1956 Kenmore restoration project

[rickr]

It came from a junkyard in New England, where someone put a leaking car battery on top of the console.

A big thank you to Gregm for saving this poor machine!

 

[rickr]

it got an acid wash

As the battery acid slowly leaked onto and into the machine

 

[rickr]

another

pix

 

[rickr]

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I had holes in the tub welded, then coated the bottom of the tub with epoxy.

The entire cabinet had to be media blasted. The top was damaged also, and it was sand blasted.

 

[rickr]

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All the chrome trim had to be ground down and filled in where the acid had eaten the metal away. The trim was rechromed after that.

 

[rickr]

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A very weird out of balance switch setup. But it works just fine.

 

[rickr]

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Tear it down and start over with it. It's the only way to save this one.

 

[rickr]

after pixs

Lets make it a nice 1950's mint green colour!!

 

[rickr]

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close up

 

[rickr]

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washing

 

[rickr]

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The glamour shot

 

[gansky1]

Glam is right!

What a job Rick, amazing work. You have one of the best painters I've ever seen.

 

[rickr]

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Elevated console. I think this may be the only year Kenmore did this.

 

[rickr]

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spray rinse on some old car towels...

 

[rickr]

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Close up again. Forgive me if I post the same pix twice btw. And sorry these are not in better order also...

 

[rickr]

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Nice clean tub!

 

[rickr]

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Spinning a load of red...

 

[rickr]

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Rinse cycle load of red..

 

[decodriveboy]

I love the color you chose!

 

[gadgetgary]

Congrats

What a beautiful machine.

I am impressed!

 

[rickr]

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Sudsy wash for the load of red. We add the soap AFTER we rinse the clothes in the hood.... lol!

Told you these were NOT in order... <:

 

[rickr]

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Looks nice down here with some of the other vintage machines. I have to Dry-Lock the walls again...... This Fall,and not a day earlier, I promise! <:

 

[rickr]

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Other side glamour shot...

 

[rickr]

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The green machine...

 

[westytoploader]

Rick, what a FANTASTIC job you did on the restoration! I would have never recognized it from the after pictures! Congratulations!

 

[rickr]

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The entire panel lights up on this machine. It uses six 7watt bulbs. The Temp control lights up Red for hot Amber for medand Green for warm. The water level lights up Red for high, Amber for med, and Green for low.

It also has the 40watt tub lamp, and the blue ozone lamp for the tub. So this machine has eight lights total. How fun is that??

I really love this machine. <:

Thank you once again for saving it Greg!

 

[retromom]

The Midas Touch in Mint!!

Rick:

You sure know how to make a washer look "Minty"!! The Kenmore looks beautiful!

It's such a shame that there are people out there who use vintage washers as shelving, storage, and countertops!

So, does this make you an official Kenmorian? ;-)

 

[rickr]

Thanks everybody! (how about ken-moron for even doing all this work...)
This poor machine was sitting in a junkyard waiting it's turn to be crushed. Plus it had a leaking car battery giving it a slow acid bath. It really messed it up bad!

 

[goatfarmer]

Looks great, Rick! Norges next?

kennyGF

 

[northwesty]

Really an amazing restoration

There aren't too many of these out there. Was the plastic panel okay or was that redone too? I couldn't tell from the before picture - too dark on my computer. Again, great job inside and out - I know rechroming, etc., isn't cheap.