GM/Frigidaire Impeller Dishwasher Find

[bwoods]

This came in today at the Habitat ReStore where I volunteer. Brought it home to clean it up a little and try it out.

Plugged it in out on the patio and put some water in with the garden hose.
The main motor and pump motor both run well. The main motor's bearing is good. I can twairl the impeller with one finger and it coasts a little after being turned off.

If there was a safety interlock on the lid, it is either non-functional or someone removed it. The main motor keeps running with the lid open.

Does anyone know the age? Maybe late 1950's?

The model is: DW-STB Serial: 67ED490

 

[bwoods]

Timer

I did not have the time to let it run through it's cycle, so I don't know if the timer progresses. Will check that later

It looks as if there is one main wash and two rinses.

 

[bwoods]

Inside

I wiped it out. Tub has no rust throughs. Hopefully running some CLR through it will take some of the rust and calcium deposits off.

 

[bwoods]

Good racks

No visible rust on the racks, that I could see.

 

[bwoods]

Top Rack

The upper rack has a neat feature in that the two center pieces swing open to allow access to the lower rack.

 

[bwoods]

silverware basket

Don't know if this is the original basket. If so, it must be missing the hangars that I assume would have supported it in the missle space in the upper rack.

 

[bwoods]

innards

I vacuumed the cobwebs off the guts. Noticed no leaks while it was operating. Terribly noisy. Makes the Maytag Reverse Rack sound like a distant whisper. You could actually see the tremors/vibrations of the machine and the water hit the tub.

The lid is a single layer of sheet metal with a porcelain coating. Does nothing to muffle the sound.

 

[bwoods]

another view

hefty motor. The total amps for the machine is listed as 12.0

 

[bwoods]

Unicoupler

Unfortunately, I do not have the male fitting, that goes on the kitchen faucet, to snap into the unicoupling. Anyone have a spare laying around??

 

[pdub]

You can still buy that unicouple faucet adapter at any hardware or appliance parts store. There are two sizes sold and it should be the larger size of the two.

What a cool find. It appears to have the Frigidaire logo of the early 60's so I'm betting the machine was made about 61 or 62. PhilR will probably know.

Looking forward to more pictures of the machine all cleaned up.

Patrick

 

[alr2903]

Bwoods thanks for posting the pictures.  I have never seen this one.  A frigidaire impeller. How cool is that? Best of Luck with it. alr

 

[tomturbomatic]

That silver basket sits along the side of the tub on the lower rack.

 

[turquoisedude]

Great find! Imagine GM letting D&M make a dishwasher for them....

Philr actually has a dishwasher like this one - I think you'll enjoy it. Congratulations on this save!!

 

[bwoods]

comments

Thanks for the comments, everyone. Thanks for the tip on getting the adaptor for the unicoupler, Patrick.

I'll be returning the dishwasher to Habitat for resale, but I've got clean the inside up a little. And of course, I've got to run a load of dirty dishes through it first to see what it can do! Never had an impeller machine before.

 

[volvoguy87]

Classiccaprice!

I believe Classiccaprice has a version of this.

Dave

 

[bwoods]

price?

Anyone have any thoughts on the price Habitat should put on it? They were thinking between $100 -150.

BTW, as items come into our store that I feel all of you may be interested in, I'll post them on AW.

The nice Tappan Fabulous 400 range that they had and I posted on AW sold. We don't get too many vintage items, but every now and then something good comes along.

 

[philr]

It's slightly older but still similar to mine (mine is a 1965 DW STJ). Yours is an early 1960s model (1960-61 I think). 

 

 

[classiccaprice]

Looks familiar

I paid $100 for my 1955 D&M Kenmore and it was completely restored. I know they also made these for Westinghouse. I love mine, even if the gasket does leak slightly! As with anything, it is worth what someone is willing to pay. Good luck and I hope it finds a good home!

For sale........

1955 Kenmore portable dishwasher. Cabinet repainted, timer replaced. New hoses with new original looking crimp hose clamps. Light up dashboard controls. Original racks are clean with no rust along with original soap cup and utensil basket. Rust around the screw on the lid hold up arm. Asking...

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[classiccaprice]

And yes, it is a very loud machine to run. That is normal.