1976 D&M Kenmore Dishwasher

[Unimatic1140]

Out at the estate sales yesterday we ran into this $10 D&M Kenmore Dishwasher, one model down from the Lady Kenmore. What struck me about this machine is it was in the basement and it appeared to used only a few times. Nearly rust free in the sump.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Nice cycle options

 

[Unimatic1140]

Boy the Kenmore dishwasher dials of the mid 70's were so reminiscent of the washer dials of the late 60's and early 70's.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Under normal conditions I wouldn't have picked up a machine like this, but everything just shines...

 

[Unimatic1140]

The motor and pump assembly are amazing quiet and run like its brand new. Its the same motor/pump assembly that is in my '65 Lady Kenmore, so this new machine will be a perfect parts donor to keep my window door LK running for years longer.

 

[Unimatic1140]

We recently installed our new dishwasher uni-coupler faucet in the kitchen sink, so this is perfect timing. We purposely installed this so we could drag home dishwashers to play with temporarily. The big fancy new kitchen sink sprayer faucets are not uni-coupler friendly, lol.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Fall-Winter 1975

It even has a three level wash...

 

[alr2903]

Robert thats the exact machine we had as dishwasher #1 in our family. Mom kind of thought she did not need it. She lived on to completely wear it out plus 2 replacements over the years. Best money we ever spent. She converted quickly, if an item could not go in the dishwasher she seldom used it. I am glad you found it and it will live on in parts as needed. arthur

 

[xpanam]

Hi Robert! That is a great find, it looks brand new! In 1975 I use to ride my bike to the Sears at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa Californian, to watch the one they had running all day with the plastic insert. Also at Penney’s at Huntington Center mall, were they had a Pennies DW that was an old Hotpoint design! I just stared to wonder how long these display models lasted? Running all day every day.

 

[peteski50]

kenmore!

Good friends of mine had this same exact DW built in. I used to load for them most of the time at parties and always packed it. When they sold the house in 1992 it was still working. The only thing that was falling apart was the top rack. Robert this is absolutely a Great find and a keeper.
Best Wishes,
Peter

 

[turquoisedude]

Wow, I have its Canadian cousin in Avocado Green! I know D&M gets a lot of bad press, but we used ours in Hubby's country house for 10 years and it worked fine. I think it may have been one of the last D&M's to feature forced-air drying. Oh, and I have the Canadian version of the user guide if you'd like a copy, Robert.

 

[toggleswitch]

Not very different than the '73/74 I grew up with! AWESOME

 

[toploader55]

WOW !!!

That's in Gawgious Shape. Love that 3 level wash system.

But I never understood DM's choice of color for the racks. They look like Nicotine Yellow.

But that's the Seventies.

 

[combo52]

1970s D&M Portable DWs

Oh My Robert that just doesn't look right in your kitchen, LOL, I guess next we will see WP DD washers showing up in your laundry room.

 

The motor and many major pump parts are different from the motor etc in your older machine, but you may be able to install the complete assembly if you ever need it for the 1965 LKM DW.

 

[jetcone]

super find Robert

I had the model down from this in an earlier apartment life, never had a complaint about it. You could heap the dishes in, and living with two women --they did and everything came out glistening!

 

You're right Eddie about those racks Dog Bile Yellow, what were they thinking was color back then is a mystery!!

 

 

 

[hooverwheelaway]

Ugh, you have no idea how releaved I am to know that it has a sliding panel to conceal the pushbuttons.

**phew** -- that was a close one.

 

[Unimatic1140]

The motor and many major pump parts are different from the motor etc in your older machine, but you may be able to install the complete assembly if you ever need it for the 1965 LKM DW.

Yes John that I what I mean, the parts are different, such as a round motor on the earlier machine and square on the newer, but the mounting and hose connections are exactly the same as well as the function, so the entire assembly will fit and can be used as a replacement. They also sound almost exactly the same. The bottom rack (ugly color as it is) is nearly the same and fits perfectly. The spray arm as well has a different hole pattern, but otherwise is the same. I'm going to install the newer spray arm in the window LK to see the difference between the two. The newer machine has much smaller holes and more of them, where as the older spray arm has only four holes, but they are much larger.

 

[gansky1]

The woodgrain adds a bit of warmth and Bi-Centennial flavor to the room

 

[danemodsandy]

Greg:

That makes you a perfect candidate for a mid-'70s Cadillac - remember that injection-molded Ye Olde Fayke Woode Graine - with carvings?