KitchenAid Hobart Superba

[yankeescrazy2]

I’m new here and a new home owner. Does anyone know if this is a KDS-17A? I looked through older threads but I’d like to confirm the model number as I couldn’t see any photos. Our home inspector said it is broken but did not say how it is broken. Is it worth anything at all? I’m trying to sell it on Facebook Marketplace but no one seems to want it.

 

[bajaespuma]

No, but not a big deal IMO

It's a KDS-17, no A. If it were a 17-A, there's be one little brown ENERGY SAVER button on the LH side of the panel that disabled the heating element. I honestly don't know if it turned off the element in the 
DRYING fan or the water-heating coil in the sump, or both. In our KDC-17A, there was only the drying heater to shut off. Still a wonderful machine and it's obvious that the owners were cared for it, old school. Where in CT are you?

 

[DADoES]

 
The Energy Saver function on a KDS-17A turns off only the drying heater during the dry phase.  Water heating for the Sani Rinse option is not affected.

 

[yankeescrazy2]

bajaespuma

I’m in Stratford.
I refuse to junk this once I start demo in my kitchen.

 

[appnut]

Looks to be in very good shape for its age.

 

[sarahperdue]

Demo?

What about fix, paint and reuse? You can count on some help over in the Super forum. It’s a gorgeous machine (except for the avocado part, but avocado has its fans too).

Sarah

 

[yankeescrazy2]

Sarapurdue

Yes, demo.
I came into this forum hoping someone would want it. Preferably someone who will appreciate it more than I do. I do not want to junk it as it’s vintage
Maybe worse case, I can donate it to Goodwill?

 

[bendixmark]

kds-17

This is the ultimate dishwasher.I have the exact same one in that color but mine is new never used and I drove to another state to get it.I work in the appliance field and the new dishwashers are junk.I would have it looked at.

 

[rp2813]

Around here, I don't think there are any thrift stores that would accept a dishwasher anymore.  I even tried to donate a much newer Kenmore Ultra Wash dishwasher in excellent working order to Habitat for Humanity's ReStore and they refused it.

 

Your KDS-17 was aptly marketed as "A hurricane in a box."  It will get a load of dishes done in less than half the time of a modern machine, and if you have an infant in the household, the sani-cycle can come in handy.  Unfortunately, your machine is a little too old and doesn't offer the option of changeable front panels.  Otherwise you could get them in stainless steel and with the timeless look of a vintage KitchenAid, still use it in your new kitchen.

 

Disclosure:  I've had a couple of vintage KitchenAid clones that were a few models newer than yours.  While results were decent, after I found a lightly used Miele at the ReStore, I was amazed by the phenomenal results and have never looked back.  I completely understand how an avocado dishwasher in a brand new kitchen would take the sore thumb term to a whole new level.

 

[firedome]

front panels...

should have been available in stainless for the 17 series, my parent's '65 KDS15 had stainless panels, or maybe it was called brushed chrome. I loved it but Mom didn't like the constant fingerprint problem.

 

[DADoES]

 
Our KDI-17A had stainless panels.  KA at the time didn't directly include panels in the price of the machines.  The buyer had a choice of what finish/color, which was charged separately.

 

[circlew]

As Glenn mentions, the KitchenAid dishwashers were sold less the front panels. I don't have the paperwork in front of me, but it seems like the panel finishes (for 16 series) were White, Coppertone, Avocado, Harvest Gold, primed for paint, Brushed Chrome, and Stainless Steel.

 

[rp2813]

I was referring to the interchangeable color sheets for the door and lower access panel on the models beginning with the 20 series that are flat and slide in behind the two trim strips at top and bottom and are fastened in place by the wider stainless trim strips on each side.  They were provided in multiple colors with all machines and stored neatly behind the front color sheet of choice.  Stainless steel sheets, however, were either an optional upgrade or sold separately. 

 

I presume wrap-around panels like those on the subject machine were available in stainless, but they would be tough to find new these days.  I was still able to purchase a set of stainless sheets that fit the 20-23 series for my ISE Classic Supreme several years ago from Sears Parts, and IIRC a stash of them were being sold by the each on ebay around the same time.

 

[DADoES]

 
A metal shop could possibly fabricate stainless panels using the existing panels on it as a pattern.

 

[combo52]

SS Panels For A KDS-17

It is also very easy to take the panels off and do a vinyl rap that looks like SS, I have seen this done in a lot of homes we work in and it looks pretty darn good, you can also paint the panels silver and clear coat them and they will look great.

 

I have a friend that did his kitchen a few years ago and the kitchen got all new SS KA appliances, but the customer wanted another top-load 27" Thin-Twin, so I sent a new one to an auto body shop they painted it silver and clear coated it and it looked as good as everything else in the kitchen.

 

John L.