This is a shot of the agitator inside an older Kenmore. Not sure just how old the Kenmore is; I'm guessing mid-80's.
name that agitator
- Thread starter sudsmaster
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Penta Swirl
Thanks.
Any idea as to date?
Any idea as to date?
Not really sure about the age though. I believe these washers with the Penta Swirls were available from the mid seventies to early eighties. Hopefully an Kenmore expert will chime in.
One of my favorites!
Yup - from about 74-75 up to about 85 - the end of the large cap. belt drives. This one pictured has the extension on the top for the softener dispenser, there was also a version without this that had a plastic cap that looked similar to the cap on your Vari-Flex.
Yup - from about 74-75 up to about 85 - the end of the large cap. belt drives. This one pictured has the extension on the top for the softener dispenser, there was also a version without this that had a plastic cap that looked similar to the cap on your Vari-Flex.
westytoploader
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Behold
The extensionless version in action...and we all know who that particular washer in the picture is living with now! ;-)
I'm curious, where did the top picture come from? Craigslist ad or something?
The extensionless version in action...and we all know who that particular washer in the picture is living with now! ;-)
I'm curious, where did the top picture come from? Craigslist ad or something?
Yeah, that's the one my mom's '75 nearly TOL Kenmore with "Quiet Pak" used. It was a deep gold color and had a clear cap that had "Penta-Swirl" in black script on gold background. Fabric softener, bleach and detergent were all added with dispensers. Quietest operating TL machine I have ever heard.
The picture came from Craig's List, the washer was either free or relatively inexpensive ($100?). I felt it was too modern for my tastes, but I'd never seen that kind of agitator before. I kind of like it - a swirled agitator without those stupid auger fins.
My mothers washer has a Penta-Swirl agitator like the one pictured.she bought the machine sometime around 1976 when she bought it for a house she had built in FLorida.That machine has been thru three moves and one rebuild-she says it still works great.I have used the machine-and the Penta Swirl doesn't have "aggressive" agitation-sort of forceful but gentle.and yes it can hold a lot-and still roll the load.Presently the washer is in her home she moved to near LA calif.Its sure been well travelled!
exploder3211
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Wow... MY moms machiene had the penta swirl from 1980... My grams had one with a D/A in it. Both machines where almost identical except for agitator and color
llmaytag
Well-known member
Penta Swirl
Yes, I recall that one too. When our old Lady Kenmore with the plastic translucent push buttons went out, we bought a model that had a gold "Penta-swirl" agitator. Five vanes that were kinda integrated to the base of the agitator, rounded and sloped at the base as each comes up to a peak. I guess the "swirl" part comes from the very slight five spirals that go from the base to the top. Seems the "swirl" likely didn't add much to the agitation. It was a gold color plastic and at the top there was a clear plastic cap with a dark background witht he words "Penta-Swirl," (as someone else described).
Yes, I recall that one too. When our old Lady Kenmore with the plastic translucent push buttons went out, we bought a model that had a gold "Penta-swirl" agitator. Five vanes that were kinda integrated to the base of the agitator, rounded and sloped at the base as each comes up to a peak. I guess the "swirl" part comes from the very slight five spirals that go from the base to the top. Seems the "swirl" likely didn't add much to the agitation. It was a gold color plastic and at the top there was a clear plastic cap with a dark background witht he words "Penta-Swirl," (as someone else described).
Rex, don't let your mom ever get rid of that machine! I wish I wasn't on vacation when my mom decided to replace hers with a POS BOL GE that sounded like somebody was sawing wood undeneath it when it was new. I think maybe the Penta-Swirl logic was that it helped the machine operate more quietly by not sloshing up the water as much as an agitator with more pronounced vanes. The Penta-Swirls seemed to be used on the higher end machines but that's just my casual observation.
Ralph-I will do whatever I can to convince her to keep that washer.She has had it rebuilt a few years ago-tubs and seals-so I figure she is going to hang onto it.She also has an older Maytag dryer.Can't remember what happened to its matching Maytag washer.She had the KN washer rebuilt when she was living in Dallas.She also doesn't like many new machines-she doesn't like FL washers.
maytagmark
Well-known member
I have the same Kenmore early 80's washer that I've had in storage for years, it needs a solenoid(for the wig wag)about a year ago I called for the part and the man said I havn't seen one of those in a long time, this makes me feel really old,I thought this was still a really common washer,its what i grew up with,although I've been direct drive whirlpool since about '85,except for a 90s Maytag for a couple of years that was always off balance, this brought back the memories of these old belt drive washers, they do have some classic sounds that I do remember and do look forward to hearing again. Mark
