That is a Kenmore beautiful set Drew, congratulations. While I'm not a huge fan of the colors of the late 60s/1970s, Coppertone was by far the nicest in my opinion.
Introducing the 66 Lady Kenmores
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Drooooollll Droooooollll!
Andy - my offer still stands, LAT for a LADY...
Congrats on such a beautiful set. I agree with Robert, love me some coppertone!
Looking forward to seeing the resto photos.
Wear gloves!
Ben
Andy - my offer still stands, LAT for a LADY...
Congrats on such a beautiful set. I agree with Robert, love me some coppertone!
Looking forward to seeing the resto photos.
Wear gloves!
Ben
Now THAT is one clean and minty set of machines!
westingman123
Well-known member
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- Jun 24, 2009
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I had that dryer (used) right out of college. You'll love it. It is always nice to see a set that someone has cared for, and about, for a long time. You just KNOW that person saved (or made payments) for a long time to get them.
Stunning
Growing up poor with what ever was cheap I longed for the Lady Kenmores, Custom Imperials and top end models in our house. I was appalled to see Sears, GE and later Hotpoint take the high end models back to straight vane agitators after years of TOLs having the hupty dupe agitators.
Growing up poor with what ever was cheap I longed for the Lady Kenmores, Custom Imperials and top end models in our house. I was appalled to see Sears, GE and later Hotpoint take the high end models back to straight vane agitators after years of TOLs having the hupty dupe agitators.
Kelly,
Sears never put a straight-vane agitator in a LadyK or the like, not from the late 50s on anyway. From the later 50s until 1965, LadyKs and higher-end Kenmores had Roto-Swirls and then Super Roto-Swirls. From 1965 through 1968 (ish) Lady Kenmores had the Roto-Flex. There were some odd-ball 1966 900 models that had a Roto-Swirl, but that's as "low" with agitators as they went. From 1968/1969 until 1974, Lady Ks had the adjustable, expensive Vari-Flex agitator. For the 1974 Lady, the Penta-Swirl was used (Kenmore's then best agitator). Beginning in 1976, all Lady Ks had the Dual-Action from then until the demise of the Lady Kenmore model.
Actually, looking back, I can't think of a single 29-inch Kenmore washer model that had a straight vane as standard equipment beyond the 60 series models. In fact, some 60-series and 600s from the 1960s to the 1980s had Roto-Swirls, Penta-Swirls, and Dual-Action agitators.
This varies a little bit with 24-inch machines. 24-inch models had a narrower tub than the 29-inch standard capacity machine, so the comparably narrow straight vane must have been judged by Sears or WP to be the best suited agitator for that basket size. All 24-inch models had the bakelite or polypropylene straight-vane, at least that I am aware of, up until the late 1970s when the standard capacity Dual-Action (which is also more slender than the other comparable KM agitators) debuted in the highest end 24-inch machines. There were a few very highly featured 24-inch machines, so it would have seemed a little odd to have a straight-vane in them, but they did. I will say this though, the Kenmore gold plastic straight vane may not look very impressive, but this agitator MEANS BUSINESS and does a very good job. On low water levels and normal speed agitation it can splash gallons of water out of the machine, but it is not going to mess around with no-turnover laundering.
Gordon
Sears never put a straight-vane agitator in a LadyK or the like, not from the late 50s on anyway. From the later 50s until 1965, LadyKs and higher-end Kenmores had Roto-Swirls and then Super Roto-Swirls. From 1965 through 1968 (ish) Lady Kenmores had the Roto-Flex. There were some odd-ball 1966 900 models that had a Roto-Swirl, but that's as "low" with agitators as they went. From 1968/1969 until 1974, Lady Ks had the adjustable, expensive Vari-Flex agitator. For the 1974 Lady, the Penta-Swirl was used (Kenmore's then best agitator). Beginning in 1976, all Lady Ks had the Dual-Action from then until the demise of the Lady Kenmore model.
Actually, looking back, I can't think of a single 29-inch Kenmore washer model that had a straight vane as standard equipment beyond the 60 series models. In fact, some 60-series and 600s from the 1960s to the 1980s had Roto-Swirls, Penta-Swirls, and Dual-Action agitators.
This varies a little bit with 24-inch machines. 24-inch models had a narrower tub than the 29-inch standard capacity machine, so the comparably narrow straight vane must have been judged by Sears or WP to be the best suited agitator for that basket size. All 24-inch models had the bakelite or polypropylene straight-vane, at least that I am aware of, up until the late 1970s when the standard capacity Dual-Action (which is also more slender than the other comparable KM agitators) debuted in the highest end 24-inch machines. There were a few very highly featured 24-inch machines, so it would have seemed a little odd to have a straight-vane in them, but they did. I will say this though, the Kenmore gold plastic straight vane may not look very impressive, but this agitator MEANS BUSINESS and does a very good job. On low water levels and normal speed agitation it can splash gallons of water out of the machine, but it is not going to mess around with no-turnover laundering.
Gordon
Semantics
I realize they called them fancy names but the Roto Flex and Vari Flex have straight vanes. I like the graceful look of the Penta Vane and full of water the washer looked more like a upscale agitator. I can quote chapter and verse the Kenmore agitators and I apologize for not saying more clearly, "call it what ever you like, but its an agitator with straight vanes and it wasn't fancy in my eyes."
I realize they called them fancy names but the Roto Flex and Vari Flex have straight vanes. I like the graceful look of the Penta Vane and full of water the washer looked more like a upscale agitator. I can quote chapter and verse the Kenmore agitators and I apologize for not saying more clearly, "call it what ever you like, but its an agitator with straight vanes and it wasn't fancy in my eyes."
AGITATOR DESIGNS
Any way you cut straight vane agitators work best at turning over clothing and washing large loads, The most useless agitators ever are the ramped vane agitators, even on the Roto-Swirl it is only the three straight vanes that make it work well at all, and everyone's beloved Maytag agitators are all straight vanned. The only real improvement ever devised for oscillating agitators are the dual action models with the spiral section that turns in one direction only to turn over loads more constantly which aids cleaning and reduces clothing wear, and every leading US TL washer maker went to this superior design.
Any way you cut straight vane agitators work best at turning over clothing and washing large loads, The most useless agitators ever are the ramped vane agitators, even on the Roto-Swirl it is only the three straight vanes that make it work well at all, and everyone's beloved Maytag agitators are all straight vanned. The only real improvement ever devised for oscillating agitators are the dual action models with the spiral section that turns in one direction only to turn over loads more constantly which aids cleaning and reduces clothing wear, and every leading US TL washer maker went to this superior design.
No Arguement Here
You guys don't get it. My twisted upbringing made me want to believe that I deserved fancy i.e. upgraded and when I was old enough to buy it, fancy was straight. I have run a Maytag my whole life so I know it well. In my context poor people bought Sears so it wasn't like I would go out and buy a new one anyway. It's not about function it's about looks and separation of the classes. Look at my lights.
You guys don't get it. My twisted upbringing made me want to believe that I deserved fancy i.e. upgraded and when I was old enough to buy it, fancy was straight. I have run a Maytag my whole life so I know it well. In my context poor people bought Sears so it wasn't like I would go out and buy a new one anyway. It's not about function it's about looks and separation of the classes. Look at my lights.
Gasp!
at such a statment about kenmore and poor folks lol
at such a statment about kenmore and poor folks lol
Nice machines, all of them!
APPLIANCES AND CLASS
Generally more highly educated and higher income folks were more likely to buy Kenmore's and GEs. Maytag was much more middle and lower middle class in its main customer base, just look at there advertising over the years. Growing up all my 22 aunts and uncles were college educated and fairly well off and there was not a single MT washer or dryer ever among them. I can't even remember a MT DW, although my Moms mother did have one MT wringer washer which she kept about 6 years and finely bought an automatic washer, a new 1968 KM 800.
Generally more highly educated and higher income folks were more likely to buy Kenmore's and GEs. Maytag was much more middle and lower middle class in its main customer base, just look at there advertising over the years. Growing up all my 22 aunts and uncles were college educated and fairly well off and there was not a single MT washer or dryer ever among them. I can't even remember a MT DW, although my Moms mother did have one MT wringer washer which she kept about 6 years and finely bought an automatic washer, a new 1968 KM 800.
Recovery
I hate Sears for more reasons now, mostly diversity issues and taking credit for someone else's machines. That said, Kenmore were glitzier, trendier, had more innovations and bells and whistles than the Flagship Whirlpool. Any brand with lights, push buttons, multiple cycles and dispensers is cool. As much as I crow about Sears past and present, no one in the world mades a better dryer to handle permanent press. I'll stand and watch a Sears by the hour just the same as any other top loader and at this age regardless of brand they are all expensive.
I hate Sears for more reasons now, mostly diversity issues and taking credit for someone else's machines. That said, Kenmore were glitzier, trendier, had more innovations and bells and whistles than the Flagship Whirlpool. Any brand with lights, push buttons, multiple cycles and dispensers is cool. As much as I crow about Sears past and present, no one in the world mades a better dryer to handle permanent press. I'll stand and watch a Sears by the hour just the same as any other top loader and at this age regardless of brand they are all expensive.
lordkenmore
Well-known member
I don't have enough observations to fairly comment on who buys what appliance brand. But I do understand Kelly's feeling about Sears ("In my context poor people bought Sears..."). I'm under the impression Sears got a lot of sales due their financing program more than anything else.
I can say from observation that grandmother, who was definitely not in a very high income bracket, bought Sears. In fact, I almost got the feeling sometimes that her attitude was along the lines of, "If it's not at Sears, it doesn't exist!"
That said, I can also appreciate how a Lady Kenmore would sell to someone in a higher income bracket. It must have looked very impressive new, and would suggest that the owner was doing quite well.
I can say from observation that grandmother, who was definitely not in a very high income bracket, bought Sears. In fact, I almost got the feeling sometimes that her attitude was along the lines of, "If it's not at Sears, it doesn't exist!"
That said, I can also appreciate how a Lady Kenmore would sell to someone in a higher income bracket. It must have looked very impressive new, and would suggest that the owner was doing quite well.
mickeyd
Well-known member
Andy, they look like candy, carmel and chocolate
You're so lucky, and that crazy looking spider leg Rotoflex is my absolute dream agitator. Have never had the pleasure, but hope to some day; in fact until I saw one of these spiders, here in the club, never in the flesh, the straight-vaned, extendable-finned Variflex had been my favorite, enjoying one of those for two years.
Can't wait to see the Rotoflex in action at multiple levels, and maybe a capacity test with towels. Look at how much more room is available in the tub next to the cumbersome Super rotoswirl in my 62 turq LK. Alas, have learned that my LK won't accept a Rotoflex--a damned rotten shame.
Good Luck with these Betty White Babes.
You're so lucky, and that crazy looking spider leg Rotoflex is my absolute dream agitator. Have never had the pleasure, but hope to some day; in fact until I saw one of these spiders, here in the club, never in the flesh, the straight-vaned, extendable-finned Variflex had been my favorite, enjoying one of those for two years.
Can't wait to see the Rotoflex in action at multiple levels, and maybe a capacity test with towels. Look at how much more room is available in the tub next to the cumbersome Super rotoswirl in my 62 turq LK. Alas, have learned that my LK won't accept a Rotoflex--a damned rotten shame.
Good Luck with these Betty White Babes.
macboy91si
Well-known member
Roto-Flex
This was always the oddest looking agitator to me, I always wondered why they did it without a base. Those rotating gaps are just waiting to grab something and destroy it between the tub and fin. I also notice that the porcelain around that area under the fins seems dull. How long did KM use this agitator?
-Tim
This was always the oddest looking agitator to me, I always wondered why they did it without a base. Those rotating gaps are just waiting to grab something and destroy it between the tub and fin. I also notice that the porcelain around that area under the fins seems dull. How long did KM use this agitator?
-Tim
dishwasherfan
Well-known member
Memories,
That is the exact set my mother had & I fell in love with when I was a kid. Congratulations, they are awesome.
That is the exact set my mother had & I fell in love with when I was a kid. Congratulations, they are awesome.
Tim -
I suspect the porcelain is not dull in the basket (Andy would have told me, or Dan would have mentioned it when the machines were picked-up) but instead I think it either has water hardness marks or just some dried-up debris on the surfaces.
One thing about that agitator though - many of the Roto-Flex machines I've had (I have had five - sadly three were 'consumed' by the trailer thief) have had scrape or scratch marks under the agitator fins from exactly what you described -- things getting under the fins and being pinched and dragged. Apparently the Roto-Flex was a big button amputator as I have heard this from people who were around in the industry at the time.
I don't know the reason for the lack of a base or skirt, but I believe there is mention of this in the 1965 catalogs which gave a lot of fanfare to this agitator when it debuted. I'll read-up sometime. It was loudly touted as providing 20% cleaner clothes than any other agitator.
It was used up until about 1968 or so, and replaced by the Vari-Flex, then never to be heard from again in Kenmore marketing.
Mickey -
Andy has actually done a test load video of another Roto-Flex machine he has had, which was nearly the same washer in Avocado. He compared the Roto-Flex to the Roto-Swirl in a machine next to it, with identical washloads. It's on Youtube. Since this is Andy's video, I'll let him offer a link to it, but you can find it there if you search "Agitator comparison". Cool stuff!
Oddly enough, a 2-week old comment in the video says "The Roto-Flex vanes look like they could be brutal on clothes if they get caught". You can see the scrape marks on the bottom of the basket on this machine.
G
I suspect the porcelain is not dull in the basket (Andy would have told me, or Dan would have mentioned it when the machines were picked-up) but instead I think it either has water hardness marks or just some dried-up debris on the surfaces.
One thing about that agitator though - many of the Roto-Flex machines I've had (I have had five - sadly three were 'consumed' by the trailer thief) have had scrape or scratch marks under the agitator fins from exactly what you described -- things getting under the fins and being pinched and dragged. Apparently the Roto-Flex was a big button amputator as I have heard this from people who were around in the industry at the time.
I don't know the reason for the lack of a base or skirt, but I believe there is mention of this in the 1965 catalogs which gave a lot of fanfare to this agitator when it debuted. I'll read-up sometime. It was loudly touted as providing 20% cleaner clothes than any other agitator.
It was used up until about 1968 or so, and replaced by the Vari-Flex, then never to be heard from again in Kenmore marketing.
Mickey -
Andy has actually done a test load video of another Roto-Flex machine he has had, which was nearly the same washer in Avocado. He compared the Roto-Flex to the Roto-Swirl in a machine next to it, with identical washloads. It's on Youtube. Since this is Andy's video, I'll let him offer a link to it, but you can find it there if you search "Agitator comparison". Cool stuff!
Oddly enough, a 2-week old comment in the video says "The Roto-Flex vanes look like they could be brutal on clothes if they get caught". You can see the scrape marks on the bottom of the basket on this machine.
G
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