1948 (?) Kenmore wringer washer - newest acquisition

[bradross]

Hello...for all the wringer fans, I've acquired yet another! I was in Washington state visiting a friend, and just happened to see this in front of an antique store as we drove by. This Kenmore is, I believe, from the late 1940s. If anybody can verify that, I would appreciate it. The model # 110 73230.

It has a pump mechanism similar to that of a Maytag. A lever on the side engages the pump by shifting the whole mechanism, including that driving pulley, so that it makes contact with the flywheel/driveshaft of the motor. The flywheel has a rubber coating so the pump drive makes good contact.

Everything seems to be working fine, but of course, I'll be taking it apart to have a look. The motor runs very smoothly and EXTREMELY quietly! Only thing that needs replacing immediately is the drain hose, as it's brittle with age. The rolls of the wringer are pretty hardened, but still functional.

One thing I noticed from the first trial washing...as compared with the Maytag, this Kenmore does not have a sediment trap. At the end of the washing after draining the washtub, there is all the sediment just sitting on the bottom of the tub, since it's flat. Definitely not as well-engineered as the Maytag, but it still has great roll-over action - the three vane agitator turns about 180 degrees.

 

[bradross]

2nd photo - interior of tub and agitator

Here's a shot of the porcelain wash tub and cast aluminum agitator.

 

[rpms]

Nice.

 

[wringer]

Nice find Brad !

She looks like she is in very good condition cosmetically and as you say is a quiet gal. The hose should be no problem to replace. Please keep us posted on your progress. Best !

Jim

 

[wayupnorth]

That looks very much like the one my mother had in our basement when I was real young. Does it have the drain in the tubs side? It sure looks like the one I threw my toy cars and trucks into and got into trouble, when I would rather have a toy washer to play with and not caused any trouble. Ma would always run the fresh water in at the end to make sure all the stuff was pumped out, so I understand about the sediment now.

 

[kenmore58]

Great find, Brad! Enjoy!

Ron
Kenmore58

 

[golittlesport]

Nice!

That is a very cool wringer washer. Nice find! I'd guess it to be late 40's with the cast aluminum agitator. Great that it runs so well.

 

[revvinkevin]

Hey Ross, that is an awesome find, CONGRATS!!!

I hope you get many years of enjoyment with very few to no problems!

Kevin

 

[mickeyd]

Hi Brad.

See how similar your wringer and agitator are to 2011hoovermatic's. Maybe you could advise him.

Can't wait to see you restore this old war horse to showroom beauty.

 

[polkanut]

That cast aluminum agitator is very similar to the type that Speed Queen used to use.  That style was used for many years, and is very effective.  Great score Brad!!!!

 

[bradross]

Restoration

Thanks for all the comments, guys! This machine is really in quite good condition - mainly just cosmetic details, like some touch-up painting is required. Worked today on the drive wheel for the pump. The rubber "band" was deteriorated so I scraped it off and spread "instant gasket maker" over the wheel. Hopefully this will work --- will give it 24 hours to cure and then give it a test run.

I initially thought the hose needed replacement, but after running hot water through it and conditioning it with Armorall, it is fine...a little stiff, but not brittle. It has the coolest metal "cup" that shrouds the upper part of the hose and is used for the hanger.

Does anybody have knowledge about replacing the original decal for the front?

 

[mickeyd]

Hi Brad ~

It was that your wringer control handle on the left looks like what Damien's machine is missing.

Very interested in the instant gasket maker for something that would be really hard to find. I bet it works, and what a boon fix it will be for future pump restorations.

If you saw classicaprice's Philco refrigerator the other day, it has the same puffy quality of your washer and many appliances of that era. Think they're from the turn of the decade 40's to 50's, and a little while into them, the 50's. The model number has the familiar 1-1-0 for Kenmos, but the 73 clearly doesn't work for the year.

 

[wetguymd]

What a beauty!

She sure is pretty!!! Video of her washing coming soon?

 

[bradross]

Video as requested

Hope you enjoy the video, Lyle (wetguymd)!

 

[mickeyd]

What a surprise!

I couldn't imagine what the other lever was for. And it's LO MED HIGH, just like the water level selector on the automatics, but this one is for wringer pressure. I love it. How exciting, and unexpected. It would be fun to watch you adjust the pressure as you wring a large towel and observe the difference.

Eager to hear the pump when you've finished restoring it, to see if it's the same one as those installed on later Visimatics.

How did you determine the date at 48?

The relevant Ephemera lists the capacity of the standard conventional tub at 18 gallons. Is there a load line level anywhere on the tub or agitator?

Thanks for the vid. Feeling greater respect for these older machines.

 

[bradross]

Answer to Mickeyd's questions and other stuff

Hi Michael ... after shooting the video, I did the wringing on the "High" pressure setting. It definitely makes a difference for things like towels. I can only imagine using the "Low" setting for very bulky items, such as throw rugs.

I'm only guessing at the year of 1948 - I think I saw a photo posted somewhere on the web with a similar model giving that year. Would love to find out the exact year of manufacture.

There is a water line mark on the agitator. In the video, I had the water to the maximum level.

Regarding the pump - my experiment with the instant gasket maker didn't work. Even when fully set, the silicone is just too soft and it disintegrated. Next, I'm going to try using a vacuum cleaner belt, if I can find the right size to use around the pulley. Keep you posted!

 

[westingman123]

Oh, my word!

She IS quiet, isn't she? All of my wringers make more noise than that, but it's okay. The noise is rather soothing, and it takes me back to simpler days at Grandma's farm.

I'm glad she's in good hands, something tells me she'll be like new soon. Let the girl out of the loo, though! *LOL*

 

[wringer]

WOW !!!!

Beautiful video of a beautiful gal. I am very envious of you my friend. I will be sending you an original instruction manual and parts list for this model as I wrote you in email. The booklet has a date of 11-47 on the bottom so you're prolly very close to the correct manufacturing date. I, like Michael, did not understand the wringer levers until I read about them in the book. I agree about the vacuum belt idea for the pump. There are many different size vac belts that are flat and one should work even if you have to stretch it quite a bit. If it stretches out and wears out just put another on it. Great idea about the vac belt. Please keep us informed of your working on her. I look forward to any wringer postings on here.

This is what the book says about the wringer tension setting; 1. Push WRINGER RE-SET HANDLE down, 2. Raise WRINGER PRESSURE SELECTOR until desired pressure is indicated on dial at top of wringer. Set at LOW for heavy garments, throw rugs, etc.; MEDIUM for general wash, linens, etc.; HIGH for handkerchiefs, small pieces.

Best !

Jim

 

[e2l-arry]

1947 or 1948

Good find Brad. I think you're right about the age. It can't be much older than a 1947. My Mom had told me that after the war, WW 2, the Big one, as Archie Bunker used to say, it took a few years for factories to ramp up production of whatever they made before the way. Even then, there were waiting lists because pent up demand exceeded factory capacity. My Mom couldn't get her Speed Queen until 1948. In the meantime she had to take the wash to my Grandmother's house twice a week to do. She HATED that as Grandma was not the easiest person to get along with. She was thrilled to have her own new wringer washer. That's the Speed Queen my family still has in upstate NY. There's just something about a wringer that us fans find so soothing to use. I've been using mine as a daily driver for over 3 months now and still prefer it to my front loader.

Congratulations on your find!

Larry