repairguy
Well-known member
1968 Sears Kenmore 900 in shaded avocado. One of the many projects in the works at the moment.
Happy Friday!
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Beautiful Washer
This is basically the same as the 1966-7 Lady Kenmores.
I always liked this washer in Avocado, WPs and Sears shaded avocado and shaded coppertone was so much better looking than GEs, Westinghouse and you all know whose, I can't say the name or risk getting attacked, LOL.
Here is a picture of my favorite version of the piano key Kenmore's that we have in the museum.
This is basically the same as the 1966-7 Lady Kenmores.
I always liked this washer in Avocado, WPs and Sears shaded avocado and shaded coppertone was so much better looking than GEs, Westinghouse and you all know whose, I can't say the name or risk getting attacked, LOL.
Here is a picture of my favorite version of the piano key Kenmore's that we have in the museum.
repairguy
Well-known member
That’s a beautiful set!
hippiedoll
Well-known member
WOWZERS!!
Those are some beautiful Kenmores!
I think they are some neat looking washers, but I am not a big fan of neutral draining.
No offense meant towards anyone
/
Those are some beautiful Kenmores!
I think they are some neat looking washers, but I am not a big fan of neutral draining.
No offense meant towards anyone
/
Jane Wyatt should be demonstrating those Kenmore with her heavily stained gardening shoes and Clorox LCB.
A relief from knobs-only purism, 'Sears Best' did BEST...
What exactly is neutral draining, anyway?
And as for competitors, those who try, saw sales die...
-- Dave
What exactly is neutral draining, anyway?
And as for competitors, those who try, saw sales die...
-- Dave
hippiedoll
Well-known member
DaveAMKrayoGuy:
Neutral draining is when the washer drains the water from the non-moving tub, without spinning.
As opposed to like a Maytag, Frigidaire, and GE (I believe) that spins as it drains.
Neutral draining is when the washer drains the water from the non-moving tub, without spinning.
As opposed to like a Maytag, Frigidaire, and GE (I believe) that spins as it drains.
Hi, Christina/Hippiedoll!
Thank you for your great knowledge... I believe this feature is what my newer Kenmore (& newer Whirlpool & Whirlpool-Built washers) also does...
Mine usually drains, then eventually spins, in that fashion, then, too... (Although my timer may have a slight malfunction, in that I occasionally have to reset it or nudge it a little opening & closing the lid, usually on Fast Spin)
Thank you again...
(& here is an homage to your "Post 1700", if it's OK... Forgot to do for mine, a great time ago!)
-- Dave
Thank you for your great knowledge... I believe this feature is what my newer Kenmore (& newer Whirlpool & Whirlpool-Built washers) also does...
Mine usually drains, then eventually spins, in that fashion, then, too... (Although my timer may have a slight malfunction, in that I occasionally have to reset it or nudge it a little opening & closing the lid, usually on Fast Spin)
Thank you again...
(& here is an homage to your "Post 1700", if it's OK... Forgot to do for mine, a great time ago!)
-- Dave
And all this time I’ve been calling it “neutral spin..?!”
Norge/Wards does sort of half & half. It drains for a bit, then kicks into spin before all the water is out of the tub.
Norge/Wards does sort of half & half. It drains for a bit, then kicks into spin before all the water is out of the tub.
hippiedoll
Well-known member
DaveAMKrayoGuy:
You got it
;o)
Thanks for the 1700 homage.
LEAVING ON A JET PLANE is one of my favorite songs by them.
)
You got it
;o)
Thanks for the 1700 homage.
LEAVING ON A JET PLANE is one of my favorite songs by them.
)
hippiedoll
Well-known member
Washerlover:
Hahaha...
You make me laugh. That is funny.
D
You know...
I remember Roger telling me that & showing me on the Norge he had.
I wonder if there are any other "half & halfs", and what brands they are?
Hahaha...
You make me laugh. That is funny.
DYou know...
I remember Roger telling me that & showing me on the Norge he had.
I wonder if there are any other "half & halfs", and what brands they are?
mickeyd
Well-known member
Happy Hump Day Mel & friends
Love those keyboard K's to death! Was lucky enough to enjoy one in a house I took care of for two years back in the early 90's. It was a depp deep avocado set, located in a big ole country kitchen. It had the white enamel tub with a white Vari-flex agitator trimmed in gold. What a wonderful machine, and what a spectacular agitator. When you turn the agi cap to "Hi" the "vari"-able fins "flex" outward to the max, and you get the ride of a lifetime. When you select "Low" the fit fully retract out of view. Most unique agi ever!
My favorite thing was to play the keys. Play the Pre-soak key , then the Cottons Sturdy key (hot&warm), then the Extra Rinse, then the Custom care, and then Cancel, which made all the keys pop blackout, and finally, do it all over again. What fun! That cycle was for the "clean whites load" to keep 'em sparkling. And that sequence allowed you to have the most keys playing at one time--a symphony, (laughs).
I wanted one of these so bad, for so long, the ultimate dream machine, until the day when our amazing Paul the Turk, turquoisedude, put up a breath-taking '65 Lady K, which I had never seen before, pre-dating the keyboard run, and everything changed. It was over for me. So unusual, so beautiful, so unique. I named it the Fingernail Lady K because the long see-thru tabs reminded me of clear polished nails popular back when. They look so delicate but they're sturdy as hell. This machine sports another one-of-a-kind agitator, the Roto-flex or Octopus, another one to die for.
A few years later, Strictlybojack located a Fingernail Lady and posted it in the Purple Forum, and I was fortunate enough to get it. And I never looked back! In truth though, after experiencing the small footprint of the Roto-flex, appreciating the extra room it affords in the tub, and how interesting it is to watch, the Vari-flex is still the best for me.
The Buddhists say the secret to happiness is to stop wanting. Good Luck. I still want a Vari-flex!. It's a SUDS. I passed out, LOL. In bit I'll take a new pic--these are old--without the panel light so you can read the graphics. Look at that golden Octopus!
Love those keyboard K's to death! Was lucky enough to enjoy one in a house I took care of for two years back in the early 90's. It was a depp deep avocado set, located in a big ole country kitchen. It had the white enamel tub with a white Vari-flex agitator trimmed in gold. What a wonderful machine, and what a spectacular agitator. When you turn the agi cap to "Hi" the "vari"-able fins "flex" outward to the max, and you get the ride of a lifetime. When you select "Low" the fit fully retract out of view. Most unique agi ever!
My favorite thing was to play the keys. Play the Pre-soak key , then the Cottons Sturdy key (hot&warm), then the Extra Rinse, then the Custom care, and then Cancel, which made all the keys pop blackout, and finally, do it all over again. What fun! That cycle was for the "clean whites load" to keep 'em sparkling. And that sequence allowed you to have the most keys playing at one time--a symphony, (laughs).
I wanted one of these so bad, for so long, the ultimate dream machine, until the day when our amazing Paul the Turk, turquoisedude, put up a breath-taking '65 Lady K, which I had never seen before, pre-dating the keyboard run, and everything changed. It was over for me. So unusual, so beautiful, so unique. I named it the Fingernail Lady K because the long see-thru tabs reminded me of clear polished nails popular back when. They look so delicate but they're sturdy as hell. This machine sports another one-of-a-kind agitator, the Roto-flex or Octopus, another one to die for.
A few years later, Strictlybojack located a Fingernail Lady and posted it in the Purple Forum, and I was fortunate enough to get it. And I never looked back! In truth though, after experiencing the small footprint of the Roto-flex, appreciating the extra room it affords in the tub, and how interesting it is to watch, the Vari-flex is still the best for me.
The Buddhists say the secret to happiness is to stop wanting. Good Luck. I still want a Vari-flex!. It's a SUDS. I passed out, LOL. In bit I'll take a new pic--these are old--without the panel light so you can read the graphics. Look at that golden Octopus!
mickeyd
Well-known member
Edits, omission & pix
The fins fully retract.....keys pop back out ......
Custom care allows for minimal damage and wear n tear on the fabric since it agitates at the third or extra slow speed..
Tell me the Roto-flex does not look like an octopus;’D #3
The fins fully retract.....keys pop back out ......
Custom care allows for minimal damage and wear n tear on the fabric since it agitates at the third or extra slow speed..
Tell me the Roto-flex does not look like an octopus;’D #3
repairguy
Well-known member
That is a very nice machine that I would like to have as well. The kenmore 900 that I posted to start the thread has the roto flex. It is currently getting a gearcase rebuild, new water seals, spin tube and bearings. Pretty much just have to put it all back together at this point. I have the matching electric dryer as well.
mickeyd
Well-known member
MEL, CHRISTINA, DAVE & ROGER
Thank you, maybe when the future comes we'll be able to transport the machines instantaneously, and we can trade our Kemores back and forth.
There's a way to trick the mighty Norge. When the draining starts, you turn the water level switch to extra-low, and you can get almost all of the water to drain before the spin starts; it's pretty cool and fun to do. Love the little "cluck" it makes when the brake is released for the spin.
My Mom's Kitchen Aid, late in years, used to spin drain from the get go without a problem, and I have seen a few other direct drive WP/KM's do the partial drain too. The variety is always interesting.
Frigidaire Water Throw ~
Thank you, maybe when the future comes we'll be able to transport the machines instantaneously, and we can trade our Kemores back and forth.
There's a way to trick the mighty Norge. When the draining starts, you turn the water level switch to extra-low, and you can get almost all of the water to drain before the spin starts; it's pretty cool and fun to do. Love the little "cluck" it makes when the brake is released for the spin.
My Mom's Kitchen Aid, late in years, used to spin drain from the get go without a problem, and I have seen a few other direct drive WP/KM's do the partial drain too. The variety is always interesting.
Frigidaire Water Throw ~
dishwasherfan
Well-known member
Childhood memories.
The 1968 avocado Kenmore is the exact machine my mother had when I was a kid. I was born in 1963 so by the early 1970's I was helping with laundry, loading the washer & then transferring to the drier. I was mesmerized with the beautiful style, the mechanics & would listen to the cycles memorizing & anticipating the sounds of each wash. Of course when no one was around, I had to lift the lid & watch the action.
The 1968 avocado Kenmore is the exact machine my mother had when I was a kid. I was born in 1963 so by the early 1970's I was helping with laundry, loading the washer & then transferring to the drier. I was mesmerized with the beautiful style, the mechanics & would listen to the cycles memorizing & anticipating the sounds of each wash. Of course when no one was around, I had to lift the lid & watch the action.
repairguy
Well-known member
They are definitely fun machines to use and built like tanks.
warmsecondrinse
Well-known member
Yes, the '68 Kenmore 900 WAS built like a tank. My grandmother's machine had only been in the house a day or two when I first saw it. My grandmother didn't have a wide variety of laundry to do so she never used most of the cycles.... :-(
However, eventually I got old enough to say, "That's ok Grandma. Give me the laundry basket. You go put your feet up with a cup of tea. I'll take care of the laundry for you." The machine was a lot of fun to use
It was only repaired once, IIRC. It was still functioning flawlessly when my grandmother passed away some 40 years later.
--------------------------------------------
Years ago I worked an educational conference and had the good fortune of interpreting a presentation Peter Yarrow made regarding the importance of incorporating music into K-12 education. He agreed to perform one song at the end. I'm completely tone-deaf & a-rhythmic and my partner for the day was a PP&M fanatic when she was younger so I let her interpret his song. She did a much better job than I would have
Jim
However, eventually I got old enough to say, "That's ok Grandma. Give me the laundry basket. You go put your feet up with a cup of tea. I'll take care of the laundry for you." The machine was a lot of fun to use
It was only repaired once, IIRC. It was still functioning flawlessly when my grandmother passed away some 40 years later.
--------------------------------------------
Years ago I worked an educational conference and had the good fortune of interpreting a presentation Peter Yarrow made regarding the importance of incorporating music into K-12 education. He agreed to perform one song at the end. I'm completely tone-deaf & a-rhythmic and my partner for the day was a PP&M fanatic when she was younger so I let her interpret his song. She did a much better job than I would have
Jim
repairguy
Well-known member
Glad to hear about your fond memories of your grandmother’s washer. I have quite a few machines that need rebuilding. If I ever get them all done it will be a cool collection. The ‘68 900 is actually near being finished as I just need to put it all back together. I have plans to build a large room where all of these machines will be connected to utilities and ready to be used after they are mechanically restored.
