golittlesport
Well-known member
Beautiful restoration work, Rick! Does the end of cycle signal work? Love the color you chose!
1956 Kenmore restoration project
- Thread starter rickr
- Start date
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Thanks for all the great pics of your restoration. It's nothing short of stunning---great choice of color, too.
I'm always amazed that you can take a 51-year old rusted out, battery acid-scarred washer and make it look (and operate) as if it's showroom new. Absolutely beautiful, Rick. I can't imagine how proud you must be! Congratulations and thanks for sharing with us.
I'm always amazed that you can take a 51-year old rusted out, battery acid-scarred washer and make it look (and operate) as if it's showroom new. Absolutely beautiful, Rick. I can't imagine how proud you must be! Congratulations and thanks for sharing with us.
What a beautiful colour!
That is such a great restoration and what a GORGEAUS colour!!!
Leon
That is such a great restoration and what a GORGEAUS colour!!!
Leon
lederstiefel1
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 18, 2006
- Messages
- 484
restauration
U N B E L I E V A B L E!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
STUNNING!!!!
Ralf
U N B E L I E V A B L E!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
STUNNING!!!!
Ralf
Absolutely beautiful job! Enjoy!!
Ron
Ron
Thank you guys! I really love this machine. I was looking for a 1957 Kenmore, because that is what we had when I lived with my parents as a kid. Moms 57 KM was still in use when I left home. I remember helping mom fold towels and washclothes down the basement as the 57KM was running. Of course I also recall the wonderful sounds it made!
I could not find a 1957 model, but Gregm offered me this 1956 model. It was close enough for me. <:
Anyway, the machine sat in my garage for almost three years. I dreaded starting with it, because I knew it was going to be a difficult restoration. In fact I kept finding more machines to restore, and kept "bumping this one to the end of the line" I tore this one down last spring, and finally got all the parts back from the platers, and was able to put it back together this past fall. Have been using it all winter, and just LOVE it!
Was going to make this one pink, until I found the 1958 pink Maytag set in 2005. I picked the Seafoam Green instead. I think it looks really nice with that colour, and the gold knobs and the all white control panel really set it off.
The machine has all new hoses,pump, seals, bearings, clutch and spin tube, plus I added the waterfall filter system during the restoration. (The filter system was only available in 1956 as an option. The filter system became standard on all models in 1957)
The motor was reusable,as well as the transmition. Both were torn down and serviced. The timer was repairable, even after the acid bath. The machine also has an end of cycle signal bell, which is really cool feature! The original bell was destroyed because of the acid bath. The signal bell is the exact same as used on the old Maytag dryers, and I had an extra bell, and was able to use that one on this machine.
The bell chimes once every 30 seconds or so, during the last minute or two of the final spin cycle. The bell also chimes if the out of balance switch is tripped.
All in all, this is a fairly "high tech" machine for 1956.
I have a couple pixs of the console without the "hood" on, so the lights,timer, and signal bell are shown.Will try to find those pixs and post them too.
Thanks again for all the nice comments! <:
I could not find a 1957 model, but Gregm offered me this 1956 model. It was close enough for me. <:
Anyway, the machine sat in my garage for almost three years. I dreaded starting with it, because I knew it was going to be a difficult restoration. In fact I kept finding more machines to restore, and kept "bumping this one to the end of the line" I tore this one down last spring, and finally got all the parts back from the platers, and was able to put it back together this past fall. Have been using it all winter, and just LOVE it!
Was going to make this one pink, until I found the 1958 pink Maytag set in 2005. I picked the Seafoam Green instead. I think it looks really nice with that colour, and the gold knobs and the all white control panel really set it off.
The machine has all new hoses,pump, seals, bearings, clutch and spin tube, plus I added the waterfall filter system during the restoration. (The filter system was only available in 1956 as an option. The filter system became standard on all models in 1957)
The motor was reusable,as well as the transmition. Both were torn down and serviced. The timer was repairable, even after the acid bath. The machine also has an end of cycle signal bell, which is really cool feature! The original bell was destroyed because of the acid bath. The signal bell is the exact same as used on the old Maytag dryers, and I had an extra bell, and was able to use that one on this machine.
The bell chimes once every 30 seconds or so, during the last minute or two of the final spin cycle. The bell also chimes if the out of balance switch is tripped.
All in all, this is a fairly "high tech" machine for 1956.
I have a couple pixs of the console without the "hood" on, so the lights,timer, and signal bell are shown.Will try to find those pixs and post them too.
Thanks again for all the nice comments! <:
customline
Well-known member
Customline replies
WOW !!!!!!
WOW !!!!!!
Awesome job Rick
You didn't tell me you had her restored and running!
There aren't enough superlatives for it.
You didn't tell me you had her restored and running!
There aren't enough superlatives for it.
OMG
RickR we are going to have to start calling you the Miracle Worker. I really do like the color you picked. There are Some in this group that would have taken this project on, but not Many. You really have talent. It's Fabulous. arthur.
RickR we are going to have to start calling you the Miracle Worker. I really do like the color you picked. There are Some in this group that would have taken this project on, but not Many. You really have talent. It's Fabulous. arthur.
Ditto what Steve just said above. Not enough superlatives and the color is perfectly gorgeous.
A true labor of love is reflected overall, especially in that beautiful paint job.
You are a very talented guy, Rick. I'm in awe.
A true labor of love is reflected overall, especially in that beautiful paint job.
You are a very talented guy, Rick. I'm in awe.
WOW RICK
Thar be some restoration! That takes ALOT of work and time!!
I have only done a few Frigidiares that honor in my time,- now I am lazy and just get the mechanicals back to working condition.
I love the that color, I love that floating console I never noticed it before and ofcourse you have my favorite agitator in there Mr Atomic Bomb!!
Did your chrome guy do the filling in of the pits or did you?
Is that a spray enamel on the top cabinet, it looks as durable as porcelain?
The 56 frog eye you helped me with last fall, it has the filter system too, so would that have been an option on my machine?
Nice POST!
jon & al
Thar be some restoration! That takes ALOT of work and time!!
I have only done a few Frigidiares that honor in my time,- now I am lazy and just get the mechanicals back to working condition.
I love the that color, I love that floating console I never noticed it before and ofcourse you have my favorite agitator in there Mr Atomic Bomb!!
Did your chrome guy do the filling in of the pits or did you?
Is that a spray enamel on the top cabinet, it looks as durable as porcelain?
The 56 frog eye you helped me with last fall, it has the filter system too, so would that have been an option on my machine?
Nice POST!
jon & al
Rick, I'm speechless!!! The color gives me chills it's so intense and beautiful!!
Hi Rick! well, after almost every adjective has already been used by other members to describle your gorgeous 56 Cycla Fabric, what is left for me to say than "absolutely superb" guy. A magnificent restoration.
And the color! My favorite!
Dick_S.
And the color! My favorite!
Dick_S.
Thanks you guys! Shucks....You are all just too kind! <:
At any rate, the paint is single stage automotive grade enamel. It is VERY durable, but not as durable as the original porcelain, since porcelain is paint with a glass coating on top of it. However as we all know, porcelain can scratch and chip too! So... We be careful with our classic machines. <: It's the only way to be!
The plating company filled in the missing metal. And they charged me plenty for it.... But, it was lots of work, and they do a great job. Am thankful they were able to repair the damage. A perfect console is important to me. (just my thing)
BTW: someone asked about the plastic on the console, and I forgot about that until just now. Sorry! The plastic was not damaged by the acid. Only the metal parts were damaged, and the porcelain. The spin basket was ok, although the porcelain is etched at the bottom, as the acid ran through the holes in it.(It is hard to notice it.) The outer tub had acid damage, that ate through the metal however. Acid eats it's way out. And this machine had a full batterys worth of acid ran though it.
Jon, are you sure your Frog Eye is a 1956? If it is, they lady must have ordered the optional lint filter. I was thinking your was a 57 model, but can't really remember. What is the model number. Usually KM is easy to figure out. It's like: 110.56xxxxxxxx And the first two numbers are 110 volts (I think) Then after the dot is the model year. (but may or may not be the BUILD year however)
So check it out,and let us know Jon.
Tomorrow I will scan and post a few more pics that I found. The inside of the console. Kind of cool how it was built. <:
At any rate, the paint is single stage automotive grade enamel. It is VERY durable, but not as durable as the original porcelain, since porcelain is paint with a glass coating on top of it. However as we all know, porcelain can scratch and chip too! So... We be careful with our classic machines. <: It's the only way to be!
The plating company filled in the missing metal. And they charged me plenty for it.... But, it was lots of work, and they do a great job. Am thankful they were able to repair the damage. A perfect console is important to me. (just my thing)
BTW: someone asked about the plastic on the console, and I forgot about that until just now. Sorry! The plastic was not damaged by the acid. Only the metal parts were damaged, and the porcelain. The spin basket was ok, although the porcelain is etched at the bottom, as the acid ran through the holes in it.(It is hard to notice it.) The outer tub had acid damage, that ate through the metal however. Acid eats it's way out. And this machine had a full batterys worth of acid ran though it.
Jon, are you sure your Frog Eye is a 1956? If it is, they lady must have ordered the optional lint filter. I was thinking your was a 57 model, but can't really remember. What is the model number. Usually KM is easy to figure out. It's like: 110.56xxxxxxxx And the first two numbers are 110 volts (I think) Then after the dot is the model year. (but may or may not be the BUILD year however)
So check it out,and let us know Jon.
Tomorrow I will scan and post a few more pics that I found. The inside of the console. Kind of cool how it was built. <:
Rick,
What a nightmare to start with, but what a fabulous machine you made out of that junkpile. I would have been devistated with such a machine. Hats off for that restoration!
Louis
What a nightmare to start with, but what a fabulous machine you made out of that junkpile. I would have been devistated with such a machine. Hats off for that restoration!
Louis
I'm truly amazed! I'll have to show this to a few people..
BTW Rick, I'm a 56 model, do you think you could restore me to that level of newness? LOL
BTW Rick, I'm a 56 model, do you think you could restore me to that level of newness? LOL
Under the console pixs
Here is what the controls and lamps look like under the console. If you look carefully, you can still notice acid damage (etching) to the gray console base. Like all the metal parts, it was media blasted and primed before repainting.
Here is what the controls and lamps look like under the console. If you look carefully, you can still notice acid damage (etching) to the gray console base. Like all the metal parts, it was media blasted and primed before repainting.
.
Rear shot of console. The timer motor has some etching on the it, but the acid did not seem to harm it.I only had to lube the motor to get it running again. The timer contacts had to be cleaned and adjusted in the timer. I was able to do that myself, rather than having to send it in. It was stamped: REBUILT 6/ 1960
So the timer had been rebuilt at one point during this machines former lifetime.
The wiring was undamaged by the acid, and I was forever thankful of that!
I did make a few small repairs to the harness, however they did not relate to acid damage.
The acid poured over the console cover, down into the gray console base, and then leaked out on the top of the machine, and into the wash basket and outer tub.
Note the new pressure switch, and of course the replacement end of cycle bell (used) The windings for the original bell were of very fine gauge wire, and were destroyed by the acid.
Rear shot of console. The timer motor has some etching on the it, but the acid did not seem to harm it.I only had to lube the motor to get it running again. The timer contacts had to be cleaned and adjusted in the timer. I was able to do that myself, rather than having to send it in. It was stamped: REBUILT 6/ 1960
So the timer had been rebuilt at one point during this machines former lifetime.
The wiring was undamaged by the acid, and I was forever thankful of that!
I did make a few small repairs to the harness, however they did not relate to acid damage.
The acid poured over the console cover, down into the gray console base, and then leaked out on the top of the machine, and into the wash basket and outer tub.
Note the new pressure switch, and of course the replacement end of cycle bell (used) The windings for the original bell were of very fine gauge wire, and were destroyed by the acid.
.
LIGHTS ON! And yes that is a 1961 Frigidaire washer knob on there for testing.
There is a small refecter just behind each coloured dial that refects the light from the lamps through the dial and into the lens of the console face.
The dials turn with the knob and change the text and colour with the stem of the control. Very simple, but how vintage fun is that? <:
LIGHTS ON! And yes that is a 1961 Frigidaire washer knob on there for testing.
There is a small refecter just behind each coloured dial that refects the light from the lamps through the dial and into the lens of the console face.
The dials turn with the knob and change the text and colour with the stem of the control. Very simple, but how vintage fun is that? <:
