Kenmore Calypso Use and Care Video

[Chetlaham]

I thought this video was really nice, warm, and a bit nostalgic as well. Showing the benefits, normal operation, loading, detergent dispensers and cycles of a Kenmore Calypso washer. Part two is on installing the machine. Part three is a word from Tide and Clorox. 

 

 

 

I wish they could've made such dignifying videos of other washers in their lineup. Even purchasing a MOL or BOL direct drive came with so many great advantages consumer should have felt very proud of. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[washerlover]

How much water filled into that thing? Didn't look like enough to me. And I can't believe how much was stuffed into the machine. Not a fan of these new-fangled things but is/was it very effective?

 

[DADoES]

 
Best HE toploader ever on the market thus far.

Water level is always below the wash plate.  The load rotates counterclockwise through the recirculation stream, the items simultaneously bounce-and-rollover.  Max spin speed is 800 RPM.

My video camera at the time was moderate resolution, had an irritating internal whirring noise, and limited storage/recording time so the full cycle is in five parts.

I still have the machine but haven't used it in some years.  It has been stored in the house, remains in nice condition for 24 yo.  Perhaps I'll do more videos at some future date.

 

[Chetlaham]

In some videos the flow rate of the re-circulation water fall varies up and down. Is this normal?

 

 

 

 

[combo52]

Whirlpool designed and built Calypso washing machine

This was an incredible achievement, almost 20 years in development, unfortunately it was too expensive to build, and they couldn’t get the cost down on it. It also had some reliability issues. Had they continue to build it they probably would’ve worked those out as well.

This is my all-time favorite top load high-efficiency washer, I have one in my laundry room every time I do laundry I wash the dirtiest white socks and cleaning cloths, etc. in this machine with nearly a full cup of detergent and a full cup of 7.5% Chlorine bleach and when the stuff comes out, you can’t even tell it. It’s been bleached so well rinsed.

Hi Chet I’m sorry you can’t get out and experience some of these machines but the recirculation flow is a constant speed pump but as the load is saturated, of course the water just dribbles out at first until there’s enough water to circulate just like a dishwasher filling you don’t get full circulation till you have the proper amount of water in the machine.

John L

 

[thomasortega]

It's impossible not to love a calypso.

Indeed the very best HE top load washer ever made.

 

[appnut]

The Calypso was an amazing, ground breaking washer. A friend from church absolutely loved hers and she had a vry active family with lots of very soiled loads.

 

[washerlover]

Glenn, thank you very much for sharing your videos! I always stayed away from any washers made after the mid-80s so thanks for the enlightenment!

Cheers,

Todd

 

[Chetlaham]

Hey John before you spread more rumors about me being a hermit 1) None of the used appliance stores in my area ever seem to have this washer 2) Using a Calypso isn't in my top 10. 

 

 

I'm sorry you still haven't gotten over the Sears sale floor ending up hundreds of these returned machines LOL.

 

[Marky_Mark]

Chet, what area of the country are you in?

 

[Marky_Mark]

And if you don't want to say which state you live in, perhaps you could put it in Chet terms by saying if you get your electricity from the Eastern Interconnection, Western interconnection or one of the others

 

[askomiele]

Discovered the video...

aswell, few weeks ago. Bit a trip down memory lane. I was excited about this washing machine and played that video over and over. The see-through machine for demonstration purposes was something interesting aswell. For me the music did it, still humming the 'calypso' sound sometimes...

Working out the problems would have benefited the history of topload washing machines. The fact that there are still survivors up and running, shows the potential this machine had. Yet things didn't work out.

For anyone still having one, keep it up and running so it can become a holy grail we can admire in the future.

 

[egress]

Interesting machine, but much too complex for what it is and I think that heavily contributed to their downfall. I'd still love to own one at some point, sorta a modern-day apex wash-a-matic almost haha. Unfortunately the weird wash motions almost always lend themselves to being a complex and unreliable mechanism which hasn't stood the test of time.

 

[bpetersxx]

I"ll have to reload the videos on youtube

New ones will have to wait until i can fix it again

The keyboard or the control boards will have to be replaced

 

[gelaundry4ever]

chetlaham

That is a nice find!