drh4683
Well-known member
It was another good weekend of estate sales and I stumbled upon another matched washer/dryer set that was calling my name to be saved: A 1968 Sears Lady Kenmore set in Avocado!
When I went to unhook them, I needed a set of pliers to release the corbin clamps on the discharge and suds saver hoses. I think this was the very first time I've ever been to a sale where I couldn't find a basic set of pliers or anything that could be used as such in the entire house. Someone already bought all of the hand tools and there was nothing left. I ended up having to run back home to get my corbin pliers so I could unhook the thing! Then getting them out of the basement they were in was the next challenge and fortunately there were two people working at the sale who helped in the move. I usually move this stuff by myself, but this was a situation that needed more than one person without risking machine damage. We had to remove doors and the railings to the basement, then to make matters more interesting, there of course had to be that dreaded 90 degree turn in the stairs and almost no landing at the top of the stairs where another 90 degree turn was necessary to get out the door. It was one of those stair arrangements you hope you never have to deal with when you have to move something large. But regardless, they got down there without damage 49 years ago. We planned it carefully and got them out without getting two-blocked and without a scratch. The washing machine was like moving a block of concrete...
The machines appear to have had normal usage over the years, but still well cared for. There was actually a load of towels left behind inside the dryer. I tested the dryer out (it's an electric dryer) before I disconnected and it worked just fine. I will assume I will need to service the washer. I didn't bother testing it with water as it was dry inside and appeared to have not been used in a very long time as there were cobwebs inside the washer drum. Electrically, however, the washer seems fine as the motor works and the agitator operates smoothly. So perhaps it too is working just fine. The piano keys all work, but they seem quite fragile as there is a lot of tension on the plastic buttons from the torsion return springs. I guess its amazing these machines are still around as that design seems to be a potential problem area on these, especially as the plastic ages.
I gave them a simple cleaning when I got home and pulled the control panels just to inspect for date codes and blew the dust out. The control panel for the dryer has a date stamp of November 28, 1967 and the washer has a date stamp inside the control panel of July 18, 1967.
So far, the only thing the washer needed was a new 26" florescent bulb and starter which I picked up at the hardware store.
The original owners, Mr. & Mrs. Norman have both passed away. He was a mechanical engineer at Whiting Corp. in Chicago who makes large industrial warehouse cranes and hoists. I also saved many of his engineering books and manuals from the 60's. They didn't appear to have any children, but the two of them enjoyed many road trips together from all the photo albums left behind which I show a picture of here. The picture of the machines in the basement is how they looked as I found them.
When I went to unhook them, I needed a set of pliers to release the corbin clamps on the discharge and suds saver hoses. I think this was the very first time I've ever been to a sale where I couldn't find a basic set of pliers or anything that could be used as such in the entire house. Someone already bought all of the hand tools and there was nothing left. I ended up having to run back home to get my corbin pliers so I could unhook the thing! Then getting them out of the basement they were in was the next challenge and fortunately there were two people working at the sale who helped in the move. I usually move this stuff by myself, but this was a situation that needed more than one person without risking machine damage. We had to remove doors and the railings to the basement, then to make matters more interesting, there of course had to be that dreaded 90 degree turn in the stairs and almost no landing at the top of the stairs where another 90 degree turn was necessary to get out the door. It was one of those stair arrangements you hope you never have to deal with when you have to move something large. But regardless, they got down there without damage 49 years ago. We planned it carefully and got them out without getting two-blocked and without a scratch. The washing machine was like moving a block of concrete...
The machines appear to have had normal usage over the years, but still well cared for. There was actually a load of towels left behind inside the dryer. I tested the dryer out (it's an electric dryer) before I disconnected and it worked just fine. I will assume I will need to service the washer. I didn't bother testing it with water as it was dry inside and appeared to have not been used in a very long time as there were cobwebs inside the washer drum. Electrically, however, the washer seems fine as the motor works and the agitator operates smoothly. So perhaps it too is working just fine. The piano keys all work, but they seem quite fragile as there is a lot of tension on the plastic buttons from the torsion return springs. I guess its amazing these machines are still around as that design seems to be a potential problem area on these, especially as the plastic ages.
I gave them a simple cleaning when I got home and pulled the control panels just to inspect for date codes and blew the dust out. The control panel for the dryer has a date stamp of November 28, 1967 and the washer has a date stamp inside the control panel of July 18, 1967.
So far, the only thing the washer needed was a new 26" florescent bulb and starter which I picked up at the hardware store.
The original owners, Mr. & Mrs. Norman have both passed away. He was a mechanical engineer at Whiting Corp. in Chicago who makes large industrial warehouse cranes and hoists. I also saved many of his engineering books and manuals from the 60's. They didn't appear to have any children, but the two of them enjoyed many road trips together from all the photo albums left behind which I show a picture of here. The picture of the machines in the basement is how they looked as I found them.
