Bolt-Down Kenmore Washer in Dallas

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Unimatic1140

Unimatic1140

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From owner:

Hello,
I have an old Kenmore washing machine that has been in my garage for as long as I have lived in this house (15 years) that the previous owners left here. I don't really know how old it is, and I was trying to find out information about it when I ran across your website. I'm guessing it's from the 1950s. The model number is 83511.

I would be happy to give this to anyone who would like to come pick it up. I live in Dallas, TX. Do you know anyone who might be interested in it? It appears, according to your site, that there are collectors out there who might want it.

I have attached a few pictures. I don't know if it works, or not. It's not perfect, but it is free to a good home. (Otherwise, my husband is threatening to put it on the curb for big trash pick up -- SOON).

Linda Pauze'



Unimatic1140++12-29-2009-08-34-9.jpg
 
Affordable shipping contact:

Wow, just when I thought I'd seen just about every vintage washer that was produced. Very cool.
 
Great news Roger! I always love when old gems like these get saved. It pains me when these get hauled off to the crusher!

Gordon, do you know much about these machines? Is the mechanism the same as later belt-drives?
 
Belt Drive

This machine looks like it can be the famous "wig-wag" belt drive machine. The agitator seen is made to fit that. But wow, a bolt down! I wonder if it has a pump, or is it gravity drain?
 
Jed -

I know very little about these and have never seen one in person that I remember. I do know that the design provided the ancestry to the later belt-drives, and I believe the transmission is very similar if not nearly identical, as is the basket drive (spin) components, wig-wag, etc. Some of the components were carried over intact to the later machines including the agitator, basket, etc. The general "gist" of what I have learned about these machines is that mechanically, the changes made were basically evolutionary changes that came about as the basic design matured.

I think the biggest change from the bolt-downs to the first machines with the suspension was the use of the baseplate and cabinet suspension system itself. The old operating mechanicals more or less came along for the ride and were implemented into the new design.

The pumps in the early cabinet suspended machines were different and didn't operate during agitation, and I believe the same was true with these, but cannot not say that I know that for sure.

Thanks for thinking of me Jed!

Gordon
 
Bakelite

I love the Bakelite Straight-vane agitator. Lots of surface area to power-surge the water around.

Sweet!
 
Ross in Tucson...

has one of these. His is absolutely beautiful. I got to see it do quite a bit while at his home in Tucson for the wash-in. Although I've never seen underneath I can tell you that the functions are all exactly the same just minus the suspension system. The water inlet is just under the ballast so there is a nice strong stream of water during the fills and spray rinses.

Agitation in these is very brisk. I'd say that could be where transmissions got changed eventually. I don't recall Kenmores agitating that fast.

I've attached a link to a composite video or the wash-in a couple of years back. At 0:23 is a video of the bolt-down Kenmore washing.

Jon

 
Hi Jon. Thank you for remembering the good times here in Tucson at our wash ins. I sure hope to have more in the future.
My best wishes to you both for a Happy New Year.

Ross
 
Imagine....

Imagine if the monkeys that deliver machines for Sears today had to install a bolt down machine.

What a mess. Bet the scratch and dent warehouse would be overflowing with these babies.

Malcolm
 
Ross

I have seen some Inglis's and Kenmores at a later date agitating close to that speed, and I've also seen others of that make agitate slower, like about the pace of a Maytag or Speed Queen (approx 60 per minute). I think the WP BD system was built to agitate briskly, and they do at first, but as time goes on, they tend to get slower with age. My family's Inglis agitated approximately that fast, and it was from the 60's. At new, the WP BD agitation speed is comparable to an Electrolux/WCI/Kelvinator index-drive top loader, and a solid-tub filter-flo GE (approx 70 per minute). Perhaps the really old WP washers had a stronger motor than those of the later years, and were able to keep the pace longer.

Gary
 
Just returned home with the Kenmore.

Would like to thank Linda & her husband David & Robert for making this possible.

Words cannot describe how wonderful these people are .

I`ve never seen a machine like this in my life.

If anyone is interested I`ll be more then happy to post pictures tomorrow of the mechanical .

Right now I`m tired , Its ben a great day :)
 
Roger

Please post as many pictures as you can!

Congratulations for your new machine, I'm glad you got it and I'm sure you'll make it last for many years.

It's very nice when we find people like Mr and Mrs. Pauze. Unfortunately in this world it's becomming very difficult to find people like them.

If there's something I can do to help your restoration, please let me know. It will be my pleasure to help you, the same way some people here are doing "the possible and the impossible" to help me with the unimatic.

By the way, I'm almost sure that straight vane agitator still available here, not bakelite, but original from Brastemp/Whirlpool.
 
Jed & Thomas , Thanks for the Kind Remarks & offering to guide me through restoration.

I`m going to need another day or two to get the pictures posted .

Hopefully the mechanical pictures will answer questions.

I prefer all original condition machine`s so, the only plans I have are to do a light cleaning & save this for display only .

Linda & David told me they believe this machine was retired sometime around 1970 .
 
Weighs a Ton

My friend Jeanne sold one to a collector from California that was in her parent's house. They moved in the house in 1957 and the girls were ordered by their father never to use the machine because it wasted water. In 1962 he caught his daughter using it and cut off the hoses. They sold the house in 2005 after her father died. Dick from Palm Springs has it now.
 

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