Update on the 1948 General Electric

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Thanks everyone for the kind comments!

I have to ask how you got the cabinet so white? Since it is not porcelain can it just be painted?
Unlike most washers of the time the top isn't porcelain. The cabinet and top was in pretty rough shape cosmetically and the lid had quite a bit of rust on it. So first on the cabinet I used Brasso, fine steel wool (#000) and lots of elbow grease. That cleaned and shined it up beautifully, albeit hours of work. Then I sanded down the top and lid and used about seven coats of spray appliance epoxy, it looks practically brand new.

Does it sound like it's older brother? I'll bet the electric pumps are quieter now as well.
Sounds very similar, but this transmission is quieter after being restored and given fresh oil. Those old pumps were pretty quiet so the new ones are about the same sound wise.

It looks as though you restored the logo / paint on the front of the machine. Did it just clean up that way or did you painstakingly repaint or refinish it?
Nope, again I just used very fine steel wool, a light touch and Brasso which took off all of the old crud and grime that was on it.

Now about the cycle timer and wash timer. How do they work together?
Louis you set the main timer to wash and set the wash time timer to any amount of time from 3 to 20 minutes. The main timer pauses during wash until the wash timer rotates down to 3 at which point the main timer takes back over.

Looking at the lint filter it looks like new did you have to replace that as well
Nope, those are original, the screen flush works really well in keeping them clean automatically.
 
Robert, it looks amazing and I see you've moved the 58 and 61 to a new place to keep their older sibbling company. Are you planning on moving the 47 there as well to create a "GE corner"?
I look forward to my next visit and see it in person.

BTW, the turquoise cap looks terrific on that agitator. We had a turquoise cap on the 59 GE that was in my great aunt's house when we moved into it circa 1972.

Les
 
WOW..... speechless!

That is just awesome Robert, what an amazing restoration! You are a miracle worker!

Question: Did you have a new logo / emblem / name plate for it or did you repaint the original? From the photo it looks brand new!

Just fantastic!
Kevin
 
Wow, Robert, that is just beautiful!! What wonderful luck that this machine went to someone who could make it look and run like new again!
Congratulations!!!
Oh, and if you can post a video some time that would be very cool to see. The 'two-timer' advancement sounds fascinating...
 
Beautiful job!

Wow - I am really impressed with how this came out! Stunning!

I am curious about what happened to the original agitator. It looks like it was in the "before" picture (?) Did you have to break it to get it out?

The later replacement with the turquoise cap looks great!

Kudos!
 
GORGEOUS!!!!

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!!! I can't wait to come and run a few loads through it sometime!!! Robert, you never cease to amaze me with your skills! Maybe I'll learn enough patience someday to restore machines like that!
 
Question about how it works

I remember your video on the 1947 GE and how the water runs down the agitator and trips the gizmo (forgive my technical term) that starts the agitation. I noticed that you had to put a hole in the side of the agitator for the water to spill into the outer tub (I'm guessing here) Is that correct? I'd love to see this machine in action too. Hope you can make a video to show the two machines. How you find such machines never ceases to amaze me.

Thanks
joe
jamman_98[this post was last edited: 10/8/2010-13:55]
 
It's gorgeous, Robert

I actually think the dark poreclain against the white is more striking than the other AW 6.

Reply # 8, the close-up of the tub with the speckled charcoal, the white, the green, the black, it's just breath-taking, glistens like a painted masterpiece.

The PUMP: When you restored the first AW 6 and made the movies, I really thought I was hearing things during the "Empty" cycle. You had the original pump, but it sounded exactly like the one in my Aunt Alice's plastic 90's GE, that futuristic whirring/whining sound. It was surprising to see GE using that pump again, one designed 40 years ago. Do you remember?
 
There's a Hole

There was an opening in the agitator of pre filter flo washers to let water accumulate in the outer tub to trip the pressure switch.
 
Oh my oh my oh my!

Wow! Robert, what a fantastic job. You really turned this baby around. Incredible! It looks like its brand new now. It shines like a new car.

The cabinet came out really impressive. Didn't think that kind of finish could be made from the before pictures! But I knew you. You can turn things around with ease!

Thanks for sharing your great restoration.
 
I am curious about what happened to the original agitator. It looks like it was in the "before" picture (?) Did you have to break it to get it out?
The original agitator was missing, for the original pictures I took I put that agitator from my 1947 GE and put it in the new machine temporarily.

I remember your video on the 1947 GE and how the water runs down the agitator and trips the gizmo (forgive my technical term) that starts the agitation. I noticed that you had to put a hole in the side of the agitator for the water to spill into the outer tub (I'm guessing here) Is that correct?
Actually Joe this replacement agitator was made to be either a standard over the top of the tub agitator or a "center drain" agitator. The agitator has break out cutouts that are sealed, but you can easily break them out to use as a center drain agitator. The center drain agitators were used from 1947 into the 50's for the early AW5 machines. So I used my Dremel tool to pop out those inserts, it was really easy to do.

Do you remember?
I sure do Mike :-)
 

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