Out with the old and in with the older

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

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northwesty

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 12, 2006
Messages
818
Location
Renton, WA
Well, I was waiting to do this till after I finished retiling the floor, which might never get done anyway, but my old new machines gave up the ghost, so in with the new old machines.

Hope the experiment works out...

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Side by side

Actually they both seem to be working perfectly. The dryer is very quiet too. My wife likes the two lights inside as well. And the washer is of course a lot of fun.

Except for the microwave I think my house is now about totally vintage. Some of the stuff I've had a long time but these 56 year old machines are really amazing in how well they work. There is just a little different feel in working with these things - hard to explain.

Just thought I would let everyone know!

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Successful experiment

You're sure to love that dryer.

I had the exact same model for a while and I just loved mine.

Something about having 2 blowers makes it seem more efficient than you'd expect for a rather low wattage heating element. Things always come out nice and fluffy too, even though it's not the largest dryer you'll ever use.

I hope the little strip of aluminum tape is still stuck to the front edge of the drum so that when it rotates behind the pilot light, with each revolution of the drum the light seems to flash or twinkle a little. I always thought that was so neat.

I'll attach a now historic photo of when I owned the pair. I had them for years and years and this was near towards the time when I eventually sold them. The photo is well over 5 years old now.

Happy for you in Hollywood

Bob

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and the washer too!~

I actually started posting before your 2nd photo was up!~ I see you have the pair.

FABULOUS~

They really look outstanding and I wish you all the best of luck with those beauties.

Your posts always have excellent photos.

Thanks for sharing.

Bob
 
OMG!!

We had this pair when I was in grammar school, back in the early 1960s. Mom had had a Bendix semi-automatic that she either didn't like or that failed- I can't remember which. She also had a Bendix dryer. I don't recall the exact sequence of events, but we somehow ended up with a VERY used Kenmore pair like this. I recall that Dad had to work on them a lot, and there was a timer replacement or something. They weren't in the greatest shape cosmetically, but then they lived in the basement, so it really didn't matter at the time. Eventually Mom got the hots for brand-new machines, and we ended up with BOL Kenmores from about 1965 or so.
 
Congrats! What a find.

~but these 56 year old machines are really amazing in how well they work. There is just a little different feel in working with these things - hard to explain.

Perhaps for those that have machines that were around before their birth are having a flash-back to a past life. No joke.
 
Here is the inside shot kinda

I have posted about these machines earlier, so I didn't include any actions shots. I just have these black agitators... One of the machines I own did have a broken agitator which was replaced through the kindness of a AW member, but this agitator in this machine was kinda old looking - but I recently got this brand-new looking one so I put it in.

One note about the tub colors. One machine came with Suds return and the other didn't, both are from 1951 but the inner tub is quite darker in the other.

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Inside dryer

I think the bulb on the top is to kill germs or something. I can't find the readings where I saw this. I didn't replace either bulb when I had it apart... don't know how old they are or where I could find the germicide one if I wanted to. Maybe it will last another 56 years and I won't have to worry about it.

Bob - thanks for that bit of information, yes mine must still have the aluminum strip as it does have the twinkle in the indicator light. I wondered how it did that - I aways learn something from this site.

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Brian - the set is nothing less than stunning. I'm so glad to hear that you are putting these guys in for some daily use. Does that mean you'll be doing most of the laundry now? ;-)

Your old agitator is actually very interesting. I have a feeling these early agitators have a 'marbled' look from the factory. The red agitator in my '52 Whirlpool looks exactly like your old one - but it is smooth to the touch. I guess when the factory sheen wears off they start to look funny.

Ben

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