The Model Ts and HydroWaves didn’t have balance sensors, and most older washers didn’t except for the older belt driven Whirlpools. The reason why Model Ts and HydroWaves were so prone to broken straps was because they didn’t have balance sensors and when they went out of balance they went wild. If a GE HydroWave went off balance, it’d run wild and break the straps.
The HydroWaves and Model Ts were very similar machines overall, the Model T is an older drive system than the HydroWave, the HydroWave wash system came out in 2006 and was designed to be a quieter version of the Model T when the HydroWave in reality had even more problems than a Model-T. To distinguish between a Model-T and a Hydrowave is to spin the drum, if the drum doesn't spin easily by hand, it’s a Model-T. If it spins freely, it’s a HydroWave. When you open the lid of a HydroWave you can hear a short hum, this is due to its electrical break being released. The HydroWave was also one of the last machines without a lid lock that wasn’t a Speed Queen and was one of the last residential machines with a mechanical timer (for some models only). Higher end HydroWaves had electronic controls and top of the line models had spin speed options, soil level options, and all that stuff. The infusor ones had cycle signals.
I’m not sure if any of the Model-Ts had cycle signals but they made very high end model Ts as well.
Balance sensors are mainly found on the newer H.E. type of machines. Overall, I still despise GE HydroWave and Model-T machines.
I’d take a Model-T over a HydroWave any day if I had to choose because at least the Model-Ts and better cleaning performance and actually had a transmission and braking system. At least the Model-Ts wash and spin out, while the HydroWaves do lots of useless and stupid stuff. The HydroWaves also had an inverter board on the motor so they were not fully mechanical machines. The GE HydroWave does not clean your clothes well. But, honestly, I’d take a Samsung over both a Model-T and a HydroWave despite how much I dislike Samsung appliances.