Kenmore washer / Whirlpool dryer in avocado green, early 70's?

[adam61]

I finally picked up a nice older washer and dryer set in avocado green like I have been looking for for about 1 1/2 years now. - This stuff really doesn't show up around here often.

These are in nice condition, but I expect since they've been sitting (for probably decades) something is wrong with them. What should I look for before I try them out? Also, what's missing from the top of the agitator?

I would put these in the late 60's or early 70's, but anyone know the exact year?

Thanks! many pics should follow...

 

[appnut]

Fabrric softener disperser is missing on top of the agitator. [this post was last edited: 8/6/2022-23:31]

 

[maytag85]

I am willing to bet that Whirlpool dryer is late 60’s. People always assume avocado green is from the 70’s but debuted around 1965 in the Lady Kenmore washer since it was offered in avocado green and Maytag one year later introduced avocado green on their appliances. By the mid and late 60’s, it was all about the earth tones while earlier in the 60’s it was all about the doo-wop pink and turquoise even sunny yellow colors around that time.

 

[bradfordwhite]

yes

"By the mid and late 60’s, it was all about the earth tones while earlier in the 60’s it was all about the doo-wop pink and turquoise even sunny yellow colors around that time." very true.

In the early 80s when I started my repair business (as a young teen) I got 4 of these Kenmore washers at different times. Two were white and two were avocado and some had sudsavers.

That dryer is unique in that it doesn't have a press to start button.

I never had that dryer but I had a coffee color matching washer once that needed a minor repair like a water valve.

I ended up pairing it with a coffee color electric GE dryer and sold the pair to a young woman who thought she was a good business person because she talked me down to $285 for the pair.
lol.
Like it just happened yesterday when it was about 40 years ago exact.

I wish I had that coffee GE dryer back. That's the only coffee color GE washer or dryer I ever found.

Yes

 

[circlew]

To the best of my knowledge, Avocado was introduced in 1966 by General Electric. That same year Frigidaire came out with their version, called Tahitian Green. The first appearance of Avocado on Sears Kenmore appliances was in the Fall & Winter 1967 catalog.

 

[bradfordwhite]

#4 Yes

66 seems to be the year for avocado.

 

Sears Spring Summer is the first catalog with anything avocado and that was ONLY a few of their TOL refrigerators.  They also intro a black color as well.

 

Interestingly enough one could also still buy a turquoise TOL Sears Best Kenmore washer dryer in the spring of 1967.

They were also still offering a few models of refrigerators in both DoeSkin and Coppertone. 

 

I thought Doeskin and turquoise were done around 1965.

 

So the color line up was primarily white and Coppertone.  Add to that doeskin, torquiose, black, and avocado for Sears Spring Summer 1967

 

I also learned their best refrigerator weighed almost 500 lbs.  uggg.  

You could still buy a variety of stoves that ran on "alternative" fuels like coal and kerosene.

Plus one could buy a coppertone chest freezer that was self defrost AND had an ice maker.

This is just masugana.

 

When is harvest gold arriving to save me?

 

[DADoES]

 
The dryer's serial number is 10th week of 1969.  Model-year (T) is also 1969.

The washer's model/serial photo is not super-clear but seems to be serial 3rd week of 1969.

 

[repairguy]

Congrats on a great find! The washer is a 1968 year model built in 1969 as Glenn stated. If you want to use this washer as a daily driver I would recommend replacing the tub gasket. Oiling the top center post bearing is a must as well as the top agitator shaft bearing. This is assuming that the bearings are still good. Those respective seals probably need to be replaced as well. Did you get a story with these machines?

 

[repairguy]

Also if that washer still has the original cone self cleaning filter I would update it to the revised version to avoid house flooding.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Sears could sure challenge the market doing and selling what the major brands couldn't or often wouldn't do--the wood grain appliqué or that frostless chest freezer which was ahead of its time, just to name a few...

-- Dave

 

[adam61]

All I know about the history of these machines is that the guy I bought them from brought them to Arizona from Montana, and before that another guy brought them to Montana from Wisconsin, where they were sitting in the back of an appliance shop for many years.

 

[adam61]

More pics...

Where do you get parts? I see that cone filter in there, and the transmission does appear to be leaking oil (but the puddle of oil on the floor underneath it came from my '83 Continental) I had to give up my indoor parking spot to have a good place to work on these. I do hope to get these working well enough to use regularly - I currently have a Kenmore washer (about 15-20 years old) which is having problems, and I'd much rather fix this one instead.

I have my GE stove I picked up back in March in here too, and combined with the Sears fridge currently in the kitchen, I now have a complete set of avocado appliances minus the dishwasher.

 

[repairguy]

I find most parts on eBay as New Old Stock(NOS). Most of these parts were discontinued quite some time ago since the last belt drive rolled off of the line in 1986. Luckily for us there was a lot of inventory of parts for these machines and when the inventories were bought probably for pennies on the dollar they were listed on eBay.

 

[repairguy]

Looks like one of the seals or maybe a tub bolt was leaking for some time. That is the white stain on the baseplate.

 

[bradfordwhite]

You appear to have good taste. And don't worry about finding an avocado dw. if needed it's very easy to paint the front panel(s) in avocado for any model you choose, old or new.

When you mention '83 Continental, are we talking about a rare, 4-door, Mark VI by chance?

 

[adam61]

Nice Lincoln! Yes, here's a pic, I also have a Mark VIII.

 

[adam61]

Nice Lincoln! Yes, here's a pic, I also have a Mark VIII.

 

[circlew]

I see a '72 Ford Ranchero, too. I've always liked the '72 - '76 Gran Torino series.

 

[appnut]

Adam very nice!!!!