dynaflow
Well-known member
Kenmore
I have a 68 Kenmore soft heat love it never misses
I have a 68 Kenmore soft heat love it never misses
Opinions wanted-Best performing "vintage" Dryers?
- Thread starter ken
- Start date
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Ken, that Whirlpool looks like it would fall within the age range that's getting so many positive reviews above. I do like the top filter design. The only thing you might want to hold out for is a model with a full-width drop-down door if you think that type would work out better for you.
Vintage Dryers: Buyers/Users wanted but where'r Washers?
I would believe what keeps a lot of these dryers around would be:
They are the Simplest "Nothing ever goes wrong with these!" appliances in the world!
I tend to shut off my machine removing excessive lint from the trap often during a drying cycle; sometimes relegating the last remnant of an Auto Dry my machine has to a 10-, 15-, maybe 20-min. Touch-Up...
And of course, Line Drying...
-- Dave
I would believe what keeps a lot of these dryers around would be:
They are the Simplest "Nothing ever goes wrong with these!" appliances in the world!
I tend to shut off my machine removing excessive lint from the trap often during a drying cycle; sometimes relegating the last remnant of an Auto Dry my machine has to a 10-, 15-, maybe 20-min. Touch-Up...
And of course, Line Drying...
-- Dave
I've seen this question asked here before. As I remember from the answers washers are inherently more complicated machines with more parts to wear out/break. They see more use than dryers so get used up sooner. And they deal with water. Any machinery that is constantly subjected to water is more prone to developing issues sooner than one that doesn't.
Ahem.
If you don't have 29 inches of width to dedicate to a dryer, you might want to consider a standard GE dryer. They kept with the same basic successful design from 1957 through the '90's. I've used them all my life and they're fast, quiet, trouble-free and you don't have to be a short Munchkin to load and unload them comfortably!
Ducks and saunters away gracefully.
If you don't have 29 inches of width to dedicate to a dryer, you might want to consider a standard GE dryer. They kept with the same basic successful design from 1957 through the '90's. I've used them all my life and they're fast, quiet, trouble-free and you don't have to be a short Munchkin to load and unload them comfortably!
Ducks and saunters away gracefully.
Ken, yes, that's the type of drop-down door I was referring to. I think it's a matter of personal preference for a door that's hinged at the bottom or on either side. The drop-down door on my mom's '67 Snorge had a few positions and could be opened 180 degrees to get it completely out of the way. I'm not so sure the door on the dryer pictured above could be opened further than 90 degrees, which may or may not present access issues. IIRC, the Snorge door had a stop somewhere around 45-60 degrees which was adequate for fishing out the contents and acted like a sort of chute for tossing damp ones in.
blackstone
Well-known member
I'm partial to Blackstone
Of course. The Blackstone dryers from the 1950s had a very wide drum, with a relatively slow rotation speed, allowing for increased airflow to pass through the tumbling clothes. Front door dropped down from the top, creating a temporary shelf. They operated quietly, too.
No safety start switch, so it was easy for a child to climb inside the big drum. I know, I did it.
They were available with a stainless steel top. Lint trap was a removable cage, accessible from the top of the cabinet. These dryers used a 3" vent.
I must find a picture to scan.
Of course. The Blackstone dryers from the 1950s had a very wide drum, with a relatively slow rotation speed, allowing for increased airflow to pass through the tumbling clothes. Front door dropped down from the top, creating a temporary shelf. They operated quietly, too.
No safety start switch, so it was easy for a child to climb inside the big drum. I know, I did it.
They were available with a stainless steel top. Lint trap was a removable cage, accessible from the top of the cabinet. These dryers used a 3" vent.
I must find a picture to scan.
As I recall Blackstone dryers have shown up on the POD from time to time and they did look like they had big drums. The only problem would be finding one, I guess.
Blackstone, We have one or two Blackstone dryers in the collection. There is one with the thermostatic automatic dry control where you set a little dial with numbers like from 1 to 5 or 9, I think and the French doors. It's one of those low airflow hot dryers with the open coil element strung across the top of the outer tub.
Then there are all of those Blackstone laundry appliances we bought from you that are new in the box.
I love the two Universal electric skillets from your dad's store, too. Thank you.
While I like WP-made dryers for very large loads, the standard GE dryers are very good for smaller loads. I like the way GE dryers hold the load in the air stream unless it is a very small load in which case the air flow pattern in the standard capacity WP 29" dryers is better because smaller items travel more on the periphery of the drum. The super huge 29" WP dryers with the three plastic baffles do not do to well with one or two items because the don't tumble, they just kind of ride the baffles and dry with set in wrinkles.
Then there are all of those Blackstone laundry appliances we bought from you that are new in the box.
I love the two Universal electric skillets from your dad's store, too. Thank you.
While I like WP-made dryers for very large loads, the standard GE dryers are very good for smaller loads. I like the way GE dryers hold the load in the air stream unless it is a very small load in which case the air flow pattern in the standard capacity WP 29" dryers is better because smaller items travel more on the periphery of the drum. The super huge 29" WP dryers with the three plastic baffles do not do to well with one or two items because the don't tumble, they just kind of ride the baffles and dry with set in wrinkles.
blackstone
Well-known member
I did sell 2 Blackstone dryers (one electric, one gas) that were new-in-box. Jon bought one. I remember he did post pictures long time ago. These dryers matched the 350 washer.
The model with the French doors was an older model, to match the 250 washer. The red knob was infinite temperature control.
I think I still have some 3" vent pipe; don't know what to use it for.
The model with the French doors was an older model, to match the 250 washer. The red knob was infinite temperature control.
I think I still have some 3" vent pipe; don't know what to use it for.
vacman1961
Well-known member
I would say that a 29" Whirlpool built dryer with the oval opening and drop down hamper door is probably the best all around dryer out there. But I have to say, I remember as a kid my Mom had a 1972 Westinghouse dryer in our weekend house up in the Catskills and it had "cross vane tumbling" I never remember her complaining that sheets were all balled up and didn't dry in the middle like our GE did in our regular house. The Westinghouse wasn't used much and I remember my Dad had replaced the timer a few times due to the heat contact burning off and the machine not heating, while our GE that was used regularly never broke.
Tom makes good points about load sizes and different machines.
I love the super-sized 29" WP dryers. The late 80's-early 90's KitchenAid was probably their finest of the long genealogy for this style. I also have a '67 Lady Kenmore dryer that I adore, I put a rebuild kit on it a few months ago in under and hour and it's a brand new machine again. Of the five installed dryers in my collection, all but one are Whirlpool/Kenmore.
I picked up a late 80's BOL Maytag electric dryer today and it's a solidly built, reliable performer. No complaints, clothes are always dry on Auto-Regular.
I love the super-sized 29" WP dryers. The late 80's-early 90's KitchenAid was probably their finest of the long genealogy for this style. I also have a '67 Lady Kenmore dryer that I adore, I put a rebuild kit on it a few months ago in under and hour and it's a brand new machine again. Of the five installed dryers in my collection, all but one are Whirlpool/Kenmore.
I picked up a late 80's BOL Maytag electric dryer today and it's a solidly built, reliable performer. No complaints, clothes are always dry on Auto-Regular.
my grandmother
had an early/mid 60's GE that she used for about 40 years....it NEVER needed anything done to it! Had the fluorescent light in the panel. It always dried well. My other grandmother had a late 60's/early 70's Kenmore(WP) with the plastic slanted control panel, basic machine with the drop down door and it lasted at least 30 years until she couldn't live alone anymore but was still going strong too...and it dried many loads of my grandfather's denim overalls!
had an early/mid 60's GE that she used for about 40 years....it NEVER needed anything done to it! Had the fluorescent light in the panel. It always dried well. My other grandmother had a late 60's/early 70's Kenmore(WP) with the plastic slanted control panel, basic machine with the drop down door and it lasted at least 30 years until she couldn't live alone anymore but was still going strong too...and it dried many loads of my grandfather's denim overalls!
whirlaway
New member
1955 Frogeye Kenmore
I use mine every other day!!!!! My second frogeye in 35 years.Great dryers,I just took mine apart and greased it and cleaned it good. Well built,my dog loves his bed towels when they come out! I use the matching washer as much! Just put a new wig-wag in it and belt what a difference!
I use mine every other day!!!!! My second frogeye in 35 years.Great dryers,I just took mine apart and greased it and cleaned it good. Well built,my dog loves his bed towels when they come out! I use the matching washer as much! Just put a new wig-wag in it and belt what a difference!
dartman
Well-known member
Had good luck with the last Whirlpool top filter dryer we had, worked well for years except for burning out
The overheat protection thing and the push to start button just before I bought a new huge Kenmore/Whirlpool 8.8 cf dryer that so far seems to work very well since about March.
Those old Whirlpools are easy to work on and parts are cheap when you need them too.
Tried to give it to my mom after taking apart the switch and fixing it but it sat and got full of water and she was scared to wait for it to dry out and try it so she bought a rebuilt early 2000 Whirlpool for 300 that matched the washer she bought at Costco about that time frame. I guess free wasn't good enough even when I said if it didn't work once dried out the switch or anything else would be cheap.
The overheat protection thing and the push to start button just before I bought a new huge Kenmore/Whirlpool 8.8 cf dryer that so far seems to work very well since about March.
Those old Whirlpools are easy to work on and parts are cheap when you need them too.
Tried to give it to my mom after taking apart the switch and fixing it but it sat and got full of water and she was scared to wait for it to dry out and try it so she bought a rebuilt early 2000 Whirlpool for 300 that matched the washer she bought at Costco about that time frame. I guess free wasn't good enough even when I said if it didn't work once dried out the switch or anything else would be cheap.
Easy answer:
Any Whirlpool/Kenmore/KitchenAid super capacity top filter dryer with the Easy-Loader door and electronic dryness sensors are the best. IMO
WK78
Any Whirlpool/Kenmore/KitchenAid super capacity top filter dryer with the Easy-Loader door and electronic dryness sensors are the best. IMO
WK78
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