Jan. 5th 2010 POD - W O W !

[kenmoreguy64]

First of all, I want to offer a gleeful "THANK YOU" to Robert for posting the new PODs which were promised just a couple days ago. NICE!!! Thanks to Gansky also - I think that's where these came from, right? THANK YOU both!

Onto the POD for today specifically - what a NEAT page. I did not realize that Kenmore had this sort of literature. Some of these machines I've seen before, and even had a couple of. BUT, there are some interesting tib-bits to gnaw on there. As mentioned in another thread, what is that box on the top of the 66 900? Interesting machine as it was previously thought that this debuted at a 68 model I think.

The two portables are familiar to us here I think - they were made in that fashion for several years. The first two machines, the run of the mill 1967 600 and 70 were common. Also note the 1966 infinite speed Kenmore 900. That machine was shown in a catalog or two, but I am not aware of any other infinitely variable speed machines. Boy was it expensive! Can't quote the price but it was more than a hundred bucks more expensive I believe than the 70. That was a lot in 1967.

Biggest note - Here's the first 518 - aka the Frankenmore. I thought this model debuted as a 1968 model, so this is a surprise. The super capacity designation can be found in the model number 110.6724500, where the 2 indicates lg. capacity. What stuns me though is the availability apparently of two other lg. cap machines in 1967, the 418 and the 718. Holy moly!!!!!!! Kenmore did have a habit back then of re-hashing previous consoles for use in the side-line large models, but I didn't know that extended to the 1965 Kenmore 400. And the 418 had a blue tub. How COOL would that be in an 18lb. basket. Huge caverns of navy blue...would be hard to see the bottom of it.

I would absolutely LOVE to find an original 418/518/718, especially if they had that first generation agitator. One of those goes on my short list of dream machines! I would love to see some production figures and comparisons regarding these early models vs. the mainstream 12lb. models.

This is a real treat for me Robert, thanks!

Gordon

 

[ingliscanada]

Question

What's a Frankenmore?

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Gary -

The 'Frankenmore' as it became known here is/was a 1967/68 Kenmore 518, basically as pictued in the POD, model 110.6724500, which was morphed with a 1982 Kenmore 60-series to become the Frankenmore.

A former member here found an original 518. It had seen better days mechanically, so it's top and control panel were mated onto and wired into the cabinet and mechanicals of a 1982 Kenmore that cosmetically wasn't so great. I was not a member here yet, but I joined soon after and I learned all about the machine while reading archived posts AND viewing videos of it on Youtube (search 'Frankenmore') from its two owners. It's a neat machine.

Gordon

 

[ingliscanada]

Thanks, Gordon...

I'll check out the YouTube flick

Gary

 

[magic clean]

Gordon

the water 'refiner' (softener) never made it to market.

L.P.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Hi Leslie!

Thanks for telling me. I don't think the other two large capacity machines made it to market either. The 500 series is there on Sears' site for 1967, but the other two are not. I thought I was well versed on these machines and those two surprised me. Now that neither the 418 nor the 718 come up on Sears' site, I'm guessing they were planned but never made it.

There was a another and very similar 518 on the market for '68 (it had five versions), and not any other Large cap. models until 1972 apparently when two models debuted, and 1973 when two more came.

Still, very cool...

 

[repair-man]

1966 variable speed 900

I find this to be the most interesting. Looks like separate controls for agitate and spin. I wonder how this was done with 1966 technology. Has anyone ever seen one ? With the high price they probably sold so few or maybe they had a lot of problems and are all long gone.

 

[chaskelljr2]

@ Gordon:

Yep..... if you are a Kenmore fan (and the last time I checked, I think you and I are both Kenmore fans), then what is NOT to like about today's POD???

I only find a couple of things interesting in today's POD.

(01). I have noticed an absense of a Model 800 (the one you had with the five black push-buttons which controlled the wash/rinse water temperatures). And I know this had to be a popular model back in 1966 (since it came out in 1965, and was still available as late as 1968...... actually, you said that yourself).

(02). I also looked at that Push-Button Lady Kenmore that was at the end of the page as well. Even though, a Lady Kenmore with THAT style of console has debuted in 1966, I don't believe that it was that particular console. I thought that the console of 1966-67 Lady Kenmore had a much lower and more streamlined profile than the one I've here in today's picture. The one that's pictured in today's POD looks like a 1968-69 model to me (and that would be the first Lady with the Vari-Flex Agitator..... and the one that was out before the one with the Flip Down Cover debuted in Fall of 1969). But you know what??? I want to know what that box was that sat on the top of that machine as well.

(03). Lastly, I see that my washer isn't no where to be seen on that page or anything either. And I know mine's was a 1967 model as well. The one I grew up with was a 1-Speed/1-Cycle/Single-Dial Machine that had a 24" Cabinet (that was not Portable), which we had from 1967 and it lasted until 1978.

It all brings back memories of those old days at Sears, doesn't it???

--Charles--

 

[combo52]

Infinite speed LK

This washer used a GE solid state controlled induction motor, Hotpoint ,and Norge also used this motor in some of thier tol models. The feature did not sell well do to high cost and the fact it offered no advantage over the much cheaper and more reliable three SP motors. I never saw the water softener in person but its in the WP parts & service literature from around this time.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Charles -

I agree about the old memories. It was a fun time when as a young kid I could walk into a friend's house, search out the laundry room, and hope to find a new OR a familiar Kenmore in there. More than half my neighbors had them.

I don't know for sure what the purpose of this literature was, but it is tech/service info., and I am presuming it was meant to introduce the new models to field. Whirlpool seems to have done the same thing at times for new models and innovations.

The info. is dated mid-1967, so perhaps at this time those models were brand new? All the machines had 1967 model numbers with the exception of the two on the bottom, which are clearly called out as 1966 models. Kenmore introduced many new models in the fall, such as the black panel "wet look" 1976 machines which were in stores in late fall 1975 (I remember that well). BUT, they also brought out new models at other times. In the 1982 catalog, there are 1982 60 series models that would not be available until 8/15/82.

Since we know that Sears sold a plethora of 1965 Kenmore 800s well into the later 60s (yes, I sure did mention the 1968 built machine that I had), and the 1966 keyboard Lady K was still current as well, I have a hunch that the service group was presumed to be well familiar with them and they didn't need to be showcased? That would explain the lack of inclusion on the 65 800, the 66 keyboard Lady, and a 65/66 500 series machine, most likely others too.

You're right though Charles - What's not to like on this pic?!? Not a thing.....

 

[70series]

Happy New Year!

There is EVERYTHING to like about this POD! The lineup is awesome, especially the 1967 Model 600 on the top left. My neighbor who lived across the street from us had that washer, and I used to do laundry with her. Boy those were fun times and great memories. The black straight vaned agitator, the manual clean filter with the turn latch, and the fact that it was a basic no frills washing machine are still some of my favorite things about it as it lives on in my memory. That washer was in use until the early 80s, but was kept around (perhaps for parts) until 1999. It was a search to see this model again that brought me to AWORG, and now I have found it. THANK YOU Robert for posting, and THANK YOU Gansky for supplying this.

Have a good one,
James

 

[ingliscanada]

Even in Canada...

Kenmore was always a popular make here. About 50% of homes had Kenmores (or Inglises). When I was a kid, it seemed that many dryer exhaust vents sounded exactly like ours (we had an Inglis). The old belt and pulley WP design had a blower that was well heard. And many homes that I've been in, when laundry was being done, most washers made that familiar "woo-woo" sound.

 

[davy1063]

Could someone please re-post that POD? I missed it and it looks like I missed A LOT!!!

 

[aldspinboy]

Gorden ...
I feel the same way about Kenmore's washers.
Hear is one story...Mr.Russell my next door neighbor they had a big family of seven kids bought a Kenmore the forth picture in three cycle model with the two knobs left & right and was the first super capacity Kenmore i saw.
He called me over when they first got it, and ran a low water wash with nothing in it WOW it was so powerful, and was the first ex large straight vane agitator i observed in the 70's.
He knew i loved washers.. so he took the older kenmore and stuck it in the garage for me to play with lol the other kids thought i was strange who cares.
Here is the Agitator.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Could someone please re-post that POD? I missed it and it looks like I missed A LOT!!!

I have very few rules around here but Re-posting PODs inside Discuss-o-Mat threads is a big no no. Someone might be able to email you the picture though.