My first vintage appliance has arrived - my KDS-17A

[chachp]

Some of you may remember that on Saturday night of the Tucson Wash-In I won an auction (Thank You AuctionSniper!) for my first vintage dishwasher. It is a KDS-17A. It was about 3 hours from home so it took a little bit to coordinate picking it up but it is finally here. I must say my husband certainly was a good sport. He drove the truck up and back in one day. So thanks Marion!! He doesn't get all of this, but he is a good sport about it.

The machine is in really nice shape. It came with all the original paperwork including the notes written by the original owner where she bought it, etc. It was originally installed in 1976 and was just removed for a kitchen remodel. The former owner claims it works perfectly so we'll see. I am looking for a set of hoses and connector like you would use for a portable dishwasher. Anyone know where I can buy them? I can figure out the power part and could figure out some other type of connection but I thought if I had something I could pop on and off the faucet I might actually get some use out of this until I redo my utility room and make a permanent home for it.

http://www.chachp.com/Dishwashers/KDS-17A My First Vintage Dishwasher/default.htm

 

[oldwasherguy]

cool

thanks for posting the pics.try lowes or home depot.

 

[mayken4now]

Very cool dishwasher. Those are so nice.

Steve

 

[appnut]

Ralph, am so very glad you got this home finallty. I was soooo excited for you when you won. I hope you'll have as much fun with it as I did playing with all of Roger's KA on Friday.

 

[toggleswitch]

Congrats. Cool toy for a cool boy.

That REEKS of TOL to me!

Enjoy!

 

[chachp]

Thanks all.

I am pretty excited. I'll let you know how it goes when I get it running.

 

[hoover1060]

Congrats indeed!!

I just won a KDS17A as well, last month. Its not been installed yet, but I am hoping in the next month or so I can swap it with my Kenmore talltub and use this amazing machine I have heard so much about.
Mine is coppertone, but it looks very nice in green too.
let us know how you like it!

 

[Unimatic1140]

Ralph the KA looks like its in beautiful shape. Welcome to world of vintage appliances, you'll never go back

Anyway, what you will want to do is go to any larger appliance parts store and tell them you need a dishwasher Uni-coupler and facuet adapter. I never seen them sold anywhere else but at appliance parts stores.

 

[frontaloadotmy]

That is one Fancy Superba

I love the Avocado. I have had luck getting a unicoupler
from a used/refurbished appliances store, they often harvest
parts like that from units that can't be repaired. I'm sure
you could easily adapt one from a Kenmore/Whirlpool portable
washing machine or any other brand of portable dishwasher/
washing machine for that matter. If you buy one brand new,
it will be pricey. Good Luck!! Can't wait to see the first
washed load of gleaming china!!

 

[scott55405]

That is in beautiful shape! I really like the avocado. It looks like it was well cared for. Have fun!

 

[bajaespuma]

Congratulations!! I have one of those + a KDS-17 (no energy saver) that I'm trying to Frankenstein together into one working machine. One of the best dishwashers we ever owned was a KDC-17A and unfortunately, we sold the house just a few years after it was installed.

May I pick your brain when the time comes?

 

[blackstone]

Kitchen Aid front panels

The front panels on these models of Kitchen Aid dishwasher are replaceable, if you want a different color. I have some of these original panels, if anyone is interested. I used to install these dishwashers.

 

[tlee618]

Ralph congratulations, that is one beautiful machine. Can't wait to hear how it works for you. Keep us posted. Terry

 

[sudsmaster]

Blackstone,

Would you by any chance have a lower panel for a KDS-17? I have a pristing Custom KDS-17A, stainless, but it's missing the lower panel and kick panel. I don't absolutely need a stainless lower panel, I can paint a replacement color to black and that would work for me. Also, I could have a replacement made up of stainless sheet metal, but need an original part to design it from.

Thanks in advance.

 

[hoover1060]

Mr. Blackstone,

I'd be interested in front panels for my KDS17a as well. Currently its coppertone, if you have an avocado set or black I would be interested in buying.
Jeff

 

[christfr]

nice

real real nice know you love it..cleans fantastic and so much fun to play with or use every day.. love how roberts puts welcome to the world of vintage appliances youl never go back...how true!! congrats

 

[chachp]

Avacodo Panels

Jeff, I'd like to find a set of stainless or white panels for mine. If that happens I'll have a set of Avacodo panels available.

 

[hoover1060]

I would love avocado, it looks very nice in that color!

 

[blackstone]

Front panels

I have a new set of white panels for KDS-17 dishwasher, still in box, and two sets of panels for KDS-18 dishwasher, one white and one avocado, still in box. I don't know if they are interchangeable, since I did not open the boxes yet. Email me if you want any more information.

 

[steved]

different panels

I think the K16 & K17 are interchangable but not the K18 as it has a taller tub to accomodate the upper wash arm

 

[irishwashguy]

Do u know if that would work for My KA?

i have been wanting to swap out the color pannels on my KA-KDS-60.It has a bracket that holds them on. They can slide out and in. when I called KA, they wanted 100 dollars plus shipping for new ones. My KA is almond at the moment.

 

[petek]

Are you positive the panels aren't all in there stuck together? When we bought our old second hand garbage compactor which was coppertone and to be spray painted white, I removed the front coppertone panel and only realized all the other colored panels stuck together behind it, by accident when the panels fell over and came apart.

 

[irishwashguy]

That is what I thought

I grew up in a home with a KA dishwasher. My mom changed her's three times. My superba some how just has the amond pannel. Strange I know. i took it off to change it thinking that there would be others behind it. You just never know with some of these.

 

[blackstone]

Interchangeable Front Panels

I have one set of front panels in a box labeled KD17, color white. I have two sets of front panels in boxes labeled KD18, one white and one avocado. I measured the panels, and they appear to be exactly the same. Same width, same height, same location for screws, same instructions. I'm willing to sell all of them. Email if interested. Thanks.

 

[DADoES]

The 17 series doesn't have reversible color panels included. Far as I understand there actually was no panel included at all during manufacture. The buyer made a choice of color at the point of purchase. I remember when we bought the KDI-17A, Mom wanted stainless steel. The "usual" colors were in stock, but they had to order stainless which entailed a couple weeks delay in getting the machine installed. I don't know when reversible panels were added, but my KUDS22 does have them - white, black, almond, and either harvest or toast, I don't recall the 4th color.

 

[bobbyderegis]

My KDS-20 only has the almond/white insert. Did some models only have the one panel?
Bobby in Boston

 

[varicyclevoice]

Hi Bobby

The KD-20 series came with 2 panels. Each panel had a color on each side for 4 total color options. The colors included were onyx black, white, almond, and harvest gold. As was mentioned above, maybe the panel is sticking to the other.