1969 Lady Kenmore combo video

[revvinkevin]

 

Here is a video I shot while in the Minneapolis area over Memorial Day weekend.   This Lady K combo is in the basement of John (gyromatic) and sits along side a stunning '58 Bendix Duomatic. 

 

This is the full wash cycle condensed down to a little over 9 minutes.  It's also in HD for those who may want to enjoy it "full screen" through the youtube page.

 

Enjoy!

Kevin

 



http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZXX1M9Oa4w&feature=youtu.be

 

[ken]

Kevin

Very interesting machine.

How long was the full wash cycle? What was max spin rpm?

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

Hi Ken,

 

I believe the full wash cycle time is around 30-35 minutes.   Each rinse is about 2 minutes as well as each intermediate spin.  As for the final spin speed, I'm sure John L (combo52) can verify, but my understanding is it's similer to a top load KM belt drive, right around 525 rpm.

 

Kevin

 

[ken]

Sorry. I should have been more specific. I meant how long was the whole wash/dry cycle time?

 

[swestoyz]

Great job on the vid, Kevin!  And I love the music choice.

 

[revvinkevin]

the whole wash/dry cycle time?

 

 

Ken, I didn't time it, but I would guesstimate about an hour 15 to an hour 30.

 

THANKS Ben!   It took me over an hour of searching and listening before I selected those.   Hey do you think the music level is OK or should be higher/lower?

 

Kevin

 

[dishwasherfan]

Great video.

Hi Kevin, your videos are always awesome...thanks for sharing. Bob..

 

[hippiedoll]

that was cool to watch....

thanks for posting & sharing kevin. and yeah, the music was pretty "relaxing". sounded like good background music for a mad men type of scene.

OUTTA SIGHT job on making the video kevin!!!

)

 

[foraloysius]

Great video! Those Kenmore combo's were quite something.

Personally I would prefer a video without music. To me the sounds of the machine are the best music there is.

 

[ken]

Agree with Louis. I prefer to hear the machine do its business. To me it adds to the "vintageness".

 

[mrb627]

Stats...

This is a 220v vented machine, right?

Malcolm

 

[revvinkevin]

stats....

 

 

No Malcolm, wrong.   This is a GAS combo (vented obviously)!

 

Kevin

 

[mrb627]

Ah...

I didn't know they made these in a gas model.
Very cool. And SPEEDY!

Malcolm

 

[peteski50]

Kenmore Combo!

Kevin,
Real awsome video to bad they dont make machines like this today!
Peter

 

[verizonbear]

I,m jealous as hell one dumb qestion

this has been on my mind for eons!! and the end of the dry cycle is there a cycle end buzzer? always been curious!

 

[jetcone]

Nice Video

Kevin, that is a great machine. Gotta get back into mine again, these are temperamental to say the least. But they do the most complete job of washing in one cycle I've seen, from pre-treat to bleach to softening to drying.

 

 

 

[revvinkevin]

Thank you everyone!

 

 

Thanks to all for your comments on the video!   It took a lot of time to get it all edited together, but it was worth it (just 2 more videos to go)!

 

I have 2 of these machines, a '65 gas model and a '69 220V model, I'm looking forward to getting one of them working so I can enjoy the complete laundering package of a combo machine!

 

Phil:  To answer your question, yes there is a variable volume end-of-cycle buzzer similar to Kenmore dryers of the time.

Actually if you pause the video at 8:40 you can see the buzzer control on the far left side of the screen.
 

And for Louis, Ken and anyone else who doesn't like the music in my video,  I'm removing the music tracks.   It took my computer over 4 hours to generate and regurgitate this non-musical version, plus another 45 minutes to upload it to youtube.    It should be finished in about 20 minutes. 

 

Kevin

[this post was last edited: 6/6/2014-23:57]

 

[revvinkevin]

OK folks here you go!

 
 
This is the non-musical version of the same video above for those who can't stand the music.

Kevin
 


http://https//www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=KJqMYFt8K8A

 

[a440]

Awesome Video Kevin!
Thanks for both the music and non music version!

 

[foraloysius]

Thank you Kevin! That is very sweet of you!

It's fascinating how this machine keeps tumbling and spinning without a pause (except from the pause between spinning and drying).

How does the drying system work? Is it a condenser system that uses water?

 

[revvinkevin]

How does the drying system work?

No it's not a condenser dryer. This is a vented gas dryer. Actually both the gas and electric models are vented. I don't think Whirlpool (or Kenmore) build a condensing dryer combo, even the 1957 Whirlpool combo is vented.

Kevin

 

[foraloysius]

Yes, ofcourse! Silly of me, I forgot a moment it is a gas dryer. The fumes have to go somewhere.

 

[easyspindry]

Hey Kevin. Thanks heeps and gobs . . .

. . . for the video of the Kenmore Combo. This is the first time I have ever had a chance to see a Kenmore or Whirlpool combo in operation. And I am VERY impressed with it.

I have a '59 Philco/Bendix, and enjoy using it.

Great video!!!!

Thanks again for sharing.

Jerry Gay

 

[alr2903]

Kevin, thank You...  I enjoyed the video.  The pause between wash and dry is the stopping point for wash only?  Yours has  a faster spin.  Someone here mentioned one of the brands  added a little dry time to "wash only" because of slower or no spin.  Definitely not the case with the Kenmore. I have noticed many/most of the WD combinations do not have the "hard to find" Westinghouse boot.  Was there ever a vintage frontload washer only that utilized this same system?  Thank You!  Arthur

 

[appnut]

Added dry time to wash only

Arthur, the 33" wide Lady Kenmore Combo (I do not know about the Whirlpool version because one of these was next door to me and I know the dials very well) did indeed dry for about 20 or 30 minutes.  The dry only section on the dryer timer was definitely long enough for several minutes.  (I did learn this from Tomturbomatic)  The 33" combo only spun at around 182 or 183 rpms, don't think anything much over 200 rpms.  So if it hadn't done the short amount of dry time, dripping wet clothes would have been pulled out of the washer after the final spin.  Incidentally, the LK version also had automatic dry vs. the Whirlpool was timed dry only.  I remember the various dry cycles on the dial had LMH designations on each cycle for light, medium, and heavy fabrics. 

 

[norgeway]

I heard my favorite thing!

A HAMMOND organ!!

 

[tolivac]

On the combo video with the music-the Hammond organ was sort of nice-but still preferred the video with just the sounds of the washer going.Liked the idea of the spraying of the clothes while the machine tumble agitated them-keep the things wet and constantly sprayed.Maybe the new FL washer makers should use that idea!

 

[aldspinboy]

I love It Kevin!

The music is very wash like,and cool music.

I always loved that panel in the top loaders as well.

Recirculation in front loaders are the best to me.

Thanks again .

Darren k

 

[combo52]

1969 Lady Kenmore GAS Combo

Always one of my favorites, I have long said this was the one vintage 60s laundry appliance that you did not have to make any performance excuses for. It did a great job in all respects.

It cleaned Well

It eliminated lint and pet hair

It was fairly water and energy efficient.

It had electric burner ignition and a modulating 37,000 BTU burner

It had true timed detergent, bleach and fabric softener dispensers

These machines never when out of balance or required any assistance once started and they had an auto dry system that eliminated any dry settings or guess work, everything always drys properly without over drying.

Great video Kevin and a big thank you to John E. for getting and keeping this wonderful machine going, John and I are the only two people in the world that have a properly running KM gas Combo, YAY.

John L.

 

[chestermikeuk]

The Lady Kenmore....

Great video action there Kevin, always a pleasure to see the classics in action, was hooked on that re-circulation spray when first saw Roberts, imagine how much more efficient it would have been with a decent water extraction speed...

As much as I love Hammonds, washer sounds win every time!!