Lady Kenmore Question/Identification

[jimmynewts]

Greetings from the Great White North!

Only nine more weeks 'til the days start getting shorter and we're digging out from a foot or so of the wet white stuff!

First time posting on here, so go easy on me. Been lurking around here looking for info about a possible new washer purchase. I saw a Speed Queen TL on Craigslist I was interested in but missed out on, but got the bug by looking around here for something more vintage.

There is a nice looking matching Lady K pair on the Minneapolis Craigs that appear semi-vintage (80's) and look to be in good shape. I can't tell if the washer is BD or DD and was looking for some input from the highly knowledgable gallery here. Not really interested in another DD as I have a 90's Whirlcruel that is currently beating up fabric as we speak (but refuses to die).

From what I've read here, the older Lady K's are BD and the newer ones DD (maybe I'm mistaken on this). Is there any easy way to determine this by looking at them? Thanks!

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/app/3716694137.html

 

[yogitunes]

This is definately DD....

belt drives, for the most part had the timer knob in the center, but there were other models as well.....a tell tale mark of course would be the "D" shaped opening, similar to this pic....no matter what year, they all had this, until the direct drive came along....

 

[yogitunes]

even a Whirlpool belt drive had the "D" shape....

 

[appnut]

it's just like my old Lady Shredmore!!!!!!

 

[jimmynewts]

Thanks for the quick replies! I remember reading about the D-shaped opening and didn't get it until I saw the picture. The difference is the tub opening is D-shaped on a BD, while only the cabinet opening is on a DD - the tub opening is round (like my Whirlpool).

My wife caught wind of my "vintage" washer quest and isn't amused. Seems her sense of nostalgia (and quality) isn't what mine is. I'll soon be looking for a reasonably priced, somewhat reliable front loader (is that an oxymoron?) to keep her happy so she can wash pillows, quilts, etc. I read it here somewhere: happy wife = happy life!

 

[70series]

The DD Kenmores/Whirlpools also had narrower cabinets at 27 inches. The BDs had 29 inch cabinets, same as the dryers. The DD models also had lids that were more expanded from front to back, leaving about an inch less surface area between the front edge of the top and the lid.

The belt drive models were around from the mid 1950s until 1986 when the direct drives took over the Whirlpool/Kenmore inventories. The direct drives began in the early 80s, but were sold as space saving models that had a 24 inch cabinet. Previously, these models had been sold as belt drives too, but in the gradual push to phase in the direct drive washers, Sears and other stores too introduced them on the smaller less prominent models. Incidently, these DD Kenmores had center dials, until 1986 when the DD models were given the 27 inch cabinet, and full charge of the showrooms at Sears as well as retailers that sold Whirlpool. Ever since they have had dials situated on the right side of the console. Initially when I saw the DD Kenmores, after getting over my initial disappointment that the BDs were no longer to be found, I thought the relocation of the dial was Sears way of going old school, as most of the BDs from the 1960s and early 70s had them positioned on the right of the console, but I digress.

Anyway, hopefully you can impress upon your wife that going vintage is better.

Good luck,
James