Finally my Dream Machine - KDS15 - Merry Christmas to me!!

[chachp]

Well, after all these years of hunting and hoping one would come along close to me. It finally happened.

I was checking out some Craigslist ads and this popped up in Texas about 3 hours away. That's the closest to me I have seen. I wrote to them to tell them I was interested but would need to look into shipping. I asked if they would be willing to work with me on getting it shipped out.

Well to my surprise they went one step better. They offered to deliver it to me for much less than freight. And here it is. One day later and it's in my utility room. It had been owned by their mother who had it installed it in '66. It came with all the original paperwork and receipts. They were so thrilled it was going to a collector instead of the dump.

It's in great shape on the outside as you can see in the pics. On the inside, the porcelain looks good. There is a little rust around the heater connection but I looked underneath and see no signs of leakage. The installer hacked up the Water inlet valve taking it out. They said the hose was crumbling. Not sure what that was about.

They said the issue was the "spinner" wouldn't go sometimes and that was really the only problem. It looks to me like the Wash Arm Support needs to be replaced.

The racks are in rough shape so while usable I would like to find a nicer set.

I will take more pictures as I get into it and I am certain I will need help as this is a new configuration for me. I have downloaded Service Manual and I am beginning to look through that.

So if anyone has any of the following for sale I would appreciate hearing about it:

1. Water Inlet Valve (I think I need this replaced but may only need the fill line rubber hose that connects to the inlet valve). I suspect I could use any aftermarket one but I 'd like to get one that fits better if possible. The one I have is the dual chamber and it appears only one side was connected. Can I just connect it to the other side and try it out. They just snipped the wires and removed it for some reason although they handed me the pieces. LOL
2. Wash Arm Support
3. Better Racks

 

[chachp]

Full frontal:

..and it's stainless. The panels are in great shape and so is the time knob.

 

[chachp]

Wash Arm Support

Not the best picture. I'll see if I can get a better picture.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

A great Christmas DW!

I spent many Christmases in my Grandma's kitchen doing dishes in one of these.  They are WONDERFUL DWs.  Enjoy and Happy Holidays.

WK78

 

[danemodsandy]

Good Night Nurse!

I hope to Hell you appreciate the condition of that control panel, because it is phenomenal. Even your cycle buttons look great, with the wording still legible.

I'm jealous, LOL. I have a KDS-55 (same machine in a portable/convertible model), but it has the later, Ye Olde Fayke Woode Graine control panel. Your panel is the Antique Gold panel; these seem to have all changed color a little bit so that they are now pink. Still nicer than the later panel!

Congratulations, and keep us posted on your adventures.

 

[ovrphil]

That control panel, which looks suspiciously pink now, IS in amazing condition...will enjoy seeing more of it. Nice present to yourself! This is just a reminder to all who are looking - to keep looking and don't discount surprises.

 

[frigilux]

It looks like it was driven only to church on Sundays. There are plenty of people with KitchenAid experience here who will be of great help. Congratulations on getting your dream machine/hurricane in a box!

 

[toploader55]

Congrats

Great Machine.

And really like the Pink Control Panel. That's in beautiful shape.

I have one with the "Ye Olde Fayke" woodgrain. But none the less, It's just such a piece of Dishwasher history.

I had sump issues as well, but can be fixed. It seems most of these machines with that kind of age has the same sump rust.

The pic is of my machine first day home before cleaning and detailing.

 

[stevet]

I got it, Ralph

Ralph, great find for sure. I have plenty of dual fill valves. Email me your details and I will post one out to you.

BTW, that is one of the earlier machines. The wood tone panels came out later on like 1967 which is when we got ours. The rust spots at the heater connections were most common. But I am sure you will find a suitable fix.

Wait 'til you hear the hurricane sounds that machine makes!

Some dynamat to cover the tanks and some insulation and you will be set.
See if you can't also find the stainless trim for the edge of the tank to dress it up more.

Is the wash arm screwed together like the originals were?

 

[chachp]

Thank you all!

I know how fortunate I am to have found a machine that is in such good condition cosmetically and I will certainly keep it that way. I agreed to buy the machine from blurry photos so when it showed up I was very surprised over the condition. Those buttons look like they only used the Full Cycle and only on special occasions. The owner's son told me she had been a widow for 34 years so living alone it wasn't used all that often.

He said his father was a plumbing contractor and only put the best in this house they built in '55. He said they sold a Thermador Stainless wall oven to someone in Austin. I don't know if it was someone from here or not. He said the door was loose or needed a new hinge or something like that. I don't know if that sounds familiar to anyone. i don't know if they sold it through eBay or Craigslist. His wife told me someone from Indiana was interested in the dishwasher but the shipping would have been around $500 which was way too much. The packet of docs for the dishwasher included literature for a Waste King Universal dishwasher and I am wondering if maybe that was original to the house and then replaced in '66 with the KA. Sounded like a real nice house. These were good people and did a lot to restore my faith in Craigslist sellers.

Yes, the wash arm is the one with the screws.

I'll post photos as I go through this journey.

Thanks Steve. I'll send you an email.