Thread Number: 24994
Why does everyone think GE is so great? |
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Post# 386027 , Reply# 1   10/17/2009 at 23:23 (5,276 days old) by lebron (Minnesota)   |   | |
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Post# 386051 , Reply# 2   10/18/2009 at 01:14 (5,276 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA)   |   | |
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A few things I've learned about GE's since finally have one. Although the overall design of them did not change for over 30 years, materials did change. Older models had virtually all metal parts and heavily constructed cabinets. My 68 model is one of the quietest GEs I've ever heard and never shakes or rattles. Take a simlar machine 15 years later and they were pretty terrible. The washing action was the same and did rather well, but materials were much cheaper. A lot noisier, lighter weight so they would rattle and "walk", etc. Is it the best washer for lint removal? Hard to say. My 1970 Kenmore does an excellent job with the self-cleaning filter. Surprisingly the 1970s Maytag lint filter does very well for being so simple. The worst filter is probably the Westinghouse or 1-18. I just don't care for them. GE styling...I think the machines were sleak and modern. I lighted panel from the 60s never gets old to me. It's rather timeless. Perhaps again due to materials used. There is a lot of heavy chrome, stainless steel, etc. and looks excellent for its age and history. Agitators...that one is really a toss-up to me. I honestly can't say that ramp or straight-vanes are better than the other. We judge so heavily on rate of turnover but, in fact, turnover isn't always that necessary depending on the design of the agitator. Ramp activators need rollover because rins are small at the top and are much larger at the base where the wash action really occurs. The V-16 straight vane I have has rather large fins from top to bottom and smaller angled fins at the base in addition. The smaller curved fins help move closes out away from the base to create that turnover but at a slower rate. The clothing really doesn't need a high rate of turnover because the wash action is really occuring from top to bottom with the large fins. Do I notice a difference in the end results? Not at all. It would be microscopic I'm sure. I can't say for sure that GE had the best washer design. I do know it was a very durable, reliable, and offered very good results. Filter-flos were a design that should have been improved on, not replaced. Just my observations... Jon |
Post# 386106 , Reply# 4   10/18/2009 at 11:11 (5,275 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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if you love water currents, agitation and fills, there is nothing quite as satisfying as a mini-basket doing its thing. Once the washer fills to the mini level, the motor kicks in and the filter pump fills the basket rather rapidly as the agitation unfolds. You've heard of high English Tea? Well, this is High Washer Drama at its apex. For me, the whole joy and treasure of a GE resides in the magic of the mini-basket. |
Post# 386108 , Reply# 5   10/18/2009 at 11:16 (5,275 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut)   |   | |
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GE washer engineering was less simple and elegant than Maytag's(Maytag used 1 part for every 3 parts in other brands and even won US awards for parts in military aviation in WWII), GE's worked really well and offered an array of bells and whistles that were marketing gems,like the Filter-flo system, one of the first programmed bleach dispensers, the mini-wash system, and too many one-model year wonders to mention. They were louder, heavier and larger than most Maytags but they were just as solid and able to get larger amounts of clothes cleaner than the 'Tags. And, as we've seen on this site, they were almost as dependable as the tags; even though they had more parts to break they were made well enough to withstand hard use. My family has owned many of them and I can't remember a service call that wasn't because a sock had jumped to the outer tub (a design flaw, not a manufacturing flaw). Seems to me that vintage top loaders can be separated into two groups: machines where the outer tubs and inner washbaskets are balanced together(Maytags, 1-18's e.g.) and machines where the outer tub is anchored to the cabinet and the washbasket is hinged independently(Filter-flo's, early Frigidaires e.g.)
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Post# 386109 , Reply# 6   10/18/2009 at 11:19 (5,275 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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Post# 386145 , Reply# 8   10/18/2009 at 14:17 (5,275 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut)   |   | |
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Post# 386318 , Reply# 10   10/19/2009 at 11:45 (5,274 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut)   |   | |
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