1967 Kenmore 100 series washer comes home...finally

[kenmoreguy64]

Ever have one of those days when you do something early in the day on an impulse, something which you had no previous intention of doing, and it set the tone for the whole day? Well, today around 11am I had a thought that today would be a great day to take home the 1969 built Kenmore 100 series 24-inch washer that RedCarpetDrew snatched out of the pile for me last year. It is a 100 series - says so right on the lid instructions, which was designed for 1967 but built in the first weeks of 1969. So, within 20 minutes, I had the dolly and tie down strap loaded, and I was on the road.

Andy was enthused when he found this machine, and for very good reason. It is almost mint, and the term pristine comes to mind. Andy has sent me a few choice machines, and I have recently brought two home in the last weeks to play. One (the 1982 24-inch 200 series) we knew was going to present a leak challenge, which it did in a big way. Then the 1986 Lady K has a tired pump which I think dried out in the last year of dis-use and wanted to leak (ok spew) when it was put back into service. So today I thought maybe the little '69 would be the one to let me plug and play. Not that I am afraid of fixing the two other machines, but I think Andy was really hoping for any easy toy. You know what they say, the third time's is the charm, right?

[this post was last edited: 3/31/2012-23:29]

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Here she is, all loaded up and ready to take the last leg of a journey that started in Reno, then to Lodi, CA, then via intermodal rail from there to Charlotte. There was then a 3-month visit with my other vintage Kenmores, now off to home in the Ranger.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

New arrival, not even un-wrapped yet.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Front view. I took these with my phone, kinda wish I'd used my camera.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Tub shot. The tub has some dust in it, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE that blue porcelain. It really makes the agitator stand out.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

All hooked up!

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Doing what she does...

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Well, the machine ran two loads tonight, which I was really inspired about after seeing Robert and Fred's episode of My Crazy Obsession, which had been DVR'd.

The load you see above was one of the sudsiest loads I've seen in a while, and my little Kenmore suds-locked subbornly. I haven't had a machine do that in 20 years I'd bet. The combination of a sudsy detergent, that straight vane agitator (it should be called a paddle spanker), and four towels made quite the suds cake. I had to use a large capacity load size amount of Final Touch to kill the suds.

For the second load I used a low-sudsing detergent. MUCH better and much more fun results were had where I could actually watch the laundry, not a simulated snowfall...

 

[kenmoreguy64]

All finished

 

[kenmoreguy64]

I did a couple videos, one of which I will ad here after I upload it to YouTube.

The second load is in the dryer right now. I have more work for the newest addition to my home collection for tomorrow. For now I'm going to go put on one of the shirts I washed in the first load, and a pair of comfy cotton shorts and put my feet up for a while.

I hope you like my little Kenmore, because I sure do. Yep, the third time was the charm - THANKS Andy! I have always wanted to post a thread with one of your pile rescuees living on to do more work, and here it is, I finally did it.

Gordon

 

[kenmoreguy64]

I forgot to mention a couple things. This model was originally built in 1967 with a bakelite six-vane agitator. I have one of the better models (a 200 series) which has this agitator, but it is in nowhere near this condition. I think this is a real eye-opener of a washer, and a conversation piece too.

One thing I didn't know until today, and at first thought something was wrong with the machine --- its a single speed machine. Delicate runs in high-speed. I am not surprised for a 100 series, but since the machine had the delicate cycle, I thought it would have been a two-speed.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Here's a link to some video. I have a second video with agitation and drain, but it has three inches of suds in it and you can't see anything else. LOL!

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Yayyyyyyyyyy!!!

Finally! One made it to you in ready to go condition! Out of the three, I kinda had a soft spot for this little one. Again, a combination of features that had you wondering about Nevada being a testbed for new feature combinations before nationwide release... All I had to do to her was replace the water valve with the generic Maytag 205613 valve. That thing fits EVERYTHING! I did leave the original valve in the tub as I figured you'd do something with it. I am so jazzed that third time was the charm and was able to provide you with a working 24" washer.

Question: why do a delicate cycle with a high speed? What would have been the difference between that and the regular cycle, then?

Video... Tap... Tap... Tap... LOL!

RCD

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Two bullets meet in mid air!

Posting at the same time... Ok. I'll take the taps back...

Pat... Pat... Pat...

RCD

 

[gansky1]

That's an adorable washer!

 

[chaskelljr2]

1969 Kenmore 24" Washer.....

Gordon:

That is ONE NICE LITTLE treasure that you got there.

It works and sounds just like the 1967 Sears Kenmore 24" BOL Washer that I have last seen almost 34 years ago. That's the VERY washer that is below this one that is also part of the POD that appears in automaticwasher.org sometimes.

Ours had a black agitator inside it, and that thing was one tough cookie too for the eleven years we had ours.

I just went back down memory lane with this washer.

--chaskelljr1963--

 

[goatfarmer]

Looks right at home, Gordon.

 

[combo52]

Cool Little 24" Belt Drive washer

It is interesting how they sometimes called the short cycle delicate on the inexpensive models with only a one speed motor, later they became a little more honest and labeled the cycle short. You may find this washer has an orange terminal on the timer that has wire on it jumping to the blue Hi speed terminal, if so it is very easy to install a 2SP motor and and run an extra wire from the timer to the motor and have a real delicate low speed agitation.

 

[sillysuds]

24'' kenmore waasher

love this washer, wish that i could get one just like it,water fall lint filter and 24'' you are very lucky, good luck. Bob from New Jersey.

 

[swillis]

Does anyone have a spare agitator that would fit this washer

I found one of these on craigslist six months ago. Everything works perfectly but the old black bakelight agitator has worn and stripped at the top where it meets the bell spline. Whoever had it before must have used it with the cap not tightened down all the way and stripped it. I will take any agitator that has the hexagon type spline. Late sixties style standard capacity. Thanks for any help I can receive. If anyone has one let me know how much you want for it.

 

[pdub]

Gordon!

The washer is beautiful. At first glance if I didn't know it was the 24" model and it wasn't sitting next to a full sized machine I would think it was a newer cabinet because of how close the lid comes to the edges.

You are right, this machine is mint. It sounds perfect as it purrs along in the video too. Congratulations and enjoy!

Patrick

 

[aldspinboy]

Gordon ....

What a great washer ...!

One of my all time faverites you have the three cycle model that I told you about.

Has the same basket and Agi.

That is the one we had for 12 yrs and the strongest Kenmore ever.

I love this model control panel and size you just want to squeeze the little bugga.

Seems your happy with it ...

Sounds terrific !

 

Darren k

 

 

[70series]

I'm glad it has made its way home to you. Thanks for posting the video, and yes that olden goldie agitator (my favorite) is a paddle spanker. Kind of the antithesis to the gentle spanking cleanliness the Roto Flex agitator offered. Very nice indeed.

Have a good one,
James

 

[swestoyz]

What a SWEET washer Gordon. I'm with you on these west-coast washers, soooooo clean and rust free. Gotta love'em!

Ben

 

[mickeyd]

A perfect simple elegant beautiful competent dependable washing machine, with videoed proof that the 3 vane KM agitator can kick butt with the best of them, including the super Roto.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

I was browsing my pictures a bit ago...

Here's the next step up, the 1967 200 series. As I said, this machine is in nowhere near the condition that the other is. It does have the bakelite 6-vane agitator. I should do a side by side comparison of the two washing, that would be FUN!

By the way, I did five loads of laundry in the little bugger this weekend. I can't say when I last did all my laundry in one washer, but that was part of what I decided would happen, even before I brought the machine home. I've been rotating machines so often lately, that who knows what will be installed there next weekend!

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Here is the video that I took when I first got this little washer. A wonderfull little machine and quiet, too. this video shows spin and the bearings sound great for her age. I am really happy you like her, Gordon. Sorry, there isn't alot of that classic "woo woo" but still the soothing sounds of a happy belt drive.

 

That is so cool that you have the 200 series big brother to the little one (although not very surprising... LOL!). Maybe, someday, we can have a video of the two side by side doing wash?

 

RCD

 

[joefuss1984]

spray rinses

I love all of the short but frequent rinses during the spin.  I don't remember any machines doing this!

 

[cphifer5115]

Does this machine only have one water level?

 

[akronman]

rinses

Joe---that's a Whirlpool/Kenmore unique spray, four 7 second bursts for spray rinse, then an agitated deep rinse, then 2 more 7 second sprays during final spin. Whirlpool advertised 7 rinses from the 50's thru 70's and 80's. Zillions of WP/KM belt drive washers had it. For the dirtiest soapiest clothes, not enough rinses, but perfect for 85% of washes. Of course, it rinsed out some of the fabric softener in those last 2 sprays, but not much.

 

 

Question on both of the 60's KM shown above--------One speed?, or was speed contolled in the timer cycles?