Pale blue Kenmore 70 Dryer, 1963

[akronman]

I picked this up yesterday from the same couple who last week sold me a 73 Speed Queen washer.
This is Kenmore 70, Electric, pale blue, Model #110.6308740, ser 01890M423. When they bouhgt the house last fall, this was plugged in and running right next to my washer.

It has a flourescent light only for the dials, not full length. It has a Air Freshener scent bottle, and is labeled Soft Heat and High Speed.

 

[akronman]

more

controls. Only high heat or air dry, no Perma-Press or low. And only timed dry, no timer-versus-heat. Picture ain't great, but it has 100 minutes. Seems a bit strange that it has lights and a scent bottle(both high-end) but only timed heat and only one temp(low end)

 

[akronman]

wiring

The diagram shows it's the double element "Soft Heat" with a 2000 and 3400 watt elements, a drum light, no buzzer or bell. 5 minute cool down is a regular cycle only, not any aspect of PermaPress.

 

[akronman]

drum

The drum and mechanics are like my 59/60 MOL Kenmore, while the double element is like my 66 Lady K.

 

[akronman]

label

I like this little bit of advice. Also, to my bad eyes, this pic shows the color the most accurately. Anyone know what Sears called this back in 63?

 

[akronman]

lint

The lint filter matches my 59/60 also, and needs new heavy felt and rivets. These 2 dryers need a tight fit on that felt or the top of the machine gets hot and the lint goes all inside. This area is pretty ugly, the rest of her looks fine.

Seems weird that my earlier model is Auto-Dry and 2 temp PermaPress, but no lights or scent, while this model is prettier/more upscale presentation, but single temp and no Perma Press, and timed only. But it has dashboard lights! I soon have to say no to more electric driers, I hate the bills.

 

[goatfarmer]

Nice score! I had the matching set of those in Coppertone a while back. They now reside in a good home, where wayward Kenmores end up....

 

[tomturbomatic]

Beautiful dryer! Congratulations!

Don't let the simplicity throw you. The Soft Heat maintained a relatively safe temperature for everyting, PROVIDED YOU DID NOT SET THE TIMER TO ALLOW OVERDRYING of delicate fabrics. It was much faster for the reasons I posted elsewhere and was designed so that as the load got closer to the cycle end the smaller element would be on giving lower heat input because the load would be dry and less heat was needed to maintain the drying temperature.

If you want to make it more efficient, you can pull the drum and put a strip of felt around the air inlet and around the exhaust port. Those pieces of felt will lessen the amount of heated air that will travel behind the drum and go directly from the inlet to the exhaust

 

[akronman]

efficiency

Tom-----I have a 65 or 66 Lady K Soft Heat, single temp. I know how the 2 elements cycle and yes it's quick and effective. When I tear into this for de-linting and motor and bearing oiling, I will carefully check the felt and replace. And I can also re-felt the lint filter for both this and the 1960 model at the same time, Graingers sells felt in many thicknesses and widths.

This is quite the hybrid mechanically between the 66 and the 60 in many way. 60 has the A-frame supported bulkhead with the spindle-supported drum. This uses the sheet metal full cabinet bulkhead but still has the spindle assembly. The 66 is entirely supported on the rear bulkhead and front door, no spindle. And the 60 is still the bowed front design, where this is the squared off front like the 66.

 

[combo52]

1963 Electric Kenmore 70 Dryer

Our family bought this dryer new in 1963 to replace the troublesome 1957 WH Space-Mate dryer we had since 1957. The KM was a much better built dryer that never gave any problems till I replaced it in 1971, but the amazing thing was that the KM took at least 15 minutes longer to dry the same loads from the same automatic washer than the WH SM which only had a 4,800 watt element compared to the KMs 5,600 watt element.

Mark, when you get around to rebuilding this dryer contact me and I will describe how Tom and I added an additional seal to the bulkhead that makes these inefficient slow dryers a little faster and more efficient.

I have a Gas Coppertone dryer like this for sale if anyone wants it, the gas ones were very fast with a 37,000 BTU variable input gas burner, and you can also add the extra felt seals to the gas ones and have a really fast dryer.

 

[akronman]

Felt seals

John---Thanks! I will be very interested in that, and hopefully will also be able to tighten up the airflow on both the 1960 model and 66 with your advice. I prefer gas, but at the age of these machines, I can't always choose what I can find locally. Let's get through the holidays and then I'll have a January project. I think I'll also temporarily retire the 62 Frigidaire dryer, and have a 60, 63, and 66 Kenmore electrics in a row.

 

[william637]

When I was a kid

We had that washer and matching dryer in white. I barely remember them - they were replaced when I was about 5 years old. That is the laundry pair I would like to have more than anything else.

 

[jamiel]

Mrs. Meier two doors down had this dryer in gas/coppertone matching her coppertone washer; my mom had the identical washer but a couple years newer electric dryer. She got at least 15 years out of it (4 kids) ..my mom got about 25 years out of hers (she hung underwear and flat sheets to dry; and just 2 kids).

 

[appliguy]

My mother had this dryer in gas too as well as the washer

the dryer lasted from 1963 to 1979 and the washer lasted till 1989 the last 16 years being at our summer cottage…PAT COFFEY

 

[dnastrau]

1963 model 70 set

They must have made this model for a couple of years as my aunt and uncle had this set in white from 1965 (bought new) until about 1980 for the washer and late in the '80s for the dryer.  I always liked this set and it was one of the main reasons why I took on an interest in washers and dryers.

 

[combo52]

1963 Kenmore 70 Washer and Dryer

This was a very popular set and like the 63 LKM design it does seem that they continued to build and sell these models for about three years.

 

[akronman]

Dis-Assembly begins

possibly more dust in the console than I have ever seen. Even the timer motor is covered

 

[akronman]

lint

that's the underside of the lint door, with the holder for the bottle of scent. Knowing my 60 Kenmore dryer, I think this is one spot to add a gasket, or the blower shoots air into the underside of the cabinet top. If it works for this, it will soon be time to go back to "upgrade" the 1960

 

[akronman]

Wow....

even here there's lint. Quite glad I haven't plugged in in yet.