Kenwood dishwasher a1212

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Wow! Great find, and lovely to see this model of dishwasher again, after 30+ years!

I grew up with this model, and I remember when my parents got theirs new (mid 70s).
My grandparents also had the same model.
Yes, very noisy machines indeed, Lol! I remember the 'roar' that they made as they operated, and the kitchen doors in both households were always shut after lunch, when the Kenwoods were switched on!

Now that I have a model number to Google, I shall keep an eye out for any others (not that I would have room to accommodate one, sadly!).

Enjoy your machine. :-)

Doug
 
Latest on kenwood

Hi guys I've been tinkering with the dishwasher , the pump had seized and needed sealing , it was then only needing someway of stoping it leaking around the door. It had me puzzled as the door seal looked good. I tried reversing it as it's basically a squared c shape piece of rubber that goes along sides and top of cabinet edge. It still leaked , then I noticed when closing the door it was a bit off square. I twisted the door a few times and tested it , success! It didn't leak ! Well I've got it down to a few drips, but that's fine as it only dribble on vinyl floor. I very put it in place of my existing dishwasher. I've tried a proper ish load, I say that as these were things in my existing dishwasher. I've forgot to take before photos but will show after ones. From what I've discovered I is long wash II ( the program I've used now ) is short wash with wash times of about 10 mins ( I would have used longer but didn't know this was short ) III is rinse but heated rinse. The machine fills, heats the water completely and then turns on the motor. It's very noisy and I mean really noisy ! It does this each cycle. For drying the motor turns the impellor as a fan to blow the hot air over the dishes for about 2 mins.

Ill do some photos but have to switch over to my phone.

In the mean time I googled kenwood a1212 and got this link about testing dishwasher detergent ingredients I'm not sure if it's from uk or USA and to be fair I don't understand most of it. High school chemistry was 24 years ago! But they used this model of dishwasher using cycle II to test them. Do any of you American/Canadian guys know if this was ever sold in the USA / Canada ?

Richard

US3763047A - Detergent compositions - Google Patents

A granular detergent composition containing (a) a granular blend of mixed mono- and di-glycerides of fat-forming fatty acids, said mixture having a melting point of not less than 54*C. with a polyoxyethylene derivative of a higher fatty acid sorbitan ester; and (b) a compound selected from the...
www.google.com

ricky5050++10-2-2013-15-35-25.jpg
 
Thanks

I think this model came out in 1965 to replace their top loading dishmaster and went on until early 70s I believe I'm guessing this model is later as has rinse aid dispenser , which I'm not sure works as yet on this machine

Richard here's the pathe news link to early model, she fair old chucks in the dishes !

 
1212

Richard

Absolutely brilliant that you got it going and it seems to perform well. It might look low in your kitchen but I am presuming it does not have the optional plinth with it. This machine was designed to be floor standing, set on counter top or even hung on the wall. I have seen several instances of it being built in too.

It is just so great that you have rescued this machine and got it going too

Al
 
They were certainly made well into the mid 70s I think, as I remember my parents buying theirs new.
I seem to recall they were being sold as some kind of offer with something (hence probably the reason my grandparents also bought one at the same time). My folks are still about, and I shall ask them if they can remember any more details, when I next speak with them.

Doug
 
Hi thanks Doug and Al

I'd love to hear from anyone who used one regularly , I'm sure it would have been a boon if you'd never had one, coming from the other end having a modern ( even beko ) machine I may struggle to use this solely as my only dishwasher. As I love to put everything that stands still in mine. But I think I'll play with it for a while. I cannot imagine hanging this on a wall! It's a heavy beast when empty , never mind full and running with water , I'd be frightened it dislodged the bricks and mortar ! If (when ha ha ) I get rich I'd love a large kitchen so I can fit in a few dishwashers and washing machines already to go. That would be useful after a party etc using different machines for different crockery.

Cheers Richard
 
Built In

Here is the Kenwood Dishwasher built in, this is from 1968.

Curiously enough, if I remember correctly from another thread, the built in oven is a predecessor model to the one Richard's parents bought in the 1970s.

And yes, the English Electric washer and drier stack that you can see on the right are based on Westinghouse designs - actually the second time that happened

The complete booklet that this picture come from is on the link



www.automaticwasher.org

British Kitchen Design Late 1968

I hope you guys enjoy this thread. This was a supplement produced for "Woman" magazine date September 1968. It was a promotion produced in conjunction with Hygenia, once the leading UK "quality" kitchen company before that great name was adultrated by MFI in the late 1970s. Grab a coffee now...
www.automaticwasher.org www.automaticwasher.org

vacbear58++10-3-2013-14-25-0.jpg
 
More trivia

My head must be stuffed with the most useless junk, because I could remember seeing a picture of actress Diana Rigg's kitchen in the mid 1960s - which featured the same dishwasher. I would have been about 9 years old at the time ........

Anyway, a quick google search brought up this from 1967. The picture is actually from the Ideal Home Exhibition from that year, but this display was apparently a replica of her own kitchen. The woman with her is the model Twiggy.

The dishwasher is in the back right. The hotplates on the counter are Creda "Quick Discs" which were solid hotplates (not popular in the UK at the time) which were mounted individually into the counter top in whatever configuration and number you wanted. The electric kettle is a Russell Hobbs K2R which is something of a style icon in its own right - almost de rigeur for a UK collector to have :)

Al

Al

vacbear58++10-3-2013-14-27-8.jpg
 
Your head may be stuffed but..

At least you find it , I don't always! I like the idea of a dishwasher higher up but perhaps not best next to the oven? You might come back to your casserole washed out rather than cooked! I must find some old kitchen photos and I've a lovely brochure with kitchens in and the kenwood. I think the manufacture must have recommended them as it was the same kitchen as the one where I got my kenwood in Rochdale

Richard
 
Dream Scheme Kitchens

Oh blast form the past there boys, the only split level kitchens I ever saw was my Aunts (Servis MK3, Hotpoint Purple 1828) red and cream kitchen with all stainless steel Tricity Oven fridge and freezer, AND the showcase kitchen I got the Bendix Giromat from - they had a Wrighton dark green kitchen with all black tricity built in Oven Fridge & Freezer..

Glad you got it all working Richard, pity about the sound , I guess you could insulate the sides back and top but its the single frame door that would be the issue, a great nostalgia trip though!!
 
Wow! What a great find!! Despite having UK roots, I don't think any of my rellies over there had a dishwasher until the 70s or 80s (usually acquired after visiting my late mother here....LOL) so I did not get to see many of the earlier models.

Thanks for sharing your Kenwood find and may it provide you with many more years of fun!!
 

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