Decoding a Whirlpool model and serial number

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turquoisedude

turquoisedude

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I am trying not to get too worked up about this, but I found an ad in the Hartford, CT area craiglist that described a 'vintage whirlpool-seeger dishwasher for parts'.

This really got my attention, because I guess that is how the Whirlpool nameplates read before they allied with RCA (1959 IIRC).
Anyway, the seller posted the following: #W57 70000 and Serial #AV 9185. Would anyone here be able to 'decode' them??
I have sent off an email begging for more info and pictures if possible, to be sure!

That 'W57' would make me think maybe a 1957 model?? Any ideas as to what kind of machine this might be (one of the early impeller models or perhaps a first incarnation of the bakelite spray-arm models)??

I shall be checking emails often today... LOL
 
1957 WP DW

Paul I went down to the office and dusted off our old micro-card reader and looked up this model. It is a 1957 impeller style built in gravity drain and unfortunately it is just a D & M built machine. If it had a 10 at the end of the model # it would have had a drain pump, I think the real WPs came out the next year with the bakelite wash arm.
 
OMG! I would have never thought that a Whirlpool had a roto-rack design! Still, if D&M was making 'em...
I still haven't heard back from the seller... I will email again if there's no reply by Friday.
 
Update

The person listing the dishwasher got back to me today. I was scared because in an email they described having to cut a 'shell' in half to remove the dishwasher. I mistakenly imagined they meant the tub, but this is not the case!
I spoke briefly to the person and the machine had been installed and then floors and countertops seemed to be added after the fact. They described having to cut the frame of the machine - how bad could this be??
Otherwise, I am told that all parts are present.
Also the person listing this mentioned that they had to cut water drain pipes, which makes sense if this this indeed a gravity-drain model.
So, tentatively I am set to get this one (somehow!) but it will only be held for a week for me...
Wish me luck!!
 
Got it!!

So, I piled into the old Focus wagon on Saturday morning and headed down I-91 to Waterbury, CT (with a short stop in Springfield,MA but that's a story in itself!). I got the dishwasher and was back in Ogden by supper time.

turquoisedude++6-19-2011-22-13-32.jpg
 
Some assembly required...

OK, so the machine was not exactly, well, intact... The owner had said it had been taken apart for removal. He wasn't kidding!

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This is the worst of it - the cabinet was cut to get out from under the counter tops. I am still trying to stay optimistic and find a welder...

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Lower rack seems a bit rough. I also seem to be missing the silverware basket on this machine. Hmmm...new trend starting? Hope not!

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Door and motor access panel were pretty good; unfortunately, the door panel got scratched during removal. The motor is supposed to still be working but I didn't get a chance to test it.

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Inside the tub looks a bit rough... I think the rust stains on the motor came from leaks around the heating element mounting holes. They are going to need some work - but it's nothing some JB Weld and POR-15 won't fix!

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THIS doesn't look good...

I learned my lesson the hard way about never taking a timer apart... I hope that I'll be able to put this one back together! I think I will be able to - there doesn't seem to be too much to this one.

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But here's something that gives me hope - a schematic wiring diagram. It is pretty simple, so this should be do-able...

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And although the name plate says 'Whirlpool', it's definitely a D&M machine... I am going to need to find a repair-master, I guess...

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The road to restoration...

began northeast of Montreal for this machine. PhilR saw that I had a multi-piece cabinet and very generously offered to weld it for me! In exchange I got to go joy-riding in his 67 Buick Riviera... LOL
Seriously, the cabinet is solid once again. I might need to do some ajustments but by golly it looks like a dishwasher cabinet again!

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Phil ground down the weld 'beads' till they were nice and smooth - a little patching compound to even things out and a coat of paint and it'll be just like new!

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I don't know how, but I got it back together again! Look out Midwest Timer... LOL

I did test the timer and the contacts seem to work! I will try a further test with real power and the timer motor actually running to be sure, though. I can just imagine me getting a dishwasher to fill when it should be rinsing... LOL

turquoisedude++7-4-2011-19-30-56.jpg
 
Tub assessment

The layer of rust mostly all washed out! The tub sump is not bad - I will have to repair the motor mount and the heater element mount holes, though.

turquoisedude++7-4-2011-19-32-20.jpg
 
I have gotten into the habit of testing components individually and I delighted that the motor works and the drain release solenoid still work! Oddly enough the machine is missing the fill solenoid... Even more odd, the fill solenoid on the KitchenAid Electra portable is giving me attitiude. I must be cursed...
 

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