1959 Kenmore - Restoration

[barcoboy]

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.

 

[swestoyz]

John - one of these days I'd like to rig up a flow meter to both the hot and cold taps of my future washer area. Then it would be easy to take measurements of water usage by cycle, machine, etc. But for now, I can only wish.

Todd - the washer switches to a full speed drain in the same fashion during the delicate cycles as well. I suspect the behavior relates to the timer design.

Ben

 

[in2itdood]

WOW!

Ben !!! I'll be watching that shoppers square for sure. What a beauty! I love a good Kenmore =).

 

[mrb627]

Cold Water Wash

So is the Cold Water Wash the NORMAL cycle using cold/cold?  Or a DELICATE cycle with cold/cold?

 

Malcolm

 

[frigilux]

I believe the Cold Water Wash had either a 4 or 6 minute wash with slow agitation and spin.

 

[jetcone]

Our 1970 Imperial did

the same cool down as that '79 did.

 

It had a blue surgilator.

 

[kenmore71]

.

 

[mrb627]

Awesome

Thanks for the information.

Malcolm

 

[turquoisedude]

Wow, I sure missed a lot while I was away! Great job Ben and thanks for the detailed photos and play-by-play of the transmission repairs.

Oh, and if you feel like dropping by to help out with the Inglis, you're more than welcome... LOL

 

[sears9000]

Now that's one beautiful machine!

I know I don't comment very much because except for some minor repairs, I haven't had enough experience in overhauling machines. But I wanted to commend you on an excellent restoration job on that washer. I love that oversize rotoswirl agitator it has. I think you'll call them Prego's? If I'm wrong, forgive me. Before my parents purchased the 1968 800, I vaguely recall an older machine with the same agitator, but with a different cap. It sure moves those clothes around a lot better than the direct drive I have with the barber pole agitator. Picture if you will, a Prego in a direct drive machine. Knowing my luck, it would kill the machine. Anyway, I love the wash and wear cycle on your machine, it gently cools the clothes down without tearing them up, and I love that chrome lint filter it has. I like the idea of putting the lint in the trashcan instead going down the drain. I hope it goes to a home that it will be treated with respect. May you all have a nice day.

 

[frigilux]

Jim-- The term is actually "preggers," as in pregnant, because it's so fat compared to later, slimmer Super Roto Swirl agitators.

 

I've often thought we should start an AW Terminology Thread, as acronyms like TOL, MIL, BOL, NIB, NOS, and terms such as Shredmore, BobLoad, Fraudgidaire, and Daily Driver might not mean much to the uninitiated.

 

 

[jetcone]

Good Idea

Gene. We should collect terms and then define them as we find them.

 

 

 

[sears9000]

I stand corrected.

Preggers, that's what I meant to say. Thank you Eugene, I guess I am a little rusty on some of the terminology here at this site. I do know without a doubt that this 59 Kenmore washer can clean clothes a lot better than what they make today, and will out last a lot of them too. Again I would like to congradulate Ben on the wonderful restoration job you did on that machine, and I hope it will last another 50 years. I think the preggers was one of the best agitator that was ever made to this day.

 

[in2itdood]

A suds saver?

Did I see "suds" on the master dial? In the words of George Takei ...OHHHH MYYYYY!

 

[swestoyz]

A pull from the archives

The Kenmore is now for sale.  Take a stroll over to Shoppers Square to take a look!

 

Ben

1959 Kenmore model Eighty washer for sale

Hey there gang, It is time for some stuff to start moving from my basement. I've got a few machines on their way, and this will be the first of a few postings of things for sale. Last winter I did a full mechanical restoration of this washer. That included a really nice mid-80's...

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Wooohooh....wonderful job! Fantastic!

 

[frigilux]

Gotta admire that washer! I see you also figured out that if you turn the agitator so the "K" on the cap is at about 4:00, it will line up perfectly when agitation begins. Used to do that all the time with our 1960 Model 80 because it looked so cool.

The dispenser also triggers memories. The one on our 1960 was for both bleach and fabric softener, depending on which way the lid was turned. If you were the right height (which I was back then) you could look through the gap between the top and the cabinet and watch the plungers lift up and dispense their contents---conveniently lit by the tub light.

Boy howdy, that is one quiet machine. Excellent work and thanks for the new video footage.

Soundtrack: I love, love, love pre-rock 'n' roll songs like 'Sixty-Minute Man'. It is nestled right before 'Mr. Fine' by Mable Scott on the oldies playlist on my iPod. In fact, I dare say Mr. Fine should become one of the mascot songs of AW.[this post was last edited: 6/22/2014-12:42]

 

[swestoyz]

You know Eugene, the alignment of the K during filming was completely by chance!  I didn't know about lining up the K at the 4:00 position.  I'll make sure to do that now for all belt drive films moving forward. 

 

I had not heard 'Mr. Fine' before.  Good tune!