How come the lids opened sideways on Whirlpool-built Kenmore washers of years past?

[fan-of-fans]

I always thought side opening washer doors were best because as mentioned in a few posts above, access to the controls was easier. As far as dryer doors, I kind of like the top opening myself because they serve as a kind of shelf to fold the clothes or place them on when folding. They seem more deluxe. But side opening does mean less of a reach to get to the clothes.

 

[circlew]

Mike, Sears still has locally owned stores, but the are now known as "HomeTown Stores". The link is to one about 40 miles from here.

http://www.searsoutlet.com/Washington Court House/d/store.jsp?store=3983#/

 

[vacerator]

Tom,

Sears Hometown stores all closed around here.

 

[washerlover]

We have two Sears Hometown stores here in little Lake County, California...

One thing I've found over the years with some side-opening lids is if the machine is installed under some low cabinetry, the lid won't clear it so you have to move the machine ouf a bit from the wall. The back-opening lids tend to not open has high.

 

[mrb627]

Side opening drawback

The drawback to Kenmores side opening lid was no protection for the controls from chemicals.
The center dial black panels deteriorated rather quickly when exposed to pre treaters from spray bottles or aerosol cans.

The control panels that seem to stand the test of time are usually the rear opening lids on models that stopped operation upon raising the lid. Don't have any facts to back this up, it's just my observation.

Malcolm

 

[vacerator]

prtotection

from chems.--- Well I do remember the black paint at the bottom of my moms '63 Kenmore console chaffing off after it was a dozen years old or so.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Sears always seemed to offbeat with their appliances--even the colors were a shade off from other makes...

-- Dave