Out With The Old... In With The Older

[Unimatic1140]

Well my '64 KitchenAid KDI-15 has developed some motor bearing issues and has become quite noisy so it has been moved downstairs to rest for a while until I feel like investigating the problem.

In it's place I put my very fun 1950 Westinghouse Dishwasher. This has to be the quietest vintage dishwasher I have ever heard (or haven't heard). And it washes really well too. If I decided to keep it in the Kitchen for a few years, its going to have to go pink or yellow.

The link goes back to the original thread from when I first found it. Its been installed in the basement all this time and I use it occasionally, now it will be a daily driver along with my '56 Frigidaire which is directly across from it in the kitchen.

http://www.automaticwasher.org/TD/ARCHIVE/VINTAGE/2005/3465x84.htm

 

[hoover1060]

how cool

That looks nice in the white Robert, almost a seamless blend with the cabinets.
Your kitchen is so beautiful, I love the colors and style!

 

[roto204]

Love it!!

I agree, the white looks nice, although I can understand the need for a splash of color. What a cool machine--thanks for posting the link back!

--Nate

 

[tlee618]

Robert how fun!! It looks great in your kitchen. I was amazed when I saw this dishwasher at Christmas time. It is so so quiet and washes so much better than one would have ever thought. As always your kitchen looks so neat. Thanks for sharing. Terry

 

[peteski50]

Westinghouse Dishwasher!!

Robert,
This is a awsome dishwasher. Hope all works out well with it.
Best Wishes!
Peter

 

[swestoyz]

Hey Robert,

The place looks amazing, and the Westy looks right at home. What a great move to bring this upstairs. Now you have the option of a roll out, or a rack style dishwasher at your fingertips!

Ben

 

[hooverwheelaway]

Very cool!

I kinda like it just as it is.. It does look right at home; it really blends in well with the cabinets.

You can be sure.......



PS~Your cabinet pulls are fabulous!

 

[rinso]

Robert, is the Westy dishwasher a drawer pull-out type or rack pull out type? I'd almost kill to have my parents top-loading, pull out 1961 Westy back. It was an impeller machine and did a spectacular job on dishes, especially glassware.

 

[SactoTeddyBear]

Re: Color Decision:

Robert, I think that if you decide to Repaint the Westinghouse Dishwasher, that you should look into the Yellow or the Blue. How about 1/2 & 1/2, or even think about maybe 1/3 each Horizontal or Verticle of Blue {Top or Left} Yellow {Middle} and Pink {Bottom or Right} parts of the Front Panel.

Good Luck with your decision and if you possibly take someones opinion about what Color to change it to.

Peace and Fun Times Dish Washing with a Westinghouse Dishwasher, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...

 

[brettsomers]

$0.02

IMHO, it looks very tastefull just as it is. if not, i vote for yellow, since its my favorite color.

 

[mrcleanjeans]

Westinghouse makes a splash!

Beautiful,and GREAT fun!Congrats!

 

[petek]

It's a fab dishwasher. I dunno if I'd want to paint it though. I can't remember your fridge and stove, can you repost the pic of your kitchen looking in from that doorway? If I remember correctly you had that nice galvanized shelf unit with appliancs on it and I stole the idea and went and got one myself at Ikea..

 

[christfr]

way to fun

now that is a pretty machine!

 

[geoffdelp]

Robert ... that's beautiful!! Your kitchen is so tastefully done; the colors are fantastic and the fun vintage stuff is to die for!!

Do you still have that great display of Lux timers? Every color ever made!!

I love those 1960's wicker-looking cups in the window!!

Geoff

 

[westyslantfront]

Hi Robert. As a big Westinghouse Fan, I will say,
"You Can Be Sure If It is Westinghouse".

Ross

 

[gansky1]

That looks great in the kitchen - I too was impressed with this dishwasher at Christmas, excellent cleaning and drying ability and quiet too!

Did you have any trouble installing it?

 

[sudsmaster]

I agree that the white looks good in that spot. The blue of the control "panel" looks like it coordinates well with the blue double sink, as well.

The door design looks like it's way before its time, as well. I also wonder if it's a big sliding drawer, or a drop down door with racks on tracks.

The white could be modified to better match the cabinets, although if that's a porcelain finish I wouldn't destroy it with a coating of mere paint.

And yes, it's a very nice kitchen. I like the way the pink tile was worked into it in a subtle way.

 

[chachp]

I am lovin' the look of that dishwasher..

I liked the look of the Kitchen Aid too! My vote would be to leave it white. I think it looks great with the cabinets.

I just ran my new/old KA KDS-17A through its maiden load on Memorial Day. I packed it really full, rinsed nothing and picked the Full cycle. Forty some minutes later I had a sparkling clean load of really hot, dry dishes. These vintage machines really are the best and they are so quick. I am half tempted to rip out my new Bosch and replace it with the Kitchen Aid. I'd probably have a divorce on my hands though because the SO really needs a "load as you like" dishwasher and these older KA machines really do require some thought in loading the bottom rack to ensure the stuff on top gets clean. Still not enough to stop me from wanting to make this my daily dishwasher. I wish I could easily make room for two in my kitchen like you have been able to do.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Well thanks everyone it is a fun dishwasher. Its a roll-out with stainless steel racks. See the link below back to the original thread, it has pictures of the interior and close up of the controls.

As for the color its probably going pink. Too much white on that side of the kitchen makes it blend in too much. I like the appliances to stand out. I'll post a picture of the other appliances later, the range is sunny yellow, the Frigidaire DW is pink and the Fridge is turquoise.

Rich the control strip is chrome and its reflecting off of the turquoise in the floor which makes it look blue and no the dishwasher is not porcelain, just painted metal, so it will be easy to paint.

http://www.automaticwasher.org/TD/ARCHIVE/VINTAGE/2005/3465x84.htm

 

[chachp]

SS Racks

Robert, do you find you have to be more careful with the SS racks as compared to the vinyl coated ones? I would sure think the SS ones would last longer than the vinyl ones. Of course, these days I suppose it doesn't matter because I think many of the newer machines die long before the racks give out.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Well sure I suppose you have to be careful not to place the dishes in the racks too hard, but I have never broken anything yet. The nice thing is these racks last forever, even vintage dishes can be replaced much easier than vintage dishwasher racks.

Here is the other side of the kitchen, see any white appliances would look out of place...

 

[peterh770]

Nope, I vote to leave it white. It just looks too classy as is!

 

[Unimatic1140]

Buzzzzzzzz

Nope, Pink. Out voted. Even Neal doesn't like the white and asks how long are we going to have to live with it in White.

So Pink it is!.

 

[westytoploader]

AWESOME Westinghouse Robert, and a roll-out as well! I can imagine the cleaning ability with that metal impeller!

The pastel colors look wonderful on the other side, but honestly, in its current white the dishwasher looks completely original to your kitchen! Pink would make it stand out more and then you would lose that. Just my 2 cents though.

--Austin

 

[Unimatic1140]

in its current white the dishwasher looks completely original to your kitchen!

Ehh, don't care, PINK it is!

Would anyone else like to try to convince me to keep it

white? You can try, but it's not going to work

 

[petek]

Seeing as the other side is colorful I can see what you mean about not leaving it white.

 

[geoffdelp]

Well ... pink would look pretty good; it would definitely give contrast. Also, would blend in with the pink tile as your backsplash.

Just don't lose the pink condiment set; way too cute!

Either color wouldn't change the fact that your kitchen appliances are stunning. I just love the stove and refrigerator. That's the kind of fridge we had when I was growing up ... ours was "boring" white!!

Geoff

 

[westytoploader]

Still, if you paint the DW pink, it won't really be a true 50's kitchen as I know pink wasn't an available Westinghouse color in 1950...more like a 2000's kitchen painted to look like a 50's kitchen! ;-)

*ducks and runs*

 

[maytagbear]

For what it's worth,

Why not paint it some third color at that, like Forest Green?

To think an impeller dishwasher that actually cleans!

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[sudsmaster]

Hey, Robert, have you considered painting it PINK?

;-)