Thread Number: 88151  /  Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
Canadian General Electric score! A dream set found in Québec
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Post# 1127271   8/30/2021 at 16:42 (941 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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The pandemic has put something of a damper on my collecting activities - yes, I've found machines but because of the border closure I haven't been able to get them.  Although I have been shipping and storing some at a good friend's place in Northern Ohio, I have had to pass on a good number of them. 

Well, last week fate took pity on me and dropped these into my lap.... 

(actual picture from the Québec City Marketplace listing)


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Post# 1127273 , Reply# 1   8/30/2021 at 16:45 (941 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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Within a couple of hours of seeing this ad (and, in fact, it was PhilR who alerted me to them) I had made arrangements to pick them up this past Sunday, August 29th. 

I called in a favour with a friend with a truck and off we went!  We got both machines and an added bonus vintage Admiral electric range safely back to Ogden.  


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Post# 1127274 , Reply# 2   8/30/2021 at 16:48 (941 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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I had just about given up hope of ever finding a 1964 GE washer and dryer set - my parents had a 64 pair, much lower-end than these, but I don't have words to express how happy I was to find these!

Here's some pictures of the washer, 'money shot' included!


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Post# 1127275 , Reply# 3   8/30/2021 at 16:50 (941 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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And a few of the dryer...   Extra added bonus - the user booklet for the dryer en Anglais and in French!


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Post# 1127276 , Reply# 4   8/30/2021 at 16:58 (941 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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The seller had been clear that the washer needed work; it apparently would not stop filling and would flood the room.   I had my suspicions as to what might be wrong (and most often my first diagnosis is wrong...LOL) but this time I was right! 

My first thought was the water level switch was at fault; second thought was the water valve itself. 

 

In the 'post-delivery inspection' I was almost ready to conclude the water valve was the problem, but despite the scale build-up, this was pretty obviously not the original GE valve. 

I opened the control panel and my first diagnosis was confirmed...  The hose from the pressure switch to the tub had been chewed through.  Once again, mice have plotted against me.  Little buggers...   One of  'em even had the gaul to die in the control panel!

 


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Post# 1127279 , Reply# 5   8/30/2021 at 17:04 (941 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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I cheated the pressure switch and started the washer up...  It kicked into activate mode immediately!  It was like going back in time hearing the motor start up and the clutch spin up to regular-speed activation.   I didn't get any video of that, but here's what the motor and transmission sounded like in spin.  

 



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The washer is in amazing condition.  It had been a kitchen installation, but I suspect the house where they were rescued from had sat empty for many, many years.  All hoses seem soft, I managed to run a hand around the transmission boot and it seems good, too.  Wiring is all good too!  I will have to replace the fluorescent tube, though.

 


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Post# 1127281 , Reply# 6   8/30/2021 at 17:12 (941 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        
Next steps....

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I'll be back down to the house in Ogden later this week and I'll be doing some more testing on the washer, hopefully repair the eaten pressure hose, and perhaps even get a water test in!  

I intend to take the dryer apart for a good de-linting and I'd like to get a relay in place to take the heat off the motor start switch.  

 

Now... the nomenclature of these machines is a bit different.  All-Canadian models with unique numbering!

 

The washer model is:  78 W51 1219 11.  Serial number is WY O2063

 

The dryer model is:  78 D51 1219 11.  Serial number is YY 12448

 

Based on what I have gleaned from the dryer booklet, I am thinking the washer is the Canadian equivalent of a WA850, the dryer a DA850.   Canadian-built model numbers do not contain a date code, however based on what I have learned about the ranges and refrigerators built here, that second letter in the serial number ('Y' in this case) is probably the date code.  Hence why I believe these to be 1964 models.  I'll be doing more digging, but probably after I get the washer water-tested the dryer cleaned up!

 


Post# 1127283 , Reply# 7   8/30/2021 at 17:50 (941 days old) by appnut (TX)        

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Congratulations!!!!

Post# 1127286 , Reply# 8   8/30/2021 at 18:08 (941 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        
Congratulations!

Friends had the washer. I remember the BLINDING light above the control panel. It lit up half the garage. The next model up had the light under the control panel.

So where's the Admiral range?


Post# 1127287 , Reply# 9   8/30/2021 at 18:09 (941 days old) by pulltostart (Mobile, AL)        
Paul,

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Those are simply AWESOME!!!  Congratulations on finding not only cool, vintage machines, but a matching pair.

 

Can't wait to see these in action.

 

lawrence


Post# 1127294 , Reply# 10   8/30/2021 at 18:59 (941 days old) by pulltostart (Mobile, AL)        
PS

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I love the matching "chrome" strips on the appliances.  In "GE speak" that definitely signifies a high-end model.

 

lawrence


Post# 1127299 , Reply# 11   8/30/2021 at 19:16 (941 days old) by Ultramatic (New York City)        

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Wow Paul, what a cool find! Congratulations!


Post# 1127300 , Reply# 12   8/30/2021 at 19:17 (941 days old) by peteski50 (New York)        
GE

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Congratulations!
This is Great!




Post# 1127302 , Reply# 13   8/30/2021 at 19:24 (941 days old) by qsd-dan (West)        

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Nice find, I believe those are a step or 2 below TOL, correct?


Post# 1127303 , Reply# 14   8/30/2021 at 20:35 (941 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

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Very cool find Paul!!!! I found it interesting that the washer had the plain white filter pan, the exact same pan that came in my '62 GE. '61 was light blue, '60 was turquoise, they must have used white from '62 to at least '64.

Post# 1127309 , Reply# 15   8/30/2021 at 21:13 (941 days old) by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas)        

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Congratulations Paul! Those machines that were originally equipped with fluorescent lighting always perform better when the lights are working. Looks like these will be in operation very soon. Enjoy!

Post# 1127322 , Reply# 16   8/31/2021 at 01:39 (940 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)        
I’m so happy you got them!

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Not that I didn’t want them for myself but I knew you had to have this set! If for any reason you ever get tired of them, I can manage to get them out of your sight quickly! :-)

Post# 1127326 , Reply# 17   8/31/2021 at 05:13 (940 days old) by christfr (st louis mo)        

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way cool. looks like fun for days. congrats..........

Post# 1127539 , Reply# 18   9/2/2021 at 07:57 (938 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

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Beautiful set, Paul!  Other than the infestation, they look to be in great condition.

 

That is indeed the 850 (equiv) set, I have the 950 Clothes Conditioning dryer, still watching for the matching washer/panel.


The Clothes Conditioning dryer is a pretty cool system, it uses a thermo-bulb ambient room temperature sensor to adjust the cutoff temperature in the Auto dry cycle.  Mine worked perfectly when I found it so yours will likely as well.  When removing the front panel of the dryer, just be aware that it's mounted on the right side front so you don't inadvertently damage it :-) 


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Post# 1127545 , Reply# 19   9/2/2021 at 08:29 (938 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)        

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Incredible find, Paul! Amazing to think that both have survived sitting next to each other for so many decades. Enjoy getting these up and running!

Ben


Post# 1127548 , Reply# 20   9/2/2021 at 09:39 (938 days old) by wiskybill (Canton, Ohio)        
Great find Paul!

This is my version. Sadly, no matching washer.

This has had a cabinet transplant. The bottom of the original was rusted out due to the damp basement it which it was found. Fortunately, GE used the same cabinet design for many years and was able to get one from scrap pile for cheap.


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