My "new" 1960s Kenmores

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kenmoreguy64

kenmoreguy64

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Hi all -

I thought it would be fun to post a few pics of two recent acquisitions, one in particular that has been on the very top of my 'dream machines' list.

Here's a 1963 Lady Kenmore dryer. My grandmother had the very same model, for all I know this could be the dryer because it came from within 15 miles of where she left it (NOT likely). I LOVE the '63 Lady Kenmores so when I saw this on ebay, I figured I'd get it. I spent less than I thought getting it here, and it's a neat time capsule. I recently got it's original lint filter, so I'm hoping to be testing the machine out one weekend very soon.

10-29-2008-19-03-45--KenmoreGuy64.jpg
 
Here's the second machine, which I think could make a good pairing with the Lady K dryer - it's a 1961 Kenmore 70 which has been featured here once before, in 2005.

Before I go any further, THANKS very very much to Roanoke Robert and to James/70-series for helping me get an exact model copy of the washer that started everything for me, my mom's first Kenmore. I Owe this to to James and his phenominal memory for pointing me in the direction of the March 2005 post of the nasty dirty Kenmore that Robert had found. James - you are an awesome guy, thanks again.

THANKS a dozen times over to Roanoke Robert who I have come to know and very much respect in countless hours of phone conversations. This past weekend I drove to Roanoke and got the machine, but not before I had a wonderful evening with Robert and Steve (Gyrafoam). I had a great time!

This machine brings back more memories and thoughts than I can put in writing. I haven't seen this exact model since October 1974, when ours sadly rolled down our driveway on its side in the pickup truck of a guy Sears sent to get it. I was just a kid; I was excited about our new washer, but only a few short days later I began to wonder what happened to my trusty old source of so much entertainment. Now, exactly 34 years later, here's an exact clone, and it's in my garage! I've not seen one since....not in anyone else's house, and not in any of the machines I came across in my hobby of working on them in the 90s.

This machine needs bearings, and a cabinet repaint, but I'm not afraid of that and hope to have it all done sometime later this fall or winter.

Thank you too to our webmaster Robert for having the good sense to keep the old archived posts, THANK YOU!

One thing I find funny about this washer - the control panel is more "squat" than I remember. I guess things seem larger to 10 year olds! The detail that I remember otherwise surprises me.

10-29-2008-19-13-8--KenmoreGuy64.jpg
 
I'm going to try to find some touch-up paint to macth the charcoal gray and cream white trim. If anybody has tried this already and you know what matches well, please let me know!

Peace everyone!

Gordon
 
Goron,

Neat Machines, I neighbor I used help when I was young had that exact dyrer. I like the older washers that had a wash & wear cycle instead of permanent press.

avid
 
There was a similar model.....

that had a taller control panel with the exact same patterns, dial markings and control knobs. My parents had a dryer like that (the taller control panel one). Actually IIRC, Runematic might even have one. I recall seeing a picture of one he posted a while back. Also, instead of spelling out SEVENTY, there was a "70" in a black oval on the badge. It also lacked the "SR" in the upper left corner. That's one sexy machine with the pregnant roto-swirl agitator. You also gotta love the locking waterfall filter in that puppy. Does that model have a tub light or an Ozone light? I'm sure you'll get it looking beautiful. It's great to have a nice project to look forward to in the cold winter months. It gives you a sense of outlook.
 
Cool Machines Gordon!
I love the dryer! That is a great dryer! Very fast!
Is your dryer gas or electric?
Thanks for posting pictures.
Brent
 
Dave -

I am pretty sure the models you're thinking about are the 1962 equivalents to this 1961. The panel is quite a bit taller by several inches, but they do indeed have the same knobs, same basic features, and is really the same machine. Sort of like when they used to change grills on cars each model year but keep the rest unchanged. These two particular 1961 and 1962 model 70s even used the same timer part numbers.

This model doesn't have tub lights or the ozone lamp, but it has backlighting behind the knobs, which surprised me as I never saw ours illuminated. The bulbs must have burned out before I was aware of them, and Mom didn't have them replaced.

Those knobs were used on a surprising variety of machines. Everything from mid-60s BOL models to higher-end alphabet washers like the one featured on the 'see if wash' tab. What I find funny about them is how heavy the knobs are. They're as heavy as rocks, vs. the later plastic knobs which are feather light.

You're right about the project - I'm looking forward to it. I'm not sure what to expect in getting 47 year old parts to come apart, but I'll get there.

Thanks Dave!
 
Brent -

The dryer is electric. I have been surprised how much shallower those drums were vs. the later models with the fixed bulkhead and direct-drive blowers (they came out in '66 I think).

The drum in my dryer is quite worn. Before I use it I'm going to refinish it, which will make the machine look almost pristine.
 
Hmmm

That looks familiar :-)

You can use Testors paint, believe it or not, to get that grey and cream white--the cream white is available in better hobby stores, though they probably only have bright white at someplace like Wal-Mart. I used a brush to apply it, and thinned it so that it would flow and not leave brushmarks. You also want it thinly applied so that the texture shows through the paint.

I used thinner to clean the paint off the SR and "KENMORE" lettering after painting over it, to make sure it appeared cleanly.

Love that atomic-age SR logo!

Here are the finished results pics, and here are the restoration pics.

Many pieces-parts are still available from Sears--punch your model number into their parts site.

I used appliance epoxy to paint the cabinet after sanding, washing, and tack-ragging it inside and out. I've found after later projects that plain-old Krylon or Rustoleum is better, because plain spray-paint allows you to sand and redo mistakes much more easily than the plasticky appliance epoxy. However, the epoxy was nice, because the resulting finish was more like baked enamel than paint.

Congratulations on a beautiful machine, and a great washer! That's a wonderful agitator and a spellbinding lint filter. The wash-'n-wear cycle is a Rube Goldberg hoot, too.
 
Thank you Gordon for your kindest of praises. I don't deserve such accolades, but I appreciate them greatly.

Congrats on the getting that 61. I know how happy you must be to have the exact replica of your childhood washer. Now you get to experience the lighted controls, which is a bonus for sure. I hope the bearings are easy to replace. It is a 47 year old washer, but fortunately it has remained in useable condition through that time, so it should not be too hard.

I am so happy to see this in your garage. One of the greatest things to see on this particular web site is a club member realizing their dream. I also must thank our webmaster Robert for keeping the archived threads. They have been a great source of information and entertainment.

Attached is the original link of this washer when it was found by Roanoke Robert in 2005.

Have a good one,
James

 
Nate -

WOW! You've peaked my curiosity. When did you do all that great work? That is one fascinating resto you did. There is at least a half-dozen machines in those pics I'd like to have (naturally). Did I read correctly that you later had to send the machine to the landfill? If so, why?

I had thought I'd try Testor's paint. I was hoping to use a paint pen made by the folks who make Sharpies, but they don't have the right colors. I've used black on later black panel Kenmores to cover scrathes and pits with almost perfect success. If Testors is still what they were when I was a kid, they have dozens of colors and one should match.

I have painted cabinets before, mainly spot areas where dryers had caused abraisions and surface rust, and never been completely happy with the rough texture, though I never buffed them afterward. I think what I'm going to do in this case is bring in a professional appliance painter. They are willing to sand, prime, and paint this machine in my garage while I have it partially taken down. I have a slightly different '61 which deserves the same treatment, and a '74 machine which is the model that replaced this one in my family. Painting all three will help me get a better deal.

If I remember right, the 'SEVENTY' lettering on our machine was painted gray too (the letters), though I like them plain as yours and mine are. The paint must have worn off.

If you did scrap that machine, did you save the control panel?

Gordon
 
James - Don't be shy. You remembered the thread, you pointed me to it, and in the process of all that we had lots of nice (hopefully continuing) e-mail conversations. I had never really searched the archives prior, so I wouldn't have this machine now, nor would I have gone to Roanoke if it weren't for you.

I've wanted one of these machines for 34 years James, that's 34 Y E A R S. Praise to you is well deserved.

I also should thank Mark (LightedControls) for putting me in touch with Robert. That is very much part of this equation as well.

I suppose I should save some of my enthusiasm for the time when the machine is done and happily laundering for me, but even if it never gets there, I have something to look at and tinker with. Last Sunday I was doing a load of laundry in my garage in one of the other Kenmores, and as soon as it had filled and began to agitate, I put the lid down and went over to inspect and play with the '61. Before I knew it the operating machine was stopping after it's final spin. 30-plus minutes went by like a snap of a finger.
 
Tucson washer show

Patrick:

Are those appliances always in the yard and sold as is or they just open to the public once in awhile? How much do they go for? I wish to attend 1 of those near GA.
 

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