vintage GE curb find, info needed

[electroluxxxx]

Hello!
I don’t post much on here due to the fact that I’m on the sister site (vacuumland) more. I managed to score a vintage GE washing machine tonight out on the curb and it has a very long road ahead of it in terms of restoration. I’m looking for some info about this machine and when it was made. I’m thinking early 50s but could be wrong. I’m also looking for the timer knob..
Thank you all in advance!

 

[appnut]

1954 to 1955

 

[rp2813]

Did the dials light up on these?  It looks like those are lenses at the top.

 

[toploader55]

That is the first washer I remember growing up with.

Exactly.

Missing the Cycle dial, Our next machine was a 1962 V-12 Filter Flo.

 

[swestoyz]

Wow, this is an amazing find. A 1954 1WA651L1 or L2. Seeing the color wheel behind the temp selector leads me to believe it is the 651, over the 650 without the color wheels. The 650 did not have a light, the 651 did.

I wish you luck on the restoration of this fine GE, and I hope you're able to find the timer dial and color wheel soon. Any chance you could share some more photos of the front of the machine, and possibly the model tag?

Ben

 

[electroluxxxx]

I do believe they are lenses, the middle one does light up when pressed. Seems to go into spin and the valves hum when the knob is turned so I’m hoping all is good mechanically and I can get it washing soon.

 

[electroluxxxx]

Thank you Ben!!!!

 

[Unimatic1140]

Wow that is a super cool find Michael. I believe this may be the dial to that machine or something similar to this.

 

[justjunque]

Mike,

Nice find! Thanks for rescuing it!
Definitely post more pictures when you're able. Is the cabinet in good shape?
That control panel has potential to be a real thing of beauty; with the chrome and what looks like copper.
Best of luck with it!

Barry

 

[panthera]

That is so neat!

You might want to go through the archives, I know various people have posted on their work on machines of that era. They seem to have been quite good from the very beginning.

Oh, and by all means post more here - some of us (historical reasons) do not ever post on the sister site and it would be a bummer to miss something neat!

 

[gyrafoam]

The one I found went to a friend of mine here in Roanoke. I think it is about a '53. The Activator in his has slots at the top with cool looking Moderne ridges around them.
It also has a very fast spin. It takes it a while to get there though, so it snuck up on us at first.

I wish you success on your restoration! A great find!

 

[electroluxxxx]

Robert- seems like that might just be it!
Barry- I will definitely take some more pics of it! The cabinet is really rough and someone has painted it before. There are a few spots that need bondo and it needs to be completely sanded down and enameled it does seem to have a lot of potential though.

Thank you all for the compliments!

 

[combo52]

1954 GE AW

Cool find Mick, These 2 belt GEs are interesting machines, you should see if you can get it running before starting on body work, I know of none that actually still work, I would love to see one that does work go through a cycle.

 

The transmission and clutches were unique to this machine, a year later they went to a different clutch and single drive belt design that was kept through the 1960 models.

 

John L.

 

[electroluxxxx]

Pics

Clutch needs work but it does run. It is very noisy on spin and by looking at the clutch I am going to have to rebuild it. Good news is that it seems salvageable! Oh and the timer does advance!

 

[turquoisedude]

Great save!!  I've got a '53 model that I need to work on but I keep getting stuck with newer finds... LOL 

 

Keep us posted as things progress!