Kitchen Aid Superba KDS-20 (NIB)

[kevin313]

Hi Everyone -

I'm in the process of building a kitchen in a building that I am now keeping my appliance, radio/hi-fi and typewriter collection in, and I wanted to have a dishwasher in the kitchen.

There was a Kitchen Aid Superba KDS-20 available that had never been out of the box. It was purchased new for a kitchen remodel that never happened. When I went to look at it, the steel bands were still wrapped around the top and bottom of the box. It has not see the light of day until we took the top lid off the box.

Pictures are below. I know little about dishwashers...can any of you experts date this machine for me?? I will test it before I install it, but I'm hoping it's in good working order. The rubber/gaskets are still pliable and it still has that "new dishwasher smell" ;-)

Thanks for any information you can provide on this Kitchen Aid!!

 

[jakeseacrest]

Jealous!

 

[toploader55]

Holy Crap !!!

I bought a KDS-19 in 1981 so this has to be around 1983 or so. The 19 series had the No Heat Dry that failed miserably unless you used the Soak and Scrub.

This machine ( I have one on vacation ) is a excellent performer. Soak and Scrub will make your wares "Shine like the top of the Chrysler Building".

It does have heated fan forced dry and is built like a tank. As you have noticed it is quite heavy.

All the cycles perform well and does have a sump heater to Maintain Wash Temps and Boost water to I believe is 160 for Sani Cycle.

It also probably has different color panels under the one that is presently installed. There might be White, Harvest, Black, and not sure of the last color.

Good Luck... I would do the standard AW protocol... Put a gallon or two of Hot water in the sump for a hour to let the gaskets "Come Back to Life".

Although it does not have the Overhead Constant Rinse, I have found that leaving the corners of the top rack with a bit of space helps with the Yibbles.

Keep us posted please.

Oh and as machines from this time period are noted for... They are not quiet as the Newer Water Squirt gun machines that also take 3 hours. This will whirl through a cycle in a hour or so. Enjoy

 

[swestoyz]

What an amazing find. *jaw hitting the floor*

The 20 series machines were sold new from May 1981 through April of 1984. IMO - the 20 can stand right in line with the 18 as possibly the best design Hobart made for the residential market.

Everything Eddie mentions above is spot on - I flipped the panels on my KDS-20 to black, against white cabinets. A lot has been said about the constant rinse being dropped on the 19/20, but to be honest I've never had a problem. With soft water and the right detergent combo (enzyme in the pre-rinse & rinse/bleach based in the wash dispense), these are a workhorse that will last a lifetime.

Ben

 

[peteski50]

Kitchen Aid!

That is such a Great find
Best Of Luck with it!

 

[kevin313]

Thank you!

I really appreciate all of the information and the advice on the dishwasher! I’ll let you know how it goes after I get it hooked up and running!

 

[combo52]

NIB KDS-20 DW

Wow Kevin thats a great find, I would just hook it up and use it, you don't even need to dump more than 1 quart of water in it immediately before turning it on.

 

It is an old wise tale that seals etc dry out from sitting, this DW is new enough to have vinyl and neoprene sealing materials used that do not deteriorate in this time span.

 

I think that the KDS-20 is probably the best vintage KA DW you could get, it is a little more reliable than the KDS-18s and does a great job while using less water.

 

The KDS-20 actually still has a Constant-Rinse jet to help cleaning in the upper rack, but the single jet is not quite as effective as the spinning one that always broke off in the 18 series DWs.

 

John L.

 

[Ultramatic]

Congratulations!

 

 

New in box, oh God, I feel faint!

 

[awooff]

Congratulations

Amazing find!

 

[potatochips]

Excellent find! Thanks for posting, show us a bob load when you can!

 

[toploader55]

I think I will put mine back into service tomorrow.

The RR is doing fine... but I long for the "Snap" of that drain solenoid.

 

[quincyman]

Looking to sell?

Looking to sell????????????????????

 

[gregingotham]

talk about a collectors dream

we got one of these when i was in high school. A real powerhouse I would love to still have today.

 

[dishwasherfan]

Congrats Kevin on that rare {Barn find}. I can't wait to see more posts & pictures when you use it.

 

[electronicontrl]

Hi Neighbor,

Such a classic look to those KitchenAids. I bet if you use the Sani Rinse option it will compensate for the lack of a heated dry.

We should wash dishes together sometime!

 

[toploader55]

Hi Kevin...

Did you ever get your KDS-20 installed ?

If you did, how do you like it ?

I just put mine back In to service today. Amazing machine. Makes Everything" Shine like the top of the Chrysler Building" .[this post was last edited: 1/14/2019-19:40]