1959 Kenmore - Restoration

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Wow!!

You did a fantastic job on that machine! Your attention to detail is amazing, and the results are perfect. The machine sounds like it just came off the factory floor. Thanks for sharing your work, and for the video!

The cycle selection knob is interesting. Does the letter section turn in both directions or just to the left? Also, is the dispenser assembly dual or just for fabric softener?
 
A standing ovation for you from the frozen prairie of Minnesota, Ben! What a beautiful machine.

I haven't the skills or patience to perform such a wonderful transformation, so the sequential photos and explanations are fascinating. I once took these old Kenmores for granted (having grown up with a 1960 Model 80 while enduring a severe case of Frigidaire envy), but they now hold a very soft spot in my heart.

Two questions and a comment:

1) The photo at the top of the thread shows the lid reversed (handle on left; opening to the right), while the post-repair photos show the lid in its standard position (handle on right; opening to the left). Did you acquire the machine with the lid reversed?

2) The lint filter shown is the same as on our Model 80, though it was my understanding machines prior to that had a filter with two cylindrical "bottle brushes" attached to chrome front-piece. Was the original filter one of those, or did it also sport the wraparound metal screen?

3) You mentioned the '59s were the last tubs to have four rows of holes at the bottom. I'm 99% sure our 1960 had four rows, as well. However, I had custody of a '59 LK for a year, so perhaps that's what I'm remembering. Calling Gordon: Can you clarify this for us?
 
Thanks for the kind comments everyone!

The cycle selector can be rotated in both directions. Once you've picked the cycle you want, you pull the timer dial out, turn the dial clockwise until it mechanically locks in the cycle, then push in to start the wash.

The dispenser is for fabric softener. Whirlpool could have done a better job designing the reinforcement for the dispenser, as this one has cracked up quite a bit. With the cabinet changes in 1961, it was much easier for them to suspend a reservoir in this corner.

I did acquire the washer with the lid reversed. I believe one of the former owners was a member, and they mentioned their preference for the reversed lid. I personally couldn't stand it, LOL.

The washer came with what I think was an early style lint filter cartridge. The mesh for the filter was a flexible material, where the later ones are stamped stainless steel. The later versions are much easier to clean. I've attached two pages from the Kenmore manual, discussing the changes to the chrome filter.

My reference for the 4 holed tubs goes to a response from Robert years ago. They may have used up some of the stock in '60, or maybe they made the change when they changed the cabinets in 1961. Anyone else out there have a pretty original 1960 Kenmore?

Ben

swestoyz++1-1-2014-11-51-1.jpg
 
Sweet Machine

And a great restoration. What do you suspect is the source for the quiet operation? Original motor?

Malcolm
 
59 KM Washer Restoration

Great job Ben, it would seem like you have done this many times before.

It ia always fun to do a something like this because you always see something new, in all my years I have never seen a broken Tee Bearing, I have seen the clutch pulley retainer clip missing many times however. When the new bearings are pressed into the cast iron pulleys there is a grove behind the bearing that can be filled with lubebrcant.

Someone will get lots of use out of this washer, hope you have fun using it. I am out in Ohio and going to be heading to Minasota the next two days, it is cold and snowing. Yesterday Bob and I spent all day taking pictures of parts and machines at his shop, when I get back I am going to post lots of pictures of stuff he wants to sell or just get rid of.

Happy New Year to all, sorry about the spelling, I am using the oldest coumpter I have seen in years and it does not seem to have spell check, LOL.

John.
 
Jon, you are right about the whistling. Not only does this tub have the four rows of holes along the bottom of the tub, but it also is an early tub that has large holes along the top of the tub. It makes a pretty impressive sound when the top is off! I used some OLD Sears Ultra Plus that I had sitting around, knowing that I wanted to showcase the agitation action, rather than a tub full of suds. However, I don't think Ultra Plus ages gracefully as there were flecks of white granules left on the clothes after using it in a few loads.

Malcolm, all the major wear items like bearings/spin tube/agitator shaft are either brand new or were in pristine shape. I did re-seat the motor mounts and made sure to not over tighten the four mounting bolts after cleaning and lubricating the motor. The rubber insulators are doing their job.

John, thanks for your stamp of approval! I've torn down at least a dozen, if not more, belt drives over the years. I had the privilege of restoring Don's '59 and '65 Kenmores over the last few years, which helped put all the tear down experience and manual reading to good use. I also have learned a lot from Gordon and yourself, as well as studying Robert's '57 rebuild time and time again. I do like working on Whirlpool/Kenmore belt-drives and wouldn't hesitate on restoring another one. You are right about their being grooves in the spin pulley. The grease in the pulley looked sufficient for pressing in a new bearing so I didn't bother packing more into the grooves. Safe travels as you trek to Minnesota, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Bob might be interested selling.

Ben[this post was last edited: 1/2/2014-14:16]
 
Fantastic job Ben on restoring this beautiful Lady. I remember the video you had posted in 2007. Best of luck in finding her a good and worthy home.

Have a good one,
James
 
Wash 'N Wear cool down sequence

A few weeks ago, Mark (kenmore71) had posted the Perm Press booklet from Whirlpool, and also posted a video of his 1970 Kenmore's cool down cycle. It dawned on me after watching it that I had never seen the first generation of cool down sequence.

Last night I threw 6 button up shirts in the '59 Kenmore, and recorded the 1st Generation of the cool down sequence, used between 1958 and 1963. I've included both videos for comparison.

Enjoy.


 
Cool Down Cycle Questions

Please explain the reasoning behind the cool down cycle. Why is it a function only with Perm Press and not available on other fabric selections? Is it supposed to help the fabric to stay more wrinkle free? How does the removal and replacement of a portion of the wash water benefit?

Thanks
 
Ben,

I guess that info answers any and all questions I had.

Thanks,

Ken
 
WOW

A NON-AGITATED Wash-N-Wear Cool Down. Who would have guessed. And an amazing amount of water pumps through that thing too!

Very Cool!

Malcolm
 
Our 1960 Model 80 had the identical cool-down process. Mom wouldn't use the Wash 'n' Wear cycles because she thought the cool-down process was actually a malfunction. It really does use a lot of water to accomplish its goal. I far prefer the later method that used agitation to distribute the cold water throughout the tub, ultimately using less water for the cool-down.

If you choose the 'Sturdy' W'n'W cycle with its medium wash temp (between hot and warm) the water opposite the fill flume didn't get as cool as other areas of the tub. The 8-minute wash consisted of 4 minutes of fast agitation followed by 4 minutes of slow, which was cool.

Thanks for posting this, Ben. Many here have probably never seen the original version of the cool-down process.[this post was last edited: 1/3/2014-17:50]
 
Very Nice

This would be a great match for my 1961 Kenmore dryer.I will be looking for the post when this is for sale.
 
WnW Cool Down Squence

Ben thanks for posting the cool down operation of the 59 KM you just rebuilt this brought back memories of the 59 LKM my brothers and I rebuilt back in 1967. Our family used that washer for several years and it did a great job on permanent press shirts etc.

This earlier WnW cycle worked as well as the later agitated but used a lot more water, I would estimate that a Non-Suds machine will use between 20-30 gallons in the cool-down period, the suds-saver machines used about 25% less water due to the restriction the two-way valve places on the water being pumped from the machine.

It would be really interesting Ben if you could measure the amount of water your machine uses for the Cool-Down sometime, Thanks John.
 
Very interesting 1st Gen Permanent Press... thanks for posting!

One thing I noticed is that at the 8:43 mark of the first video, as the first spin is being engaged, the timer switches the motor from fast to slow without there being any break between the two speeds. That is the first time I've seen a speed change on a Kenmore without there being a 1/2 to 1 second electrical break between speeds. Is that normal with the older machines, or just specific to this timer interval or even possibly a one time random occurrence? I noticed the shift from slow to fast at the start of the cool down drain has the pause.
 

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