Kinda Kenmore dryer match to electronic washer?
- Thread starter peterh770
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There was a matching washer too. Just never seen the two sXs.
Peter and Bob,
This is a perplexing dryer. I remember them in the stores very vaguely, and more clearly from a few newspaper and catalog sale ads. I never thought they were very attractive, and it bugged me that Sears used those little pointer "knobs" when everything else in the line at that time used the chromed knobs.
This is a 1985 80-series dryer, in fact its the highest model numbered machine in the line from that year with the exception of the Lady K dryer which matched the electromechanical Lady K washer. There was also the still current 1982 Limited Edition dryer. This dryer appears to have all the functional features of the 1985 Lady K dryer, just with a standard woodgrain top and those pointy knobs. Its the only dryer in the entire line, except the Lady, which had the single electronic sensor cycle, which was paired with the six-position cycle modifier switch. This had been a common configuration in the 1978-1980 time frame but the modifier was eliminated until the 1983 Lady K.
I got one of these funky dryers last summer in gold - not a particularly good looking machine I don't think. It seems the pointer knobs have a tendency to break, as each of the three on mine were cracked at the mounting point, and the replacement I found on ebay was the same way.
I have been unable to find the washer that was paired with this dryer, but I remember something being paired with it in ads. I think it was always a chromed knob variant? The last line of belt drive washers were 1983 models, but none of them match the specifics in appearance to this dryer. There was a full line of dryers in 1983 as well but we got the 1985 re-issue dryers because Sears re-numbered and re-introduced them when the EZ-loader doors came out with the dura-white drums. These models were very good sellers through the end of the belt-drive era paired with the 1983 washers.
Bob - if you remember the washer more clearly, I'd love to know more about it!
Gordon
This is a perplexing dryer. I remember them in the stores very vaguely, and more clearly from a few newspaper and catalog sale ads. I never thought they were very attractive, and it bugged me that Sears used those little pointer "knobs" when everything else in the line at that time used the chromed knobs.
This is a 1985 80-series dryer, in fact its the highest model numbered machine in the line from that year with the exception of the Lady K dryer which matched the electromechanical Lady K washer. There was also the still current 1982 Limited Edition dryer. This dryer appears to have all the functional features of the 1985 Lady K dryer, just with a standard woodgrain top and those pointy knobs. Its the only dryer in the entire line, except the Lady, which had the single electronic sensor cycle, which was paired with the six-position cycle modifier switch. This had been a common configuration in the 1978-1980 time frame but the modifier was eliminated until the 1983 Lady K.
I got one of these funky dryers last summer in gold - not a particularly good looking machine I don't think. It seems the pointer knobs have a tendency to break, as each of the three on mine were cracked at the mounting point, and the replacement I found on ebay was the same way.
I have been unable to find the washer that was paired with this dryer, but I remember something being paired with it in ads. I think it was always a chromed knob variant? The last line of belt drive washers were 1983 models, but none of them match the specifics in appearance to this dryer. There was a full line of dryers in 1983 as well but we got the 1985 re-issue dryers because Sears re-numbered and re-introduced them when the EZ-loader doors came out with the dura-white drums. These models were very good sellers through the end of the belt-drive era paired with the 1983 washers.
Bob - if you remember the washer more clearly, I'd love to know more about it!
Gordon
Here's a picture for the archives
Looks to be in nice shape....
Looks to be in nice shape....
And
Gordon, I knew two families who possessed the unmatchedc mate. One the washer and one the dryer. The washer was an 80 series with infinite water level and the rest of the 80 series features. There is one exception to your comment it appeared to have all the funcitonal feauteres of the 1985 LK. Only the mechanical LK and higher up electronic panel dryers had a medium heat setting. This dryer only had regular and delicate. Once these center dial Kenjmores emerged in the mid-1970s, I don't recall ever seeing anything in the stores or cartalogues which had a medium heat other than the LK or comparable. The rest had only two heat options. And it really got bad with the late 1970s model changes (or could have been early 1980s) that placed the temp setting on the timer dial, even those with auto dry--cottons & permanent press with wrinbkle guard had high heat and knits/delicates had low heat. This rendition really irked me as it just kept taking away the pizzaz features Kenmore used to have. I hadtede all those dryers with the temp setting in the timer.
Bob -
You're absolutely right...I hadn't noticed the temp differences, and I have one of these I can look at if I wanted to - too funny. You can clearly see on the temp section that it is bracketed into air, low heat, and high heat. Its good to know there were some differences with the Lady K.
I'll have to look further for a washer that might match this dryer. I am thinking I have seen one or two of these also now, but they never made an etching on my memory. There were four 1983 80-series machines, and all had the infinite water level, and the auto temp control, but three use the same panel, which is meant to go with the chrome knobs, and the fourth uses a Lady K like panel with the cycle modifier and a second rinse, and it too uses the chrome knobs. I'll look more closely in the 1981 and 1982 models. Did the washer have all these pointy knobs too, and the inset in the front of the panel? If so, it would be easy to detect in part drawings.
I have one of those dryers you don't like, bought it new in fact, but the heat settings have never bothered me. I have used the Knit/Delicate cycle maybe 20 times in 26 years, mostly for drying rubber backed rugs, but I will admit to using it more often since finding AW.org. I had only started using laundry appliances when my Mom got rid of her 1961 Kenmore 70 dryer (which had a 6 position heat switch --- I think it was usually left on medium or Perm Press nearly all the time) and bought the 1972 Kenmore dryer which we had for 11 years. That dryer had no heat selections at all, however the catalogs claim this model and several others better had variable heat which the dryer adjusted as clothes dried, so no user adjustments were necessary. I did not know this at the time. Mom's current dryer has the timer set heats as well, so when I bought mine, it was no different. I wanted the model under mine with a single temp anyway... As I said in the past, I'm probably the perfect customer to have bought the one knob wonder BOL models.
Gordon
You're absolutely right...I hadn't noticed the temp differences, and I have one of these I can look at if I wanted to - too funny. You can clearly see on the temp section that it is bracketed into air, low heat, and high heat. Its good to know there were some differences with the Lady K.
I'll have to look further for a washer that might match this dryer. I am thinking I have seen one or two of these also now, but they never made an etching on my memory. There were four 1983 80-series machines, and all had the infinite water level, and the auto temp control, but three use the same panel, which is meant to go with the chrome knobs, and the fourth uses a Lady K like panel with the cycle modifier and a second rinse, and it too uses the chrome knobs. I'll look more closely in the 1981 and 1982 models. Did the washer have all these pointy knobs too, and the inset in the front of the panel? If so, it would be easy to detect in part drawings.
I have one of those dryers you don't like, bought it new in fact, but the heat settings have never bothered me. I have used the Knit/Delicate cycle maybe 20 times in 26 years, mostly for drying rubber backed rugs, but I will admit to using it more often since finding AW.org. I had only started using laundry appliances when my Mom got rid of her 1961 Kenmore 70 dryer (which had a 6 position heat switch --- I think it was usually left on medium or Perm Press nearly all the time) and bought the 1972 Kenmore dryer which we had for 11 years. That dryer had no heat selections at all, however the catalogs claim this model and several others better had variable heat which the dryer adjusted as clothes dried, so no user adjustments were necessary. I did not know this at the time. Mom's current dryer has the timer set heats as well, so when I bought mine, it was no different. I wanted the model under mine with a single temp anyway... As I said in the past, I'm probably the perfect customer to have bought the one knob wonder BOL models.
Gordon
Gordon, yes, the washer had all these pointy knobs too. I saw the dryer advertised than I did the washer. But I know I've seen one of those in person. My mom pretty muchg threw everything in together, very little sorting at all. I learned to properly do laundry from neighbors in the early 1960s. Properly mean "The Kenmore Way" with correct cycles and temperature settings as well with corresponding drying--all dryers at that age around me all had tempt knobs or buttons. Myt early laundry exposure and education were either Kenmore or Frigidaire.
70series
Well-known member
This is an unusual dryer. Finding the matching washer will probably be like grabbing the needle in a haystack. If this were a run of the mill All American model, I would probably guess there was no match, but with so many unigue details appointed to this console, there must be a fitting spouse somewhere.
Bob, you may be one of a priviledged few to have seen the washer. I would have loved to have seen something like this in person.
Have a good one,
James
Bob, you may be one of a priviledged few to have seen the washer. I would have loved to have seen something like this in person.
Have a good one,
James
