Ephemera: 1955 Kenmore Question

[frigilux]

Purchased the lovely instruction manual for the 1955 Kenmore Cycla-Fabric (which also included instructions for a semi-automatic model) and have a question for our resident Kenmore experts:

Although there is a Modern Fabrics cycle on this machine, there's no mention of slow speed agitation/spin. Was this a single-speed model? When did Kenmore introduce slower speeds for delicate/modern fabrics?

I noticed the very wide, back-opening lid, common in today's washers. Love the console styling with its oversized wash dial, as well.

Water temps in 1955: Hot (tap temp); Medium (120 degrees); Warm (100 degrees).

Bonus: There's a great in-manual blurb for Sears detergent: SOAPthetic With Kenicide! It is advertised as a "high speed detergent" with "constant rinseability." And it has Kenicide to kill those nasty germs. [this post was last edited: 1/28/2014-08:14]

 

[cycla-fabric]

It's a 2 Speed Machine

I believe when Kenmore introduced the Modern Fabric cycle(delicate cycle) to their washing machines it would indicated that this is a 2 speed machine. And the machine shown above is definitely close to/or if not top of the line in the Kenmore lineup for the time.

Doug

 

[combo52]

TOL 1955 Kenmore Washer

Yes it is a Two Speed Washer and I believe that this was the first top load AW to ever feature 2-speed washing, YAY and the race was on as all other washer manufactures scrambled to catch up.

John L.

 

[frigilux]

Thanks for the information, Doug and John! I didn't realize Whirlpool/Kenmore was the first brand to sport two speeds.

I'm surprised the manual didn't make a bigger deal of the two-speed agitation/spin, especially if it was a new feature.

There are hints; "safely but thoroughly cleans today's modern fabrics;" "gently rinses." But no mention made that slower speeds are why that cycle is safer for synthetic fabrics.  

 

I checked the '56 and '57 manuals (two more Emphemera treasures), both of which state the Modern Fabrics cycle features slower speeds.

 

[whirlaway]

I luv Mine

Thats the very machine I use almost every day. Its a good old machine and I have the matching High Speed Dryer,these were the top of the line for Sears in 55 also has a Suds saver

 

[mickeyd]

Interesting that Whirlpool let Kenmore have it first. Guessing WP came out with theirs shortly thereafter.

 

I'm sure you do love it, Bobby. I would, too. Do you use the "Suds" ?

 

[Unimatic1140]

I could be wrong but I suspect that the 1955 Model might have only been one speed as they introduced their "short" cycle which was called "Modern Fabrics". Then the next year in '56 they introduced the two speed motor, and delicate speed was used on the "Modern Fabrics" cycle.

It seems very strange that they wouldn't have mentioned the speed difference, Kenmore's manuals were very thorough.

 

[whirlaway]

Never used it!

Ive never used the suds saver or the modernfabric cycle,it is very short,I just went and looked its 4min.Ill try it and see what happens tonight.We are in the process of having a snow storm nowI just hope I dont lose electricity.

 

[mickeyd]

If the juice stays on, hope to see about the two speeds. Really curious now. This is exciting.

 

[combo52]

Not Mentioning A Two Speed Motor

Robert that would have been my thought also, but I guess that the idea of having a 2SP motor was so new to washing machine ad writers that they were more concerned about advertising this great new ability of the washer but were not concerned about the technical details.

I can assure everyone that every one of these 1955 TOL KMs that had a separate cycle labeled Mod Fabrics had a two speed motor, check the parts list if you don't believe it.

John L.

 

[mickeyd]

"Oh ye of little faith." When will we ever learn not to doubt, great fun though it may be.

 

[whirlaway]

I ran the Cycle!

The more I thought about it,I went downstairs and ran the cycle.This machine does not have a cold water wash,but in this cycle it fills with cold water and washes with cold water,its only a 4min wash cycle,drains rinses and fills for another full rinse with cold water,then drains short spin cycle.The temp for normal wash the upper left knob reads warm,med,hot,and its in differnt colors.For normal wash I always use hot.But in normal it always rinses in cold also.The agitation actually seems like a shorter stroke in the modern fabric cycle. I have the matching High speed dryer next to it,they both have Packard motors in them.I replaced the start capacitor in the washer,when it was bad it would sometimes start backwards,and it wasnt the Jack Daniels,it really did.I would also have to hand start the tub to spin.Since it was replaced she takes off like a rocket.The big dial its frog-eye this modern fabric feature is on the bottom and it lights up Green,while the rest of the dial features light almost gold,it has a ultra-violet bulb and tub light just like the dryer.So far my clothes have not had a cold this year.Thanks Anymore questions Please Ask,,Bobby

 

[ken]

Did Kenmore/WP washers of this time have a solid or perforated tub?

Bobby: Any chane you could post a couple pics of your washer & dryer?

I know Im off by one year but I was looking at the washers/dryers in the 1956 Sears Spring & Summer catalog last night. The one pictured here was the middle of the line and even though the description states a "Modern Fabric" selection on the dial it doesnt mention a gentle agitation. The description for the TOL "Cycla-Fabric" washer states a "gentle agitation" for modern fabrics. It even makes mention of "other" brand washers only having "reduced time" agitation for modern fabrics.

Also, the dryers had 5 temp settings! IIRC: High, Med, Low, Warm, No Heat. Pretty advanced for the time.

 

[kenmore71]

WP/Kenmore washers have ALWAYS had a perforated tub back to the very beginning (1947 I think?).  A solid tub machine never came out of a WP factory.

 

In terms of heat settings on the dryer it may seem extravagant, but most dryers of this period used hydraulic thermostats so having a control on the console with a multitude of heat settings added very little to the expense of production.

 

[cornutt]

How did the washer do the hot/medium/warm thing? Did it have two valve bodies for the cold water?

 

[combo52]

Early 50s Kenmore Washers

Hi Bobby, your KM washer has the same stroke on both the regular and Mod Fabric cycle, it should just be 50% slower on Mod Fabrics. Your washer would have had only warm rinses and all warm water on the MF cycle originally, but I suspect that a modern non-thermostatic inlet has been substituted for the orignal [ either that or your valve is very broken ] this is actually a good thing to do to these older machines so you can not only have the option of a cold wash but you also always get the much more desirable cold rinses all the time.

As Mark stated Whirlpool always built only perforated basket washers, Whirlpool built washers right from the start, and one thing is for certain, WP had very few consumers that were ever unhappy with their KM and WP washers and dryers when it came to great performace, this is part of the reason that WP is the most successful builder of washers and dryers ever including today. They are building what American consumers want.

David, most early automatic washers did not have a cold water option at all, so they had an inlet valve with two solenoids like later washer valves, only one coil gave you warm water [ often thermostatically controlled to 100F ] the other coil gave straight hot [ not thermostatically controlled ] and turning on both coils gave you 50% 100F water and 50% straight hot water, this is how you got a medium wash water temperature.

 

[whirlaway]

Water Temp

I use only hot for washing,the temp control works good on all three temps on the wash cycle,but the rinse only uses cold is it not supposed to do this? Sometime time I know you are a busy man I would Luv to pay you to redo this machine,I really like it and I do have a 51 Whirlpool I can use,while it could be in the hospital.Yall have a good day!!!!