Badge says 518, ad says it needs a transmission. Accepting offers.
Lake City, FL
lawrence
Lake City, FL
lawrence
Kenmore BD
- Thread starter pulltostart
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518 was the 1st Kenmore 18-pounder, yes?
Kenmore 518 Washer
Yes this was the first 25 gallon 18 pound model ever sold by Sears.
This one is a year or so newer than the one we restored and have at the museum, this one has white background on the timer dial and the gold roto-swirl agitator, our slightly earlier model has black on the timer dial and a black bakelite straight vane agitator.
John L.
Yes this was the first 25 gallon 18 pound model ever sold by Sears.
This one is a year or so newer than the one we restored and have at the museum, this one has white background on the timer dial and the gold roto-swirl agitator, our slightly earlier model has black on the timer dial and a black bakelite straight vane agitator.
John L.
repairguy
Well-known member
The tag has a model number that would coincide with the controls. Being a 1968 model, the lid with the cut out handle vs. the chrome handle doesn’t fit as the newer handle design debuted for 1972. So I wonder how much of this machine is original. My information may not be complete but the only time a large capacity machine is mentioned is in the 1967 line up when it was introduced. Anyone have some more information such as showing this model in other years of kenmore line ups besides 1967?
laundryboy
Well-known member
Hmmmm.
Are transmissions available for this machine still ?
Are transmissions available for this machine still ?
Kenmore 518 Washer
This washer may well be from around 1972 with it newer style lid handle, I don't see any sign that it has been modified.
The 518 was introduced as a special model to counter Montgomery Wards beating up on Sears W&Ds by allowing Sears to have a BIGGER washer than the Norge built machines that Wards was selling, so the 518 was around for a number of years.
It was usually kept in the back area of the sales area and was only shown to customers that expressed an interest in getting a bigger washer or ones that complained that the main line KMs were smaller than the competition, note; there was never a matching dryer for the 518 washer.
Around 1970 Sears also sold a SUPER sized dryer that was 31" wide, this dryer also did not have a matching washer and used a recycled control console from another dryer [ and the console was only 29" wide ] which looked a little strange.
I have lots of parts including transmissions for these 518s, the machine would very likely need bearings& spin tube etc as well.
John L.
This washer may well be from around 1972 with it newer style lid handle, I don't see any sign that it has been modified.
The 518 was introduced as a special model to counter Montgomery Wards beating up on Sears W&Ds by allowing Sears to have a BIGGER washer than the Norge built machines that Wards was selling, so the 518 was around for a number of years.
It was usually kept in the back area of the sales area and was only shown to customers that expressed an interest in getting a bigger washer or ones that complained that the main line KMs were smaller than the competition, note; there was never a matching dryer for the 518 washer.
Around 1970 Sears also sold a SUPER sized dryer that was 31" wide, this dryer also did not have a matching washer and used a recycled control console from another dryer [ and the console was only 29" wide ] which looked a little strange.
I have lots of parts including transmissions for these 518s, the machine would very likely need bearings& spin tube etc as well.
John L.
repairguy
Well-known member
Thanks for the info John.
518
Would this have been a Kenmore 500 with a larger (18 lb) washbasket, thus the '518' designation?
lawrence
Would this have been a Kenmore 500 with a larger (18 lb) washbasket, thus the '518' designation?
lawrence
Kenmore!
I never saw this control panel with this lid. Nice washer!
I never saw this control panel with this lid. Nice washer!
Illustrations from some catalogs I searched-out. The 518 model was not in the source's 1967 Spring-Summer catalog or either of the 1968. It of course could have been in interim sale and appliance catalogs & flyers. Did "big book" catalog editions vary per regions of the country?
1967 Fall-Winter
1969 Spring-Summer
1969 Fall-winter
1970 Spring-Summer
1970 Fall-Winter (adds the "over size" dryer)
1971 Spring-Summer
1971 Fall-Winter
1972 Spring-Summer
1972 Fall-Winter (two offerings, redesign)
repairguy
Well-known member
Thanks for the additional catalog information Glenn. Does anyone have one of these kenmore dryers with a nearly 8 cubic foot drum?
Reply #10
Yes, thanks Glenn, those catalog snags were great!
I'd also like to hear/see more about that dryer. I had no idea KM made anything of that capacity so far back. That door is ginormous!!
Anyone have one of these still, or actual photos at least, to get an idea of what that looked like compared to the catalog rendition.
Yes, thanks Glenn, those catalog snags were great!
I'd also like to hear/see more about that dryer. I had no idea KM made anything of that capacity so far back. That door is ginormous!!
Anyone have one of these still, or actual photos at least, to get an idea of what that looked like compared to the catalog rendition.
I wish Whirlpool would offer a big dryer just like the one above with the side-swing door and mechanical controls. Hamper doors are impractical for me. Only 7.4 cu. ft. dryers are ones that match the front loaders with the exception of the commercial technology Maytag dryer. That would be a perfect dryer if one could soften or turn off the cycle signal.
John Lefever has one. This is the only pic I have from the 2002 gathering.
Wow Glenn, I missed that dryer. I don't recall even seeing it. I may have noticed the 700 dryer control panel from somewhat of a distance and decided I didn't need to see a 700 dryer.
Kenmore!
I remember seeing this dryer at the convention. It really is tremendous! Did Whirlpool make this large size dryer also?
I remember seeing this dryer at the convention. It really is tremendous! Did Whirlpool make this large size dryer also?
While I've seen that dryer in my old catalogs, I've never seen one in person. I don't think it's very attractive - looks like someone who's outgrown their clothes. The big GE and Hotpoint dryers looked better.
As for the washer, my Aunt Julie had one with a control panel like that, but don't know if it was this model.
In photo #9 of the BB team, the guy on the upper left (player 40) looks almost like a guy I went to school with.
As for the washer, my Aunt Julie had one with a control panel like that, but don't know if it was this model.
In photo #9 of the BB team, the guy on the upper left (player 40) looks almost like a guy I went to school with.
toploadloyalist
Well-known member
Sears Catalog Scans
Did those catalog scans by any chance come from ancestry.com?
Did those catalog scans by any chance come from ancestry.com?
Super Sized Kenmore 700 Dryers
I have only seen about 4 of these in my career, I had 2 around the time of the 2002 convention, I parted out the one in the pictures Glenn posted.
I am in the process of rebuilding the remaining one and am doing a lot of custom modifications on it. I eliminated the lint filter by installing the lint separation system from a WP Easy-Clean 100.
I cut a window into the door, used a round window from a KM combo.
The machine was also converted to a 25,000 BTU modulating gas burner and has been painted Hunter Green and will be installed under a counter top out on the screened porch next to my new SQ SS FL Washer.
For the controls I am using a small rectangular timer assembly mounted in wall over the counter top, I will post pictures when finished in a few months.
The original dryer was huge at least 8 CF seems somewhat bigger than GEs big dryers. It is basically the same dryer as WPs 29" models just greatly enlarged.
John L.
I have only seen about 4 of these in my career, I had 2 around the time of the 2002 convention, I parted out the one in the pictures Glenn posted.
I am in the process of rebuilding the remaining one and am doing a lot of custom modifications on it. I eliminated the lint filter by installing the lint separation system from a WP Easy-Clean 100.
I cut a window into the door, used a round window from a KM combo.
The machine was also converted to a 25,000 BTU modulating gas burner and has been painted Hunter Green and will be installed under a counter top out on the screened porch next to my new SQ SS FL Washer.
For the controls I am using a small rectangular timer assembly mounted in wall over the counter top, I will post pictures when finished in a few months.
The original dryer was huge at least 8 CF seems somewhat bigger than GEs big dryers. It is basically the same dryer as WPs 29" models just greatly enlarged.
John L.
