Ahhhh... there's nothing like the soothing sound of a "belt drive"...

[revvinkevin]

Whoo hoo! I now have a belt drive Kenmore and I am SO jazzed! OMG, it's been SOOOO long that I'd practically forgotten what they sounded like! Actually that's not true, if it were not for my friend Mike and his 1967 turquoise Lady K set, I really would have completely forgotten what they sound like!

Thanks to Gordon (Kenmoreguy64), I know my washer was built the 39th week of 1980!

Mechanically it seems to be pretty solid... I did 3 loads in it yesterday, less then a day after bringing it home. But obviously as you can see in the photos, the top is pretty rusty. I will try to clean it up, de-rust (is that a word?) it and apply some paint as a "band-aid", but I am looking to replace the top.

So, I am officially putting the word out here... if you know of any BD Kenmores from the late 70's / early 80's being parted out, WITH >or< WITHOUT the bleach dispenser, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!! [email protected]

I also brought home the KM Elite "Catalyst" washer to the right of this one (in almond or beige or whatever color that is) but I will start another thread in the "Deluxe" forum about it.

 

[revvinkevin]

Close up of the controls...

 

[revvinkevin]

And the interior... WITH both bleach AND fabric softener dispensers!

The rust did not scare me initially, still doesn't, but I just with it were in better condition though......

 

[scott55405]

Very nice Kevin. I didn't realize they were still using those agitators that late in the game, I had thought they were all the spiral type by then. Is this washer's top acrylic or porcelain? I'm thinking you'll be able to work out the top if you keep your eyes and ears open. Enjoy!

 

[tuthill]

Interesting how they only have drain holes on one half of the tub. Nice machine

 

[revvinkevin]

Scott, to answer your question, I'm pretty sure the top is NOT porcelain. IF you happen to hear of any, again, With or W/O a bleach dispenser, please let me know! Thank you to all for keeping me in mind for this!!! Umm... maybe I should offer a reward? ;-)

Jed, here is a better shot showing the bottom of the tub.

And... thank you!
Kevin

 

[appnut]

Kevin, this is pretty much the exact same 70 series washer we had for our lake house, but it was bought in 1976 and had a hot/warm instead of hot/cold and didn't say energy saver on top of the temp & level knobs.

 

[toggleswitch2]

NICE!

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Kevin, Jed, Scott....

That exact tub design lasted in production as late as mid-1981. A slightly smaller tub, with only two rows of perfs on the bottom was phased into production during early 1981. Once the newer style tub was introduced, the Penta-Swirl agitator was shelved. Penta-Vanes continued to be offered in 60-series machines and below.

The top is most definitely not porcelain, and is claimed in the catalogs to be baked enamel, though they were acrylic in years past. In 1983 the baked enamel was replaced by polyester powder coating, which is much better but not as good as porcelain.

If anyone has a non-bleach dispenser porcelain top, please let me know as I have one with a dispenser hole on a non-bleach machine that was rusted like Kevin's. I'll gladly send him mine with the dispenser provision if I can get a non-bleach replacement.

 

[autowasherfreak]

This may sound strange...

I would love to have a recording of either a Whirlpool or Kemore going through a complete (longest possible) cycle that I could play when I'm trying to fall asleep at night, I find it so relaxing, and it brings back such happy memories.

 

[revvinkevin]

Yes Jim, you are right!

This does sound strange!

(ducks & runs)

LOL

 

[goatfarmer]

I have one I'm going to part. It's a suds saver model, and it leaks. Let me check the top.

kennyGF

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Kenny -

If it has a decent outer tub, could you save it for me if you're not going to use it yourself? I've had a few tubs come out recently with cracked edges at the donut seal. A good one would be awesome to have.

Gordon

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Jim -

It doesn't sound strange. I do all my laundry in BD machines, and a big part of the fun there is listening to them. It is relaxing for sure. I'm not sure I'd record it, but to each his own!

My laundry room is right off my kitchen. When I cook, I always have either the TV or the stereo on, unless I do laundry, then I just listen to the washer.

 

[autowasherfreak]

Unfortunately my washer and dryer are in the basement. The washer is so quiet except when it's spinning. When I lived with my mom our Whirlpool BD was in the kitchen. A lot of times when I would do laundry I would stay in the kitchen, read a magazine, and listen to the washer and dryer.

I have problems falling asleep unless I listen to a cd or the radio. I have a nature sound cd that I like to fall asleep to.

 

[vintagekenmore]

That is exactly like the Kenmore I had when I was living in my rental house, except mine had the DA agitator, alas, when the landlady sold the house, I had to sell that and the matching gas dryer as the complex I moved to doesnt have hookups. They last forever, my sister bought hers brand new in 80 or 81 when she moved to California and it finally bit the big one about 3 years ago. They just dont build em like that anymore.

 

[toggleswitch2]

Has anyone here listened to a machine and has known it was about to break down?

This is especially troublesome to others in my family when they hear no difference in the sounds....

I have also been known to lay my hand on a machine and have it start working again. LOL When family freaks out and asks HOW I did it, I simply say, I whispered in its ear, "You had better put out and start working or I'm gonna kick your @$$ to the curb. Shuts them right up. LOL

My pyschic teachers says I'm not of this planet and basically electrical. Who am I to argue? LOL

Hello hello, shady pines asylum?

 

[revvinkevin]

Kenny GF

I sent you an e-mail a couple hours ago.....

Kevin

 

[70series]

No it is not strange to listen to those sounds and become mesmerized. I have not done it lately, but for the first year after I found this site, I could not log off at night without watching and listening to the 1964 Turquoise Kenmore featured in See It Wash. I think I will go do that now.

Have a good one,
James

 

[DADoES]

I recorded several cycles our 1962 belt-drive Whirly, fell asleep to it many times. Did the KDI-17a, too. An odd thing to do anywhere EXCEPT amongst this group.

I was maybe 10 years old at the time. Thirteen for the KA. ;-)