Vintage Dishwasher Question

[circlew]

That's a neat round GE. I see some HLC Harlequin cups in there.

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Andy,

No, I do not have the machine that I was standing in front of when I was a kid in the 1960's. Likely that machine went to the crusher in 1975 when the family that had it did a Kitchen Renovation. My family visited their family in August of 1976, and I was heartbroken to find that my beloved dishwasher was gone, replaced with a new GE dishwasher. The photo below is my Mom's cousin's husband, Johnny Trefz, standing in his new kitchen with the new dishwasher. They rearranged the kitchen, and the Electric Sink/Dishwasher was where the new range was placed. Heartbroken - because they didn't give it to me! Over the next 33 years, I would replay all of memory tapes of that dishwasher, thinking that I would never see one like it again. THEN I FOUND AW.org, Craigslist, and EBay! If you read my profile that I wrote in July 2008, I recounted almost exactly, the sights and sounds of that dishwasher from the 1960's that you see and here in my video above.

I found my first GE Electric Sink/Dishwasher in Duluth, MN - a 1950 model. But upon arriving to pick it up, I discovered that it was a lost cause, and was heartbroken again. The tank was rusted through. The machine was dismantled and parted out.

Next came the 1948 GE Electric Sink/Dishwasher that is featured in the video above. It came from collector Michael in the Detroit area.

Next came the 1937 GE Electric Sink/Dishwasher from southern Wisconsin.

Then, the miracle happened. In May 2009, I brought the 1949 GE Electric Sink/Dishwasher back from collector Greg in Massachusetts. It is in my present modern kitchen right now. It was brand new; never before installed; never used; still had the shipping block under the motor, and decals on the sink. Likely it sat in an appliance dealer's inventory for a number of years where at some point along the way, someone needed a replacement water valve and drain stopper, which were both taken off of this machine. Sometime later, probably mid 1950's to early 1960's, this machine was sold to an unsuspecting buyer, who fortunately placed the machine in heated storage, with the intent of installing it in a summer cottage, or cabin, or such. In 2007, it was put up for sale on Ebay or Craigslist, which is how Greg got it. In 2009, Greg already had/was liquidating his entire collection, which is how this Electric Sink came into my possession.

Now I have a total of 11 whole Electric Sinks of various brands plus the parts from 3 other GE Electric Sinks.

View attachment dishwashercrazy++3-6-2011-20-39-42.jpg

 

[retromania]

Mike: What a great collection you have and what a great old snap shot. I see many vintage items from yesteryear. My mom had the same model stove, but in avocado. See the Corningware blue cornflower percolator to the right? And that a Fire King mug in the top rack of the dw. My dad wore short sleeve dress shirts like the man in the pic and also kept his glasses case in the pocket. Isn't it funny how they didn't fuss over what they had on? Their attire back then was more utilitarian. My dad died prematurely at age 45. He still had a full head of jet black hair. His main concern was did he have enough hairgroom in the tube to slick back his hair at all times - lol. I see other great vintage items in that pic.

I know. Isn't aw.org great?! Before coming upon this site I never knew there so many other people that shared my passion for old vintage appliances. ROBERT IF YOU HAPPEN TO SEE THIS POST - A BIGGGGG THANK YOU!!!!

Mike thanks for the photos and the information about the sink/dw combos.

Talk soon!
Andy