jamesclarke
Well-known member
This is at an estate sale. $45 bucks. Works. Worth getting?
1950s Kenmore Dryer??
- Thread starter jamesclarke
- Start date
Help Support :
Yes! What's the deal with the Maytag washer next to it??
jamesclarke
Well-known member
It's really well loved. $95
jamesclarke
Well-known member
I really can't convince my wife to get the dryer. It's across the street from me. If anyone wants it I can figure out a way to get it to my house.
Tht's a 1959 or 1960 Kenmore 70 dryer. Neighbor had the matching washer. It's a shame your wife won't accept it given you're trying to restore your 1962 house. It's a great dryer and has infinite temperature control. Given the age of the Maytag next to it, makes me wonder if there was the matching set of Kenmores until the washer failed and was replaced y a Maytag.
What Bob said.
Your goal of outfitting your kitchen and laundry with 1962 appliances will never be reached if both of you aren't on the same page.
You might want to consider whether or not it's worth $45 to get the dryer and store it in hopes that she'll come around.
Your goal of outfitting your kitchen and laundry with 1962 appliances will never be reached if both of you aren't on the same page.
You might want to consider whether or not it's worth $45 to get the dryer and store it in hopes that she'll come around.
1959 Kenmore 70 Electric Dryer
Good rugged easy to restore dryer, but not very fast or energy efficient. Although if you use it with a modern washer that spins at 800 or more RPMs and you don't do much laundry and of coerce do not have the option of a natural gas dryer at your home it could be a not too bad machine.
Finding a matching washer would be the hard part, so if a matched classic pair is your goal it is better to find the washer first or better yet get a classic pair.
Good rugged easy to restore dryer, but not very fast or energy efficient. Although if you use it with a modern washer that spins at 800 or more RPMs and you don't do much laundry and of coerce do not have the option of a natural gas dryer at your home it could be a not too bad machine.
Finding a matching washer would be the hard part, so if a matched classic pair is your goal it is better to find the washer first or better yet get a classic pair.
whirlcool
Well-known member
That has to be the oldest dryer I have seen with the filter in the top. It looks to be in nice condition too.
whirlaway
New member
Filter on top
My 1955 Kenmore dryer has the filter on top,right behind the controls,it has a lttle door that opens and you pull it straight up,its a big basket,Boy does it get the lint I empty it after every load.My dryer has a light in the drum and an ultraviolet lamp for killing germs,that dryer hasnt had a cold all winter,neither have I or the dog,so it must do something.The clothes do have kind of an ozone smell when they come out,I dont use any additives with my washing except a little oxy-clean with my clothes.They do smell real fresh,like they have been in the sun and my towels are real fluffy,I have never used it beyond med drying takes about 55min per full load.
My 1955 Kenmore dryer has the filter on top,right behind the controls,it has a lttle door that opens and you pull it straight up,its a big basket,Boy does it get the lint I empty it after every load.My dryer has a light in the drum and an ultraviolet lamp for killing germs,that dryer hasnt had a cold all winter,neither have I or the dog,so it must do something.The clothes do have kind of an ozone smell when they come out,I dont use any additives with my washing except a little oxy-clean with my clothes.They do smell real fresh,like they have been in the sun and my towels are real fluffy,I have never used it beyond med drying takes about 55min per full load.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Your Wife Seems Hesitant....
James:
It sounds like your wife is dubious about vintage appliances. She might be uncertain about their ability to serve her trouble-free, or she might have qualms about machines that have held other people's clothes and food.
One thing that might help is if you could find other collectors in your area who have successfully and fully restored vintage appliances and use them daily. (SHOUT-OUT TO ANY DALLAS MEMBERS!) A get-together with them might work wonders.
Wives, husbands and other partners usually are okay enough with vintage stuff IF it's in good shape and they're not dealing with breakdowns. Some are okay with the restoration process, others can't deal with basements and garages full of projects and parts. You are the only one who can say where your wife is on this continuum.
If your wife saw a set of Maytag 806s in primo condition happily washing and drying away, she might be more okay with all this. It would take her about one second to realize that in many ways, they're more fully-featured than today's machines. There's a big difference in reaction to a "barn find" and a restored appliance.
Happy trails -
James:
It sounds like your wife is dubious about vintage appliances. She might be uncertain about their ability to serve her trouble-free, or she might have qualms about machines that have held other people's clothes and food.
One thing that might help is if you could find other collectors in your area who have successfully and fully restored vintage appliances and use them daily. (SHOUT-OUT TO ANY DALLAS MEMBERS!) A get-together with them might work wonders.
Wives, husbands and other partners usually are okay enough with vintage stuff IF it's in good shape and they're not dealing with breakdowns. Some are okay with the restoration process, others can't deal with basements and garages full of projects and parts. You are the only one who can say where your wife is on this continuum.
If your wife saw a set of Maytag 806s in primo condition happily washing and drying away, she might be more okay with all this. It would take her about one second to realize that in many ways, they're more fully-featured than today's machines. There's a big difference in reaction to a "barn find" and a restored appliance.
Happy trails -
norgeway
Well-known member
If you could!
Get her to use it one time, she would be hooked, once she saw how much sturdier and better built it is than new stuff, how quietly it operated,etc, she would never go back to modern.
Get her to use it one time, she would be hooked, once she saw how much sturdier and better built it is than new stuff, how quietly it operated,etc, she would never go back to modern.
jamesclarke
Well-known member
If I can find A matching pair my wife would be a little bit more convincing. Her argument is that the capacity of the older units isn't up to par with the amount of laundry she has to do per week. And then she said how long will it take to find the matching washing machine.
When did they start making larger capacity washers and dryers?
When did they start making larger capacity washers and dryers?
8-10 pound capacity was typical into the early 1960s. Maytag's early 1960s models held anywhere from 10-14 pounds. I could wash a set of King sheets in a 1964 Maytag. Norge came out with their 15 pound washer in late 1963 early 1964. Whirlpool offered an 18 pound capacity washer for their brand and Kenmore in like 1965 or 1966 for the first time. Maytag's New Generation washer came out in late 1965 or by mid-1966 and was their largest capacity washer until the end of production in Iowa when Whirlpool bought them. GE's largest tub arrived with their V16 washer (16-pound) but I believe they just somehow increased the stated capacity of 18 pounds and ex-large capacity by the mid-1970s. Whirlpool brought out their new ex-large capacity washers in 1976 or 1977 and those with the belt drive design were around until 1986 or 1987. Frigidaire had 8-10 pound washers until the larger tub in like 1963 or 1964. Then they came out with the 1-18 models in 1970 or 1971 and that was one of the largest top loaders on the market until Frigidaire was sold from GM to WCI. Norge managed to get a stated 20 to 22 pound capacity toward the end of their line. Norge dryers and the Frigidaire 1-18 dryers were 8 cu. ft. dryers. Those were the largest home-market dryers until the uber front load washers & dryers of recent years. Hope this helps some.
Well, Norge was making washers with cavernous tubs back in the '60s, but trust me on this: You DO NOT want a Norge! Under ANY circumstances! They are short-lived machines, will rattle your teeth while running, and scare off every living thing in the house when they brake after spin. Or break after spin, which is quite likely.
Unfortunately, Maytags carry the distinction of offering the smallest tubs, but their extra-large capacity models could be adequate compared to whatever your wife is using now, and the superior overall quality of Maytags outweighs the capacity issue -- in my opinion and that of millions of satisfied owners over many decades. Kenmores and Whirlpools from the '60s and later will hold more than a big tub Maytag of similar vintage. All three makes are very reliable and should be on your short list.
Unfortunately, Maytags carry the distinction of offering the smallest tubs, but their extra-large capacity models could be adequate compared to whatever your wife is using now, and the superior overall quality of Maytags outweighs the capacity issue -- in my opinion and that of millions of satisfied owners over many decades. Kenmores and Whirlpools from the '60s and later will hold more than a big tub Maytag of similar vintage. All three makes are very reliable and should be on your short list.
