1957 and 1960 Lady Kenmore Dryer Interiors

[scoots]

A mid 50s Kenmore Dryer came up on another thread and somebody asked for interior shots. I actually have two dryers with similar mechanicals, one is a 1957 Lady Kenmore Gas dryer, the other is a 1960 LK Pushbutton model.

I had a chance to open them up this weekend... and what I found in each was surprising. The 57 had signs of light use, but once I got the back off it was obvious that somebody had scavenged it for parts. The blower impeller is missing, plus the belts. There are few photos of this unit because my camera failed as I was documenting it.

The 1960 push-button had the opposite problem: It was driven into the ground. The discharge vent was so packed with lint, I looked like felt and I was constantly wondering if I was accidentally picking out rock wool insulation from somewhere. BTW, a reminder that the 1960 model has the lint collection bag, while the 57 has the standard wire lint catcher.

A link to the thread with the machine for sale is listed below.

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?57424#start_57424.798005

 

[a440]

Very cool photo's!  Thanks so much!

Sad that someone took off parts. 

Will you be using one for the other to make one great beast?

If so will it be the gas model?  It did seem to be in better shape.  Without seeing the drum.  

These look like such fun dryers.   I am a sucker for anything gas from this period.  I think the design was amazing. 

Thanks again for the pictures!

Brent

 

 

[combo52]

57 and 60 KM Gas Dryers

Hi Bill and Brent, these are both gas dryers, and while the 60 was used it actually is not in bad shape at all. On the 60 with the lint storage system if you neglected to replace the lint bag when full a lint accumulation would occur back into the blower housing and after 50+ years of use it is not surprising that it might need new belts.

 

[frigilux]

Ooooooh, that's one of the original pink lint bags, too! Years later, the see-though window disappeared and the bags looked more like a vacuum bag. Too bad the ever-elusive companion '60 Lady K washer didn't come with it. Great finds!

 

[twintubdexter]

Contrast that motor with what is used in today's appliances. When Frigidaire started using the newer type of welded-together versions the service guys called them "throw-away" motors. Motors like the one pictured above in need of repair were sent to a motor shop. You could tell whoever owned that shop took great pride in his work. The motors came back looking factory-fresh with new windings and fresh paint. As I recall it was pretty cheap to have them rebuilt. I guess this is now sort of a lost art.

 

[davidblazor]

lint bags?

I have never seen anything like this before! Exactly how did this system work? I understand how models work with the actual lint filters and exhaust but have never seen a collection bag.

 

[tomturbomatic]

There was a device called a cyclonic separator that worked with the air stream to separate the lint out of the air and send it to the bag. The bag was paper like a disposable vacuum cleaner bag. The cyclonic separator was used in the first 29" combos that had no lint screen for the dryer. The collected lint was washed down the drain in the one minute purge that began each wash cycle. The cyclonic separator was resurrected by Whirlpool for their dishwashers with the power clean module to separate the heavier than water soil and store it until the drain periods.

 

[tolivac]

Cyclonic dryer lint separator-this would be kinda like the Dyson and other cyclone type bagless vacuums!But--the dryer puts the lint INTO a BAG!!!