New for 1979...

[laundryshark]

Audio/Video Demos?

I would like to hear what that Kenmore sounds like. True, for most people, they probably sound the same, but with the different agitator and motor variants, at least the audio shots would be much appreciated. Same holds true for the above mentioned Maytag model. Many thanks!--Laundry Shark

 

[gansky1]

I love NIB agitators! How fun - and NO GUNK to spoil every load ;-)

 

[peterh770]

Super agitator. The flat blades pretty much keep the load from going around in a circle. Keep your wash times short, or your clothes won't last long!

 

[foraloysius]

That's one of my favourite agitators. Still have good memories of using a Kenmore commercial machine with that agitator some years ago. Great find!

 

[westytoploader]

Hi Peter, in this machine I mainly use the 10-minute wash time on the Regular cycle, although every once in a while I'll use Permanent Press. The maximum wash time on Regular is 14 minutes which may not be the gentlest on clothes, but still nothing compared to the "Heavy" cycle on the GE! I haven't been brave enough to try that (nor have I had any loads dirty enough to warrant using it), especially seeing as how the Normal cycle is longer than that on the others.

Last week I did a mixed load with a couple of pairs of jeans and some shirts. It was definitely a capacity load, but the Roto-Swirl did surprisingly well with good, steady rollover...better than I remember it ever doing in the Frankenmore. The smaller, narrower tub which it was designed for must have helped.

I like the RS, however, the real "brute" (as GyraSteve puts it) is the straight-vane. Talk about some action, no doubt *that* would cause premature wear at 14 minutes!

Austin

 

[toggleswitch]

Great find Austin! If its anything like the GE version, I'd have to say i'd love it!

Thanks for the shout-out.
Gotta see if I can find more Turkish FAX detergent....

Unless I meed it above..any chance of seeing a video of this puppy doing its thing?

 

[westytoploader]

Hi Steve,

I did take some footage earlier of the 24" washing with the straight-vane, which I seriously need to download & compile for YouTube. Right now my (severely undersized) hard drive is almost full with the past two Tucson projects, and even though I put them in ZIP files using maximum compression, that didn't help much. After I burn the ZIPs to DVDs for archiving (in case I want to dust them off and make a video DVD of both Tucson events), I'll start on the Kenmo' videos.

Austin

 

[westytoploader]

So the Fax is Turkish! I completely forgot where it came from and was too tired (after hauling several baskets of laundry) to go back down and check the box; all I remember is Rodney's comment about how whoever produced it probably made it for people beating their clothes on rocks or washboards, as it wasn't making any suds in the Blackstone. After which he added some Fresh Start...ha!

 

[toggleswitch]

I bought the front-load version, so I assume that is why no suds.

Next time I can do the hand-wash version and we can have suds-cakes galore!

 

[scott55405]

Austin, what vintage Sears machine is that that you're using here? Something looks/seems unfamiliar about the tub ring/opening that I can't place. Very nice agitator! I think you can still get it at Repair Clinic, but for a King's ransom.

 

[westytoploader]

Hi Scott,

It's the 24-incher from 1981. I agree that the tub ring is strange compared to the others; I'm not exactly sure why they designed it like that, at first I thought it had to do with the snubber, but it sits in the normal position (in this case, it's lower than the top lip on the tub ring). It may be to eliminate a gap between the tub ring and top that would be present with a normal "thin" ring.

Austin

 

[scott55405]

Thanks! That would probably be one of the last of the belt driven 24" machines. I think they went direct drive a number of years prior to the regular ones.

 

[70series]

Gold str8 vane

I saw many of those gold str8 vanes in models from the late 60s. They were lower end models with center dials, and were quite popular, as I saw more of them in homes. My aunt had one of those, and watching it wash still comprise some of my fondest Kenmore memories.

They, and their Roto Swirl counterparts were the best looking Kenmore agitators. The only other ones that compared were the Whirlpool Surgilators from that time period.

I love those Olden Goldies.

James

 

[velcro]

I just picked up an old wig wag which both solenoids did work by miracle but it had the roto-swirl agi in it but it also had this monsterous sized softener dispenser mouted on top of it that you pretty much have to remove from agi in order to get your clothes in the thing. Anyone familiar with that one? I stored the dispenser away for future reference but never will use it.