Thread Number: 39068
Question about the GE Electric Sink (today's picture of the day) 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 579274   2/29/2012 at 11:01 (4,437 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

Does anyone know the year this was introduced? From the clothing and hairstyles in today's POD, it appears as if it could be pre-WW2. Anyone know for sure? My grandmother had an "electric sink", sans garbage disposal, in her rural Connecticut home, but it was a KitchenAid and was definitely post-war, probably early to mid 1950s, installed in a 1930s house which I bet originally had a 48" wall mounted sink. I remember that the cabinetry of the electric sink did not match the adjacent cabinets, but the nice thing about electric sinks is that you could ditch the wall mounted sink and get up to speed with a dishwasher without having to remodel. At the time she installed it, the cabinets were maybe twenty years old. They lasted well into the 1980s, so my guess is that she was happy with what she had and just wanted a dishwasher without a full remodel. Her CT home was on a septic tank----not sure if that alone would have precluded a garbage disposal, but I am certain that her unit was dishwasher and sink only.




Post# 579282 , Reply# 1   2/29/2012 at 11:15 (4,437 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

They were definitely introduced pre-WWII and were manually controlled--no timer yet. I have an ad from a magazine tying Pearl Harbor into the GE dishwasher and washing up the dishes after Sunday dinner and the flag and America etc. etc. Ad men are shameless.

Post# 579287 , Reply# 2   2/29/2012 at 11:22 (4,437 days old) by firedome (Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT)        
Certainly pre WWII

 firedome's profile picture
I have a GE Electric Sink ad from a 1939 Nat Geo, rather politically incorrect, in
which a portly black woman dressed in maid's uniform with white apron standing next to a top open Electric Sink smilingly exclaims: "I'se Sure Got a Good Job Now!" ... priceless!

Post# 579331 , Reply# 3   2/29/2012 at 13:41 (4,437 days old) by dishwashercrazy (West Peoria, IL)        

dishwashercrazy's profile picture


Jim,

My 1941 G.E. Product Man book shows this very Electric Sink model in conjunction with one of the garbage disposal models being discussed.

This Electric Sink would have been designated a model DE-40A (I believe - introduced pre-1941), or DE-40B (I believe - introduced in 1941).

The DE-40A and DE-40B Electric Sink models (plus the corresponding drop-in and free-standing model versions) would have used the S-5 Control Mechanism - which has the two horizontally positioned control knobs on the front of the dishwasher. A "Control Mechanism" is the combination of motor, control knobs, and other electrical and mechanical devices required to run the dishwasher. The S-5 Mechanism was preceded by the S-1, S-3 and S-4 Mechanisms used on preceding model dishwashers going back to the 1930's after G.E. obtained the Walker Dishwasher Company. The S-3 and S-4 Mechanisms had 3 triangular shaped knobs on the front of the dishwasher. If I understand correctly, the S-1 Mechanism had a single control between the lid hinges (but I could be wrong).

I will scan and include some more information about these early dishwashers later today.

Mike


Post# 579429 , Reply# 4   2/29/2012 at 22:34 (4,436 days old) by dishwashercrazy (West Peoria, IL)        

dishwashercrazy's profile picture


Page from the 1941 G.E. Product Man, January 1941 issue, showing the same model dishwasher as was shown in today's POD. As I mentioned above, the model of this G.E. Electric Sink was likely DE-40A or DE-40B.

The next few pages are taken from the 1944 GE Appliance Service Handbook, and describe the various early dishwasher Control Mechanisms.

Mike




Post# 579430 , Reply# 5   2/29/2012 at 22:35 (4,436 days old) by dishwashercrazy (West Peoria, IL)        

dishwashercrazy's profile picture
GE Appliance Service Handbook (page 289).

Post# 579431 , Reply# 6   2/29/2012 at 22:36 (4,436 days old) by dishwashercrazy (West Peoria, IL)        

dishwashercrazy's profile picture
GE Appliance Service Handbook (page 290).

Post# 579433 , Reply# 7   2/29/2012 at 22:46 (4,436 days old) by dishwashercrazy (West Peoria, IL)        

dishwashercrazy's profile picture
GE Appliance Service Handbook (page 291).

Post# 579434 , Reply# 8   2/29/2012 at 22:48 (4,436 days old) by dishwashercrazy (West Peoria, IL)        

dishwashercrazy's profile picture
GE Appliance Service Handbook (page 292).

Post# 579435 , Reply# 9   2/29/2012 at 22:49 (4,436 days old) by dishwashercrazy (West Peoria, IL)        

dishwashercrazy's profile picture
GE Appliance Service Handbook (page 293).

Post# 579436 , Reply# 10   2/29/2012 at 22:49 (4,436 days old) by dishwashercrazy (West Peoria, IL)        

dishwashercrazy's profile picture
GE Appliance Service Handbook (page 294).

Post# 579437 , Reply# 11   2/29/2012 at 22:50 (4,436 days old) by dishwashercrazy (West Peoria, IL)        

dishwashercrazy's profile picture
GE Appliance Service Handbook (page 295).

Post# 579439 , Reply# 12   2/29/2012 at 22:52 (4,436 days old) by dishwashercrazy (West Peoria, IL)        

dishwashercrazy's profile picture
GE Appliance Service Handbook (page 296).

Post# 579441 , Reply# 13   2/29/2012 at 22:54 (4,436 days old) by dishwashercrazy (West Peoria, IL)        

dishwashercrazy's profile picture
GE Appliance Service Handbook (page 297).

Post# 579442 , Reply# 14   2/29/2012 at 22:55 (4,436 days old) by dishwashercrazy (West Peoria, IL)        

dishwashercrazy's profile picture
GE Appliance Service Handbook (page 298).

Post# 579444 , Reply# 15   2/29/2012 at 22:56 (4,436 days old) by dishwashercrazy (West Peoria, IL)        

dishwashercrazy's profile picture
GE Appliance Service Handbook (page 299).

Post# 579445 , Reply# 16   2/29/2012 at 22:57 (4,436 days old) by dishwashercrazy (West Peoria, IL)        

dishwashercrazy's profile picture
GE Appliance Service Handbook (page 300).

Post# 579446 , Reply# 17   2/29/2012 at 22:57 (4,436 days old) by dishwashercrazy (West Peoria, IL)        

dishwashercrazy's profile picture
GE Appliance Service Handbook (page 301).

Post# 579451 , Reply# 18   2/29/2012 at 23:03 (4,436 days old) by dishwashercrazy (West Peoria, IL)        

dishwashercrazy's profile picture


My KE15 from 1937 which also used the S-5 Mechanism. The knobs were missing when I got this machine.

Mike



Post# 579452 , Reply# 19   2/29/2012 at 23:09 (4,436 days old) by petek (Ontari ari ari O )        

petek's profile picture
FAscinating read,, thanks

Post# 579453 , Reply# 20   2/29/2012 at 23:10 (4,436 days old) by Maytagbear (N.E. Ohio)        
Oh, wow!

 Thank you, Mike, for posting such a wonderful document!


Lawrence(GE Nautilus!)/Maytagbear

Post# 579454 , Reply# 21   2/29/2012 at 23:30 (4,436 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
Oh Mikey

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How a washer kid would have have been in Heaven growing up with this machine, holding the knob till the water runs hot, executing the double rinsing. "Does anybody want to help with the dishes tonight?" How the family would have loved us. "I'll do it..,I'll do it!"

 

A non-automatic conventional DW--now there's a wringer for ya. Great bedtime read. Thank you.

 

PS: The Dasher was also the name of a famous early Apex agitator, two flowing curving wings, full of holes. So cool!
Post# 579464 , Reply# 22   3/1/2012 at 00:39 (4,436 days old) by qualin (Canada)        

Wow.. This were fairly complicated to operate.. Although, it does look like the newer versions (ie. S-5 mechanism) looked like it was much easier to operate than the 3 knob mechanisms.

I wasn't aware that dishwashers like this even existed. I'm sure a 1940's era household wife would have really appreciated one of these!


Post# 579466 , Reply# 23   3/1/2012 at 00:40 (4,436 days old) by westingman123 ()        
Hmmmm.

 "The Dasher" - doesn't that word originate from a part of a butter churn? Something way back in my memory is niggling at me. It's been so long, but I'm fairly certain the dasher is the part you move up and down (ad infinitum).

Post# 579492 , Reply# 24   3/1/2012 at 06:14 (4,436 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

Dasher as part of butter churn & ice cream freezer, yes, but also agitator or impeller in early appliances. I am intrigued by the upper level sprayer in some of these models. That was not in the automatic ones I saw as a child. In many ways, these would perform better than the early automatics which followed, not only because the cycle was flexible, but also because in these, the motor could be stopped before the drain valve opened so the soil particles were not being thrown around by the impeller as the drain valve opened as was the case with the automatics where the timer was run by a gear off the motor so the motor could not stop for drain. Also, the top could be opened to add chemicals and was not locked for the duration like in the automatics.

Post# 579516 , Reply# 25   3/1/2012 at 09:38 (4,436 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

Must have been affordable only by the wealthy. The non-politically correct ad, linked below, seems to imply that the device will make the maid's life much easier ("...for women with servants and for those without help". Its 48 inch width meant that it could be swapped out for a 48" wall mount sink, without having to modify cabinets. My guess is that it was produced in low numbers, then production stopped during WW2. After the war, other early DW makers also offered "sink combination" or "electric sink" models, both with and without garbage disposals. But GE seems to have been the first with a home dishwasher (KA/Hobart was in the commercial dishwasher business pre-WW2, but I don't believe they produced a home model until post-war).

This ad also helps explain why my father---for years---would refer to any disposal as a Dispos-ALL (accent on final syllable). If GE's model was the first on the market, Dispos-ALL would have become a common noun, like Kleenex or Frigidaire (common name for any brand refrigerator; my grandparents used "Frigidaire" as a common noun).

CLICK HERE TO GO TO PassatDoc's LINK
Post# 579526 , Reply# 26   3/1/2012 at 10:02 (4,436 days old) by dishwashercrazy (West Peoria, IL)        

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Jim,

I have a June 17, 1940 Ad from Life Magazine, which was focusing on Westinghouse Refrigerators, but in the background of the ad, depicts other appliances: Ironers, Wringer Washers, Water Heaters, Dishwashers (an Electric Sink is shown), Ranges, Irons, Roasters, Toasters and Vacuum Cleaners. This is the earliest Westinghouse ad that I have. So I think we can assume that Westinghouse had dishwashers, and/or Electric Sinks pre-WWII as well.

I also believe that I have seen, somewhere, pre-WWII dishwashers, marketed by Hotpoint.

Mike


Post# 579529 , Reply# 27   3/1/2012 at 10:15 (4,436 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        

We are lucky to have modern chemistry.  The machines are quite adequate,  certainly better than handwashing, i think any dissatisfaction was related to poor detergents.  I bet "vintage calgonite" would  burn your flesh off.  Was it packaged in a box or metal can pre-war?  GE certainly did not waste time with a picture of the product/calgonite, kind of strange since most people would be buying a supply after the purchase of the machine. alr
Post# 579543 , Reply# 28   3/1/2012 at 11:36 (4,436 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

The woman who invented the early dishwasher, whose patents were eventually acquired by Hobart, did so mainly to prevent chips in her fine china. She was wealthy and had servants, so reducing "dishwashing drudgery" was not the impetus.

@dishwashercrazy: thanks for the info. I think I recall the ad: featured product in the middle, with a circle of other products around it, including the Laundromat. My father attended the 1939-40 New York World's Fair as a boy, and recalls seeing dishwashers at the Westinghouse pavilion. The star of the Westinghouse exhibit however was a robot named "Electro". Like early televisions, only the wealthy could afford luxuries such as dishwashers in the pre-war era. Dishwashers came to be viewed as "standard equipment" rather than "luxuries" only in the late 1960s. I grew up in San Diego, where the suburban areas underwent rapid growth in the late 60s/early 70s, and I remember seeing tract home ads that boasted that the homes included "automatic dishwashers". The GE Electric Sink was not automatic, but it was a step in the right direction, like the first Bendix FL washer.

Post# 579932 , Reply# 29   3/2/2012 at 22:35 (4,434 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
I just stumbled upon this while viewing the Savage from Mart

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This stuff just sends me over the top. It's the Apex Dasher in action. Is ksdaddy one of us? The name is ringing a big bell. Should check the thousand plus member list.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO mickeyd's LINK
Post# 579990 , Reply# 30   3/3/2012 at 04:31 (4,434 days old) by dishwashercrazy (West Peoria, IL)        

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Yes, here is the link from June 2010. There are several replies with links to his videos of the Apex Wringer Washer.

Mike



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Post# 579992 , Reply# 31   3/3/2012 at 04:51 (4,434 days old) by cehalstead (Charleston, WV)        

I have a "House Beautiful" magazine from October, 1938 that has a full page color ad for a HotPoint Electic Kitchen. This includes the HP version of the electric sink. (just as a side note.....the house i grew up in was built in 1952 and had a HotPoint Electric sink installed when it was built. We moved here in 1962, and the dishwasher worked until 1972. I still live in the house, but the entire kitchen was replaced in 1997. I salvaged the metal cabinets and made a basement kitchen with the cabinets.)


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