1970 Kenmore 700 Series?

[jons1077]

I didn't catch the model number of this washer other than it started with 70. It has all of the same cycles as the Kenmore 800 fully automatic washer that I have minus the dispensers, light, pushbuttons, custom speed control and the vary-flex agitator. Outside wasn't too bad but I venture to guess that the machine was taken out of service a very long time ago due to a leaky inlet valve. There was a water line about 1-2 inches from the bottom of the basket and what looked like rust. Couldn't really tell though. They were willing to sell for $25 condition unknown. I decided to pass since this is the heaviest machine ever and it would be killer trying to get it downstairs at my place. I thought I'd at least post pics for discussion. Really a pretty nice Kenmore model.

The dryer next to it was a Maytag DE406 in white.

 

[kenmore71]

I think this was a "60" machine.
From the 1970 Sping/Summer Catalog:

 

[appnut]

John, when the 1964 DispensoMat Norge washer died (and I hated most the the programmed button cycles--they weren't like what Lady Kenmores had in their cycle buttons), I wanted nothing that had push buttons, unless it was a Lady Kenmore.  And believe it or not, THIS is the washer I saw on sale in the Houston Chronicle and it's what I wanted for the family washer--very flexible and had all the featurfull flexibility I wanted and yet still had a FS dispenser--mom didn't use bleach all that much.  So off to Sears Memorial City we went and this is what I walked as fast as I could to.  But I guess it wasn't as appealing of a looker to my mom.  We ended up getting the infamous Kenmore 800 with full panel light, 3 timed dispensers optional soak-to-wash ability, and white porcelain tub.  I think the 800 was on sale for $229, regularly $249.  And the rest is history.  The 700 model was the entry level alphabet washer with all the above cycles. 

 

[goatfarmer]

Well worth $25.00 IMHO.........

 

[toploadloyalist]

Enzyme Soak

For the historic record, "Enzyme Soak" was renamed "Pre-Soak" in 1971.

For washers with Pre-Soak and Pre-Wash, the agitation speed for the latter cycle was low, but for those with Pre-Wash and without Pre-Soak, they used high agitation. Did black console washers (1976-c.1997) use high or low agitation for Pre-Soak?

 

[appnut]

I remember reading manuals for belt-drive Kenmore series 80s in the early 1980s presoak was slow agitation.  My 1986 DD Lady Shredmore, the pre-soak was regular/fast agitation. 

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Black panel models and pre-soak

The black panel belt-drive era lasted from fall 1975 to late 1986. During this time, believe it or not, all the timers used were of four basic families. The first is an uncommon three cycle timer with no pre wash or soak. The next is a four cycle timer that had only a pre-wash (yes, pre-wash runs at high speed). The next is a mid-line timer with the pre-soak and the final is the high-end timer that has a second rinse in the normal cycle, provisions to operate all the electric dispensers, etc.

Each of these four families saw revisions to the timers during the 11.5 years or so of production. The mid line timers with the pre-soak started out with delicate speed agitation in soak, but the later version from the mid 80s uses high speed. This timer, number 378133, is one of the only belt-drive timers still stocked by Whirlpool, but we are talking about 30 year old machines now!!

It has been really great that WP engineered timers to use in production AND to support existing machines as well, but they could sometimes slightly change the operating personality of an older model.
Gordon

 

[toploadloyalist]

Late 1986

That was when they first had the rubber knobs and dials.

 

[kenmoreman]

Timers

Let me tell you that at one time I had 23 timers in my truck stock. The sub numbers were so complex that I usually had to call in the get the right number for the washer I was working on. They were all rebuilds because Whiripool couldn't keep up production for new machines let alone repairing old ones. This problem started with the quick disconnect models. There was a high failure rates with these jamming and failing electrically. Again Sears made a fortune on these as collect calls. We changed thousands under the maintaince plans. The early replacements started at about $16.95 but later shot way up in price. It took a few years to find a vendor who could make a dependable unit. I believe Singer was one of these vendors. Just a little info from my technician days.