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Thread Number: 92809
/ Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
1968 Programmed 4 Speed GE Filter Flo And Versatronic Dryer |
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| Post# 1173788 3/5/2023 at 11:39 (799 days old) by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas) | ||
Thanks to Dan I was able to give this beautiful GE set a new home. The washer is the programmed 4 speed model and the dryer is a versatronic. If I deciphered correctly these are 1968 models with the dryer being built in January and the washer in May. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong. The washer works great with no leaks or signs of previous leaks. I believe it is the quietest filter flo I’ve ever owned. Both machines look to be all original and all 4 agitation speeds work correctly on the washer. I haven’t used the dryer as much but when I did I had excellent results with the automatic cycle. I really can’t believe I was able to get these. I will have to remember to get the obligatory night shots of these awesome panels lit up.
Washer model 1WA1250D2A Serial HD117722 Dryer model 1DE1220D2A Serial AD219801 | ||
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| Post# 1173789 , Reply# 1 3/5/2023 at 11:42 (799 days old) by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas) | ||
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Post# 1173790 , Reply# 2 3/5/2023 at 11:51 (799 days old) by appnut  (TX) |
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Melvin, thank you for the terrific pictures. Absolutely stunning presentation. In some ways, doesn't surprise me how thick the panels are. I'm assuming that's a timed release bleach dispenser. Did he mini basket come with it? Is their a fabric softner dispenser? Wow, to thing that could go all the way through a prewash through extra rinse. For that requirement, that owul have to be one helluva soiled load. Just wonder what the soak button actually causees the machine to do automatically.
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| Post# 1173793 , Reply# 3 3/5/2023 at 12:16 (799 days old) by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas) | ||
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I thought I had a picture of the lid but I guess I forgot to add. Unfortunately it only came with the lint filter pan. I’m sure all of the accessories were near this machine when it was removed but were left behind simply because someone probably didn’t know what they were. Over the years I’ve collected all but the mini basket.
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Post# 1173795 , Reply# 4 3/5/2023 at 12:40 (799 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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Melvin, thank you so much for the thoughtful, detailed close-up photos. I didn't know TOL GE models with the horizontal arrangement of the buttons ever existed until this sight. I would have wished they'd have continued that panel style as it had more flexibility and programming, i.e. Perm Press sturdy with hot wash. That got it to match LK cycles.
BTW Melvin, YOU ROCK!!! | ||
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Post# 1173796 , Reply# 5 3/5/2023 at 12:44 (799 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA) |
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Beautiful find
Glad you got these! Honestly, had I seen that link for eBay, I’d have snagged them. They are a unicorn. I keep crossing my fingers for a Versatronic set. I’m always curious about the history behind such well-preserved machines such as these. All of my GE washer came to me as virtual train wrecks needs lots of rust repair. One of my clutch solenoids was dead on the three-speed machine. Thankfully Ben Swestka had some parts for it.
Heartfelt congratulations to you! | ||
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Post# 1173797 , Reply# 6 3/5/2023 at 12:45 (799 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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Post# 1173798 , Reply# 7 3/5/2023 at 12:49 (799 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA) |
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Maybe a video like this? | ||
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Post# 1173810 , Reply# 8 3/5/2023 at 14:26 (798 days old) by peteski50 (New York) |
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GE | ||
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Post# 1173818 , Reply# 9 3/5/2023 at 15:09 (798 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Wow, wonderful find Melvin
It looks like we both got avocado GE Versatronic appliances this year so far.
Those are an absolutely amazing condition obviously used but not very much, that was the best agitator GE ever put in the Filter Flow’s I think, I’m sure I have a mini basket for it if you. Does anyone know when GE changed the pattern of the holes in the wash basket to minimize redepositing of lint during the spin cycle? I see this machine already has the better basket in 1968. Now, if someone can just find the Versatronic Filter Flow washer that would be amazing, I still have a clutch for one. John | ||
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Post# 1173822 , Reply# 10 3/5/2023 at 15:14 (798 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA) |
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Mini basket | ||
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Post# 1173835 , Reply# 12 3/5/2023 at 16:31 (798 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions) |
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Post# 1173840 , Reply# 13 3/5/2023 at 17:21 (798 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!) |
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| Post# 1173850 , Reply# 14 3/5/2023 at 19:32 (798 days old) by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas) | ||
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Post# 1173851 , Reply# 15 3/5/2023 at 19:40 (798 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI) |
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| Post# 1173867 , Reply# 16 3/5/2023 at 22:58 (798 days old) by mielerod69 (Australia) | ||
Straigh vane vs. ramp agitator | ||
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Post# 1173878 , Reply# 18 3/6/2023 at 00:32 (798 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD) |
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Was this the last model dryer with a pedal for opening the door? | ||
| Post# 1173882 , Reply# 19 3/6/2023 at 03:17 (798 days old) by toploadloyalist (San Luis Obispo, CA) | ||
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Agitation Strokes per Minute Which agitation speed was slower, Gentle or Delicate? And how many strokes per minute was each of those four speeds? | ||
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Post# 1173889 , Reply# 21 3/6/2023 at 05:59 (798 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Three and four-speed GE Filter Flow washers
The three speed and four speed clutch was the same thing. The model said only gave you three speeds. They just didn’t use one of the available speeds.
Hi Charlie, great explanation of how the clutches worked. There were not many of these machines and GE didn’t continue the three speeds very long in the overall history of washers that is. I think the strokes per minute of agitation varied from 80 to 60 to 50 to 40, the three speed models left out the 50 strokes, per minute speed. John. | ||
| Post# 1173913 , Reply# 24 3/6/2023 at 11:29 (798 days old) by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas) | ||
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This set came from an elderly couples home where I’m told they were very meticulous in keeping their older home in good condition. He passed away and she was put into assisted living so I guess the house was probably liquidated and sold. The people that I bought them from either helped with a possible estate sale or bought them to flip.
The agitation speeds are in order from highest to lowest: normal, medium, delicate, gentle. The lighted controls: | ||
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Post# 1173916 , Reply# 25 3/6/2023 at 12:18 (798 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA) |
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Really beautiful
These were my favorite GE designs. Nostalgic for me but also they’re just very attractive.
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Post# 1173924 , Reply# 26 3/6/2023 at 12:57 (798 days old) by pulltostart (A Red State) |
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Gobsmacked These are just awesome. Their styling is so well thought out. If they're not in a design museum somewhere, they should be. They represent the height of a design evolution that started in 1957.
lawrence
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Post# 1173925 , Reply# 27 3/6/2023 at 12:58 (798 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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Post# 1173929 , Reply# 28 3/6/2023 at 13:21 (797 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA) |
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This is why… | ||
| Post# 1173934 , Reply# 29 3/6/2023 at 13:53 (797 days old) by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas) | ||
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Jon I’ve always thought the set you have is beautiful and they inspired me to want a set like them. I’ve looked for a set like these for many years before I was finally able to get this set. I’ve always liked the filter flo machines but they have been hard to find in this area for the last 20 years.
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Post# 1173941 , Reply# 30 3/6/2023 at 14:15 (797 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA) |
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They are an amazing find | ||
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Post# 1173954 , Reply# 31 3/6/2023 at 16:20 (797 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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 Melvin, I'm speechless. Not only are these quite possibly the best washer/dryer pair GE made, they are in impeccable condition. I cannot believe how nice they are. Thank you so much for the many photos and lit panel shots you've included. By chance, could you post some more photos that show each of the neon indicator positions on the timer dial? Does the dryer have any neon indicators, as well?
Ben | ||
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Post# 1174006 , Reply# 34 3/7/2023 at 07:46 (797 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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buttons were vertical rather than horizontal
Yes! The vertical button arrangement was on the '67 models, with the button escutcheon lit from behind just like the horizontal arrangement. The '68 model appears to be the only year they had the neon indicators behind the timer dial.
Ben | ||
| Post# 1174007 , Reply# 35 3/7/2023 at 08:12 (797 days old) by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas) | ||
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Post# 1174019 , Reply# 37 3/7/2023 at 13:43 (796 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut) |
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Speaking as an appliance geek All of the Filter-Flo TOL's from the mid-'50s to the mid '70s featured horizontally oriented Program toggles/keys/buttons (the 1964 model had only 5 programs). I think it was a style choice, not an engineering necessity. The 2nd from top TOL's frequently had the 5 programs arranged vertically. GE never passed up an opportunity to have more models on the annual menu. The seven programs were eliminated after 1974, I think. CU declared, in one of the best and most comprehensive '60s washing machine articles that, paradoxically, the fancy and more expensive TOL's of most manufacturers were LESS versatile and/or flexible than their cheaper counterparts.
I think exceptions to the CU caveat were the Lady Kenmores with the keys (the array of dispensers and design of the cycles made it AFAIK the only washer at that time were the user could set the dial, fill all the dispensers and not have to return to the basement until it was time to unload the machine-worth the premium ). As I've said before, I think a lot of these complicated TOL's were purchased by tech-geeky husbands in the pre-Friedan years. Most of the women, including me own sainted Mother, couldn't have cared less for bells and whistles. The women I asked back in the day found these models unnecessarily complicated. I think the Maytag TOL's might have been exceptions too, because the user had to push only one button to operate the washer and dryer. No cascade of decisions to make and somehow the laundry got done. | ||
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Post# 1174027 , Reply# 38 3/7/2023 at 15:06 (796 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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Ken, I have always been mindful of this "horizontal" arrangement since the inception of the 2-speed design and those 5 cycles weere pretty much the same but with different labels over the years. With the advent of my knowledge and understanding/appreciation of LK's as well as the WP Mark VII, those set the standard appropriate laundry practices for all old-fashioned top load TOL washers. And the 5-programmed F-Flos and our 1963/1964 Norge Dispensomat were in the same ball park, yet at compete opposite of the playing field in one glaring exception. The GEs "sturdy" W'n'W offered only warm wash whee as our Norge w'n'w Durabes only offered hot wash and both had Normal Wash/Slow Spin. GE's specials had a slow wash/normal spin, where as our Specials was slow/slow, both offering warm/warm. I would have preferred the Norge had warm rather than hot water programmed. I attempted to force a LK colors scenario with being warm wash rather than hot and I got away with until the mother caught me changing the cycle button after the warm fill to the W'n'W button and got told in no uncertain terms was I to change wash cycle button after I had started the machine, no exceptions. I remembr my dad got the first Perm Press garments in the house and it was some slacks. So, I washed those slacks on the W'n'W durables with theo hot wash. That load of slacks was never the same after being forced to wash in hot water, the fabric was kinda limp. And hence by this time I was doing my own laundry and I had to force my laundry to be washed on the delicate cycle, but I select4ed the longest wash time. Of course all this changed with arrival of the Kenmore 800 in 1970. When I would wear white long-sleeve dress shirts to work during the spring/summer months, I always washed those shirts h/c with N/S speed for both the Lady Shredmore as well as my 1978 F Flo. This all being said, when I encountered the TOL Norge VGQ washer in 1966/1967 at our local Foley's department store, you can imagine my being pissed that Norge had started including a perm press cycle with warm water wash also. That TOL VGQ was the model replacemtn for our Norge.
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Post# 1174028 , Reply# 39 3/7/2023 at 15:13 (796 days old) by pulltostart (A Red State) |
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Ken, You are correct, I stand corrected. Although I was completely discarding the 1958-1963 models due to the consoles being on a completely different chassis. No matter - you're correct.
lawrence | ||
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Post# 1174107 , Reply# 40 3/8/2023 at 15:19 (795 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut) |
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Could have knocked me over with a feather... I consider myself something of an expert on Filter-flo washers, but I never knew that there was a 4 speed model out there!
Thank you all for the explanations of the 4 agitation speeds and how they worked ( I guess the Versatronic models used a Governor on the motor like the 1967 Hotpoints ?). From the lid instructions it looks like there were 4 agitation speeds but still only 2 spin speeds? I knew they offered 3-speed machines in a couple of model years but 4 was news to me. Was 1968 the only year for 4 speeds? Looks like it.
I think this machine was one of the best TOL'S GE ever offered, from a collector's point of view. Backlit controls, timed single-shot bleach dispenser, expandable cycles, turquoise porcelain tub and those speeds; this machine's a winner and now I want one more than ever. Great find.
Now, go out and get yourself a Spiral-Ramped Activator that will fit on that post. No contest, I've used both extensively and when it comes to rollover, the Spiral Activator blows the doors of the Straight-6 which was designed primarily to accommodate a bigger mini-basket and maybe to displace less water so they could claim that the same washbaskets used on the V-12's were now able to hold 16 pounds (the nerve). Remember that the Perforated Tub transmissions were designed specifically to compliment the Spiral Activator with the shorter, faster stroke. There's no reason you can't keep and use the Straight-6 for gentler washing and the basket. Nothing succeeds like excess.
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| Post# 1174111 , Reply# 41 3/8/2023 at 16:38 (795 days old) by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas) | ||
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Hi Ken, in reply 17 Charlie gives an excellent explanation of how the clutch operates. Yes there are 4 agitation speeds and 2 spin speeds.
I still need to get pictures of the neon lit washer dial set in the different programs and also some pictures of the clutch. I don’t believe the dryer dial designates the programs as the washer does. | ||
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Post# 1174171 , Reply# 42 3/9/2023 at 08:02 (795 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD) |
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Ken, I agree about the turnover and the spiral ramp agitator | ||
| Post# 1174181 , Reply# 43 3/9/2023 at 13:52 (794 days old) by PaulWash (Niagara Falls New York) | ||
1968 Programmed 4 Speed GE Filter Flo and Versatronic Dryer
One of the best cleaning machines I ever used. So many memeries but a short time I had it for only 9 months a tenant my Aunt had left it in the basement and moved It had sit in the basement with soapy water in it for a year My father KNEW i had a thing for washers and it was his sisters apartment building so we took drained it and and all the lighted controls worked it ran great. We brought it home and got 9 months out of it and it went bad and stopped pumping water my dad tossed it out and bought a 1990 NORGE washer from highland superstore appliances. That GE washer was great.
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| Post# 1174501 , Reply# 44 3/12/2023 at 11:19 (792 days old) by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas) | ||
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Here are the 4 program positions that light on the dial. The first one is for the first two normal selections. The second is for the rest of them except the special program which is the third. The soak button lights up the start of the extra rinse.
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Post# 1174568 , Reply# 45 3/12/2023 at 20:32 (791 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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| Post# 1175022 , Reply# 49 3/17/2023 at 18:38 (786 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.) | ||
wait....what? | ||
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Post# 1175036 , Reply# 50 3/17/2023 at 21:01 (786 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA (considering moving to Temple, Texas)) |
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washer speed selections What are the 4 speed selections? | ||
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Post# 1175038 , Reply# 51 3/17/2023 at 21:14 (786 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA (considering moving to Temple, Texas)) |
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normal speed I thought normal speed was 100 strokes per minute. At least that's what I remember. | ||
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Post# 1175049 , Reply# 52 3/17/2023 at 22:46 (786 days old) by CircleW (NE Cincinnati OH area) |
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Thanks Tom, I suppose it's possible my neighbor's was a DE8200. | ||
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Post# 1175109 , Reply# 53 3/18/2023 at 15:05 (785 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut) |
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Versatronic IIRC GE used the term (and likely copywrited{ if that's a word} it) "Versatronic" on some other appliance in the earlier Sixties.
If my right brain ever decides to release that information, I'll post it.
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Post# 1227082 , Reply# 56 3/23/2025 at 18:04 by Chetlaham (United States) |
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Stunning!  OP, I can not take your pair out of my mind. Everything from the chrome push-buttons, to the programmed cycle scheme, to the lighted console, to the lighted knob indicators, to the semi solid turquoise tub, to the straight van agitator, to the paint job... is breathtaking... its just drool! This pair has me smitten.
@Reapirguy, do you still have an un-blurred version of the cycle diagram? Send me an email or link if you can, this site tends to re-adjust and down size images automatically.
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Post# 1227128 , Reply# 57 3/24/2025 at 11:07 by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA (considering moving to Temple, Texas)) |
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speed What were the speed combinations? | ||
| Post# 1227130 , Reply# 58 3/24/2025 at 12:14 by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas) | ||
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Post# 1227136 , Reply# 59 3/24/2025 at 13:56 by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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Reply 56
Here's the wiring diagram and the cycle chart, per the GE Technical Data Manual (1961-1972).
Ben | ||
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Post# 1227207 , Reply# 60 3/25/2025 at 01:21 by Chetlaham (United States) |
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