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Thread Number: 92077
/ Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
The Very First General Electric Automatic Washer - Full Cycle Video |
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Post# 1166273 12/11/2022 at 12:33 (501 days old) by Unimatic1140  (Minneapolis) |
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So I've had several requests to do a full cycle video of my 1947 GE Automatic Washer. I finally have found the time to do this and the video is ready to go. I show a full cycle starting with loading the clothes into the machine and then at the very end I show how you can re-use the rinse water for the next wash load that is stored in the outer tub. I've add captions and explanations during the entire cycle to say what exactly the machine is doing at that moment because it isn't always obvious what is going on in the outer tub...
This early GE design is by far one the best performing vintage automatic washers ever produced and it was designed in the late 1930s! It would have come out earlier if WW2 had not stopped appliance production. If I could only have a couple of washers a '58 Frigidaire Unimatic and this '47 GE AW6 would be my choices. The biggest features of this early GE are: - The very first and very effective self-cleaning lint filter system, - Detergent dispenser that dispenses during the wash cycle even if you select a pre-soak, - 1140rpm spin leaving clothes very dry, - Automatically saves rinse water in outer tub to be pumped back up and used in next wash load if you wish or you can empty the outer tub before starting the next load for a fresh fill of wash water. - Direct drive transmission and motor combined and sealed in oil bath Here is what CU had to say about this GE washer when they received their first sample to test it... 
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Post# 1166304 , Reply# 2 12/11/2022 at 15:40 (501 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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Robert, thank you so much for making this spectacular video. My paternal grandmother had this washer. I never got to see it up close as I never had an occasion to go in my grandmother's garage. But I do remember what it looked like from a distance. She moved out of her house when I was 10 because a future freeway was going to be goig through her property. I'll tell you how I found out she had this specific model and not one of the subsequent ones that looked like this washer, but had the slower spin speed. My dad knew just how much I loved Frigiaires (which up to that time Unimatics were the only ones I was exposed to). He just casually mentioned that the washer that was at my grandmother's house spun just as fast as a Frigieaire but it didn't tangle near as bad as Frigidires. I couldn't believe that any other washer DARED to spin as fast as a Unimatic. Why I was so thrilled when you found this machine.
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Post# 1166323 , Reply# 3 12/11/2022 at 16:27 (501 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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First GE automatic washer
Thanks Robert for posting this great video of this most unique and advanced washing machine.
This was truly the most advanced automatic washer. The world had yet seen. When Jeff and I picked up this machine, we were pretty amazed by it and we used it for a number of years before we traded it to you. it was a very expensive machine to make. It had two water pumps in it and two timers in it. It also had a more complex inlet valve to allow for detergent dispensing. So it’s not surprising that the cost cutters got involved and removed several of its good features. This washer did have a tub break so I came to stop pretty quickly like the Frigidaires but like many early automatics, there is no lid switch, so there certainly is a chance of danger. We were told that the wash water temperature was tempered to a maximum of 130° because of the cork floats and the fact that the transmission was immersed in the water and since the motor was in the transmission I don’t think they wanted to get it too hot. John | ||
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Post# 1166332 , Reply# 4 12/11/2022 at 17:18 (501 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA) |
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washer video I saw the video, and I like the wash action. | ||
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Post# 1166340 , Reply# 5 12/11/2022 at 18:05 (501 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Great Machine and Video! | ||
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Post# 1166341 , Reply# 6 12/11/2022 at 18:07 (501 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Post# 1166343 , Reply# 7 12/11/2022 at 18:11 (501 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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Post# 1166344 , Reply# 8 12/11/2022 at 18:15 (501 days old) by whirlykenmore78 (Prior Lake MN (GMT-0500 CDT.)) |
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Fantastic Robert: | ||
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Post# 1166360 , Reply# 9 12/11/2022 at 22:44 (501 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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GE’s first automatic washer
When Michael and I first bought the house in West Virginia this machine was the only thing we had in it for the first year up there. It was just used to wash towels and sheets, kitchen towels, etc.
It’s not a very big washer the load that Robert had in it is only 3 to 5 pounds. Here’s a load I just washed an hour ago in my direct drive resource saver at 16 longsleeve shirts for short sleeve ones 22 pairs of men’s underwear and four pairs of socks. The machine wasn’t even full.
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Post# 1166398 , Reply# 10 12/12/2022 at 10:23 (500 days old) by peteski50 (New York) |
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GE | ||
| Post# 1166498 , Reply# 11 12/13/2022 at 18:57 (499 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c ) | ||
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I found One of these for my friend Chris Moore, We picked it up in Asheville NC Talk about something heavy. | ||
| Post# 1166562 , Reply# 12 12/14/2022 at 16:59 (498 days old) by bpetersxx (laf in on the banks of the Wabash River) | ||
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