Meet the "New" Whirlpool SKU-70-0 dishwasher!

[turquoisedude]

On Friday I left for Cincinnati to pick up this lovely turquoise Whirlpool dishwasher. I picked it up on Saturday after surviving a brutal drive through a wicked storm system. Drove back to Canada on Sunday, then unloaded my new toy today.

I am over the moon!

Did I mention this is one of the 'telephone dial' timer models?

Overall, this dishwasher appears to be in terrific shape - it sure looks low-mileage to me. Racks look nice and solid and mercifully, I don't think there are any major issues with the plastisol tub. That rusty gunk on the edge of the filter strainer worries me a bit, but I will have to get water in the tub before I panic too much.

So far, no testing has been done, but don't despair, I'll let y'all know!

[this post was last edited: 1/14/2019-17:55]

 

[turquoisedude]

Model and serial decoding

When this machine was found, it seemed to be a coming up as a 1963 model. But here's the serial number if that might help better identify when it was made:
PR 358497.

If anyone can decode the date, I'm all ears!

What is throwing me is the fact that there is just 1 wash arm....

 

[toploader55]

That Spray Arm looks like one from a commercial machine called a ADS. Judging by the spray nozzles, I bet that baby can flip things over in the top rack.

Congratulations Ernestine ; ). Will you be you be selecting cycles saying "One Ringy Dingy, Two Ringy Dingys " ?

 

[christfr]

very nice very pretty, you lucky boy you

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Eddie: I was just thinking that

Or Jackson. But the jets look more Hobart-ish. I would bet that thing will blast off any food.
Nick.

 

[peteski50]

whirlpool phone dial!

Hi Paul - thanks for the great pictures. What a great catch! Best Of Luck with it!
Peter

 

[swestoyz]

Dial D for dirty!

Congrats! What an incredible save - and in such great shape! Can’t help you on a date of MFG, but it is your color!

Ben

 

[appnut]

Just rewards Paul!!  Congratulations.  You've always been such an operator 

 

I anxiously await every step of the process and information!!

 

[norgeway]

According to John....

And Consumer reports of the era, these were number one!

 

[toploader55]

Of course they were/are... It's a Whirlpool ; )

 

[pulltostart]

Congratulations!

Glad you got this one home!  It appears to have quite a bodacious top rack.

 

lawrence

 

[lotsosudz]

Wheres Ernestine when you need her?

I wish appliances companies, had intelligent people that you could speak to about old/older models. then all you had to find out is if, "this was the party, to whom you were speaking". Beautiful find, and of course perfect color! congratulations Buddy.
Hugs,
David

 

[combo52]

WP SKU-70 Dishwasher

WOW Paul, I am so glad you rescued this machine, it has been a long time since I have seen one of these great DWs.

{ only one wash arm ?] There really weren't any great number of DWs that had more than one at this time, and there was no other DW that had a wash arm this large and powerful with a full 1/3 HP motor in 1958 or even in 1963.

This would probably been the last year of this DW, WP went to a porcelain tub and door and a unified pump and motor in 1964, they also added the upper wash arm on these newer machine.

Can't wait to see this NEW DW some time soon, Its funny I have been cleaning out my basement the last few months and going through more than 50 years worth of collecting appliance parts and found a timer dial for this DW you just got.

John L.

 

[hippiedoll]

WOWZERS!!

Very cool find there turquoisedude!
I see that dial and songs start popping up in my mind:
CALL ME by Sky
OPERATOR by Atlantic Star
OPERATOR by Jim Croce
TALK TO ME BABY by Chico DeBarge.
The list goes on & on...
LOL

CONGRATULATIONS on such a unique and interesting dishwasher find! Looking forward to reading your progress report.
)

 

[bajaespuma]

I'm amazed at your collecting talent, Neme. I'm also amazed at this machine and wondering if Ma Bell didn't sue them for copying their phone dial so well.

 

[gansky1]

That's a really beautiful find, congrats. Thanks for the close-up shots, I've never seen a WP this old.

 

[whitetub]

Great find. That wash arm looks very commercial dishwasher style. I am sure it can spray all the way up to the top of the tub.

 

[spacepig]

Great find and such a beauty!

 

[dishwasherfan]

Awesome

Congrats on this rare dishwasher, I believe this is the 1st time I've seen this model that anyone has on this web sight. Please keep us informed & photos/videos of your progress. Thanks.....