1950s Kenmore automatic washer

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First off, I want to say Welcome to our group. There is a great wealth of information on vintage appliances here. Not just washers and dryers. I have been a part of this group for just about 12 years now. I have received machines, parts and lots of information from the many members here. Not to mention several friendships.

As far as the machine is concerned, I personally can't give much information on it. But I'm sure there are some that could help you out.
Does the Kenmore work?
 
I plugged it in and I hear the motor hum. It was sitting in an abandoned shop for the last forty years or so. I’m guessing it needs everything. This is my first project! I’ve had many wringer washers over the years which is what we currently use to wash with. I’m so glad to join the group! I want to get this up and running. For 30 dollars I think it was a good buy?
 
$30 is definitely a good price for that. Since it has been sitting for the past 40 years, the hoses will most likely need to be replaced. The rubber tends to get hard and gets brittle. Being that this is a 60+ year old machine, the parts are hard to come by. You may have to do some creative thinking to figure out hoses for it. Not only local appliance shops but also your local auto parts store. I can't remember how many times I've taken a hose into Autozone for a washer to get replaced. When there they usually ask me what it is for. I get a weird look when I tell them it is for a washing machine.

You said you could hear it hum, did you turn the knob to see if the tub spins or the agitator agitates?

Towards the top of this page, there is a link titled "Manuals & Literature" It consist of owners manuals as well as service manuals for many different machines. I saw some early 50's service manuals for Kenmores. Wouldn't be a bad idea to download it. They do cost a little bit, but not much. You can use PayPal to pay for it.

By the way, Justin here.
 
I’m Justin as well! The motor just hums the belt isn’t spinning so I’m guessing something is frozen up. I have no idea where to begin. I’m guessing the agitator should spin by hand with the machine off? I can’t move it. I will certainly check out those manuals. Not an appliance repair man by any means lol!
 
WELCOME JUSTIN

Justin:
This is a great find. I love to find the older washers & dryers. My name is Bob and I live in Winston-Salem. I have a number of washer & dryers and would love for you to come over and see them if you like. My aunt had a Kenmore washer very similar to yours. I would love to see a close up pic of the console and also a pic of the inside which in the club here we call a "Money Shot". There are several members of the club that live in the surrounding areas. We occasionally get together and work on machines and would love to have you join us. Once again let me say WELCOME !!!!

Bob
 
Hey Bob, thanks for the welcome! I’d love to see your collection sometime. They’re very hard to find these days. I bought this machine off Facebook believe it or not over in Mount Pilot. I’ve never rebuilt one so I’ll need lots of advice! I used to have several vintage automatics I bought at a used appliance store when I lived in Washington State for work. I could kick myself for leaving them behind. They were pretty easy to find out there and I took it for granted :( I’ve included a picture of a dryer I bought out there I left in the basement when I moved.

justingray87-2018030109124404374_1.jpg
 
Welcome, Justin

Looks like very early 50's. If you look at the model number, it will start with 110. The two numbers after that are the year of production.

Interested n your current wringer; love them myself. Welcome to the club. If I may, what did you do in Washington state?

Odd not to see a "SUDS" on the dial of a machine of that vintage.
 
The model number on this one is 5704110. I transferred with Lockheed Martin from Georgia, my home state, out there. We hated the weather and moved back south. Of course it's pouring rain here in North Carolina today!
 
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
 
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 😉
 
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.
 
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!
 
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.
 
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.
 

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