Mike -
I am still more of a MOL or BOL guy, but I remembered this model when I saw it in the 1980 catalog as a kid, then I paid more attention to it when I got copies of the catalogs again. Sears' focus at the time was on the electronic machines as their "Sears Best" fare, in fact in 1980 there were two electronic models offered, a left-over 1979 electronic machine (not a Lady K) and the 1980 Lady. By early 1981, the '79 model was done and only the Lady bested this machine. Since many people weren't interested in the electronic washers, this one was the TOL model in some people's minds, I'm sure.
What's cool to me is that there probably weren't very many people in town who were willing to give this washer a second glance once they saw how nasty it was, yet I have been wanting just this model, I enjoy the clean up, and it seemed to call to me. The service panel was rattling up a racket because one of the screws was missing, so if any prospective buyers tested the washer, just touching it then hearing the panel rattle could have been enough for many for say "Thanks, have a nice day" and boogie out of there.
The washer worked great during the wash of the clean-up rags, and it sounds very classically belt-drive. Once I feel like I have this thing as dissinfected on the inside as out, I think I will enjoy using it. BUT, next to it will probably be something BOL. In fact in storage I have a true BOL 1980 Kenmore, which would be neat to compare and contrast in my garage, with them both connected and serviceable.
As to my recipe for clean-up - this one took about 3.5 hours and a lot of various things to do the work, everything from a paint-scraper to Lysol disinfecting kitchen cleaner. I used 409 on the cabinet and tub ring, and saturated rags for the top. I used a Windex wipe with added Lysol for the control panel, but I usually use smooth-top stove cleaner for that as it leaves no streaks. I completely removed the panel to clean the gunk underneath. That detergent 'block' under the lid was not easy to get off. I figured it would just dissolve and fall into the tub. Well, maybe 2/3 of it did, but the rest was adhered to the top and had to be scraped off (thank goodness for porcelain, which looks un-scathed). The chunks that broke off sounded like glass or stones when I dropped them on the floor. I used Windex wipes on the knobs, which when I re-install I do so with a clean towel on my hand so as not to re-smudge them,
The only thing I don't like is the clear-coat issues on the woodgrain top, but I'm thinking about auto protectant to work that over.
I painted the porcelain chips, and it looks even better now. Just got to get over the 'before' shots in my mind. I've seen similarly dirty washers, in fact my 1977 Penta-Swirl machine was at least as bad, but it had been 18 years since it was used so it seemed less related to other people's "gross-ness" after all that time.
I think it safe to say that I appreciate this machine more than anyone else who would have bought it. It was offered on Craigslist more than a week before I got it, so I guess it was meant to be?
G
