Fun new toy!

[hobarthero]

I took a little trip and picked up this beautiful KDI-14 from 1959-1960 ish based on the details from the homeowner. Looks like it was used very little based on its excellent condition. Racks and wheels are perfect. Very minimal light scratches in the wash tub. No rust that I can see anywhere and the hoses and seals are in good condition with no dry rot or cracking. Owner said it was in perfect working order and they used it the day prior to its removal this past month. This appears to be a gravity drain model. I’ve been trying to clear out some stuff but I couldn’t pass this one up. Excited to get it all cleaned up!

 

[repairguy]

Congrats Shannon!

 

[gelaundry4ever]

loads

I think you should run loads of dirty dishes in it.

 

[christfr]

very nice

 

[combo52]

KitchenAid KDI 14

Hi Shannon, looks like it’s in great condition. These were fun dishwashers and I love the gravity drain ones. It was one of the only dishwasher designs that couldn’t possibly overflow even if the inlet valve stuck open. The water just ran down the drain as fast as it came in.

This is probably a little newer. It’s probably a 61 to 64 model. There will be dates on the back of the motor or the inlet valve as well as other parts.

This was the middle of the line model, I hope you get a chance to hook it up and run it. It’s a pretty effective dishwasher and a very quick cycle this and the top of the line model were the first KitchenAid dishwashers have a real detergent to dispenser.

This would make a fun Auxiliary dishwasher for your kitchen for those quick small loads that you want to get done quickly.

John

 

[peteski50]

KitchenAid

This is a great catch best of luck with it
Peter

 

[kalanikaau1]

Hobart

We replaced the original GE pull-out tub dishwasher in our home with a KitchenAid machine similar to this in the mid '60's or so.

As it was manufactured by Hobart, it was very robust in it's construction and gave us many years of reliable service.

My Dad worked as a "handyman" of sorts for Pan American Airways back then and insisted on a Hobart machine, based on his experiences with the brand in PAA's flight kitchen here in HNL.

If there's anything I remember helping him installing the dishwasher is that it was heavy!

Congrats on your find!

 

[appnut]

Congratulations Shannon. Very happy for you!!!

The house on our side of the street on the corner had the KDS14. Between being nearsighted and only about age 8 or 9, I couldn't see much difference between the KA and our Waste King. To me the racks looked very similar, had a big wash arm, and both had 3 cycle buttons lol. The family also had a Norge Combo washer/dryer.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Have Fun With Your KDI 14

This is a fun dishwasher and I loved getting and using my KDS14, but when Consumer Reports tested dishwashers in the early 60s, the 14 series KitchenAid was grouped into the dishwashers that would need more prior preparation before loading to get good results. It will probably do better with the detergents formulated for lower temperature dishwasher cycles, especially if you can reset the timer to repeat the wash period without losing the wash water down the gravity drain. I fiddle with the timer when using my KD2P to get longer washing periods.

I don't know if your Imperial has a rinse agent dispenser, but my Superba has one and it creates a neat effect when it trips in the third rinse and instantly muffles the water action. The detergent dispenser is not as effective. It leaked water past the lower door plate and washed out the detergent during the prewash. I had to fashion gaskets for it to prevent the powerful sprays from the ends of the wash arm from squirting up into it. The six moving walls of water from the Big Blue Wash Arm that Hobart advertised were very effective in washing the racks of my Farberware Open Hearth Broilers, much more so than the 4 Way Hydrosweep on my 18s.

 

[hobarthero]

Rinse Aid Dispenser

If anyone has a part number for the rinse aid dispenser, I will scour the Internet and see if I can find one for it to install.
Thanks,
Shannon

 

[combo52]

I would have good used ones if you would like one.

It should not be hard to get a part number if you want to search

John

 

[hobarthero]

John

A nice used one is fine with me. Just send me a price and I’ll make it happen.
Thanks,
Shannon

 

[combo52]

No problem I’ll be in the shop at some point this weekend and look for one.

John

 

[bpetersxx]

Have to ask

The green button on the control panel starts it?

Does the timer advance 1-2 clicks to start

 

[appnut]

No, the timer does not do any incrment advance when the start buttoon is pushed. It's instant action on. Now, when the dishwasher completes a cycle, the timer does stop. However, when the dishwasher is "unlocked" with the handle lifted, the timer is activated to advance an increment or two to set it up to begin a new cycle all over again.

 

[bajaespuma]

Aferim!

Beautiful machine and great job of cleaning it up; some parts look new.

 

I think these Hobart KA's were the first dishwashers I was ever aware of. Suburban cousins all seemed to have one (some with more cycle selections) before we moved from an apartment to a house.

 

Were there any problems associated with gravity drains? There was an existing DW drain pipe in my basement under where the original dishwasher was installed that I told the plumber to use but he chose, at my expense, to install one of those kitchen sink drains because of GD local code. Wasn't happy about it but decided to avoid that battle.

 

[bpetersxx]

reply 14
Thanks Bob

 

[combo52]

Good used rinse agent dispenser for the KDI 14 dishwasher

Hi Shannon, I found a good rinse agent dispenser and tested it this afternoon, you can send me an email or better yet. Use the message system on this site to send me an address and I’ll send it out to you in the next two days.

I believe when you take the upper door panel off, there will be some terminals on the lower left side inside the door panel and you’ll have to run to wires from the ones marked RD to the two terminals on the rinse dispenser that I’m sending. It’s pretty obvious how to hook it up.

John