A new guy trying to learn about a Kenmore.

[volvoguy87]

I'm new to posting, but have been reading the discussions here for about 2 years. Does anyone know the vintage of the Kenmore washing machine in the link below, or where it was in the model line up at the time? I remember my great-grandmother having one and am curious, although I cannot get this one. Is it a belt drive?

I am in the field of historic preservation, and I am so glad to see people taking an interest in appliances, a subject usually ignored in historic preservation. Perhaps if manufacturers paid attention to the history of their products, they could concentrate on bettering their offerings, rather than cheapening them. Perhaps, if vintage appliances are used for inspiration, it can reduce the need for expensive research & devwelopment.

Keep washing & restoring,
Dave

http://cgi.ebay.com/KENMORE-Heavy-D...5QQihZ009QQcategoryZ71256QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[westytoploader]

This is a BOL 24" belt-drive Kenmore, probably late-70's. Looks like it's in nice shape and it's not too terribly far from me; I might get it as I have never seen the straight-vane in action!

 

[westytoploader]

Actually, I can't believe I didn't read the model number! It's a 1981 model.

 

[goatfarmer]

I still see them in my travels on occasions.

kennyGF

 

[mayken4now]

Austin, get the damn machine. Those are cool, BOL or not. You will faint at the turnover.

Steve

 

[appliguy]

Austin

I was told they stopped doing the model # as the first 2 digits after about 1972 can someone either confirm or deny this once and for all? PATRICK COFFEY

 

[bobofhollywood]

skinny

That's a narrow one, too...which may or may not be a good thing. It's good if you want space, but bad when it spins - not horrible, just not as nice as it's wider version. Also, being narrow, it'd fit more easily into my Mazda!~

I think you should get that too, Austin. It is a classic, based on a design that used the same belt for over 35 years (on a lot of washers). Also, being simple of design, it may be less prone to failure.

The porcelain on the outer tubs was getting pretty thin by this point in the production, however, and there were plenty of woes surrounding the center post seal, as well as the tub lid seal lip rusting away and letting go of the clips. So - if you go to buy it, lift up the top and have a look to see if all the clips are in place first.

I think it's an '81 also...which is the year I graduated high school~!

Holla from Hollywood

Bob

 

[westytoploader]

Hi Bob,

So this machine was made the same year you graduated...neat! While I don't really care for that style of control panel (especially since they transferred it over to the early BOL direct-drive machines), the machine is in way too good of shape to pass up.

I can vouch for the outer tub porcelain failure, but I've seen many examples of inner tub porcelain failure on later BD Kenmores as well if you can believe that! The Frankenmore has some *slight* porcelain loss in the wash basket, but only in a few small spots at the bottom that you can hardly see to begin with. In case it does get worse, I saved the near-perfect inner tub of the '75 Kenmore if I need to replace it.

As for that "donut seal", that was a horrible design and those things SUCK...not that the raised area in the center of the outer tub doesn't either as that was a horrible design as well in my opinion. The 3 Kenmores I pulled the inner tubs on had these nearly eaten away. In addition to the tub seal lip, I've seen the clips themselves rusted away before! Yes, lifting the top is definitely an order with any future BD Kenmores coming here! Although it's still hard to tell even by doing that; to see how many problems there REALLY are, you practically have to pull the inner tub every time! ;-)

Patrick, by this time, you could determine the model year of a Kenmore by looking at the first and third digits of the model number, not the first two as before.

--Austin

 

[appliguy]

Thanks for clearing that up for me Austin

Can you still do that on todays models or ahve they stopped that as well? PATRICK COFFEY

 

[westytoploader]

Hi Patrick,

I really don't know about the post-2000 models...will definitely have to check next time I stop in Sears. I could still determine the date with the first & third digits with the '98 direct-drive Kenmore I used to have.

And here's yet another 24" BD Kenmore I spotted on eBay, a sister model of the Texas machine from the same era. This one's up north in Michigan. Definitely the BOL-est of the BOL here! One speed, one water level, one cycle, 2 temperature combinations...can't get any simpler than this!

--Austin

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kenmore-Washer-...8QQihZ019QQcategoryZ71256QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[jasonl]

Those had kind of an oddball tub ring if I remember correctly. It's good ol' Kenmore all the way, just very basic. I wonder if it has a recirculating filter.