The Laundry Equipment Division produced automatic washers. Initially, it had purchased its transmissions from two sources the Gear and Transmission Division and the Thorndike Machining Corporation. The transmission had been developed and engineered by the Thorndike Machining Corporation. Inconsideration of an agreement to buy one-half of its transmissions from the Thorndike Machining Corporation, the General Appliance Corporation had been licensed to produce the transmission. The current agreement ran from 1977 to 1987; at the expiration of the 10 years, General Appliance would have the right to use the design without restrictions.