Wow a General Electric AW6 - Down Down Under

[Unimatic1140]

So yesterday I was contacted by a nice gentleman in Christchurch, New Zealand. Apparently he has a 1948 General Electric AW6 automatic washer. You know this is the machine with 1140rpm spin, self-cleaning filter and the ability to store the rinse water for re-use. How a machine like this got to New Zealand is beyond me because it appears to be an American made machine with 60hz motor and 115 volt cord.

So if any of you guys in Australia/NZ are interested let me know and I'll send you his email address so you can contact him.

Hi we are in the process of cleaning out out late parents garage we came across an Old General Electric automatic washer MOD. 1AW 6(5)A3 in very good condition. It seems more important to us than just scrape value but we have no idea what to do with it. We were hoping you might have some contacts here in New Zealand or could point us in the right direction. I have attached some photos as requested, although it is not in the best position to be photographed and it is quite heavy, I can get some better ones if required. As I said it is in very good condition with a little rust around the lid hinge, but the wash basins apart from some dust and dirt is in excellent condition. Thanks again for your assistance it is greatly appreciated, happy to provide any additional information as required.

 

[turbokinetic]

This is fascinating! Does make you wonder how it ended up across the world like that. I would expect it could work with 50 Hz power although it might would definitely change some aspects of the operation. Hope this one isn't lost off the radar on the forum here.

 

 

[swestoyz]

Holy cow! I so wish there was a reliable way to get this back to the States. This is a dream machine for many of us (myself included!).

The serial number on the tag puts this in the Nov - Dec 1948 period. More than likely there was overlap on serial numbers used between the A3 and A5.

Ben

EDIT - this is purely speculation, but the YE after the serial number appears consistent with GE's Month/Year stamping used on late 50's laundry appliances.

Y falls in line with the pre 1965 month indicator for November, and E is consistent with 1948 after looking through several refrigeration parts listings, with K being documented as the 1953 series number in the '53 Washer service manual:

1947 - D
1948 - E
1949 - F
1950 - G
1951 - H
1952 - J
1953 - K
1954 - L[this post was last edited: 2/7/2023-08:41]

 

[combo52]

Neat Find

Leon you should get this for your collection.

 

Unfortunately it will only spin at around 970 RPMs on 50 Hz so it might not be worth having, LOL

 

John L.

 

[bajaespuma]

Oh Good Lord

I wonder how much it would cost to have this shipped to the US. I know there are containers that go back and forth to the Antipodes every year and people sell extra space on them to defray the costs. My sister and brother-in-law did this many times when they moved to Canberra, back to the US, then back to Adelaide, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">etc</span>..

 

Even so I imagine I'd need other agents to retrieve the item and ship it to me once it arrives on these shores. Because I'm a GE fan I'd love to have this original and get to use it.

 

Almost worth contacting them for details.

 

[mayfan69]

Don't see this very often

Hi Robert,

I have sent you a private message about this: I would be interested in having a chat with the person.

I will have to sweet talk David somehow in seeing how much it would be getting it across the Tasman from New Zealand to Australia, although I have done it once before and it wasnt too expensive.

Thanks John L for texting me about it.

Cheers
Leon

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hi Leon I just responded to you with how to contact him. Good luck in getting this machine, you will be amazed at what a great washer this is.

For those who may have missed it here is a full wash cycle video of my '47 GE which is essentially the same machine with a few minor differences.

 

[gizmo]

Go Leon!

 

If you need any help sweet-talking David into a visit to NZ, talk to me about things to see and do around Christchurch. It is a gorgeous city, Stephen and I just love the place. We are planning a trip to the South Island late this year, and the finale will be a few nights visiting our old friend, Christchurch. Picking up an interesting washing machine would be a bonus for your holiday...

 

We joke that it is no surprise I love the place - it has my initials (CH) in the name 3 times...

 

And about the US voltage... It probably came over with an American person moving to NZ, maybe military? I used to know (in the 1980s) an American woman who brought several appliances with her when she moved here, and just bought voltage converters to run them. I have certainly heard stories of US military personnel posted to Australia, having all their possessions brought over, paid by the military, including wrong-voltage appliances and cars with the steering wheel on the wrong side and headlights that dip the wrong way.

 

We do have at least one NZ member, too... RichNZ.

 

[mayfan69]

Owner contacted

Well, the owner has been contacted and I'll get some freight quotes while waiting for a response.

We'll see what happens.

Cheers
Leon

 

[launderess]

"How a machine like this got to New Zealand is beyond me because it appears to be an American made machine with 60hz motor and 115 volt cord."

Likely same way my AEG toplader, Pfaff ironer and many other European appliances ended up in USA or Canada. People moving house packed things into crates and sent them along via ship or plane.

Post WWII there was quite a bit of moving about both current and former military along with immigration. Then you had job and government postings (temporary or permanent). In usually all cases generous arrangements were made for moving house, especially if going by ship.

Unlike airplanes that have to watch how much cargo they carry due to weight restrictions, ships can hold far more. Passengers were allowed to bring far more aboard with such generous allowances. Things were even better for cargo or whatever "not required during voyage" and thus could be packed deep in ship's holds. Just as an aside luggage or whatever that did require access during voyage would be stored in a more accessible hold. Firs class passengers (in particular the ladies) would often want access to clothing or whatever stored in those "steamer trunks" everyone traveled with back then.

When the Andrea Doria went down several expensive motor cars that were being brought to USA were in her holds.

Today people moving house still can use either ships or air; but since regularly scheduled trans Atlantic or Pacific ships aren't what they used to be it means going on a freighter which could mean some months before things arrive.

Other than that military still gives generous allowances for those going to foregin posting or returning back to USA. However they do advise what's best to leave in states and buy overseas and vice versa. For instance shipping major appliances to Europe is generally frowned upon due to difference in voltage and frequency. Ditto for reverse.

 

[brisnat81]

In that early post WWII era, These type of appliances were a luxury item in antipodes and the local manufacturing didnt ramp up till the mid to late 50's, Auto washers werent common until the 70's.

GE Monitor tops were all shipped as 120v units until the end of the series, they came with an Aussie made Transformer bolted to the bottom of the frame.

So generally the appliances that people could afford to buy were made locally and the luxury items were shipped from the US as is with minimal modifications to run on 240v, 50hz