top middle, and dial-in your minutes and seconds by turning clockwise. Or, if you like it well-done, dial yourself up some hours of nuke-time with the thumbwheel.

We don't have the temperature probe, but I can imagine that "cook it until it's food-safe" is fun by using the control in the right.

To pick time (left) or temperature (right), slide the slider. The arrow and line turns orange for the appropriate side you have selected.

Select your Multi-Power setting (Low/Med/High, or "Off/Kidding/Cook"), and press Start.

The burner controls are blissfully away from hot pots and pans, which is appreciated.

The oven controls are sensible; the clock works beautifully (as does the P-7 cleaning, complete with sliding shield in the oven door), but it's irritating to try and use the timers when you're cooking--all the steam condenses on the glass right there, and makes them hard to read.

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The dishwasher

...at least, in the academic sense. It's an interesting one, though if any of you know me, you know that it's My Private Hell™ when I get trapped in a place with a GE dishwasher.

First off, allow me to introduce...

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It's the General Electric version of the Superba

Cycles, cycles, oh my! And a rapid-advance timer under glass to boot! How can you not love this?

To start a cycle, push the button and hold it for a moment--once the motor starts, the fun begins!

This is an all-plastic, PermaTuf machine, so what's funny is that the control panel, with its heavy metal trim and chrome-o-rama, weighs much more than the rest of the door, and has a very odd feel when you open the machine.

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Translation

I realize the selections are confusing, so I took the liberty of relabeling the control panel in Photoshop so that you can understand how the panoply of cycles really work with real-world dishes.

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Obligatory inside shot

Sorry to interrupt a cycle-in-progress, but I had dishes and did a quick Rinse-and-Hold to make the insides more presentable.

This is not a Bob-load™, so no teasing ;-).

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Mechanicals

This model has the microfilter and the multi-orbit wash arm. Can anyone tell me if perhaps this looks like it's underfilling to you? Maybe that explains the sub-par results.

Because the machine intakes water from the sump at the upper-right as well as whatever is going on with the microfilter, it's still possible to enjoy the unique GE satisfaction of big chunks-o'-crud making it through the wash system and onto your dishes. Or, better still, plugging the (sizeable) holes on the wash arms, and providing still improved cleaning performance.

I am forever tweezing chunks out of the lower wash arm, especially at the end holes.

If the filter-cleaning end hole is plugged, performance suffers; if the other end gets clogged, you end up with a chunk of wet, undissolved detergent in the cup. Sigh.

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Upper rack

This model has a very interesting upper-rack. The machine in full holds a lot of dishes for a GE, and the deep upper-rack would be appreciated, if they hadn't subdivided the left-hand side with a full row divider that prevents anything but utensils from fitting on the far-left side. Unless they're skinny, drinking glasses won't fit there. Grr.

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All-in-all

A fun kitchen, with traditional sixties zaniness and a compliment of fun appliances. (Man, I love that stove, and had forgotten how much I missed cooking on an electric stove--it doesn't take forty-five minutes to boil water!)

And life here is going well--getting used to being a consultant, and having to be on my feet, both physically and mentally. It's a big change from the comparatively slow-going life of Arizona, but it's nice, and I do love it.

I do miss my friends in Arizona and our adoptive Arizonan friends, though. ;-)

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Nate---

That is soooo funny. I feel the same way about those wretched old 'thangs. And I really hate those damn tines on an upper rack. The Superba's are great because you can make them lie down flat.

The funky kitchen tile is very Timothy Leary.
Good to hear from you!

Happy New Year!
 
Great pics, Nate - and good to see you posting again!

Love the range, but you have to wonder if that dishwasher was a disappointment from the day it was installed. Sadly, they haven't improved much if you believe everything you read on the internet.

This will solve all your problems - $1.63 and a little running water - presto! Clean dishes every time from any dishwasher. (I think these came packed with the Frigidaire Spray-Tube dishwashers.)

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Nate, Welcome to San Francisco...

Tucson's loss is our gain. And, thanks for your note. Can't wait to chat (and see you) in person. If I recall correctly, I think you're a mere five-minute drive from my place. For all its faults (no pun intended), this can be a great city. There's plenty for you to discover and I thoroughly enjoy acting as tour guide. (Hint, hint) So, give me a call when you have some free time.

If you haven't done so already, we'll have to go see Beach Blanket Babylon--a "zany musical spoof of pop culture with extravagant costumes and outrageously huge hats" that's been a San Francisco tradition for 34 years.

Again, welcome. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Mike

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Hi Nate

Welcome to San Francisco. Your place is very close to me. I live on Duncan Street near the Diamond Heights Shopping Center. My partner just had bilateral knee replacements. He's about to come home to recover so I'm going to have to wait to meet you and for you to see my collection of washers.

Jim
rapidry1000
 
OK Nate, here it comes!

I'm gonna blast you about the dishwasher. That's a slightly older version of what I had for 20 years and you know how well it cleaned for me. It's not working roperly. I have a feeling it's not fillling properly!! And it's a helluva dishwasher. So call me or email me and we can figure out what's wrong. That thing should be kicking week old oatmeal off stuff with what is designated the normal cycle (was LIght Soil on my old one) button. And loaded correctly, that holds a ton of dishes (although I will admit my new Kenmore Elite does hold a slight bit more).
 
My sister had that exact same range in a townhouse she bought in 1979 or late 1980. I loved it, although that's only 625W microwave. My Litton I had was 650W. I have to admit, I still prefer the mechanical controls because they'll outlast (as you can see) anything electronic. My Litton lasted 25 years. I'm now on that LItton's 3rd replacement since 2003.
 
Yay Nate, its so nice to see you posting, we miss you! Fabulous pictures by the way! Love the GE Potscrubber Dishwasher and the kitchen floor tile is way too cool. I'm glad to hear you are settling in to SF, I know a lot of us have been thinking of you. :)
 
LOL

Hi Mike and Jim! I'll be looking forward to seeing you guys soon, too! Jim, please convey my hopes for a speedy recovery to your partner!

Okay, Bob, I'll believe you this time, but seeing as the performance of this GE is curiously close to other GEs I've owned, I'll have to put firm stock in the idea that it's a fluke and isn't working quite correctly ;-)

And no need to blast; I have the D&M in Tucson for that :-D

I miss you too, Robert! It's like rediscovering the joy of AW.org all over again--oh, how could I have strayed for months?? *wrings hands and stumbles around like a zombie* "I need...appliances..."

Greg, you are hysterical. I saw that and thought, "Well, I know they said it had a constant rinse, but I thought that was the whirligig on the top of the cabinet, and not the sink to the right of the unit."

*High-fives Steve* Happy New Year to you, too! :-D
 
Potscrubber Variants

Hi Guys,

Congratulations Nate on the cute new appartment.

We had a Potscrubber from the 70's that had a Stainless steel interior and a spray arm on the top rack, which was fed by a funnel and a jet in the roof of the dishwasher?

Did these exist in the US or was is a design for other markets?

Regards

Nathan
 
Hi Nate, so good to see you around here again!!! Loved the pictures as well. That is the same dishwasher I had in Danville. The last year or so that I was there I had the same problem. I ended up adding more water, by hand to the second wash and the final rinse, a big pain but it sure helped. I am sure that it was a water valve issune but since I was moving I didn't do anything about it. My advice is find a good used KDA and put that it. For sure don't buy a new GE!!
 
Nate, I had to have my ater valve replaced at about the 11th year of use, it wasn't adding the correct amount of water due to calcium build-up as well as particulate in the valve.
 

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