1977 Kenmore

[supersurgilator]

My grandparents kept a ledger book and while going through it they bought a 1977 Kenmore washer for $300.00 and I am trying to figure out about what model would have been in that price range and what agitator it would have had. They sold it when they moved to Florida in 1985 so I never got to see it, but was just curious.

 

[chaskelljr2]

1977 Kenmore Belt-Drive Washer....

Bruce:

Your grandparents bought a Kenmore Washer back in 1977 for about $300.00(?).

If they bought it at regular price back then, then it may possibly be a Model 70 (4th model on the page) (like the one I grew up with as a teenager), and it may have had a "Penta-Swirl" Agitator with an Agitator Mounted Fabric Softener Dispenser on top of the Agitator.

Or one of the Model 80 models above the Model 70 I just mentioned. One of them has a Penta-Swirl Agitator (3rd model on the page) inside of it. And for $20.00 more, they could've had the same Model 80 "JUST" mentioned, but with a Dual-Action Agitator (2nd model on the page).

Or if they caught the washer on sale during that time, they could've gotten the #2 Model in the Model 90 (the "step down" model below the Lady Kenmore), which was a 2-Speed/10-Cycle Model with dispensers for detergent, bleach and fabric softener, and possibly, either a Penta-Swirl Agitator or a Dual-Action Agitator (1st model on the page).

The page I am going to scan is going to have all four of those models on it. Keep in mind though, that this is coming from a Fall/Winter 1976 Sears Catalog. No new models were introduced in 1977. The next time new models were introduced was 1978.

Thanks and Regards,

--Charles--

 

[wigwag]

3 water levels, 5 temps with auto?

Which model year had the DAA, 3 water levels and 5 temps with an "Automatic" selection? My grandma had that one in white and I'd swear the "Auto" temp was in the middle top selection and the other 5 temps were listed on the bottom but I may be wrong. Pretty sure it was a standard capacity machine and I think I remember a "snoring" sound when the DAA was moving.

 

[mrb627]

Full Price?

Did anybody ever pay full price for a Kenmore anything? Seems they were always on sale.

Malcolm

 

[chaskelljr2]

@ Steven...

To answer your question (and I am sure that if even I am wrong, Gordon will verify).

I'm going to say 1980-81 (possibly later).

--Charles--

 

[chaskelljr2]

@ Malcom...

You're right, but they were different models at different times though, because sometimes, even the Lady K's were on sale.

--Charles--

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Charles -

Every one of the machines in that catalog excerpt are 1976 models. The stock numbers such as 26921, 26911, 26801, 26601, 26401, etc. are shown, where the second character from the left, a 6, is the digit for the year.

Actually nearly ALL the line-up for 1977 was new. This was done because Sears split the previous one cycle of "Knit-Delicate" into two cycles, 8-minute Knit, and 6-minute Delicate. This was a stupid marketing gimick that changed a 4-cycle machine into a 5-cycle machine. Every two speed machine with the exception I believe of the portables got this change. Thus, the 26701 seventy series machine, which was the only 70-series large capacity machine for 1976 became the 27701 in 1977 and magically gained a new "cycle". The only machines that continued past 1976 were single speed models like the 26601 and 26401 (the '401 didn't hang around long though as there was a 26411 which was not featured in catalogs until '77 and '78 which had a Perm Press cycle instead of the Short).

Also, a few models were added in 1977 which did not exist in 1976, including my 27741 - Moppy, which is featured in my photo album. This is a 27701 but lacks an off-balance switch and dispensers. It also did not have a porcelain top, and was marketed as a 'price buster' of sorts. A 27841 was also added to augment the previously lone 80-series machine.

I'll attach a couple pics to show you what I am talking about. First, here is a 26651, my semi-famous Green Beast, 1976 60-series machine. Note where Knit-Delicate is one cycle.

Gordon

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Here is a 1977 27741

Where the Knit and Delicate have been separated, but the machine uses the EXACT SAME timer, and nothing mechanical is different.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

So to augment what Charles said...my answer to Bruce is that the machine they bought in 1977 could have been anything from a non-sale 60 series to a very discounted 1976 high-end model. Keep in mind with catalog prices that they did not include freight/shipping, which was included on sales floor pricing.

There was a 26901 which is not pictured above which was like the most expensive machine but with a Penta-Swirl. Most likely, at least statistically, your grandparents bought a 70-series machine, as this was almost always one of Sears' best sellers and very easily would fit in that price range. My 27741 pictured was a VERY common and good seller too for about 20-bucks less than the 27701.

Your grandparents didn't retain the receipt did they? If so, the stock number on it will tell me exactly what they had.

Gordon

 

[kenmoreguy64]

3 levels, DAA, 5+ Auto

Steven/Wigwag -

Cool question, and you may be remembering a rather unusual machine.

The first and only large capacity machine, and a VERY huge seller, to have this exact combination of 3 water levels, Five temps plus Auto Temp Control and the DAA was the 1983 model 23721, which is a 70-series machine and was THE best selling Kenmore of the mid 1980s.

If you really are remembering a standard capacity machine, then you have a cool odd-ball model in memory. I think you're on the right track though if you remember the snore of the original DAA, which by 1979 had been revised to have agitator dogs (a design still in use today) vs. the original "stair step" notches. These notches when agitating made quite a racket. The first of these was a 1977 model 27851 which was indeed a standard capacity, 3-level, five temp +ATC machine. It was considered an 8-cycle machine (four 'off' sections) with Cottons white, cottons colored, perm white, perm colored, Knit, Delicate, Pre-soak and Pre-wash.

This standard capacity combination of features first debuted as one of those new 1977 models. Most late-model standard capacity Kenmores never featured more than three water levels, from the mid 70s forward, but this model had a new timer which was capable of time-set temps. This is how that Auto Temp worked, where the temp switch allowed the timer's standards, or overrode them. Not all of Kenmore's timers were capable of doing this.

Why Kenmore started this timer on a standard cap. machine I don't know, and I've never seen one in person. They were in the catalog year after year as the best standard capacity machine until 1980 or so, but apparently didn't sell well. The timer though went on to be one of the most commonly used washer timers in recent history, along with a couple WP timers and another Kenmore timer.

I have an equally odd 1979 90-series machine which has an infinite water level (even weirder) but the same features. I will try to snag you a picture. It's odd to see a DAA in a standard capacity machine, but looking closely I've noticed that the auger is shorter, which makes sense.

Neat memory Bruce!

Gordon

 

[westie2]

My sister bought a Kenmore in 1976 and I can't remember what model it was but it had the white Penta-Swirl and the next year Sears called her and offered the Dual Action agitator to her I think for $10.00.  She got it and would use one or the other and she did like the Penta-Swirl the best for most clothing.  In 1990 she traded for a Maytag pair that they left in the old house in 2009 and bought the HORRID GE washer and dryer that she complains about all the time.  The washer is horrid the dryer is great she says as I have not seen them as they live in Orlando.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

CharlesWestie2 -

I never knew that Sears actually called prior customers about the DA. My Mom had a fall 1974 Kenmore that could have easily used it, but I never heard anything about a phone call - maybe they kept records only so far back?

Anyway, the 76 Kenmore could have been anything from the 70-series, the one 80-series, to the first 90-series.

I really like the Penta-Swirl in my '77 machine, though it chokes on really full loads, which is why the DA exists.

I bet your sister would like a Speed Queen if she liked the Kenmore and Maytag?

Gordon

 

[westie2]

She had thought about the Speed Queens but her husband wanted all the same brand in the house.  They bought this last home new and it had Frigidaire builder in it so they sold that and bought the GE's.  The DW is good and so is the Dryer but the washer like i said is worthless she says.  It is the plastic tub one all I know.

 

 

 

[chaskelljr2]

Post# 569488, Reply# 7

@ Gordon:

That's interesting then. If that model is a Model 70 (from 1977), then one that I grew up with has to be a higher-end verson of the model that you have pictured.

Although, the one I grew up with debuted in 1976, it had to be available in 1977 as well, as we got ours in August of 1978. It was still available WELL INTO 1978.

And does your 1977 Model 70 have any dispensers or the Off-Balance Switch/Buzzer?? Our 1976-78 Model 70 had an agitator-mounted Fabric Softener Dispenser (similiar to the one that's featured in your 1969 Model 700, but white in color), four water levels and had an Off-Balance Switch/Buzzer.

Our Model 70 did have all the necessities, but it sure would've been cool if we would've ended up with a Model 90 at least. Maybe not a Lady Kenmore (they were about $500.00 back in 1978, and that was a lot of money for a washer back then), but at least a Model 90. For the "cool" factor if for nothing else.

--Charles--

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Charles -

I did some research online today and found out something fascinating about the 1976-1978 70 series machines. I had it all typed out, and the system lost my entire screen saying the webpage had expired. No time to re-type it now :-(

I'll retype it tonight, but it's interesting, well for me, fascinating.

Gordon

 

[combo52]

KENMORE DUAL-ACTION AGITATORS

I remember soon after Sears introduced the DAA they really tried to get customers to up grade to the new DAA. This is one time that I agree with Consumer Reports when they said that the DAA was the best advance in TL washers in 30 years.

 

[supersurgilator]

No, they didn't retain the receipt. I had a feeling that it would have been a model with the penta swirl agitator. I just an't see them paying for the one with the DA one.

 

[supersurgilator]

The first one they bought was in 1961, can't remember the price that they lsited for that one, so it apparently lasted until 1977, which I've heard was pretty good for the early models. Thanks for posting the scan of those models,, it was greatly apprecaited.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Bruce -

My parent's first Kenmore was a 1961 also, and we had it until fall 1974. It was still running but loudly as the centerpost bearings were going or gone. It had washed for two adults and two babies / kids in that time including all cloth diapers. Not bad either I'd say. It could have gone on 13 more years if we'd had the bearings replaced.

Charles -

Here is a nutshell of the details I found yesterday that I had wanted to share with you.

First, as mentioned, there was just that one 1976 Kenmore 70 in large capacity configuration. The same machine was available as a 1977 model but with the cycles re-arranged on the console a bit (this was just a console printing change as it involved nothing mechanical). The same was done yet again in 1978 as a second variation where this time the delicate cycle said "Knit", just 'knit', with a tiny 'delicate' right next to the 6 minute mark, but back to a single box around the whole cycle like in 1976. Why? I HAVE NO IDEA. In both 1977 and 1978 the 'cheap' 70 series was available like mine with no dispensers, one less water level, no off-balance relay, etc.

What I found very interesting is basically that I confirmed your statement that your 1976 model was availabe into 1978. That surprised me, in fact, it appears that all three main 70-series models, the 1976, the 1977, and the 1978, which differed only in console graphics, seemed to all have been available into 1978, simultaneously. I cannot imagine why three mechanically identical machines were made at the same time - marketing must have convinced planning that they were needed. The cost of stocking three of the same thing as three different models would probably be checked more closely today.

How I found this out is interesting too. In January 1978, an across-the-board configuration change was made where all centerposts were reduced in height by five inches. This improved the bearing issue to almost non-existent that I describe above, but I have loving/loathing mixed feelings about it. This caused a redesign of the baseplate, the basket drive and spin tube, and the inner basket. Most 1976 and 1977 machines gave way to 1978 models for this reason but the three 70s series machines lived on together, and both the 1976 AND the 1977 seventy series machines went on to get the revised parts, meaning they were in production in 1978. I found these parts lists on the Sears website.

So I learned something yesterday Charles, THANKS!

Gordon