Kenmore Dishwasher

[hobarthero]

So here’s an interesting unit I found locally. I’m not familiar with who made this machine for Kenmore but it appears to be a TOL version with three level washing and an array of wash options. It’s in excellent condition so I’m probably going to pick it up tomorrow and it’s cheap. If anything it will be good to have just for the collection but if it’s a decent performer that’s awesome! Thanks as always for the input gang!
-Shannon

 

[combo52]

D&M Built Kenmore DW

The only other DWs as bad as this were the White Westinghouse DWs from the early 70s and of course the WCI junk that came out of the merger of WW and D&M.

 

Get it for your museum don't put it in your kitchen if you don't like DWs that leak.

 

Wear protective gloves when moving this DWs they have lots a sharp edges.

 

John L.

 

[hobarthero]

Almost Unused - For good reason lol

It still functions and does not leak, but I had a feeling that the performance was sub par based on it’s barely ever used looking condition. I see lots of beautiful dishwashers that never got worn out because they worked so poorly and didn’t get used. I’m still excited to have it just for the collection. I had a feeling it was D&M or WW based on the detergent dispenser which was very similar to the old Kelvinator DW’s in the apartment complex I manage.
-Shannon

 

[hobarthero]

Approximate Age?

Is Anyone aware of the approximate age of this DW?
-Shannon

 

[peteski50]

Kenmore!

This DW is between 1983 - 1986

 

[peteski50]

Kenmore!

This is from this series!

 

[appnut]

This was the last of the D&M dishwashers, there was one slight updated "generation" toward the last ear or two which were some of what was found in some houses built around the corner from me in 1984-1987. I believe late 1984 was when the first Kenmore UltraWash (WP PowerClean) was beginning to show up. More UltraWash models were brought out as the D&M line was phased out.

 

[peteski50]

Kenmore!

D & M produced another series after this one. But WP PowerClean than became the bigger sellers into the 90's at sears!

 

[askolover]

My mother had a KM in 1987...it was more like the 7031 in the catalog pic above but without wood grain.  I remember because it was only a month or so before my sister got married.  It replaced her 1974 KA Superba that finally died.  We were actually very happy with her KM dishwasher...at least it had a middle wash arm.  It worked flawlessly until a screw from a pot lid got down into the grinder and caused the thermal protector to kick out due to the strain on the motor.  We replaced it with her current KUDI23 in 1994.  I disassembled the KM and found the problem...reassembled it and tested it and it worked again!  She gave it to a friend from church who had been widowed.  I don't know how long it worked after that.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hi Shannon, this is a great find! I personally really like D&M dishwashers, they clean really well and have no filter which needs to be cleaned ever, the food grinder works amazingly well and takes care of all the bits. These machines move A LOT of water with great force! I have had the 1965 version of this dishwasher installed in my kitchen for over 10 years now and it has been a wonderful machine. Granted the early versions like mine are of a better quality build structurally, but the overall motor and pump design are nearly the same between the early models and later models.

I also found a hardly ever used 1976 version of this dishwasher and saved the important parts to keep my 1965 working for a long time.

 

[pierreandreply4]

question

are these vintage dishwasher models still find in canada?

 

[hobarthero]

Abort Mission

So I went to pick it up today and they had apparently removed some parts when they uninstalled it. They did not leave the parts with the dishwasher on accident so I contacted the person and asked if they had the parts because they are obsolete and it would be hard to get them otherwise. Well the seller came to give me the parts but then demanded more money for being inconvenienced by me having the audacity to want the complete machine (which is what we had agreed on). I told him we had a deal and him forgetting to leave the parts was not my fault and I didn’t feel I should be punished for his mistake. Long story short I told him to keep the machine (Some choice words may have been used as well). I would never charge someone for a mistake I made and I thought it was wrong of him to demand I do just that. So unfortunately it will probably end up in a garbage pile as I doubt anyone else will buy it. I’m happy I didn’t get it from someone like that though. I usually love meeting sellers and talking about the collection hobby and getting to know them. This is my first bad experience with a seller, so I won’t let it discourage me. Life goes on as they say. On to the next find!
-Shannon

 

[peteski50]

Kenmore!

Shannon I'm sorry it didnt work out

 

[jeb]

My parents bought the 1978 version when they redid the kitchen. It cleaned very well and was really abused (my brother and i cleaned our hamster cages in it when mom wasn't home). It ran almost every night and always did a great job of cleaning even when it was poorly loaded.It was still working when they sold the farm 20 years later. Mom had a hard time with the concept of having to clean a filter in the new dishwasher in the house they moved to in town.She couldn't believe that a new dishwasher would have filters when the old one did not.To her that was a step backwards.

 

[appnut]

Shannon, I'm so sorry that happened to you.

 

[hobarthero]

No big deal

Sometimes things don’t work out. Thank you guys I really appreciate the camaraderie we all have here. If anyone comes across another one of these though please let me know lol.
-Shannon

 

[littlegreeny]

I agree those D&M Kenmores were great! We had a 7032 growing up in harvest gold. That thing was a beast and would clean anything and everything you could fit in it. It was running all the time and we had zero issues. The little blower inside made everything bone dry at the end of the cycle too. It's a shame they don't make them like that anymore.

Thanks for the pics, it brought back some wonderful memories.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Shannon, I am sorry the seller was an ass, but very glad that you emerged from the bad experience safe and unscathed.

 

[reactor]

Sorry, Shannon.

That's a bummer, Shannon. Sellers often do despicable things.

My family had a 1968 Modern Maid version of the D&M/Kenmore dishwasher. Back then the openings were a little larger (and fewer) in the bottom wash arm and it did not have the roto-rack.

Actually, it had great scrubablility (don't think that's an actual word, ha) and we had it from '68 until my dad replaced it with a GE Potscrubber, in '73.

The only problem we had was occasionally food bits, little nibblets, would remain on top of the cups and some glasses.

Interestingly, my sister and brother-in-law bought a house that came with an Kenmore with the roto-rack, and they never had the food particle problem. I assume the slight centrifugal force, caused by the rotating upper rack, flew any food particles off the dishware.

Thanks Robert for sharing your Kenmore in operation video! You did a great job installing the window in the door.

When we had the Modern Maid/D&M I wanted badly to see what was going on when it was in operation. Being a precocious kid, I (when my parents weren't home) tried to tape Saran wrap to the opening to see it in operation. Of course, Saran wrap isn't wide enough so I had several strips tapped together then used duct tape around the edges.

Of course, as it filled with hot water it fogged up, then as soon as the pump started it entirely blew my homemade saran wrap door apart. I was exceedingly disappointed. Quite a mess to clean up before my parents got home!

So thanks, Robert. After 50+ years I finally get to see what was going on inside the machine![this post was last edited: 9/19/2021-16:17]