'68 Kenmore 700

[captainmoody]

Here's a recent find on Detroit Craigslist. Had a stopped up self-cleaning filter. It was plugged solid with cardboard bits! After removing and then soaking the assembly for a while, I managed to free things up enough to run pressurized water back and fourth until the cardboard was all gone, and the beads were able to move freely again.
I wanted to keep this one all original, as it has seen very little use.
So, has anyone ever seen one like this? It looks more Whirpool-esque than Kenmore. Was it a one year only model?

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Hi Dwight -

Yep, I've seen that one - the catalog calls it a "lo silouette" machine in part because of the hidden controls.

I have had two of this model - one in avocado that was so rusted from a leaking center gasket and bleach hose that the left front corner/leg gusset rusted off the bottom of the cabinet.

I have a white one now, which is much nicer, but nowhere near as nice as yours. Mine needs bearings so badly it barely spins. I hauled mine in a batch of 6 random belt-drives in 1993, and has been in storage ever since, with the repair diagnosis tag still in it.

CONGRATS on finding a great machine!

Gordon

 

[captainmoody]

Thanks Gordon!
This one was last used in 1981 after the filter plugged up. The owner then retired it to a corner of the basement thinking they would later repair it.

 

[yogitunes]

I had the chance while in high school to "baby sit" a house for a few years......

they had this matced set....it was the coolest thing, especially with the hidden panels..........loved the dryer...selector had numbers/cycles 1 thru 5 for dryness levels, they never moved, just load and hit start, perfect results everytime!

would love to have that set again, it also had the dispenser on the agitator

 

[appnut]

A friend of mine from college, his parents had this washer.  Mom overloaded it so bad that it would have made a BobLoad look like a very small load.  This was like in 1974 and the machine already had difficulty with the wigwag engaging roperly so it would agitate.  She had to start & stop the machine sometimes to get to do engage.  Poor machine. 

 

[captainmoody]

Does anyone have a picture of the matching dryer?
For now, all I could find was a '64 800 to pair it up with.

 

[peteski50]

Kenmore

Real nice can we see a closeup of the control panel?
Thanks

 

[kenmoreman]

Plugged Filter

You mentioned beads in the filter. If my memory serves we I thought this model had a spring loaded cone filter. They were very prone to getting plugged but they had no beads. Am I wrong?

 

[combo52]

1968 KM WASHER

This model still had the more durable bead style self-cleaning lint filter. I have the matching white electric and it may need a new home, I will give Gordon frist crack on it but if he isn't interested get back in touch me.

 

[suds14]

Hi Dwight,

Great find. My Grandma had this same washer in Avacado with suds saver. It was and still is my all time favorite washer and I hope some day to find an one. A neighbor also had the matched set. I can only remember the dryer have about 5 or 6 differnt temperature setting and an automatic cycle and a time cycle.

Enjoy this washer.

David

 

[swestoyz]

Dwight - I've always thought these were good looking Kenmores. Seen a few of this model over the last few years, but nothing as clean as yours. Congrats!

Ben

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Well, this is the washer & I believe the neighbors across the street had (& matching dryer as well) & I believe I mentioned this in another thread...

They were avocado & had hidden--well, CONCEALED--controls--and were replaced by smaller capacity, and much substandard machines (maybe because the kids were growing & moving out)...

-- Dave

 

[aldspinboy]

That is a great washer My aunt had it in avocodo as well.

Fantastic shape and handsome machine... Congratulations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Darren k.

 

[combo52]

1968 HIDDEN CONTROL KM PAIR

The dryer has the electronic sensor control system only, no timed dry settings. It was labled 1-7 with 1 being the dryest setting, the numbers were roughly the percentage of moisture that would be left in the clothes load when the heat shuts off and the dryer goes into the thermostatic cool down. This was a very accurate and advanced dryness control system that was also used on the TOL GM built Frigidare dryers, it was built by Texas Instruments. This control system allowed the consumer to adjust the setting to have the clothes dried exactly as they liked, unlike MTs HOH dryers that only allowed two different dryness settings. I never had a complant abuot the dryness of clothing from a customer with one of these dryers unlike the HOH MTs which we offten had to install the larger capactor kit on to get them to dry the clothes the way the customer wanted.

 

The matching washer was a standard capacity 18 gallon WP built washer the only thing smaller was the 24" compacts and the portables which were 16 gallon tubs the same as MTs standard tub washers.

 

[bajaespuma]

Gonna make a few enemies here

That is a neat machine, but the photograph of it reminds me of something that has always bothered me about the 'Mores.

 

Why, with all the work those designers did every model year to come up with some new control panel style, couldn't those knuckleheads figure out how to make that friggin' lid lie flat and out of the way (and also so the user could read the printed instructions and use the lid as a loading assist)? And don't even think of trying to argue that it's a good thing that it stays up at a ridiculous 340 degree angle. Just like the Philco's. They just took the Whirlpoon lid and its hinges and put them on the side. Silly.

 

[captainmoody]

Hmm.. That dryer sounds pretty interesting! Maybe someday I will be able to see one in person..LOL!

 

[kenmoreguy64]

John/Combo -

Thanks for the offer on the dryer. I am pretty much "dryer-ed up" right now. I would love to work on my version of this washer soon, but I have so many ahead of it that I don't think that will happen anytime soon. Those ahead include that long out of service 1963 70 suds model!!!

So, if Dwight/Captainmoody would appreciate your dryer, by all means, please feel free!

THANKS again John!

Gordon

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Forgot to mention: I once saw the matching dryer for that washer, also in white, though, discarded & only got a distant "drive-by" viewing...

Had no idea that it was "Auto Dry-only" w/o the timer... And I didn't know anyone other than Maytag even made such a unit, but with the way the controls are clustered in that little enclosed space, it's fairly easy to see that Sears should just go "straight to the top!", model-wise...

Really need to get out of my car & walk up to these old appliances I see at curb sides more than ever now!

-- Dave