1950s Kenmore automatic washer
- Thread starter justingray87
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mickeyd
Well-known member
Thank You
Pete was spot-on, a 57. Check out the wringer in the ad Pete posted. What a beautiful beast, full-skirted without the central seam, sporting a lid-mounted filter. What a treat, another "Never Seen!"
There are a lot of Wringer Men here, Justin, who love them as much as they do their automatics. When you get time, share your wringer history.
Michael
Pete was spot-on, a 57. Check out the wringer in the ad Pete posted. What a beautiful beast, full-skirted without the central seam, sporting a lid-mounted filter. What a treat, another "Never Seen!"
There are a lot of Wringer Men here, Justin, who love them as much as they do their automatics. When you get time, share your wringer history.
Michael
mickeyd
Well-known member
Sorry, Ladies:Wringer PEOPLE
:'D
:'D
justingray87
Member
My Maytag wringer was the first appliance I picked up probably age13ish? It’s not worth anything other than the fact it’s old faithful and my spouse won’t use anything else! We’ve had several automatics over our marriage but that wringer still got used more! Plus it looks great on the porch of our 1905 home 
Let's see a pic
of t on the pourch! Bet it looks cool.
What about the monitor top?
of t on the pourch! Bet it looks cool.
What about the monitor top?
Out of the two of you, who does the laundry more? Out of my husband and I, he does more of the laundry than I do. Our everyday set is a bit newer, but still older. The washer is a 1990 Lady Kenmore and the dryer is a 1987 Limited Edition Kenmore. The older machines are out in the garage and I play with them more. We only have one wringer, a Maytag from the 1920s with a gas powered engine to run it. I need to restore it and get it running.
justingray87
Member
I actually had to leave the monitor top at my house in Georgia when I sold it as the buyers made it part of the deal. Every house I've sold people always want my antique stove and refrigerator! Tim probably does more laundry than I do. I love the looks of it but it really is a pain in the butt to use it twice a week haha! I'm hoping I can get this new Kenmore up to speed as a backup up for rainy days so that every wash day can be a holiday as the ad says!
norgeway
Well-known member
Hi
Well, I grew up in Lenoir and now live in Mocksville, If you get a chance to go see Bob in Winston, he really has some great stuff and is a nice guy, If you are at all interested in vacuum cleaners and small appliances, then come see me, I have about 1000 or close to it vacuums and a bunch of other stuff, I have many old Sears catalogues from the 50s for reference.
Well, I grew up in Lenoir and now live in Mocksville, If you get a chance to go see Bob in Winston, he really has some great stuff and is a nice guy, If you are at all interested in vacuum cleaners and small appliances, then come see me, I have about 1000 or close to it vacuums and a bunch of other stuff, I have many old Sears catalogues from the 50s for reference.
justingray87
Member
Awesome! Yes I'd love too. We moved here right before Christmas to enjoy the four seasons. Georgia was just to hot but I didn't want to leave the south. I like small appliances as well. I have about six percolators and some other small vintage appliances but nowhere close to 1,000. I used to have a bunch of antique tvs but the repair bill was breaking me every time the repair man came out to replace capacitors or what not.
I have a collection of TV sets as well. You can see in my profile picture a 1956 Philco, next to me. I do have some others as well.
Nice machine!
Unplug it, and grab the belt, and see if you can move it. Maybe just stuck from sitting.
Unplug it, and grab the belt, and see if you can move it. Maybe just stuck from sitting.
Justin, welcome. I hope the experts will give you all the information you need to get this wonderful machine up & running!! You found a jewel!! I used to chat with a guy that lives in Taylorsville!!! Bob
losangeles
Well-known member
1950's Kenmore
CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME ABOARD!!
I am drooling over your jewel of a find. My mother had a 1950's Kenmore only the lid opened from front to back. She used to stand me up in it to get me out from under foot. Fell in love with washing machines from that point on. You have just entered the University of Washing Machines. Can't wait to see this beauty up and running. Keep us posted.
CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME ABOARD!!
I am drooling over your jewel of a find. My mother had a 1950's Kenmore only the lid opened from front to back. She used to stand me up in it to get me out from under foot. Fell in love with washing machines from that point on. You have just entered the University of Washing Machines. Can't wait to see this beauty up and running. Keep us posted.
My grandmother had a similar 24" model from the 50's but the lid opened front to back, no temp control, had 1 hose and set at faucet, no lint filter but the same winged agitator cap and Kenmore label.
Welcome fellow North Carolinian!
Hello and welcome to this great site! I live slightly north of Greensboro in Reidsville, NC. I just moved to the area from Rockford, IL in 2016. I also started collecting the wringer washers and it blossomed to automatics. My first washer, in fact, was the match to the 1954 Whirlpool dryer you pictured. Now I have about 20 machines. Great find you have there! It always amazes me what is still out there lurking in the shadows and waiting to be discovered.
I hope you stick around and can make it up to see Bob's collection. He is a great host and a great cook! There are a lot of great members who are great hosts as well. All within a few hour drive from here. I plan to host a get together sometime in the Spring, we close on our first home this month. Feel free to get in touch, great to see another younger member!
-Tyler
Hello and welcome to this great site! I live slightly north of Greensboro in Reidsville, NC. I just moved to the area from Rockford, IL in 2016. I also started collecting the wringer washers and it blossomed to automatics. My first washer, in fact, was the match to the 1954 Whirlpool dryer you pictured. Now I have about 20 machines. Great find you have there! It always amazes me what is still out there lurking in the shadows and waiting to be discovered.
I hope you stick around and can make it up to see Bob's collection. He is a great host and a great cook! There are a lot of great members who are great hosts as well. All within a few hour drive from here. I plan to host a get together sometime in the Spring, we close on our first home this month. Feel free to get in touch, great to see another younger member!
-Tyler
justingray87
Member
I appreciate the welcome guys! My parents thought I was nuts as a kid dragging home old appliances. I’m glad to know I’m not the only one with a love for these machines! I’ve included a picture of me as a teenager inspecting a Bendix I believe?
Welcome to the club, Justin! This is Les in Atlanta. Right now I have three vintage washers: a 1962 Maytag, a 1968 Speed Queen and a mid 70's Norge. I love the older Kenmores so you should have a lot of fun with this one. My husband thinks I'm nuts with my vintage appliance obsession but he never complains when I bring another machine home. I got hooked on vintage washers when I was about four years old. Keep us posted on your progress with the Kenmore.
frigidaireguy
Well-known member
1953 Bendix Duomatic
If I'm not mistaken that is a '53 Bendix Duomatic (the first made). Don't you wish you still had that one.
Bob
If I'm not mistaken that is a '53 Bendix Duomatic (the first made). Don't you wish you still had that one.
Bob
justingray87
Member
I sure do. When I moved out my dad scrapped them all. He saved the knob with the date written on it of when he hauled them off. Just to piss me off I think!
Cool 57 Kenmore Automatic
Welcome to the site Justin
The 57 is a cool find, it is always fun to find the more basic models as well as the TOL machines we all seem to love.
This 24" wide machine was popular for its slightly lower price and smaller size which allowed it to fit in kitchens and apartments where the full sized machines would not fit. Very few 24" machines had the Suds-Saver option, again because there usually was no laundry tub since the machine was purchased to fit in a smaller space.
This washer could be turned into a fairly reliable machine, but certainly needs a good going over if you expect it to work properly and last very long. It would be easy to add a Suds-Saver which would make it work well if you also use your WWs much. The water capacity of the 24" washers is 16 gallons and they were rated for 8 pound loads of cotton fabrics.
Since it won't run try loosing the motor mount at the base plate and get the belt off the pulleys, then you can see if the motor is free to turn etc, the water pump is the most likley item to size and of course the belt may just be rusted to the pulleys.
I have any parts you might need to rebuild this washer, a few years ago I rebuilt several BD WPs for myself and others and I need to schedule another rebuilding session as I have several other machines I want to do, when I do this you might want to bring this one up and do it at the same time. Get in touch some time for details.
John L.
Welcome to the site Justin
The 57 is a cool find, it is always fun to find the more basic models as well as the TOL machines we all seem to love.
This 24" wide machine was popular for its slightly lower price and smaller size which allowed it to fit in kitchens and apartments where the full sized machines would not fit. Very few 24" machines had the Suds-Saver option, again because there usually was no laundry tub since the machine was purchased to fit in a smaller space.
This washer could be turned into a fairly reliable machine, but certainly needs a good going over if you expect it to work properly and last very long. It would be easy to add a Suds-Saver which would make it work well if you also use your WWs much. The water capacity of the 24" washers is 16 gallons and they were rated for 8 pound loads of cotton fabrics.
Since it won't run try loosing the motor mount at the base plate and get the belt off the pulleys, then you can see if the motor is free to turn etc, the water pump is the most likley item to size and of course the belt may just be rusted to the pulleys.
I have any parts you might need to rebuild this washer, a few years ago I rebuilt several BD WPs for myself and others and I need to schedule another rebuilding session as I have several other machines I want to do, when I do this you might want to bring this one up and do it at the same time. Get in touch some time for details.
John L.
