Kenmore's Maiden Wash!!

[mcmodern]

Agitator cap

Nice machine, Jamie!
Would the fabric softener used on later models fit on top of that agitator? My mid-80's Kenmore (sraight-vane) had one and I think it's why the cap is so plain. Bocks the view, though! Those may not be hard to come by. Wish I still had mine, I'd get it to you.

 

[appnut]

Jamie, the shifting form normal to gentle agitation speed on Normal cycle, during teh wash phase, is probably correct. Is there another alphabet letter on the timer for normal in the wash phase other than A & B? That shift actually was very prominent in Whirlpool versions at this time in the washer line's history. The shift to gentle on Normal was good for washable woolens back then. sears was sporadic about this normal to gentle slow shift in the middle of cycles. They offered it on 1960 Model 60s and also the 1960 Alphabet model like Disk S has in Palm Springs. Again Sears could have requested that again in their specs to Whirlpool in the mid to late 1960s.

 

[appnut]

Even though it's a pretty anemic 515 rpm normal spin speed, I suggest spinning the load on normal spin speed after the towel load finishes on Perm Press. Will help cut down on some of the drying time.

 

[exploder321]

Like the agitator cap.. Love the pictures

 

[DADoES]

Jamie, my aunt's machine DID switch to low agitation speed on the Normal cycle, at the 4-min mark when the timed bleach dispenser activated. I think it ran on low speed for just one timer increment, then switched back to high speed for the last 2 mins of wash time ... but I'm not sure about that, it may have stayed on low for the last 4 mins.

 

[mayken4now]

Great pics Jamie. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful machine. Bet you will enjoy that one.

BTW, are downy soaked towels easy to dry off with when getting out the the bath?

Steve

 

[jetcone]

Jamie

Nice pics, I always liked the DdoubleDdee ring in those machines. I was always amazed from growing up with a GE how those lower D rings never spun around in the spin cycle. As a kid I could never figure out how they did that OR made the water stay in the tub with all those holes.

The DD Kenmores do have their place in Applianceville thats for sure.

 

[swestoyz]

Jamie - you've taken some great photos of your wonderful machine. Doesn't it feel so good to have taken it down and rebuilt it back up and have it look like this? Such a beauty.

Ben

 

[powerfin64]

I've never heard of a Kenmore switching down to low speed on normal cycle, are you sure??? only on permanent press cool down I know they do.
sorry to hear you don't care for the Vari-Flex agitator. Like DADoES said,"You have basically 8 agitation speeds on a 2-speed machine." which is very true. I have a '72 lady K with it, and I love the agitation choices you get from it, and much more water drama!!

Rich

 

[todde]

steve

Can you just once say something nice without the little dagger in the ending. Look at your posts, it seems to always be the pattern

 

[jasonl]

YAYY!!

What an awesome machine with lighted controls. I guess this is a 700 series with the alphabet dial.

I didn't know some of those shifted into low gear in Normal cycle. Hmm.. Interesting.

Nothing like the standard size tub for the true Kenmore experience. I love Frankenmore but he's a water hog with his Canyon Capacity tub lol.

 

[gansky1]

Very nice machine, Jamie - you do such a great job detailing! Bringing joy into your washday - thanks for the pics!

 

[hoover1060]

wow

Now thats a beautiful machine!

 

[spats]

That's just beautiful!

 

[sheerlookhomes]

NICE!

Hi! nice pics of your lovely machine, you did a great job there, thanks for sharing.

 

[veg-o-matic]

I love the Whirlpool agitator cap on the Kenmore agitator! It looks so much better than the typical tapered KM caps.

Really cool machine, too! Nice work Mister!

veg

 

[foraloysius]

Great pictures! I like the lighted control panel!

 

[jasonl]

Am I the only purist?

Sorry, that WP cap has got to go LOL. You need to find the original gold cap for that agitator. I need one of those as well. Who has one?

 

[pulsator]

Thanks for the kind comments everyone!!!

Robert- Yea, I'm sure it's supposed to, the machines shuts off between the 4 and 6 minute mark then starts again after the timer clicks on low speed.

Austin- It'll spin on high speed, I just gotta help the tub beginto turn and then it'll take off.

Bob- There is another letter on the normal cycle but it's for a warm prewash/rinse. Also, because of a faulty window in the laundryroom, the laundryroom is QUITE cold, so I was tryin to heat it up usin the Fisher Paykel, so long drying times means a more comfy laundryroom! lol

Glenn- Mine switches to low and stays there until the rinse comes around, that's high speed.

Steve- Actually, for me, the towels are fine at absorbing after a shower, I just wouldn't us Downy on my cleaning rags... lol

Jon- When we had our old Whilrpool BD washer (ages 0-5) I always thought that the tub bent in the same shape as the tub ring. I could never figure out how they got a metal tub to bend like that so easily! lol!

Ben- It really does feel great! I can't wait to tackle the Bendix and hopfully a Unimatic someday!

Jason- I promise I'll make it 100% Kenmore once I can find a scrubber cap with the measuring cup to go over it!