I'm new here

[huggybear]

Hello all!

I am really glad to find this website! I tell people that I have two washers and three dryers, and they think I'm some sort of warped nutcase. But I knew that there MUST be others out there with more than one washer and dryer, someone who looks at old machines to be nice in their own way.

I was told once that the Kenmore model numbers indicate the year - the first two digits after the source code (in this case 110. meaning Whirlpool). So I am basing my years on that.

My current laundry room consists of a (left to right)

1987 black Kenmore dryer 110.87694510
1972 white Kenmore washer 110.72993820 (belt drive)
1987 white Kenmore dryer 110.87093800
1981 white Kenmore washer 110.81375130 (direct drive)
circa-1959 American Thermatic (a.k.a. Huebesch) commercial dryer

I am a big fan of the Kenmore / Whirlpool belt drive machines. Like the Mark Andy inline printing presses, I can work on them blindfolded (don't want to, though). I have been known to pick them up at the curb and bring them home, fix them and give them away to needy people. I have done complete overhauls on machines that others considered beyond repair.

My mother was telling me about one that we had in the late 50's-early 60's called a Turbo Matic, that was a washer-dryer combination. Roaming this website it sees that apparently more than one company made such a machine. But I was born in late 1959 and have few recollections of it.

 

[saltysam]

I'm new here

Welcome Huggy bear. Glad you finally found this website, you will enjoy it. Like you i didn't even imagine that there were other people in the same situation that loved and enjoyed older appliances until i started searching the internet. The day I found this site I was jumping for joy. Mark (St. Louis)

 

[dj-gabriele]

Welcome and have a nice stay! It was the same for me, I couldn't believe to be alone with this passion, so when I found this forum I was more than happy to join the others!

 

[cleanteamofny]

Welcome to the group!
I see you are a Kenmore guy and if you you don't mind, post a few photos of your electronic kenmore's please!

Thanks Larry.

 

[aamassther]

Welcome from Ann Arbor! Nice to have more Michigan people here.

 

[panthera]

ach, ja - Herr Doktor,

Ein neuer, er...Klient...for the Automaticwasher ward.
Welcome!
I think Kenmore and Whirlpool had some pretty groovy stuff going on in the 50's - do, please post some pictures of your stuff, vintage or more modern.
Especially the innards, you're with people now who want to hear all about those things.
And do stroll about the grounds until you feel at home...

 

[appnut]

Yes sir!!! Another washer bear!! MMM. Welcome William. See thread number 14440 in the Imperial Forum entitled 1960 Sears Roebuck & Co. Pictures from the 1960 catalogue, first up is some catalog pics for the combination washer/dryer that you speak of.

 

[petek]

Hi and welcome from Sarnia,,, I think I can see your house from the upstairs windows LOL

 

[tomturbomatic]

Welcome, William to Applianceville. You have probably found a home. Tom

 

[appnut]

I think I can see your house from the upstairs windows

But Pete, most importantly, can you see inside the windows? he he he

 

[sudsman]

William

Does the American Dryer have the moist rite control on it with the big light blub?

 

[sdlee]

welcome welcome

always glad to see a new guy. Great friends here jump right in

 

[foraloysius]

A warm welcome from the other side of the big pond. Hope you will enjoy this site.

Louis

 

[huggybear]

Salty Sam says:

Welcome Huggy bear. Glad you finally found this website, you will enjoy it. Like you i didn't even imagine that there were other people in the same situation that loved and enjoyed older appliances until i started searching the internet. The day I found this site I was jumping for joy. Mark (St. Louis)

Huggy says:

I knew there had to be. And I'm sure if my grandfather was still alive, he'd be a regular here. He was seriously into appliances, especially automatic washers.

CleanteamofNY says:

I see you are a Kenmore guy and if you you don't mind, post a few photos of your electronic kenmore's please!

Huggy says:

I'm not sure how the picture posting thing works, but here is a picture of the console on my 110.72993820. Does this look like a 1972 model?

Aamassther says:
Welcome from Ann Arbor! Nice to have more Michigan people here.

You're not that far away...

Panthera says:
ach, ja - Herr Doktor,
Ein neuer, er...Klient...for the Automaticwasher ward.
Welcome!

Umarmungsbär sagt:
Wo ist der Krankenhaus?

appnut says:
I think I can see your house from the upstairs windows
But Pete, most importantly, can you see inside the windows? he he he

Huggy says:
I'm a nudist, dozens of people have seen me nude. So look all you want. Can YOU deal with it??

Sudsman asked:

Does the American Dryer have the moist rite control on it with the big light blub?

Huggy says:

No, just a plain old thermostat. But its long capillary tube got broken with all the moving this machine went through. No doubt this will make some of you scream with horror, but the timer was shot on it as well, so I made some modifications (still not quite complete) with some industrial 1/16 DIN controls.

I'd like to put in a mention of another great group of people I'm with called antiqueradios.com. A dedicated group of restorers of old radios and TV sets.

Also, there is something I must ask you guys: Knowing that a lot of old appliance parts are made out of unobtanium, what do you do for rotted pot metal parts, like pump housings, suds valves, etc, when parts are not available and the old ones are rotted out? Pot metal rot is something that we deal with a lot with antique radios, but for something like a pump housing, you have a much more difficult time.

Antique Radios - The Collector's Resource

Antique Radios is a web platform where antique radio collectors and enthusiasts come together. It has a forum (ARF) where you can find all the answers.

antiqueradios.com

 

[maytagbear]

Welcome---

to another bear!

I am glad you are here, even if you are from Mee Shee Gan.

Unlike many other places on the wild wild web, bears are treated (usually) with the respect, affection, and lust we deserve!

Lawrence/Maytagbear/(an OhioBear330)

 

[SactoTeddyBear]

Re: Welcome Huggybear:

I've got a similar Lady-K Washer to the one you Posted a Pix of, except mine has more Selection Controls on the Console. Congratulations on your discovery and enjoy getting to know others, the Club has great people from "Around the World" and "Over the Pond" with some very interesting Machines to check out.

"BTW" "Happy Birthday" given that I looked at your Profile and saw that your Birthday was on November 12th. Many, many, many more "Happy Birthdays" as well. I hope that you had a wonderful special Day and that you Wish comes True, hopefully for you most favorite Brand/Model and Vintage Aged Washer and Dryer.

Peace, Great Times and Blessings, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...

 

[cleanteamofny]

Just wondering?!?
Is this the first electronic washer for Kenmore?

 

[rp2813]

Welcome HB--from a fellow nudist! I spent a lot of time on Antiqueradios and Audiokarma when I was looking for a guy to restore my 1950 Admiral 20x12 consolette. Just like here, everybody is very helpful, although I think this site is way more bear friendly.

Bob, I'll bet you'd really like to see in HB's windows now!

Ralph