Mondays Find: rare Kenmore 1977 GAS portable dryer

[delaneymeegan]

 

 

In harvest gold, it's a Lady K., and it came from the original owner.  She said it was like part of the family.

 

The women bought it new in 1977 +/- and has had it all this time.  In fact, she has a family of 4.  

 

Other than needing a drum gasket and cleaning, it appears to be in pretty good condition.  

 

The gas version is a rare one.  It seems like Sears would try out the gas version in the 70s and early 80s from time to time.  It wasn't something always on offer.  

 

I've had several of these Whirlpool made compact dryers over the years.  They are fun and they are still made, but not in gas, and I've never had or seen the gas model.

 

Now I just need the matching washer.   Yeah right, like that's going to happen.  

Though, I did have it in coffee color way back in about 1983.  I found it at a Goodwill store, back when they sold major appliances.   It was on casters, not feet, and whoever had it, had got the optional dual water valve and water temp selector switch module that connected onto the back of the machine and would allow one to permanently install the portable washer.  Good days.

I'd love to find that again. 

 

 

[kenmore58]

I had the matching washer in white.  Bought it from a friend's mom who was moving to Florida.  I bought it from her in 1984.  Another machine I wish I had kept.

 

Ron

 

 

[delaneymeegan]

Peter's Portable

 

 

I wonder if he still has this?   Peter ? You there?

 

It has the also rare, folding plastic lid, for use when the dryer is set on the stack rack and the washer was to be used in place, instead of pulled out and rolled to the sink. 

 

The coffee color washer I had, way back when, had the metal, rear swing lid.  Though, I haven't actually had a model with the folding top, I've seen one in person.

1976 Sears Fall & Winter scans

Here you go!

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[goatfarmer]

I had a gold one about a year and a half ago, with the folding lid. It went to North Carolina, to live out a pampered life.

 

[launderess]

Just looked through the old adverts in link....

What was the logic behind offering a one cycle and one speed portable washer? *LOL*

 

[delaneymeegan]

 

 

I know.  And they even had compact washers that WEREN'T automatic and didn't have a fill valve.  

So, you had to connect a sloppy hose to your faucet, or use a pail,  and fill the tub manually.  And turn the dial manually to advance.   lol.  

Unimaginable in a fully automatic 1960s/1970s world.   

 

[repairguy]

Nice find! According to the serial number it's a 1974 year model.

 

[appnut]

Wow.  Before I saw the timer, I wondered if it had an all-fabric automatic cycle. 

 

[combo52]

1974 LKM Compact Gas Dryer

The 24" gas dryer was always available at least through builder sales and these dryers were actually very popular in certain markets. When you look at sales in the US South-West and California there were a lot of these sold just as they still sell a lot of this same dryer in the 24" Thin-Twin version today.

 

The plastic Bi-Fold lid on 24" compact of this same era were also very popular, in fact EVERY 24" stationary KM&WP compact washer had one, we literately worked on hundreds on them. WP discontinued the plastic BFLs because of safety issues because when the timers occasionally caught fire on washers that were constantly over-suds-ed the plastic lid could catch fire and help spread the fire.

 

In any event it is a really fun and practical find. We have installed a lot of these in apartments and condos where we could tap off the gas line for the gas stove in older apartments where there were small electrical panels or just for folks that appreciated the more ecological advantage of having a gas dryer.

 

John L.

 

[combo52]

1974 LKM Compact Gas Dryer

The 24" gas dryer was always available at least through builder sales and these dryers were actually very popular in certain markets. When you look at sales in the US South-West and California there were a lot of these sold just as they still sell a lot of this same dryer in the 24" Thin-Twin version today.

 

The plastic Bi-Fold lid on 24" compact of this same era were also very popular, in fact EVERY 24" stationary KM&WP compact washer had one, we literately worked on hundreds on them. WP discontinued the plastic BFLs because of safety issues because when the timers occasionally caught fire on washers that were constantly over-suds-ed the plastic lid could catch fire and help spread the fire.

 

In any event it is a really fun and practical find. We have installed a lot of these in apartments and condos where we could tap off the gas line for the gas stove in older apartments where there were small electrical panels or just for folks that appreciated the more ecological advantage of having a gas dryer.

 

John L.

 

[delaneymeegan]

 

 

 

Thanks John.  

I'm quite familiar with the Sears Consumer catalog offerings (in terms of appliances) during the 70s and early 80s, but the builders catalogs.... not so much.

 

I wasn't aware they still made the thin-twin, and in gas no less.

 

I wonder what the washer is in this unit?  Would it be the same washer as that in a late 80s portable compact direct drive washer?

 

 

 

[wayupnorth]

I am guessing a one speed, cycle portable, click to the faucet could work at a lower price point for some people. That gas dryer is definitely not portable, ever.

 

[delaneymeegan]

 

 

 

Meeting a price point is exactly correct.  Back then you could buy a compact washer for some where in the $100 price range because it didn't have things we now take for granted.  But back then, people would have been in heaven just to have that in their house or apartment.

 

And that gas dryer was meant to be installed on the rack, or in some permanent installation as it would require a gas connection AND it would HAVE to be vented to the outside to avoid asphyxiation.  

 

With the compact electric dryers, venting outside was an option, and they actually sold a diverter baffle one could install on the back if you intended to vent inside.

 

 

[combo52]

Gas Compact dryers Etc.

The current Gas 24" TTs still use the DD Washer design.

 

While gas dryers are not generally used as portables they really do not have to be vented any more than an electric dryer needs venting.

 

These compact WP built dryers only have a 10,500 BTU gas burner, and because the flame does not touch any cold metal they produce almost NO carbon monoxide. 10,500BTUs is about the same as ONE gas burner on a gas range and gas ranges are far dirtier because the flame is often in contact with cooler metal, so it would be very unlikely that a gas dryer ever hurt anyone.

 

John L.

 

[a440]

What a neat dryer! 

I had no idea they made this size in a Gas Version.

10,500 btu's.  How cute! 

I bet this was a very fast little dryer!

Great score!

 

[delaneymeegan]

 

 

The women who owned it said she would put a load in and 25 minutes later it would be dry.  And that is clothes from a late 90s top loader.

A typical 120 volt compact dryer can take 60-90 minutes.

 

Still, I'd never dry my clothes in a gas dryer. Gas is harsh on the clothing making it brittle, it discolors the clothing and dryer drum, and it leaves behind a smell.

 

I recently stayed at a motel where they used a gas dryer.  You could tell it from the linens.  Lucky I bring my own.