POD 12/17/09 GSD 1050, GSD 950

We had a 1974/75 KA KDS-17 or 17A (I don't remember which or when exactly we got it, but it replaced an absolute BOL builder's model 1967 Hotpoint). We used the KA until mid-1977 when we moved to Denver and our new house was built with the GSD950. Mom tried to get another KA but the appliance supplier to our builder didn't carry them and we got a MUCH better deal on an upgrade GE vs. buying the KA at retail, so Mom 'settled' for the 950.

Today, she's had three more GE dishwashers since the 950, but when reminiscing back to older machines, she seems to make a couple generalizations:

-- The KA was wonderful because it was such a massive improvement over the Hotpoint in so many ways. (She surely went from one extreme to the other). I know she enjoyed having the best of the best.

-- The GE '950 was as memorable as the KA for her (which surprises me). We never had one complaint about wash performance on that machine and we ran it probably 8 times a week for six years. It was quiet, it did it's job, with hardly an issue, even when at age 15 I put a massive squirt of Polmolive hand-wash soap in there for "a boost". We had suds coming out the heat vent at the top!

-- The machine that followed the '950 when we moved to Charlotte was a 1983 GSD900, and was a pretty major dissappointment. It lacked the forced air drying and a china-crystal cycle, which she used often. Our next house had another GSD900, and that one was a gem - nearly 18 years of use three or four times a week or more.

Our 950 wasn't as "fancy" so it lacked some coolness to us as compared to the KA we had, but it was easier to load the bottom rack, the adjustable top rack we liked and often kept it tilted to one side, just like the current design of most GE tall-tub models today. I remember the height adjusters had red indicators on them, and detergent over the years bleached the indicators to a grayish white. Mom loved the forced air drying, which in Denver allowed us to always skip the heated drying. We could hear the fan running and the dry air there saved us a lot of energy.

I don't know about some of the early plastic tub models, but our 950 had a Permatuf tub (If I remember it was very new and a big deal for GE in 1977?). It was seemingly nearly identical to later tubs in Mom's 1983 GSD900 and 1987 GSD900 (we used that machine from 1987 until 2005). It was also almost identical to my 1986 GSD2200 and 1990 GSD1200 (my beloved Postscrubber 1200), especially in door design. They all had the round main detergent cup, that slammed loud enough when opening to let everyone know it was alive and well.

Both of us today use GE tall-tub POSs and I am certain we'd both be glad to have any of our previoius GEs back.

Gordon


Forum Topics & Rules Manuals & Literature	New users Click-here to sign-up

Post# 400241 12/17/2009 at 06:08 (5,243 days old) by tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)
Checkrate/Likes I remember when these were introduced. They had the upper wash arm before KA introduced the 18 series. I would have considered buying one if they had made it in a convertible portable, but they did not and then discontinued the machine. I know they were water hogs, but the only trouble I heard reported about them was that a 10 year old machine owned by a friend got stuck in wash and ran all night, heating the water to the point that it mostly steamed away--the original steam cycle. Do you think the forthcoming energy ratings scared GE so they decided to discontinue the design before producing the portable version? The plastic tub was probably incompatible with GE's design for convertible portable machines based on the Plastisol tubs. I'm glad I bought the 18, but I spent a lot of time looking at this machine and getting inspired to buy a dishwasher while in my efficiency apartment.

Post# 400246 , Reply# 1 12/17/2009 at 06:51 (5,243 days old) by peteski50 (New York)
Checkrate/Likes GE This was such a good move for GE to move away from the tower wash. I think it is ashame they didn't continue the design. Peter

Post# 400251 , Reply# 2 12/17/2009 at 07:50 (5,243 days old) by tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)
Checkrate/Likes Peter, That's what I thought when I saw this design.

Post# 400253 , Reply# 3 12/17/2009 at 08:04 (5,243 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut)
Checkrate/Likes I forgot all about the "Dial-a-Level" racks. And that installation module seemed like a jolly-good idea; what happened to that? Having installed and ripped out many a dishwasher in my time, seems to me like a good feature. Didn't like any of the GE dishwashers from their GREEN period-on. I've heard they've gotten much better(do they actually manufacture them anymore). I will say that I experienced one of these series with the new plastic tub and it was precociously quiet. Cleaning talent was lackluster. KitchenAids and Maytags ruled back then. Gimme a petal pink and coral pull-out anyday.

Post# 400274 , Reply# 4 12/17/2009 at 10:20 (5,242 days old) by kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes We had a 1974/75 KA KDS-17 or 17A (I don't remember which or when exactly we got it, but it replaced an absolute BOL builder's model 1967 Hotpoint). We used the KA until mid-1977 when we moved to Denver and our new house was built with the GSD950. Mom tried to get another KA but the appliance supplier to our builder didn't carry them and we got a MUCH better deal on an upgrade GE vs. buying the KA at retail, so Mom 'settled' for the 950. Today, she's had three more GE dishwashers since the 950, but when reminiscing back to older machines, she seems to make a couple generalizations: -- The KA was wonderful because it was such a massive improvement over the Hotpoint in so many ways. (She surely went from one extreme to the other). I know she enjoyed having the best of the best. -- The GE '950 was as memorable as the KA for her (which surprises me). We never had one complaint about wash performance on that machine and we ran it probably 8 times a week for six years. It was quiet, it did it's job, with hardly an issue, even when at age 15 I put a massive squirt of Polmolive hand-wash soap in there for "a boost". We had suds coming out the heat vent at the top! -- The machine that followed the '950 when we moved to Charlotte was a 1983 GSD900, and was a pretty major dissappointment. It lacked the forced air drying and a china-crystal cycle, which she used often. Our next house had another GSD900, and that one was a gem - nearly 18 years of use three or four times a week or more. Our 950 wasn't as "fancy" so it lacked some coolness to us as compared to the KA we had, but it was easier to load the bottom rack, the adjustable top rack we liked and often kept it tilted to one side, just like the current design of most GE tall-tub models today. I remember the height adjusters had red indicators on them, and detergent over the years bleached the indicators to a grayish white. Mom loved the forced air drying, which in Denver allowed us to always skip the heated drying. We could hear the fan running and the dry air there saved us a lot of energy. I don't know about some of the early plastic tub models, but our 950 had a Permatuf tub (If I remember it was very new and a big deal for GE in 1977?). It was seemingly nearly identical to later tubs in Mom's 1983 GSD900 and 1987 GSD900 (we used that machine from 1987 until 2005). It was also almost identical to my 1986 GSD2200 and 1990 GSD1200 (my beloved Postscrubber 1200), especially in door design. They all had the round main detergent cup, that slammed loud enough when opening to let everyone know it was alive and well. Both of us today use GE tall-tub POSs and I am certain we'd both be glad to have any of our previoius GEs back. Gordon

Post# 400279 , Reply# 5 12/17/2009 at 10:40 (5,242 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)
Checkrate/Likes *Tom, your story stirred a fun memory* Had a Whirlpool Butcher-top portable when living in a flat in West Seneca. Lived there for 10 years without one, then gave in to the impulse and loved the sounds the machine made and how quickly and well it cleaned. Four years of dishwashing bliss, after 10 of dishpan hands;->. But then I found this house and it had a built-in Tappan, TOL with heated pre-wash, main wash and final rinse, if so selected. And being a somewhat over-eager 40 year old who loved washer extremes, I decided to turn the hotwater tank up to its maximum HOT setting and do the Tappan's boil-wash. While the steams, and jets, and fragrances were lovely and exciting, the dishes came our terrible: they were streaked and cloudy and had light white faded lines on the glasses. Clown and nitwit, I thought, you CAN have too much heat. I don't do that any more ;-D Still have the Whirlpool; still works. Very energetic, makes great fast whoosing sounds.

Post# 400286 , Reply# 6 12/17/2009 at 11:21 (5,242 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)
Checkrate/Likes *the inside of the WP* in case anyone wanted to see, pretty basic. Two big arms; the glasses always came out clean. It just came to me, now. The sound of urg urg urg that accompanied the whoosh, sounds most like the Speed Queen solid tub washers around 1980. Can you hear it? So urgent and hopeful.