Great mid 80s Kenmore Heavy Duty Plus machines
These are almost a perfectly matched pair, and it's really neat that they were purchased from separate sources. I would have assumed they were purchased as a pair.
The washer is a 23711 model, which was available from summer 1983 to Fall 1986. This is the second of four 70 series large capacity models from the 1983 line.
I cannot see if the dryer has an electronic sensor notation above the start button, but assuming it does not, it is a 65731 model, also a mid line 70-series. If it does have the electronic sensor, then it is either a 65811 or 65821, the '821 having a drum light, the other does not. Both are 80-series models. All three of these dryers were very very popular, and are 1985 models that were introduced early in 1984 and were available until Fall 1986, like the washers. The 1985 line of dryers replaced all the 1983 dryers, none of which had soft heat.
The 1983 line of washers and 1985 line of dryers sold in collassal numbers due to the economic recovery that started during 1983, after a recession which began forming in late 1979. By the time these machines began showing up at used appliance stores in the 1990s, they far out-numbered their 1981/1982 siblings, which did not sell as well during the height of the slowdown.
The dryer, if it is a 65731 or 65811, it is one of the best selling Kenmore dryers of the 1980s. Yes, they were considered excellent performers. The washer on the other hand is quite rare from the 1983 line. I have no idea why, but the 23701 and the 23721 outsold this model dozens to one it would seem, based on the hundreds I have come across over the years.
I bought a 23701 washer (same exact machine less the pre-soak cycle) and a 23721 dryer (no soft heat) in summer 1986, new. Still have both.
Parts are plentiful for the dryer, though the timer is now NLA. Parts are still around for the washer too, but in some cases not necessarily plentiful. If the washer has its original Mallory timer, it will eventually develop dead spots, so I would keep an eye out for an affordable 378133 timer. Amazingly, Whirlpool still stocks these, after after more than 30 years since last production usage.
I am glad to see someone else is enthused by these great machines!
Gordon
