laundromat
Well-known member
Has anybody here found either of these brand washers?Dryers?History???
Leonard??? Duracrest???
- Thread starter laundromat
- Start date
Help Support :
According to Wikipedia
The Leonard Company was founded in 1881 by Charles H. Leonard in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The famous Leonard "Cleanable" Refrigerator came about after a mishap in the Leonard home: a pail of hot cooling lard was left inside an ice box on top of a cake of ice, resulting in melted ice, a spilled pail and cooled lard spilled all over. Charles created his refrigerator with removable liners and flues. In 1885, Leonard introduced metal shelves and improved the door-locking mechanisms. 1907 saw the introduction of porcelain lined interiors, which further enhanced the cleanability and sanitation of refrigerators. The refrigerator cabinets were made of highly varnished carved-oak, brass fixtures, and enhanced with mirrors.[1]
Electrical refrigerators were introduced in 1918, and by 1925, Leonard was building one out of every five refrigerators produced in the United States, which amounted to 1000 refrigerators per day. Leonard merged with Kelvinator in 1926. The Leonard brand of appliances continued to be sold exclusively through Leonard dealers, as well as through Canadian and English dealers.
As for Duracrest I know that here in the DC area those were Kelvinator made appliances that were sold at our local Hechts Department Stores...PAT COFFEY
The Leonard Company was founded in 1881 by Charles H. Leonard in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The famous Leonard "Cleanable" Refrigerator came about after a mishap in the Leonard home: a pail of hot cooling lard was left inside an ice box on top of a cake of ice, resulting in melted ice, a spilled pail and cooled lard spilled all over. Charles created his refrigerator with removable liners and flues. In 1885, Leonard introduced metal shelves and improved the door-locking mechanisms. 1907 saw the introduction of porcelain lined interiors, which further enhanced the cleanability and sanitation of refrigerators. The refrigerator cabinets were made of highly varnished carved-oak, brass fixtures, and enhanced with mirrors.[1]
Electrical refrigerators were introduced in 1918, and by 1925, Leonard was building one out of every five refrigerators produced in the United States, which amounted to 1000 refrigerators per day. Leonard merged with Kelvinator in 1926. The Leonard brand of appliances continued to be sold exclusively through Leonard dealers, as well as through Canadian and English dealers.
As for Duracrest I know that here in the DC area those were Kelvinator made appliances that were sold at our local Hechts Department Stores...PAT COFFEY
laundromat
Well-known member
Thanks,Pat. I only saw Leonard products at a local chain of stores named E.J.Korvette.I am not sure how true the info.of their origin I heard is but,when we were younger,we were told that 8 men who served in the Korean war founded it and ,because of their own beliefs,they coined its name from that (Eight Jewish Korean Veterans)instead of combining or arguing over who's name would be used.As I said,that was only hear say.
I think that the May Company,previous,maybe current owners of Hecht's (if they're still in business)Department Stores had a contract with Kelvinator back when Hecht's had their own line of Major Appliances.I had a neighbor who had the set replacing their older Laundromat from '55.I had never seen one before but noticed the similar wash action to the Kelvinators I had seen at other homes as well as a few local laundries.After that,I came across the gas and electric company's warehouse where the old,broken down machines went before being picked up to take to the dump where the owner sold the entire unit or parts to mostly used appliance dealers.
I think that the May Company,previous,maybe current owners of Hecht's (if they're still in business)Department Stores had a contract with Kelvinator back when Hecht's had their own line of Major Appliances.I had a neighbor who had the set replacing their older Laundromat from '55.I had never seen one before but noticed the similar wash action to the Kelvinators I had seen at other homes as well as a few local laundries.After that,I came across the gas and electric company's warehouse where the old,broken down machines went before being picked up to take to the dump where the owner sold the entire unit or parts to mostly used appliance dealers.
Just to let you know Laundromat........
Hechts does not exsist anymore. It was bought out by and renamed Macy's
Hechts does not exsist anymore. It was bought out by and renamed Macy's
Believe that Duracrest was May Department Stores' private label, don't know who they had doing OEM for them. A neighbor had a Duracrest gas stove in avocado, I recall. Other store chains/buying groups:
Macy's.....Supremacy
Aimcee.....AMC (single-city department stores)
Carter-Hawley-Hale....Ambassador
Sears...Kenmore
Penneys....Penncrest
Wards....Signature
Lowes...Holiday
Western Auto....Wizard
Macy's.....Supremacy
Aimcee.....AMC (single-city department stores)
Carter-Hawley-Hale....Ambassador
Sears...Kenmore
Penneys....Penncrest
Wards....Signature
Lowes...Holiday
Western Auto....Wizard
JamieL
Duracrest appliances were made by Kelvinator
Duracrest appliances were made by Kelvinator
hilovane
Well-known member
For those not familiar, E.J. Korvette was a chain of department stores in the NYC-metro area. In the '70s, legendary TV game show host Bill Cullen was their spokesperson.
In Australia if you could not afford the Kelvinator brand you could purchase the Leonard brand. Same as General Electric and Hotpoint here in the USA. One of the collectors in Australia has posted a thread of a Leonard semi-automatic washer he has in his collection, the one with the hole in the lid for the suds return........
Aussie Leonard badged Kelvinator
Simpsomatic is referring to this machine
This is an Aussie 'Leonard' badged Kelvinator Orbital
Cheers
Leon
Simpsomatic is referring to this machine
This is an Aussie 'Leonard' badged Kelvinator Orbital
Cheers
Leon
My family had a Leonard two door fridge freezer. Made in Australia by Kelvinator.
I think Korvettes was also in the Chicago area.
ingliscanada
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2009
- Messages
- 338
Canadian Department Store Brands
I'd like to add some Canadians to Jamiel's list:
The Bay (Hudson's Bay Company) - Baycrest, Beaumark (GE)
Sears - Coldspot Fridges (Kelvinator)
Simpson's (early) - Kenmore (same as Sears - WP)
Simpson's (late) - Beaumark (same as The Bay - GE)
Eaton's - Viking (Kelvinator, GE)
(I don't know which store sold this) - Brentwood (GE)
I'd like to add some Canadians to Jamiel's list:
The Bay (Hudson's Bay Company) - Baycrest, Beaumark (GE)
Sears - Coldspot Fridges (Kelvinator)
Simpson's (early) - Kenmore (same as Sears - WP)
Simpson's (late) - Beaumark (same as The Bay - GE)
Eaton's - Viking (Kelvinator, GE)
(I don't know which store sold this) - Brentwood (GE)
laundromat
Well-known member
Carocel
One day during a visit to a friend's home in Baltimore,we went to EJK's to look at bicycle parts.They had a neat display showing off the Carocel water powered compact dishwasher! It was hooked up to a recirculating pump and the top was glued on so nobody would make it leak.They were priced at $49.I used to have one but haven't seen them in a while.They may have gone to appliance heaven?We would also buy "Fizzy's"soft drink tablets,45 rpm records,8 trak tapes and jaw breakers there.
One day during a visit to a friend's home in Baltimore,we went to EJK's to look at bicycle parts.They had a neat display showing off the Carocel water powered compact dishwasher! It was hooked up to a recirculating pump and the top was glued on so nobody would make it leak.They were priced at $49.I used to have one but haven't seen them in a while.They may have gone to appliance heaven?We would also buy "Fizzy's"soft drink tablets,45 rpm records,8 trak tapes and jaw breakers there.
Gambles-Coronado
I have owner's manuals for early 50s Kelvinator and Leonard electric ranges and they are almost identical.
