Thread Number: 8159
A little teaser...
[Down to Last]

automaticwasher.org's exclusive eBay Watch:
scroll >>> for more items --- [As an eBay Partner, eBay may compensate automaticwasher.org if you make a purchase using any link to eBay on this page]
Post# 155897   9/20/2006 at 23:23 (6,421 days old) by westytoploader ()        

Guess what's running now!




Post# 155899 , Reply# 1   9/20/2006 at 23:24 (6,421 days old) by westytoploader ()        

Can you tell what it is now? ;-)

Post# 155903 , Reply# 2   9/20/2006 at 23:49 (6,421 days old) by westytoploader ()        

Yes, while it still needs a bit of "tweaking" (condenser solenoid on the water valve is staying open, pump and drain hose will need replacement in the future, and of course some touch-up cosmetic work), the 1961 GE Combination Washer-Dryer I found last month is finally connected to 240V and washing away! It heats up rather quickly even on Delicate or "Rare" but I haven't tried drying in it yet...my poor window unit will really be working to keep the Studio cool, but give it a couple of months!

So far, this is the second load I've washed in it, and needless to say, with 6 vanes in the drum, the wash action is INCREDIBLE (makes a Bendix look downright boring if you can believe that!). As you can see, Fresh Start wins out with even the splashiest machines, providing just the right amount of suds! The cleaning ability and washing capacity are both stunning as well, since the entire load stays moving at a decent speed. The load you see here consisted of 7 shirts, 4 pairs of jeans, 2 pairs of boxer shorts and 1 hand towel with room for more!

To add to the overall "fun factor", this is the most jet-like of any FL I've seen or heard...you really have to experience one of these in person to know! It's fairly quiet and sounds like any other machine when washing (except there's no gearbox so it's a little quieter, than, say, a Bendix or Westinghouse slant-front), but on spin, the gearmotor winds up the chain to shift the pulleys, and then all of a sudden it's time to prepare for liftoff! You feel the floor vibrating and hear a grinding noise which sounds like the engines starting up, and then it revs even more until it reaches full speed! "WooooooooOOOOOOOOOOO!" That's where the bouncing system kicks in, since the machine has virtually no suspension. The left front leveling leg is connected to a switch which stops the gearmotor from winding up the chain. Surprisingly, it holds its own on spin and doesn't shake as much as I thought. After a while, the gearmotor winds back (which sounds similar to landing gear extending), and there's more vibration and grinding similar to hard braking on the runway. It switches back into distribution mode and then ramps up to spin again. After the third distribution phase, it removes enough water from the clothes to where it gets up to full speed without tripping the switch. The water extraction isn't the best, though, as it spins somewhere in the 250-300 RPM range. Does anyone know the exact speed?

More to come in the future...since it's sitting with its front bottom access panel off, I'm not doing an official reveal yet, but stay tuned!


Post# 155904 , Reply# 3   9/20/2006 at 23:51 (6,421 days old) by westytoploader ()        

Definitely rates high on the "splashy" scale...if not THE splashiest FL when washing!

Post# 155905 , Reply# 4   9/20/2006 at 23:52 (6,421 days old) by westytoploader ()        

See what I mean by SPLASHY?

Post# 155906 , Reply# 5   9/20/2006 at 23:54 (6,421 days old) by westytoploader ()        

Draining...there is no drain valve, and it uses a regular 2-port GE coupler-drive pump! It simply reverses the motor (and tub) for draining, spinning, and drying.

Post# 155907 , Reply# 6   9/20/2006 at 23:54 (6,421 days old) by danoz74 ()        
Very Nice

You wouldn't have a vid camera for sound, would you?

Very nice machine.. Have fun! ;-)


Post# 155908 , Reply# 7   9/20/2006 at 23:55 (6,421 days old) by westytoploader ()        

First rinse...

Post# 155909 , Reply# 8   9/20/2006 at 23:56 (6,421 days old) by westytoploader ()        

First rinse drain...going counterclockwise!

Post# 155910 , Reply# 9   9/20/2006 at 23:56 (6,421 days old) by westytoploader ()        

Spinning...

Post# 155911 , Reply# 10   9/20/2006 at 23:57 (6,421 days old) by westytoploader ()        

All done! Notice the size of the load...that drum is HUGE!

Post# 155922 , Reply# 11   9/21/2006 at 01:16 (6,421 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
Beautiful! Beautiful!

It sounded great on the phone and looks fantastic. Congrats on another machine running and a job well done!


Post# 155962 , Reply# 12   9/21/2006 at 07:36 (6,420 days old) by westyslantfront ()        

Hi Austin. Congratulations on the duo-matic. The pictures look great.


Ross


Post# 155963 , Reply# 13   9/21/2006 at 07:43 (6,420 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture
Allright Austin!! YES!!

Post# 155964 , Reply# 14   9/21/2006 at 07:44 (6,420 days old) by mayken4now (Panama City, Florida)        

mayken4now's profile picture
You have that GE combo running already? The 220-230v line must have been installed. Looks great Austin.

Steve


Post# 155972 , Reply# 15   9/21/2006 at 08:09 (6,420 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)        

swestoyz's profile picture
Yey Austin! This is some exciting news - and sounds like a wonderful performer. Come to think of it, a video with all the jet-like sounds would be fantastic! Thanks for the pics ~

Ben


Post# 155995 , Reply# 16   9/21/2006 at 09:25 (6,420 days old) by tlee618 ()        

CONGRATULATIONS Austin, It looks like so much fun. I would love to hear that baby go into the spin!! Terry

Post# 156003 , Reply# 17   9/21/2006 at 10:00 (6,420 days old) by unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

unimatic1140's profile picture
Austin this is just great, GE combo's have some of the best wash cycle drama for splashing. Thanks for the great pictures.

Did you get 220 volt service hooked up in your laundry shed?


Post# 156045 , Reply# 18   9/21/2006 at 12:43 (6,420 days old) by pdub (Portland, Oregon)        
How cool...

pdub's profile picture
It didn't take you long to get that all up and running.
Congratulations! It looks like a lot of fun.

Patrick


Post# 156071 , Reply# 19   9/21/2006 at 13:55 (6,420 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
Great, Austin; How exciting! Thanks for giving us a preview of the Combo. Let me know if you want that box of powdered Tide CW to do your detergent test.

Post# 156076 , Reply# 20   9/21/2006 at 14:22 (6,420 days old) by sheerlookhomes (U.K.)        
Nice one!

Thanks for posting these pics..faaarr better than TV..I'd love to hear it! lovely square window, thanks

Post# 156173 , Reply# 21   9/21/2006 at 21:06 (6,420 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

toggleswitch's profile picture
YAY Austin!

Post# 156181 , Reply# 22   9/21/2006 at 21:51 (6,420 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        
Austin

Very nice work. Many apartment complexes around here in the mid 1970's had total GE electric kitchens. When the w/d combo finally broke down the tenant had to purchase there own T/L machine. I never did get to see one of them in use. At the time, the theme was Gold shag carpet with harvest gold appliances or Green Shag with avocado appliances. Guess with all the splashing going on it washes well? I wonder how much water it uses for the wash/rinse portions? Less than a modern F/L? Thanks for posting your pictures. alr2903

Post# 156184 , Reply# 23   9/21/2006 at 21:55 (6,420 days old) by rickr (.)        

rickr's profile picture
Great job getting that old beast going again Austin! Love the photos! Hope the street lamps don't dim too much when you start it up! lol!!

Post# 156199 , Reply# 24   9/21/2006 at 22:46 (6,420 days old) by peteski50 (New York)        
Up and running!

peteski50's profile picture
Austin,
You did a real great super job. It's real awsome.
Peter


Post# 156201 , Reply# 25   9/21/2006 at 22:50 (6,420 days old) by kenmorepeter5ab ()        
See VIDEO?

Hello....how are you doing?

How about see the video of the GE Washer, Spin, rinse, final spin and then dryer (?)?

- Peter (kenmorepeter5ab) ;-)


Post# 157102 , Reply# 26   9/25/2006 at 22:42 (6,416 days old) by kenmorepeter5ab ()        
Still Delay

Hi again, I'm still delay about the 1961 GE Combination Washer-Dryer....when will I watch the video?

- Peter (kenmorepeter5ab) ;-) (my best friend)


Post# 157105 , Reply# 27   9/25/2006 at 23:05 (6,416 days old) by scott55405 ()        

Good for you Austin, enjoy, looks like fun!

Post# 157111 , Reply# 28   9/26/2006 at 00:19 (6,416 days old) by brettsomers ()        

perhaps Austin is so taken by the GE, he is unable to update? (lol)

Post# 157112 , Reply# 29   9/26/2006 at 00:40 (6,416 days old) by westytoploader ()        

Oops, sorry guys. Robert, yes I finally have 240V down in the Studio so I can be on the lookout for electric dryers! Arthur, with the tremendous splashing it does clean quite well, and so far, only Fresh Start won't oversuds it. I might try Fab in very moderate doses. As for the water usage, I'm willing to bet as much as a commercial double-loader FL. The drum is large and fills up right below the door opening.

When will I watch the video?

As soon as I can get it filmed and uploaded to YouTube ;-)

All kidding aside, right know I'm in the middle of some other cosmetic projects which will probably take more than 1 weekend, so the video is on the back burner for now. But trust me, it WILL be filmed, at the very latest before the year is out!


Post# 157234 , Reply# 30   9/26/2006 at 12:27 (6,415 days old) by jasonl (Cookeville, TN)        
Washin?

Those are the splashiest front loaders I've seen. I spent alot of time at Greg's house watching the GE combo (when I was playing with the Lady K).

Post# 157839 , Reply# 31   9/29/2006 at 22:44 (6,412 days old) by kenmorepeter5ab ()        
Almost ready the video ??

Will you ready to take the video camera about 1961 GE Combo Washer-Dryer by weekend??

- Peter (kenmorepeter5ab) ;-)


Post# 157983 , Reply# 32   9/30/2006 at 18:01 (6,411 days old) by nasadowsk ()        

We need mechanism pics, too. :)

Post# 158027 , Reply# 33   9/30/2006 at 19:55 (6,411 days old) by westytoploader ()        

Lawd! So many demands, so little time! ;-)

I'll get around to it when I get around do it...


Post# 158188 , Reply# 34   10/1/2006 at 16:51 (6,410 days old) by kenmorepeter5ab ()        
READY??

Are ready to run the video about GE Washer Combo yet?

- Peter (kenmorepeter5ab) ;-)


Post# 158791 , Reply# 35   10/4/2006 at 22:09 (6,407 days old) by kenmorepeter5ab ()        
Still Delay

When will the 1961 GE Combo Washer-Dryer video ready?

- Peter (kenmorepeter5ab) ;-) .... my friend!


Post# 158792 , Reply# 36   10/4/2006 at 22:24 (6,407 days old) by jonv112 ()        
Patience

Just wait a little longer for the video kenmorepeter5ab. You would be surprised at how busy high school students can get at this time of the year. Trust me, I am a high school student. I'm sure the video will be well worth the wait.

Post# 158944 , Reply# 37   10/5/2006 at 16:04 (6,406 days old) by westytoploader ()        

Jon, my thoughts exactly...since this is my senior year it is especially tough! Also one of the reasons I haven't been posting as much as I used to. I have 2 English papers (750 and 1000 words) due before October 24th, not to mention other assignments, but the week after that everything will be done, so I'll make an attempt at a video. The video WILL be done though; everyone should see the incredible action this machine has!


Forum Index:       Other Forums:                      



Comes to the Rescue!

The Discuss-o-Mat has stopped, buzzer is sounding!!!
If you would like to reply to this thread please log-in...

Discuss-O-MAT Log-In



New Members
Click Here To Sign Up.



                     


automaticwasher.org home
Discuss-o-Mat Forums
Vintage Brochures, Service and Owners Manuals
Fun Vintage Washer Ephemera
See It Wash!
Video Downloads
Audio Downloads
Picture of the Day
Patent of the Day
Photos of our Collections
The Old Aberdeen Farm
Vintage Service Manuals
Vintage washer/dryer/dishwasher to sell?
Technical/service questions?
Looking for Parts?
Website related questions?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy
Our Privacy Policy