Early Kenmore Portables

[jons1077]

I live in a fairly large condo building that was built in 1979. All of the units had Kenmore Belt-drive portable washers and maching portable dryers. Obviously with age I am starting to see more of these machines being tossed and I hate to see that happen of course.

Generally, the washers are your basic two-speed models. Delicate, PP, Heavy Duty, and soak cycles. The one I saw last had three temps, no water level option, a waterfall lint filter on the basket ring, and the brown three-vane agitator.
The dryer is of course basic as well with just a timed dry cycle and the option of heat or air.

If anyone is interested in possibly collecting machines like these are live in the Washington DC metro area please let me know so I can snag the next ones that come along so you can add them to your collection. I really hate to see these great machines go to the garbage!!!

 

[launderess]

Have a vintage Whirlpool portable dryer, in Harvest Gold if you please of the same era. Do not need another dryer, but would love some parts, in particular the casters if it is not too much trouble. The Kenmore models are rebadged Whirlpools so parts should fit fine.

TIA

L.

 

[panthera]

Jonathan,

That is so cool. Bummer I am nowhere close to you. Hmm, I'd pay shipping for the casters from a washer plus something for your time out to us in the wild, wild, west.
Drop me an email?
Thanks
Keven

 

[jons1077]

parts

The washer/dryer pairs were stacked. The dryers are bolted to the brown racks and washers underneath. The washers have plastic folding lids that open to the side. I haven't seen any castors yet, but if any do have them I will do my best to get them. Otherwise I'll sit and wait till I see more come up in the loading dock. Thanks guys!

 

[panthera]

Thank you!

It's sharp eyes like yours which save these wonderful old units. If you could get a digital shot of them, that would be cool.

 

[bpetersxx]

I wonder if there similar to this

 

[jons1077]

Yes, I believe those are the same machines. The ones here are almond colored and are probably from 1978/79. I really wish I could keep one. "Please Mom??? Can I???" At least if I find one and someone on here thinks they can save it, then I can play with it till they pick it up right?

 

[mixfinder]

See it Wash

Are these the same machines that are featured in the Yotube clip? I like the slower longer stroke than my newer DD machine has.
Kelly

 

[jons1077]

Yes, the ones I'm talking about are the older belt-drive machines. When I moved into my condo I had the old dryer, but unfortunately a DD washer from the 1990's. I ditched them and got frontloaders, but had it been the original machines I'd probably still have them.

 

[mcmodern]

Ah, yes, I remember these . . .

. . . but mine were Whirlpools. I had the washer and dryer in the last condo I owned before buying my house. The washer had the folding lid (as the dryer was mounted on a stand above) but didn't have a water level selector. I remember the dryer, at 110v, was very slow to dry, but the washer, even though as small capacity, worked very well.

The other appliances in the house were also Whirlpool, and they lasted at least 10 years and may have been 10 years old when I bought the place! My consolation prize was the Frigidarire 1-18 that the owner of my new house left behind. That was in 1996, and it's still thumpin'.

Kelly

 

[jamiel]

I had gotten one of these in 1990 or so which had a date tag on the back of 1972...it had been passed along to multiple college students..can't even remember how I got it but moved it 3x and finally sold it for $25 or so. Coppertone with a waterfall filter.

 

[bpetersxx]

another youtube video

I`ll have to make new ones as these are poor quality not to proper standards

 

[jons1077]

bpetersxxx...Love the videos!!! Those really are great machines! Kinda wish I had one of those instead of my HE4t now. I'll keep my eyes peeled for new videos from you cause that's really fun to watch. Thanks!

 

[westytoploader]

Those portable Kenmores are very cool machines, and spin quite fast as well...next time you see a washer on the curb, you should definitely grab it! Plenty of room in an apartment for one of those; store it in a spare room or closet if need be ;-)

 

[panthera]

Peter

Thanks! I enjoyed them. These portables showed what Whirlpool could do when they put their minds to it.

 

[tolivac]

Yes,enjoyed the video clip-just like what I used to have-I did modify and put a DA agitator in the machine-worked quite well.Put the original straight vane agitator like what was shown in the video clip when I sold and moved from that townhouse-the machine was working just fine when I left-hope the new homeowner kept that classic machine!You don't see these in the area I am in now-Townhomes here are designed to have full sized machines.