My 1977 Kenmore Portable in Avocado - that I may have to part with!

[turquoisedude]

Thought you might like to take a peek at the first 'vintage' dishwasher I ever owned - this is a 1977 Kenmore, not quite TOL, but almost, in Avocado Green. It has always worked like charm and it is the quietest dishwasher I have owned to date. The tub and racks are in remarkable shape for a 30-year old unit, don't you think? I am only the second owner of it - I bought if from the parents of a college buddy of mine when they moved out of Montreal. It is currently in my partner's house up in the Laurentians.
Now the sad part - I may have to part with it when we move into our new house in November. If anyone out there might be interested in it, let me know! I was going to list it on eBay, but I really want it to go to a collector who will use and appreciate it!

 

[turquoisedude]

Interior of the Kenmore

Just had to share an inside shot of the Kenmore!

 

[turquoisedude]

And the Control Panel

What the heck, while I am it, a photo of the control panel never hurts...

 

[pierreandreply4]

very nice dishwasher

hello

this dishwasher is very good i know because i grew up with this model i hope that you will be able to sell it to a collectioner mine was harvest gold.

ps: to other members this dishwasher is worth saving because it can remain has a portable or be converted to a built in model.

good luck and i hope for you a member will save it.

 

[turquoisedude]

AH! Harvest Gold!

Hey there! One of my friends had this same dishwasher in Harvest Gold, too - unfortunately the pump gave out on them and they trashed it! Quelle perte!

Well-spotted that this is the 'convertible' model; in the instruction manuals that I still have with this machine, they mention a conversion kit for building them in.

I had neighbors in Pointe-Claire (where I grew up) who had a GE Front-loading portable that could not be built in. Have you ever seen anything like that??

 

[washertalk]

It is a beauty, for sure. Your right it is in very good condtion.

As for conversion to built-in, D&M Kenmores DID NOT convert well. Because of hose storage area behind the tub, It added about an inch in noticable depth to the dishwasher so that it couldn't be set even with cabinets.

Also, because the sides were not detachable, like GEs, the solid sides make it difficult to pass wires and hoses with out literally cutting a hole in the cabinet.

And, unlike Kitchen-aid, Maytag, GE and most other brands, there is no toespace area at the front bottom of the machine. In fact as can be seen in any picture of a D&M dishwasher the metal cabinet actually PROJECTS. When in stalled it is very noticable and clumsy because when moving along a isle of cabinets your toes will "run into" the dishwasher base.

And one more AND- 24" dishwashers will fit into a space 24" or even 23 1/2" wide, that which builders will leave for a dishwasher. A D&M built portable dishwasher was 24 3/8" wide. Even if they were 24" even, you need "wiggle room" something with flush sides does not allow.

I think most other front load dishwashers were made to be built-in and in order to make them portable they merely added sides, a top, wheel, cord, hose, steering wheel, and , no. The point is the brands I have seen were built as built-ins to begin with.
D&M portable DWs were built as portables, not real practical for conversion.
sigh.

Either way, I so like your Avacodo '77 dw with its color matched cord/hose hid-away and solid wood top.

 

[appnut]

This was the model right below the Lady Kenmore.

 

[toggleswitch]

I don't remember upside down "Vs" as tines in the racks. Was that specific to a few model-years or on the say more TOL models?

Nice, but limits loading deeper dishes/bowls facing front or rear.

 

[appnut]

Steve, those were referred to as dish loops. I saw those on what seemed to be every D&M brand from 1976 or 1977 through the 1980s. I think those were a cost-utting design of racks, not nearly as many "tines" in the dishloop racks. During "this run" of Kenmores, higher-end models had removeable dishloop racks in the top rack. That's where you put saucers and some cereal bowls. That was located on the right side of the top rack.

 

[peteski50]

Kenmore Dishwasher!

I have a friend that had the same exact dishwasher only theirs was built in. And they didn't have the dishloops in the bottom rack. They had the pointed tines. I remember D&M and sears started to use the closed dish loops in the early 80's. Maybe this lower rack was a add on. I also perfered the point tines. This is a realy cool machine.
Peter

 

[turquoisedude]

Thanks! This was always a fave of mine, too. I am already starting to make it known that if I can't find a buyer for this dishwasher, it is going to be moving with us! It is just too nice to trash...

 

[peteski50]

Kenmore Dishwasher

Yes don't get rid of this gem - it's a real beauty
Peter

 

[pierreandreply4]

i agree with the last poster you should keep this dishwasher they last longer than today s dishwasher.

tank you

 

[pierreandreply4]

video of this dishwasher

hello

is it possible to see a video of this dishwasher working from start to finish please?

tank you in advance

Ps: i wonder how this model dishwasher would look today if this model was still in production?

 

[turquoisedude]

Hi! I am not going to be able to try and shoot a video of this dishwasher operating until after I get settled in to the new house. The good news is that the Kenmore is moving with us - I have decided that I just can't part with it! I mean, how many dishwashers today have a forced-air drying system??
I don't think they could build anything to look like this today! Maybe the racks/wash arms might be similar, but I can't see any manufacturer building a dishwasher with a real porcelain-on-steel tub like this one! I have a '94 Moffat and a '99 Beaumark and they have plastic tubs... BOOOO!!

 

[pierreandreply4]

tank you in advance i can t wait to see a video.

 

[atari_master]

do you still own this

i was just searching around and seen this on the net and i was wondering if you still owned it

 

[turquoisedude]

No, I don't. It found a new home in Ontario this spring!

 

[ovrphil]

I'm glad you found a good home for your '77 Kenmore portable...but...not exactly related...that Lady Kenmore you are standing next to in your avatar - what year/model is it? It's awesome...you have some great appliances, Paul.