Price?
For ironers you pretty much have to go with what you feel the thing is worth. Quite honestly see those Kenmore as well as other ironers all over CL, eBay and such in various states of condition. Some are going for vast sums, others for pennies and most always sellers seem not to be able to give the things away. *LOL*
Only ironers one sees that go for the sort of money seller in OP wishes are modern Miele units. Yes, have seen one or two go for as little as $500 or $800, one of them right in my backyard (well Upper Westside of Manhattan), that was listed several times before it finally sold.
As with many vintage appliances many sellers seem to be under some illusion what they've got is worth big money, when the truth is much different. Ironers in particular are *not* in very high demand. Because if their size and weight the market is usually limited to local buyers as shipping can be very dear.
Got my Frigidaire ironer for free. It came from upstate NY and all one had to do was arrange shipping. Story was the usual one; seller recently purchased a home and found the thing in his new house and wanted it gone. However the guy was decent enough to want the ironer to go to a home where it would be used and not to scrappers. Indeed he turned away many such persons with a flea in their ears when they turned up in response to his advert/listing. The man was that thrilled that one wanted the thing not only to use but was a vintage appliance buff as well.
Knee controls versus foot pedal:
Have both with the Ironrite being single knee lever and the others (Pfaff, Frigidaire) operated by foot. Once you get used to either to me there isn't that much of a difference. IMHO both are better than the dual knee system of older Ironrites.
