Give it up for the Deluxes! KitchenAid style

[swestoyz]

This must be a KitchenAid month - good grief! Cory gave the heads up that a portable KA was behind our favorite appliance store on Friday afternoon. I stopped by Saturday to check it out and couldn't believe my eyes - this thing was mint!

Two of the best things about this machine are that it is a BOL KitchenAid, and two, it has a steel top! Can't remember the last time I have ever seen a 15-17 series portable with a steel top instead of the butcher block. Not a huge find, but certainly will be fun to play with once the house is done. Love the lack of features to confuse the new owner. Simply push the timer in and bam you are cleaning some dishes.

Also love the era when the BOL machines were considered Deluxe. And built just as good as their TOL machines. That would be difficult today since most dishwashers are made of plastic on the lower end, and expensive SS on the TOL models. Heck, the Deluxe even has real Chrome!

BTW, if the surroundings of the KA look to be a disaster, it is because they are! The KA is currently in my future shop area, and is starting a second row where neither rows are needed. I have an addiction - I need help! This little one was in WAAAAY too nice of shape to see it go to the crusher.

 

[swestoyz]

Ooooo, minty racks. And a CLEAN tub too! Notice the lack of adjustment for the height of the top rack. What you see is what you get.

 

[swestoyz]

Anyone in need of some Jet Dry?

Perfect racks here. No RUST! Just a few bent tangs.

 

[swestoyz]

Every KA lover knows that when you see a shine on the door, you've got a keeper.

LOVE these lower models with the chrome caps where the rinse agent dispenser goes for the TOL models. I recall reading about an upgrade kit for the 14 machines to add the dispenser on the Custom and Imperials. Wonder if they did that for the 15 through 17?

 

[swestoyz]

Controls. The only sore spot on the machine are the controls. The print is fading away.

 

[swestoyz]

Timer. Simply just push the timer in, and you have 4 powerful wash arms blasting away leftovers!

 

[swestoyz]

The only feature this machine has - the Rinse and Hold.

 

[swestoyz]

This is a favorite. The typical KA handle, but with no panel to take away from it's charm! Love the 'LIFT' that is found on the 15 and 16 series machines. By the 17 the lift was taken off as the latch mechanism had changed.

Model number: KDD-66

 

[swestoyz]

One last note - the same day I drug the KA home, I found the RR4D on the side of the road while venturing towards Menards. When it rains, it pours! A parts machine.

Enjoy,

Ben

 

[polkanut]

Ben,

You're beginning to get the Pied Piper syndrome like Robert! lol

 

[tuthill]

Nice find Ben! Nothing better than finding real mint appliances.

 

[roto204]

Awesome!

SWEET KA, Ben. Roger had a similar one, and it was a phenomenal dishwasher. And even us Superba owners can admit--Full Cycle is pretty much what you use, besides Rinse and Hold.

Love the Radarange--those are the Cadillacs of microwaves, to be sure. Congratulations!

 

[gansky1]

Very nice, Ben. My KDS-56 is one of my all-time favorite dishwashers. There is just nothing like the sound of those running. Too bad we didn't have this when working on our Unimatics - we could have filled it with mineral spirits and let the machine do the parts-washing. It has no heater so it could work ;-)

 

[jons1077]

Nice

KA really did make a nice line-up of dishwashers in the day. That is a rather basic model and I would be more than happy with it. Bet it does a nice job!

Good catch Ben!

 

[toploader55]

Sweet,Ben

You'll Love that machine. I have the Regency. I think the only difference between the DeLuxe and Regency is the 6 Position tilt upper rack and the Soak and Scrub Cycle.

 

[reversajet]

My folks bought that same unit new when it was introduced around 1972 for $250 retail. Great washing sounds from all sides and it was built like a tank, quick full cycle. Unfortunately you need a good supply of hottest water and powdered detergent was usually left in and on upper rack items unless you loaded with extreme care. We went to Waste King after a few years for its upper wash arm, water heat and random loading, which of course KA followed soon after.

 

[tlee618]

Ben, what a great find and in coppertone no less. What a fun "extra" machine this will be for you!!! Congratulations.

 

[cadman]

More Washers than Dishes!

Told you you needed to pick that one up! Now, what about the 606S?! <tapping foot>

 

[nmaineman36]

Wow does this bring back memories. My parents had this same machine only in white and it was was the KDD67. If I recall correctly it didnt have the white detergent dispenser...it was blue. No Constant Overhead rinse in this model. Plus what you see is what you have to work with in the racking department. I always had to be mindful of where pans would go. Rarely would I put pots in with a regular load. Washing dishes for 7 people meant i ran that dishwasher 2 times a day. One load was plates down the middle,smaller saucers on the sides and cereal bowls on the outer edges..3 on each side. The top rack was glasses on one side and coffee cups on the other. It would wash rather well this way. Then the next load was pots and pans. For really tall items I would take the top rack out and when the dishwasher would get to the 7 minute wash cycle I would repeat it..very flexible knob where you can repeat any portion of the cycle you want to. And yeah you had to make sure the water heater was at 150 degrees since it doesnt heat the water. I had taken the top off and added another layer of the pink insulation to quiet the machine and to retain heat...worked rather well.
That machine was a workhorse and lasted for about 8 years until the timer stopped working then my dad took it apart and filed down the timer switch contacts...wasnt smart at all...it rendered the timer useless. That dishwasher was replaced by a Maytag WC202 or 302...it was the base Maytag Portable....similar to the one in another thread that is on either ebay or cragslist. Great thread!