modern version of these vintage kenmore dishwashers

[pierreandreply4]

@Chetlaham how would you see modern version of these dishwashers in 2025? 1 model is the white push start button the other electromechanical time

 

[Chetlaham]

I would see them as Power Clean Filter modules. The upper model would be a rapid advance timer, stainless steal tank and door liner, back water distribution system, Pots and Pans, Heavy, Normal, Light, China and Rinse only cycle. Blower assisted dry.

The lower version I would see as a plastic tub, back distribution system. The knob would have Heavy, Normal and Light start demarcations. The push buttons would add or over-ride thermal holds.

Tuned sound damper on both motors. Solenoid actuated dispensers.

Cycle sequence for both models from Pots/Pans and Heavy would be Wash-Rinse-Main Wash- Rinse - Rinse - Final Rinse- Dry. 2.25 gallons per water charge. 13.5 gallons total.


I am debating the wash if of having 3 washes- an open cup and two closed cups, though I can't see such a great need in a power clean. I wouldn't keep the roto rack design. I think Whirlpool had a good upper rack in latter productions.

 

[neptunebob]

Would you really want a modern version? D&M dishwashers were noisy, often rusted, had sharp edges, did not last long with daily use, but did seem more solid than GE machines at the time. GE had that Plastisol which often rusted. The porcelain on steel Kenmore units looked better at first but after 2-3 years most users were in the market for a new dishwasher. I wonder why Sears did not source from Whirlpool earlier than they did around 1985 and then only for the higher priced models.

 

[Chetlaham]

Right, however these machine had the benefits of simplicity and fast cycle times not seen in machines today. Such control systems implemented on a Power Clean or Jet-Clean these would make for leading dishwashers.

Personally Kenmore should have just sourced everything from Whirlpool. Have the BOL all the way up to the TOL lineup be power clean adding features and cycles accordingly.

 

[pierreandreply4]

@Chetlaham i wish there where youtoube videos of these 2 models going trough a full cycle

 

[Chetlaham]

I am sure someone must have something.

I wish I could have the tech sheets to these. I remember reading a generic appliance repair manual that had the cycle sequences to either latter D&M or WCIs that was very elegant. It was something along the lines of this:





Old machines are great inspirations of cycles, features, times, racks, style, control and water systems that could be applied to modern machines. I'd love to adapt such things to a modern Jet-Clean or Modern Power Clean.

FWIW, Robert (Unimatic1140) owns the lower dishwasher. Perhaps he can post pics of the insides, cycle sequence and perhaps do some type of video?

 

[circlew]

Right, however these machine had the benefits of simplicity and fast cycle times not seen in machines today. Such control systems implemented on a Power Clean or Jet-Clean these would make for leading dishwashers.

Personally Kenmore should have just sourced everything from Whirlpool. Have the BOL all the way up to the TOL lineup be power clean adding features and cycles accordingly.

Chet, at the time Sears started selling dishwashers, Whirlpool didn't have a factory making them. Until 1955, Whirlpool only made laundry equipment. That year they acquired both refrigerator (Seeger) and range (RCA Estate) manufacturing facilities. If I remember correctly, Whirlpool sourced their dishwashers from D&M for the first few years.

 

[Chetlaham]

Right, however I think Kenmore should have started re-branding Maytag Jet-Cleans with a re-designed cycle timing sequence and standard rack setup along with Kitchen-Aids with a redesigned upper water distrbution in the early 70s and then switched to full Whirlpool Power Clean Filter module in the mid 80s onward. D&M while cheap, was a huge energy and water wasting mistake.


Those mistakes continued with Kenmore selling GE, WCI, Bosch, and Frigidaire until the 2000s.



Maytag and then latter Whirlpool gave the best run for the money.

 

[pierreandreply4]

@Chetlaham it also ment the end of portable dishwashers whirlpool still makes some and ge but kitchenaid maytag ect we no longer see portable models unless buying a whirlpool not all appartments have space for built in models unles you look newer appartment building aspecaly if some like to use the dishwasher worksurface as an extra prep surface looking back in time to when my mom bough the place we live in if it had this model i would of told my mom to keep it but it had this kitchenaid dishwasher that my mom did not went to keep