POD 9/11/2017

My grandparents moved into a brand new track home in Pinole, Cailf. in either late 55' or early 56'. The appliances were all GE in turquoise, with the exception of the white Philco top freezer refrigerator. They had the pullout dishwasher, the first any family member ever owned, also GE cooktop and built in oven.

And right next to the dishwasher was a GE washer/dryer combo, or rather the front of the machine. You see shortly after they moved in, they and all the rest of the new homeowners started to have problems with these combos. GE came out to each home, removed the guts of the machines and so there wouldn't be an empty hole in the cabinets they replaced the fronts of the machines. Everytime I went over there I used to be fascinated by this fantom combo. I also loved to watch grandma load and unload the dishwasher.

BTW, GE gave each of these homeowners a new GE FF washer and matching dryer as a replacement for the bad combos. Grandma used this set until 64', when they sold the house and moved into a mobile home to downsize after grandpa retired.

I also recall going into the model homes in this new subdivision and being mesmerized by the built in cabinet refrigerators and freezers. I so wanted my parent to buy a house with all these up to date, modern appliances, but track homes were like a dirty word to them, it was a no sale on my part.
Eddie

This post was last edited 09/11/2017 at 14:12


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Post# 957116 9/11/2017 at 12:27 (2,411 days old) by brucelucenta ()
Checkrate/Likes GE late 50's kitchens were certainly bright and colorful! GE always made good appliances and these were no exceptions. The pull out drawer of the dishwasher might not have been as easy to use as some, but it worked as well as any around that time period. And the washer and dryer were quite good too. They always made good durable refrigerators that lasted a long time and the cooktops, ovens and stoves were good as well. I was never too crazy about their combo washer/dryer, but in a confined place it could be useful. They made durable well built appliances. I can't say that I have ever seen a home with all the built in cabinets the same color, but it looks attractive.

Post# 957117 , Reply# 1 9/11/2017 at 12:45 (2,411 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)
Checkrate/Likes My grandparents moved into a brand new track home in Pinole, Cailf. in either late 55' or early 56'. The appliances were all GE in turquoise, with the exception of the white Philco top freezer refrigerator. They had the pullout dishwasher, the first any family member ever owned, also GE cooktop and built in oven. And right next to the dishwasher was a GE washer/dryer combo, or rather the front of the machine. You see shortly after they moved in, they and all the rest of the new homeowners started to have problems with these combos. GE came out to each home, removed the guts of the machines and so there wouldn't be an empty hole in the cabinets they replaced the fronts of the machines. Everytime I went over there I used to be fascinated by this fantom combo. I also loved to watch grandma load and unload the dishwasher. BTW, GE gave each of these homeowners a new GE FF washer and matching dryer as a replacement for the bad combos. Grandma used this set until 64', when they sold the house and moved into a mobile home to downsize after grandpa retired. I also recall going into the model homes in this new subdivision and being mesmerized by the built in cabinet refrigerators and freezers. I so wanted my parent to buy a house with all these up to date, modern appliances, but track homes were like a dirty word to them, it was a no sale on my part. Eddie This post was last edited 09/11/2017 at 14:12

Post# 957120 , Reply# 2 9/11/2017 at 13:45 (2,411 days old) by brucelucenta ()
Checkrate/Likes That is very interesting to know. Sounds much like GE did what Maytag did when people had problems with their combo units too.

Post# 957159 , Reply# 3 9/11/2017 at 18:34 (2,411 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)
Checkrate/Likes Eddie, I was just thinking that we used to call these "California kitchens." Your grandparents' kitchen was a prime example. The whole phantom combo thing is bizarre. Bruce, thanks for keeping up the POD threads. I see you've started your new work shift. Hope all is going well for you.

Post# 957187 , Reply# 4 9/12/2017 at 01:43 (2,410 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)
Checkrate/Likes Did GE replace the Combos with REAL WORKING washers and dryers?They could at least do that.

Post# 957202 , Reply# 5 9/12/2017 at 05:32 (2,410 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))
Checkrate/Likes That exact electric sink & DW in our 1953 house. Only thing I recall going wrong with it in 4 years, the water valve stuck. Open. Good thing we hadn't started it and gone to bed or we'd have woke to steerage on the Titanic.

Post# 957210 , Reply# 6 9/12/2017 at 06:43 (2,410 days old) by turquoisedude (.)
Checkrate/Likes This is interesting about the GE Combo replacements - I know from experience that the early ones were not particularly reliable! The 1955 that Jon (jetcone) has did not even appear to be built to complete a dry cycle... However, GE kept a combo in production for a long time (up until the early 70s, IIRC) unlike Maytag. I would venture a guess that GE's design improved.... They gave up on their combos altogether and as mentioned, provided customers with a dryer.