-None. I live in a small urban apartment. So, there isnt any room for any appliances other than the ones I use on a daily basis (which are all modern unfortunately). But I do have Sears Catalogs from the following years. 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, S/S 1968, F/W 1968, 1969, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1983 (Canadian), 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1992
But, I am also currently seeking a 1962 Sears Catalog, as well as a 1964 Sears Catalog. I am also debating on whether or not I should get a 1978 and a 1979 Catalog as well. And just to see what the Montgomery Ward Washers looked like in the mid-to-late 1950 to the early 1960s, I may start looking for and trading for Montgomery Ward catalogs of around that vintage as well.
But now, I dont know whether to say that this is a "dream machine" or not. This more than likely is going to be my "daily driver" if I can find one that is either has been recently rebuilt, one that is still in decent condition (and all I got to do is maintain it), or one that is broken, but doesnt require a lot of work to rebuild it and get it working again. I have all of you on this site to get a wealth of advice from if I need to obtain a part for it, or to repair it if it malfunctions.
Well...... here it is. The washer I would MOST like to have right now is a 1967-73 Kenmore Portable Washer with Two-Speeds and Three-Cycles (the one with only the cycle-timer on the right of the machine). My aunt had one of these 30 years ago. Its a great washer for an apartment dweller.
What are your dream machines yet to be found?
-Well, there are several dream machines I would like to have if I had the room for them. And they would be:
(01). 1957 Lady Kenmore Washer (the VERY first Lady Kenmore...... in porcelain)
(02). 1959 Lady Kenmore Washer (the first "All Push-Button Model" with "Rapid-Advance" timer....... in porcelain)
(03). 1965 Lady Kenmore Washer (the 2nd 3 Speed Washer ever produced by Kenmore)
(04). 1966-67 Lady Kenmore Washer and Dryer (first model with "keyboard" console)
(05). 1969-71 Lady Kenmore Washer and Dryer (with flip down console cover)
(06). 1978 Lady Kenmore Belt-Drive/Dual Action Agitator 2 Speed/Multi-Cycle "Electronic" Washer and Dryer (first model with "electronic" controls)
(07). 1967-70 Kenmore "All-American" Dryer
(08). 1957 Frigidaire Tower Top Washer and Tower Top Filtrator Dryer
(09). 1958-59 Frigidaire Custom Imperial "Unimatic" Washer and Filtrator Dryer
(10). 1965-70 Frigidaire "Roller-Matic" Custom Imperial Washer (3 Speeds w/Rapidry) and Dryer
(11). 1970-79 Frigidaire "1-18" Washer and Dryer
(12). Speed Queen Washer and Dryer (1960s..... and with the clunking solenoid sound in its driving mechanism, AND... the washer MUST have a "solid" stainless steel tub WITHOUT any perforations in it)
(13). 1959 Philco Automagic Washer (with "Undertow" Agitator)
(14). 1960-65 Philco Miss America Washer (again..... with "Undertow" Agitator)
(15). 1958-59 RCA-Whirlpool Washer/Dryer Combination
(16). 1968 #2 Kenmore Washer and Dryer (the first #2 Kenmore that I saw that has a 3 Speed Motor)
(17). 1972 Kenmore "Dial In Window" Washer and Dryer (the last "alphabet lettered" washer ever produced)
(18). 1969-72 Sears Kenmore Model 800 Washer and Dryer (with the washer having dispensers for detergent, bleach, and fabric softener. I would also like for the washer to have a Vari-Flex agitator sitting inside of it)
(19). 1948-63 Westinghouse "Slant Front Laundromat" Front Loading Washer (w/Circled Window (1948-56), Squared Window (1957-60 (???)), and Oval Window (1963)) and Dryer
(20). 1963-69 Westinghouse "Swing Door Laundromat" Front Loading Washer (w/Oval Window) and Dryer (w/Cross Vane Tumbling)
(21). 1970-75 Westinghouse "Flip Down Door" Front Loading Washer (w/Oval Window in the door) and Dryer (the ones that were made before WCI has taken them over)
(22). 1968-72 (???) Hoover Portable Washer/Spin Dryer
(23). 1950s Kelvinator T/Ler with "Orbital" Transmission and "Magic Minute" Pretreatment Cycle
WOW!!!!!!! I guess thats twenty-four I am looking at now. Maybe I better get me a really BIG house, or consider renovating an old museum.
And then, there are other (and more modern) machines that are to be had also. Fortunately though, these machines are accessable. And they are:
(01). 1989-99 Lady Kenmore Direct-Drive/Dual Action Agitator 3 Speed/Multi-Cycle "Electronic" Washer and Dryer with "electronic" controls and lighted console (the lasts Lady Kenmores ever produced)
(02). 1999-Current Kenmore Elite Catalyst Washer and Dryer
(03). 2000-Current Kenmore Elite Calyspo Washer and Dryer
(04). 2001-Current Asko "One Touch" Front Loading Washer and Dryer (w/Stainless Steel Front Panels)
(05). 1998-Present F&P Smart-Drive Washer and Dryer
(06). 2000 F&P Intuitive Washer and Dryer
(07). 1998-Current Kenmore F/L Washer and Dryer (the ones that are "Frigidaire" made, and the ones with the controls on the front)
(08). 2001 Kenmore Elite HT3 "Electronic" F/L Washer and Dryer (the first NEW GENERATION F/Ler from Whirlpool. The last time Ive seen a F/Ler from Whirlpool was from the late 1950s thru the mid 1960s (their W/D combos))
What are your earliest and favorite appliance memories?
(01). Back in the early 1970s, when my family and I were vactioning in Spartanburg, South Carolina, I had the pleasure of actually seeing my late "great uncles (on my fathers side)" late 1960s Frigidaire "Roller-Matic" Washer in action. I was amazed at the way this machine agitated its washload (it had a "Jet Cone" agitator that went "up and down" in a VERY rapid motion..... moving the clothes through the water also in a VERY rapid motion). I was also turned on by the way this machine sounded when it was agitating (it sounded like a wrist watch). And this was after I have become very accustomed to watching our BOL Kenmore oscillate side to side all of these years.
(02). The way my late "great grandmothers (on my fathers side)" 1975-76 Speed Queen would stop agitating for a split second, and then all of the sudden, it would shift into drain/spin, and then I would hear it grind as it would try to spin faster as the water would drain from the tub. Come to think of it, my "great uncles" Frigidaire did that too.
(03). The way my late "great grandmothers" mid 1960s Philco (which was the washer she had before she went out and replaced it with the Speed Queen in 1976) would make a softened "churning" sound when it was agitating.
(04). And of course, that famous Frigidaire commercial in 1976. The one that has put a Frigidaire "Jet-Cone-Action" agitator washer up against a 1976 Lady Kenmore with the Dual-Action agitator. In that commercial, the Frigidaire was effectively circulating its washload while the Lady Kenmore was barely moving its washload, if it was moving it at all. No offense to you Frigidaire fans, but are you sure that THAT commercial wasnt rigged (LOL)????
What is the history of appliances you have owned?
In the past, I have used a 1990 Kenmore Direct-Drive/Dual Action Agitator 2 Speed/10 Cycle Washer and a 1987 Kenmore Dryer with a Solid-State Sensor (the consoles on both machines match), which I share with my Grandmother (from whom I rent my apartment from). I also had a 1984 Sears Kenmore "Freezer-Top" Refrigerator up until recently (two years ago), and a Sears Kenmore Gas Range (which is brand new, and is less than 6 months old). I also have a Kenmore Microwave Oven (Circa 1988) with solid-state controls and a temperature probe.
Now, the 1990 Direct-Drive Kenmore Top Loader has been replaced with a 2007 Kenmore Elite Oasis Top Loader with Electronic Controls, a Total Care Flex Agitator and a 3.8 Cu./Ft. Stainless Steel Tub.
My 1984 Kenmore Freezer Top Refrigerator has been replaced with a basic GE Freezer Top.
I have just acquired a 2007 Kenmore Side-By-Side Refrigerator/Freezer with an Ice Maker, a Lighted Door, and an Ice and Cold Water Dispenser in the same door. Its going to get cleaned up over the next week or so (its not in use yet), and then its going to get plugged up and turned on. Its going to replace the GE that I have in my kitchen right now. The GE is out of kilter. I am going to have a contractor that I know (who has recently done some renovation work on my apartment/condo) to run a water line in my kitchen so that I can use the Ice Maker and the Ice and Cold Water Dispenser sometime in the Spring, so that I can have access to Ice and Cold Water before the Summer arrives.
And I will be acquiring a Clothes Washer of my own within the next year or two. My current busy lifestyle dictates that I have one of my own. I detest having have to use whatever little free time I have and wrestling heavy carts of clothes to the laundromat to wash my clothes, and having spend my evenings at home going up and down the stairs with baskets of clothes. I am doing research on them and shopping around for one now. I am going to get a Front Loader. Stay Tuned.
Now, as for the appliances I have grew up with as a youngster?? The appliances I grew up with as a youngster are as follows:
(01). 1967 BOL Kenmore 24" 1 Speed/1 Cycle Belt-Drive Washer (1967-78)
(02). 1978 Kenmore 29" 2 Speed/4 Cycle Sud Saver Belt-Drive Washer w/Agitator Mounted F/S Dispenser and O/B/B (1978-..... It was still running when I left home. I left home in 1987)
(03). 1967 Kenmore Model 600 29" 2 Speed/3 Cycle Belt-Drive Washer w/Bleach, F/S Dispensers and O/B/B (which died in 1990.... and was the original machine that was in place when I moved into my apartment in 1987.... later replaced by the 1990 Direct-Drive/Dual Action Agitator Kenmore)
(04). 1975 Kenmore "All American" Dryer w/Solid-State Sensor, Wrinkle-Guard, and Full-Width Door (was also working in 1987 when I left home)
(05). 1977 Caloric Gas Range
(06). 1972 Sears Coldspot "Freezer-Top" Refrigerator
(07). And once again, there was NO dishwasher in my household when I was growing up
Have you ever worked on, repaired and/or restored any major appliances?
