1969 Lady Kenmore Combo Restoration

[Brent-Aucoin]

Looks like fun Jon!
Glad that you could get her working again!
Is this a Gas version?
Are you going to put her in the line up that you have of your working combo's?
After you test it and see that everything is working fine, what will be your big load?
I always thought that these combo's could do a nice size load of towels.
Thanks again for the pictures.
Brent

 

[filterflo]

Great pictures and descriptions, Jon. Thanks for posting them. I have the electric version of that model in white. So far it works perfectly, and I use it about once a week to keep it operational. I had it apart when I first got it, and since have found a second brand new in the box tranny and Water/Air Balance mechanism just in case. When I first got my machine the solinoid plungers were stuck, but once I freed them up theyve been fine ever since. Its such a fabulous designed machine...........

 

[westytoploader]

And I thought Filter-Stream washing wasn't splashy...

BEAUTIFUL work Jon!! You have outstanding mechanical ability...I know I couldn't work on one! Way too complex and close-quarters for me...LOL! And that certainly is an interesting balance mechanism...how on earth did the Whirlpool folks come up with THAT? Too strange...but I guess it works well!

The action shots were the best though...I can't believe there's actually suds-wave action and Smackulation going on in there with those big vanes!! Of course the Filter-Stream is fun in its own regard as well...YAY.

--Austin

 

[Unimatic1140]

Lets Drink the Rinse Water

There is an awful lot of suds in there missy, did you use Dash?

 

[appnut]

Jon, this is the first time I've ever seen the Super Wash run. Theneighbor never used it. Alnog with that, I NEVER EVER ONCE SAW a load with all that foam batting around like that. Bennie largely used All in her machine. And thank you for all the wonderful pictures with the guts. Blow my mind. (And hte muscular hand)

 

[westytoploader]

That reminds me--I remember reading posts about wealthy families having two combos paired side-by-side! And wasn't there a post about someone who used an LK Combo as the washer, paired with a conventional dryer?

 

[appnut]

Austin in the movie Mommie Dearest, there was a scene where "Joan Crawford" was doing laundry. she had two LK Combos sxs.

I had a secretary 1979 or so who had bought her washer & dryer at a used appliance place when they were in West Texas. She found out I was intersted in washer & dryers. She told me she had a Kenmore washer/dryer, but the dryer poriton didn't run anymore and used it for a washer. She had a regular dryer next to it.

 

[rickr]

That is a FINE looking machine Jon! Glad you got it running,and in top shape too! Looks like a very time consuming job. Congratulations on saving a rare classic.

 

[jetcone]

Well Uni

I was using new low sudsing ALL powder, it is not as low sudsing as I like but it does rinse away. What works even better is Dixan or Omo. My cousin Lizzy is going to mail me some Omomatic when she gets home to Oz we'll see rinse water then Missy!

 

[jetcone]

Thank you all for the Kudos

Jimmy I 'd love to try the electric version side by side and see which one was faster! I am glad you have an extra tranny NIB those are this machines weak point I am told. What kind of detergent do you use in your machine? I find that I only use a half teaspoon otherwise I have suds through the 3 rinses.

Westy ,you are right every sq inch of that machine has something in it and the manual is very terse too! And the rubber hoses are everywhere!
I had to learn about the balance system from reading the patents and talking to John the resident expert on these beauties.
The large flat baffles really do throw things around and Chuck D. used to swear that they acted like big irons pressing the clothes flat on the dry cycle.

It is a beautiful dryer, just like any top of the line Kenmore is. ( is robert rolling his eyes yet????)
With todays electronics you could really simplyfy that machine but I think you would still need the 7 solenoids it takes to run it!!
There is a major clunk every 5 minutes inside that machine.

 

[jetcone]

Westy

Its a machine of Smackulation, sloshulation and clunkination!!

 

[filterflo]

Jon, I, like you, do have a bit of a problem with oversudsing in my combo. It seems that almost every type of detergent that I use will oversuds it unless Im very careful with the amount. When I use the combo, since it has that triple dispenser on the top, I always use a little fabric softener in the final rinse to help dissipate any extra suds. And I love the Super Washer feature. It really does do a great job washing.........

 

[mayken4now]

Way too nice! Love the Pre-wash with the one gallon of water then here it comes, the full 3.5!

Steve

 

[Unimatic1140]

It is a beautiful dryer, just like any top of the line Kenmore is. ( is robert rolling his eyes yet????)

Are you kiddin' Jon, my 50AMP, '57 Lady Kenmore Hi-Speed dryer is a dream dryer! Good thing I have an extra set of elements, if it was taken away I would really miss it. It's a great dryer to say the least.

 

[drewz]

Memories, of LK past

WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, Machine, we all thank you for saving it!

Mother had an earlier version, but control panel had a large piece of glass with LK printed on it, (maybe 1963?) and a bright light behind it which lit up half the house.

Wonder why Whirlpool did not try to build automobiles? This machine like yours took alot of engineering and were built like tanks.

 

[Hometechdoc]

Love these

My neighbor accross the street had a similar model. However, she never let me see it run. I asked her several times if I could and she refused. She said boys should play outside. She was nasty.

Regarding the comment about using two w/d combos side by side. I had a student working on a historical preservation project in Beverly Hills. The original plans and specs called for two Westinghouse w/d to be installed side by side (the ones Greg has). The owner ended up with a set of westy twins, not combos. They were probably not available by the time the house was built.

 

[Kenmorepeter5]

VIDEO?

Hi...I am deaf.

Do you have video about 1969 Lady Kenmore combination washer/dryer? I will let to see show the Kenmore combination washer/dryer, it's more time. No problem. Ummm...how running of the cylinder one or two direction? How's condition of the combination? Thanks!

 

[Kenmorepeter5]

VIDEO?

Hi...I am deaf.

Do you have video about 1969 Lady Kenmore combination washer/dryer? I will let to see show the Kenmore combination washer/dryer, it's more time. No problem. Ummm...how running of the cylinder one or two direction? How's condition of the combination? Thanks!

 

[frigilux]

Great machine, Jetcone! Thanks for the pics and service explanations. I was going to mention the machine appearing in Mommy Dearest, too. I guess our TV-watching habits are in sync, appnut. All together now: WIRE HANGERS?!!

 

[tlee618]

Thanks Jon for the neat pictures. That is one great machine. Seems like I remember a TV show called Family, they had what looked like a Lady Kenmore Combo and a seperate dryer. Anyone else remember that show?" Terry