Belt drive Whirlpools/Kenmores

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spats

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I am in search of the harvest gold Kenmore pair my parents had. Now I don't even know what year they would be. I thought 1980, as this was the pair they got when they got married in early 1981. I know the control layout had cursive writing and the washer had sud saver.
But at this point I am really looking for a belt drive Kenmore washer and matching dryer pair, any color/features from a 1980 vintage. I miss that "woo woo woo woo" sound they made while washing, hehe.
I guess one question is what models am I thinking of for that time period?

Today I was out with Trainguy and had something interesting come up. I was looking into four 1980/81 Kenmores. Well, as it turns out (at least this is what I was told) they were direct drive. They were apartment sized machines. This just has me very confused now, as I thought for sure they would have been belt drive. The back panels on them were all one piece like that of the direct drive.
So another question is, did they make both types at the same time? And when did they do away with the belt drive?
 
Direct-drive and belt-drive were on the market concurrently. Sears introduced direct-drive first (usual new product test scenario). I wasn't following Kenmore closely at the time, had no idea. Then Whirlpool followed in 1983/1984, I think it was. IIRC, Whirlpool's initial Design2000 was model LB5500. I remember when they were introduced when I worked summers for the Whirlpool dealer. Belt-drives were being sold at the same time. After several months, or a year or whatever was the time period, the Houston distribution office wanted names and addresses of customers who had bought them, I assume to follow-up on customer satisfaction.
 
I remember when it happened....

Around 1985 our previous Kenmore leaked badly and it was time for a new one. I went with my mother to Sears in Monroeville. We had a saleslady who was very informative. My mother really like the Kenmore "Limited Edition" set and I wanted her to get it but she said "Your father would probably let me have it but it would worry him because it's expensive" (about $1500 at the time for both washer and dryer). It was probably called the limited edition because it was the last of the belt-driven models. I saw one of the lower priced narrow models and the saleslady stated that "this one has a polypropylene tub and the Limited Edition has a steel tub"(referring to the outer tub). She said "Sears is really excited about the Limited Edition" probably not sure if it would be last of Kenmore as the world knew it. It was a beautiful machine and I wish she had bought it. We ended up getting the 80 series which we had up to 2000, replaced with the Neptunes because a leak and was extremely noisy. One way I know it was 1985 is the songs on the radio "Don't you forget about me" and "Glory days" (though it sounds like the glory days for Kenmore would soon be over). It seems that the lower priced models were first to be switched over to direct drive. Direct drive models were/are made in a plant up the PA and Ohio turnpikes in Clyde, Ohio. I believe the BD models were made in Michigan, and that production was gradually shifted over to Clyde. One thing I have found is that Whirlpool and Sears have done their best to make the cabinet look the same as the BD machines, I guess hoping that some people won't notice the difference.

Here's another song from 1985 that was playing and what a coincidence, the rhythm and bass line are just like a Belt Drive Kenmore!

 
I remember going to the Sears in Valley Stream, on Long Island in October 1985. It was a Saturday night at 9:00. I remember the time because The Golden Girls was showing on the new TV sets across from where the washers and dryers were. This was the last time I would see BD Kenmores for sale. People were very interested in the Limited Edition set. Who could blame them? The floor models were black, and they had the electronic touch controls. I was in my glory as I looked over every model, outside and in. The only thing that would have been better, (and any Long Island members may attest to this) was if I had gone to the Sears in Hicksville. They hooked their machines up, and occasionally ran them.

I wished we were in the market for one at the time, but our Maytag had another 13+ years to go.

I went back to the same Sears in Jan/Feb of 1987, and saw the DDs for the first time. They were narrower then the BDs, so at first I thought these were the 24" apartment size machines. I immediately asked the sales lady where the "full sized" washers were. Her reply: "These are the full sized washers." My heart dropped a couple of inches. Yes these were nice machines, but they were not the beauties that Belt Drives were. I still wish that Whirlpool would go back to manufacturing the BDs. Of course I wish I could get YOUNGER too!

Good Luck,
James
 
Thanks everyone :)

Well, that explains that. Well, now I know what to look for. I can't wait to get a matched pair.

Like I told Jason L, I so miss that "woo woo woo woo" sound they made while washing, and the sound as it engaged into spin and it spinning up, hehe :)

For now I'm like set on getting a late 70s/early 80s era before I get into the older Kenmores. We'll see where this takes me.
 
1983, 1984, 1985, 1986

It was somewhere in those years!

I cannot recall now exactly when my grandmother got her Design 2000, but I think it was 1986, and Whirlpool had already been selling direct-drive for at least a year. She needed to replace the Kenmore 70, so I took her to the local Whirlpool dealer (which is NOT where I had worked, not in the same town). I wanted a direct-drive machine, and the fellow got snippy. "We don't sell those! Not gonna mess with 'em!" I told him to kiss-off and we went to the dealer where I had worked, in the next town over.
 
I was bummed.

I remember opening the lid of a new DD sears machine and saying to myself, "The classics are gone. I'll never get to see the old Kenmores again."
 
I find that some popular songs have a beat of a Belt Drive Kenmore but there is no pleasant rhythm to a Direct Drive. I guess DD is just not from a musical family!
 
I measured the classic Kenmore rhythm at about 125bpm.

That's

"On Broadway" by George Benson (live cut. The handclaps sound almost like water splashin)
"The Reflex" by Duran Duran
"Slip Away" by Clarence Carter
"All Right Now" by Free

to name a few.
 
Here's an excuse to put someone I like on....

The Belt driven Kenmore also made a sound that was more resonant, probably becuase of the thick metal cabinet and large amount of space inside. Sometimes a song will have a dramatic background that sounds like the pumping during the neutral drain (although I may be all wet about that). Here's another song that has kind of a belt drive underlying rhythm that I really like and has a message to not give up on our collections. And Josh is handsome!

 
I have two belt driven Kenmores. 1950 bolt down and 1959.
They are great machines. After an ititial going over by my mechanic and timer rebuilds, they work great. The are reliable and dependable.

Ross
 
Ross, aren't you just taken with Josh? Also, I just emailed Whirlpool about Drying Centers. Could you imagine if they had Drying Centers in the 50's? Maytag would have made a mint!
 
Hi Bob. It would be interesting to see what Whirlpool does with the drying centers. I am currently intrigued with the Whirltag washers and would love to see one in action.

Ross
 

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