Kitchenaid KD-10

[1952crestwood]

Hi To All, and I hope everyone has a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend. After buying my first vintage dishwasher this past Fall (1965 Frigidaire Imperial in Turquoise)I have just this week acquired what appears to be a 1953 Kitchenaid KD-10, front loading unit. I saw what I believe to be a date stamp painted on the bottom of the wash chamber 2 13 53. Did KA date their units in this way? Overall the unit doesn't look bad on the outside, the racks are nice (but dirty) and the inside of the wash chamber was nice (but out of this world nasty in the screens and sump area). I'm guessing it's a gravity drain type because I didn't see any pump where the drain comes out of the bottom. I was able to clean most of the crud out of the screens and found some rust holes in the conical part that goes down into the sump. It appears that water laid in the sump well for a long time and made the housing for the motor (?) really crusty. (It reminds me of pictures of Titanic's hull after being underwater all these years.) I'm not even sure I want to attempt to plug this in since I'm the original Chicken Little when it comes to unknown electrical stuff. The black wash arm is in beautiful shape. I appears that it was once a stand alone unit that might have had a top on it, but that is long gone, but the sides are there. I am sure it would make a great under counter unit with the sides removed. I see info now and then on here and was wondering if anyone is especially knowledgeable and/or fond of these. I would like to trade it for a mid-50's Hotpoint front loader with the seperate top Roll-R-Rack if anyone has one that they'd rather have this in trade for. I will post pictures of it as soon as I am able but wanted to see if anyone with a Hotpoint (even in non-working condition) would be interested in a trade. If I don't get anyone wanting to trade for this one, I will keep it and most likely use it as a nice "under counter built in drain rack" for handwashed dishes. Perhaps I can simply attach a hose or pipe to the fitting underneath and run it through the floor down to a laundry sink for the water to trickle off the dishes down into. The underside looks nice. I have just these pics so far, but I will take more now that I have it cleaned up and the front panel on better.

 

[1952crestwood]

Another shot showing the serial number

Sorry these pics aren't better. They were taken by the fellow who gave this to me. I will get pics of the inside and of this as soon as I can.

 

[1952crestwood]

Some of "The Works"

Doesn't look bad from this angle.

 

[a440]

What an old Kitchenaid!

Beautiful!
Great find!
Can you take some pictures of the black wash arm? So cool that it was before the big ole blue wash arm!
So nice.
Brent

 

[1952crestwood]

Just another angle

Those side panels make me think it was a stand alone unit rather than a under counter model.

 

[a440]

Sorry for jumping the gun on the posts.

 

[1952crestwood]

Thanks Brent

I will get better pics of both the inside and outside of this on here as soon as I can, including the nice black wash arm.
I wouldn't consider trading this off for anything but that Hotpoint I've been searching forever for. Perhaps someday, somehow it will come along and my search will be over. LOL. In the meantime I really do like this machine, even if I am not mechanically inclined enough to restore it to like new condition.

 

[1952crestwood]

No problem.......

I see it as someone else who's excited about this as I am, so enthusiasm is always welcome.
Robyn

 

[gyrafoam]

Ooooh. Thats a real oldie there. Very kool find!

 

[1952crestwood]

Ok, finally got some better pics

and here is the black wash arm that A440 was looking for.

 

[1952crestwood]

The front

needs a little sanding and repainting.

 

[1952crestwood]

The racks look great.

No rust that I have found on those.

 

[1952crestwood]

Top rack is good too.

I'm thinking I will run both of these racks through my regular dishwasher to get them clean. These look small enough to fit and it will save a lot of trying to scrub in between all the holders.

 

[1952crestwood]

Wash chamber only has a few nicks

and "rubs" but nothing rusty. The only rusty parts inside are some holes through the screen over the sump area.

 

[1952crestwood]

ID Plate

Not sure if this has any sort of code to tell if what I saw painted under the wash chamber is correct as far as the manufacture date being 02 13 53.

 

[Unimatic1140]

1953!

Wow that is a beautiful find, its in really good shape. The rust in the sump is most likely because the the pump is cast iron.

Congratulations Robyn!

 

[a440]

Awesome! It is in great shape!
The big ole black wash arm looks a little thinner than the big blue wash arm in the later models. I wonder if this means the water force would be stronger in your model?
Thanks for the pictures!
Are you going to test it?
Brent

 

[jetcone]

Georgeous find!

That tub still has a lustre, lucky you!!!

Can't wait to see the virgin load, enjoy.

 

[combo52]

KD 10 DISHWASEHR

Hi Robin I have three KD 10 dishwashers and am trying to make one good restored one out of the three. All three were made in 1952 that date you found stenciled on the bottom of the tank would be the date it was made. Your machine is in better shape than any of mine, I do happen to have a never used early 1950s Hotpoint DW I am not sure I would want to trade it or not but we maybe should talk. If nothing else I have lots of spare parts for the KD 10s and I don't live to far away.