Kenmore Eighty Series set

[captainmoody]

I found a Kenmore washer/dryer set this morning while dropping off a load of scrap at the recycler. They charged me 12.50 each for the both of them! Aside from the top left side enamel being chipped on both units, they are suprisingly clean and complete.
My question is how old are they? I am guessing 1960?
The model and serial numbers are:
Washer:
110 5905803 Stock 9580
Ser C521052
Dryer:
110 5907802 Stock 9780
Ser M527819
I am pretty happy about this find as they are a pair and I won't have to go hunting down one or the other!
Is there anything I should check/replace before powering them up?

 

[captainmoody]

A shot of the inside..

 

[captainmoody]

Underneath..

 

[filterflo]

Wonderful find, one of my favorite sets. By the way, your washer is missing the transmission braces that secure it to the frame. Probably the belt was changed at some point and the previous owner didnt bother to put them back on. They are rather important ot keep your tranny and spin tube aligned in the bearing shaft. You can probably find three more off another old washer at some point. The FSP service manual always tells the owner to be sure and
reinstall them.

 

[rickr]

Nice 1959 Kenmore set!

Those are from 1959. Hi Jimmy, the transmition braces were not added until 1961 on KM/WP.

 

[jasonl]

WOW!

Someone took good care of them. I bet they need minor repair. Great find! Beautiful examples of my favorite brand.

 

[pdub]

I can hardly believe...

that these were taken to the recycler. What a shame if these had been crushed. I am so glad you got them. What a great find and add to your collection. Gregm has the same machines in his collection I think. Best of luck. Patrick

 

[filterflo]

Hi Rick, I never new that! Thanks. I had a 1960 set that never seemed right, It had them on it, but they never looked correct. The tranny in mine had been changed once before, so maybe someone added them at that time....I replaced the bearings in it once but they wore out again after using it for many years. I finally scrapped it because of that.......the bearings never did seem to fit the spin tube correctly........

 

[rickr]

KM/WP transmition braces

I wonder if the braces were added as the capacity was increased Jimmy? A more powerful motor,and the increased fill height were the the only other changes that I know of.

BTW: I swapped out the pressure switch in the 56 WP for a higher fill,and will do the same thing for the 56 KM I am working on now. The originals cannot be adjusted high enough. I have to have the tub FULL on my machines! No water shortage around here.... LOL!!

 

[goatfarmer]

Nice save!

kennyGF

 

[jasonl]

Rick, now that's what I call beauty! A FULL tub and a Rotoswirl washing the clothes Kenmore Klean.

 

[frontaloadotmy]

captainmoody wow

What a great save! Looking forward to seeing them all lit up!

 

[gregm]

1959's

GREAT finds, I have the exact same set .................

 

[gregm]

and .........

heres the dryer

 

[captainmoody]

Wow! Nice machines greg! I will need to do a lot of cosmetics to get mine like that.
I have another question, this time about the dryer. I noticed it has a lint bag? How is that supposed to work? Is it like a vac bag? the one in my dryer is all taped up and looks pretty sad...

 

[mayken4now]

captimmoody,

good save. Were they ready to go in the grinder/krusher?

It makes me wonder how many on a daily basis that we don't even know about. SCARY for us.

Steve

 

[swestoyz]

Nice score Dwight! I spotted the same dryer at a local Menard's a few months ago - if it had the matching washer, I would have sprung the large sum of 18 dollars for the set. This is one of my favorite Kenmore designs - you'll love'em!

Ben

 

[Washinsheen]

Fantastic!!! I am so horrified that they were almost crushed. It's like wheeling your old granny to the cemetery and leaving her there in her wheelchair, or something.

 

[spinout]

Dryers need love too...

Fantastic save! Could you please tell me more about the dryer; gas or electric. And perhaps some close-ups of its controls, panel, inside, etc.

Thanks and congrats.

 

[powerfin64]

GORGEOUS SET!

Closeups of the control panel and timers PLEASE!!!

Rich

 

[toggleswitch]

Looks like this dryer may be gas. Wasn't this the approximate vintage of 50a amp *super-speed* Kenmore electric dryers?

 

[captainmoody]

Yes, the dryer is gas. Here is a closeup of the control panel.

 

[captainmoody]

Both units have damage to the same side where they were uncerimoniusly dumped on the ground. Luckily, it was minimal considering what was about to happen! When I came upon them the guy with the loader was ready to move them to the processing area. That would have been bad! As a matter of fact, they made me load them first before paying as more than one machine was working that area.
I will never know the history of these, but know that someone had to care for them very well through the years. Most likely the elderly owner passed on and they were left in the house when sold.

 

[captainmoody]

What would be the best way to touch up the chipped porcelain top? That touch up paint the appliance stores sell?

 

[jasonl]

Those mean old truck drivers

They wouldn't like it if someone shoved them off a truck bed. Now you know how those poor appliances feel.

 

[rickr]

How about a colour change??

Dwight, I had a little extra time this morning, so to Photoshop I went. I have been telling Greg that his set would look great turquoise,and he keep saying "pink" So here is his machine in turquoise.

As long as the paint has been damaged anyway, and your new set is so perfect anyway... I would go for it and have these redone on turquoise. I just think they would be fantastic in that colour!

 

[spinout]

I love the Turquoise....

however, I don't think it was actually offered as stock color for this set.

The busted porcelain can be touched up with a heavy bodied porcelain repair paint. It may take several coats and it's not perfect, but it makes for a decent touch up an will make the injury much less noticeable.

Toggle, I was wondering the same thing, so I looked it up. (The corresponding electric model is #110.5908801 Stock 9880) It appears you are correct.

This gas version is [also] high speed and according to the orfice charts is 37,000 btuh input. Should make quick work of any load and will dry faster than one could wash.

 

[jetaction]

Drooling all over the house.....

Finding this dryer is the last item on my dream list waiting to be checked off! If anyone sees one, or the set,,,, let me know. This is my first memories of automatic washers as my Grandma had this, we had a Maytag wringer!

 

[captainmoody]

I just noticed spinout's post about the btu rating on my dryer. Sure enough, it is 37,000! All my others are 22,000, is that due to some later safety regulation? If I use this will I have to be extra careful with the heat settings? Wouldn't want to turn a load of clothes into ash!

 

[westytoploader]

Nice finds Dwight, congrats!!! Judging by the picture of the underside, the washer is a suds-saver model.

Interesting that you mention the lint bag...was it just the 1959 models with the lint storage system?