Weekend find

[countryford]

Today I had a little time to kill before going to an appointment. I decided to stop at an estate sale that had advertised a 50s tv. Today was the last day, so I figured I'd get it for a good price. When I get there, I asked about the tv. They said it got sold on the first day. So I started looking around to see what yhey had. I go to the backyard and see an 80s Maytag washer and this 60s G.E. combo unit. I ask how much for it and she tells me to make an offer. I say $20? She says $25? I say "SOLD!". I give her the money and with some help, get it loaded into the back of my Dodge Durango. These pictures are of it in my vehicle.

This is my second G.E. combo I found in Phoenix. The first one was several years back. It was more than I was willing to spend at the time. I ended up buying it for Kevin. I believe Cory now owns that machine.

 

[pulltostart]

Excellent Find!

Storal of the Morey - who needs another 60's TV anyway????

lawrence

 

[tomturbomatic]

Great Find. I saw one decades ago at an estate sale in a Georgetown townhouse from the colonial period. The kitchen was in the  basement with no room to cuss a cat and there it was. I like the colors on the control panel. This generation picked the dry heat according to how the dry dial was set. Later they added the heat selector buttons.

 

[turquoisedude]

Wow!  That was a great deal, Justin!  If you ever need any service documentation, please don't hesitate to let me know - I'll bet your model's information in there somewhere.  

 

[gansky1]

Lucky month for you - that's awesome!

 

[mayken4now]

As many have said, stop in at the estate sales. Ya never know. Happy for you.

 

[bajaespuma]

Aferim!

Is it this (but where are the dispensers?):

 

Oh no, it's the 1959 model that I've never seen before!!!!! (2nd picture)

 

[swestoyz]

Wow, it isn't everyday that you literally walk right into a GE combo. Nice find! And the missing dispensers is quite the treat!

I wonder if the dials are back-lit...

 

[lesto]

I knew this was a 59 model from the control panel. I grew up with my great aunt's 59 top loader. and yes, the dials do light up.

 

[peteski50]

GE Combo!

Real cool - why cant something like this be produced today!

 

[pumpkina]

It's beautiful! I always love that teal color.

How do you find estate sales?

Any strategies, other than what you suggested above, for bargaining over price?

Are you going to fix the rust/blemishes on the counter-top surface?

What sore of repairs, eg belt change, do you anticipate doing?

How do you find parts for it?

 

[countryford]

<blockquote>
It's beautiful! I always love that teal color.

How do you find estate sales?

Any strategies, other than what you suggested above, for bargaining over price?

Are you going to fix the rust/blemishes on the counter-top surface?

What sore of repairs, eg belt change, do you anticipate doing?

How do you find parts for it?

 

</blockquote>
For estate sales I always check www.estatesales.net. You can then search for your state and city. It will pull up a map and depending on the estate sale company, they will post pictures and descriptions. This one in particular didn't show the combo, but showed a TV from the 50's that I was interested in. It wasn't until I got there that I discovered the combo.

 

Most estate sales are usually at least 2 days long. Sometimes you'll see some longer and sometimes only one day. This one in particular was 4 days. If they are more than one day, they will usually have 50% everything on the last day. If its a one day sale, they will do the 50% off during the last couple of hours.   If they don't sell everything, usually the stuff will go back to the family to dispose of. When I got there, I didn't see a price on the combo. That is why I asked. When she told me to make an offer, I knew that no one else was going to purchase it and that it would most likely end up as scrap. I gave her my offer, I knew I was lowballing her, but figured she could counter if she didn't like my offer. She did counter at $25. I had $40 cash on me, so probably would have paid up to that. Otherwise I just would have walked.

 

I'll probably clean up the cabinet and probably just give it a fresh coat of white paint. My husband is usually good with spray paint and can make it look like a professional job.

 

As far as the internal parts, I would imagine any rubber parts are bad, such as belts and  hoses. Beyond that, I have no clue what I'm to expect.

 

Parts can sometimes be found in other people's collections from either New old stock and parted out machines. Some stuff I might have to create something to fit such as belts and hoses. and all else fails, I may just have to wait on something if I can't locate it right now.

 

[goatfarmer]

Great find!

 

[combo52]

59 GE combo

Hi Justin, cool find it's not every day you see a GE combo.

The top and front or porcelain enamel so they should clean up quite well.

Unfortunately the GE combos before 1964 had a lot of unique parts in them and they're very hard to get working as there's almost nothing out there to fix themi, hopefully you'll be lucky and there won't be much wrong with it can't wait to see some inside shots.

 

[pumpkina]

"If its a one day sale, they will do the 50% off during the last couple of hours."

Thanks for your reply.

When did you arrive in relation to closing time?

I wonder how hard it is for estate sales to sell used washers and dryers? Do you think it's harder for the really old ones?

 

[hippiedoll]

WOWZERS!!

That is a cool find Justin!

CONGRATULATIONS on such a cool & unique find!
Maybe one day I'll get to see it in action!

Once again, CONGRATULATIONS!
Doing a "happy dance" & smiling for you...
;oD

 

[newvista58]

THAT'S BITCHIN' JUSTIN....

A combo is def on my wish list / lol.

Good luck.

Louis

 

[countryford]

Just an update on this combo. I took the back off. Everything is there, but very dirty. Smelled like cat or mouse piss. The cord was shot, so I replaced it. I checked the wiring I could see and it appeared to be good. I plugged it in and it appears to go through the cycles on both the wash and dry cycles. The belts are holding up and still turning, but they are going bad. I haven't hooked up the water to it and probably won't until I go through the whole thing. Other than that, it looks to be in pretty good condition.

 

[jimmyb]

Awesome find...

Congratulations Justin!