Picking these up tomorrow- Kenmore Portables!

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dustin92

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 21, 2010
Messages
1,215
Location
Jackson, MI
Saw these on the local Facebook Free group, the dryer works fine but the washer won't turn on at all... Hopefully something simple! Any ideas how old these are? I'm thinking late 60's early 70's? The dryer is 110v and they have the stacking kit. They said the washer did work fine but they went to use it the other day and it wouldn't work at all- no noises whatsover and no water fill. Don't know anything else about them, will find out tomorrow!

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Welcome to the 3 cycles, 24" portable club!

That's the set I grew up with and the dryer is the rare bird because no one in this club has the complete set like this like you!

My cousin has the dryer I grew up with in avocado and I did ask for it if she were to move and I have the same washer in my garage.

Great find on the pair!

If anything the dryer will need is new drum wheels and probably a new belt and lint filter, otherwise the dryer is rock solid for 110 volt!

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Portable Kenmore pair

Cool find indeed these would be from about 1970 to possibly 1972. If the washers really completely dead the first thing you look at is the cord in the power connections going into the wiring harness a bad motor capacitor will not cause the washer to be completely dead in any case.

 

The dryer if it's been used much certainly could use a good going over and servicing, but I would only replace things as necessary replacing perfect good drum rollers etc. doesn't make anything run any better, note this dryer is really 120 V they didn't make 110 V versions of these machines.

 

All in all some really fun machines the dryer in particular could last just about forever with a little bit of service, and as far as the washers condition goes the it would just depend on how much use it has had,  enjoy and let us know how they work out.

 

John L.
 
They are safely home and I had time to do a little checking... Washer completely dead... Nothing... Not a peep. Turned out to be a burned connection to the cord. Installed a spare cord and it's working fine! Dryer works perfectly and looks to have seen very little use. They are both covered in 40+ years of cigarette smoke residue. Will post an update and picture later!
 
Great Find. Even still have the labels, albeit covered in smoke scum. I wouldn't turn them away.

Good job, too, with the deduction of the problem.
Enjoy.
 
The labels are there, yes, but neither are readable so they will be removed. Overall, they aren't in too bad of condition for their age. Some scrapes, scratches, and stains, but both work well. They both need a complete cleaning and deodorizing (!) but should turn out well. In my opinion the washer doesn't fill quite as high as it maybe should, but I would think that will be a simple adjustment. I will need to pick up a couple new washers for the fill hose, and a faucet adapter. The dryer will need a new cord, it gets quite warm at the plug and about a foot back. All in all I would think I'll have less than $20 in them all said and done. Pictures will follow as soon as I go downstairs to take some!
 
Wow. look at that drum shine. Not stained blue or scratched.

If I'm not mistaken, the washer has a retractable support system, on the back, that one is supposed to push into place when ever the washer is to be used. Can we get a pic of the back as well?

I know the labels are probably scuzzy, faded, and smelly and thus, need to go. Just a suggestion, if there is anything readable on the labels, for authenticity sake, I would take the tops off (easy to do with these) and literally make a photo copy of the label as is. Then cut out the copy of the label, in the same shape as the original, and use it to reapply when these crème puffs are done with their spa treatment. Neatly covering the paper with clear contact paper, or perhaps making a copy using plastic label material with a glue backing.

Can't wait to see the finished product, either way.
 
Yes, the washer has retractable wheels in the back, they are operated by a lever in the back. That seems to work fine as well. The labels are pretty much toast, the dryer's is completely unreadable, and the washer's is not worth saving, I think they will look better with the labels removed. I cleaned a bit more on the dryer today, trying to remove the layer of tar, and it's just unbelievable what is coming off. Seriously people, when you smoke you're putting all that in your lungs! I am going to pick up some ammonia to clean with, I just finished off a bottle of cheap glass cleaner (with ammonia) and I've got a long way to go. The dryer drum is really nice, one spot about 3" across that looks like maybe something wet was left on it and the paint started to lift/bubble, but not bad. The washer has a bit of hard water staining in the tub (not too bad though), but both seem to have seen relatively little use. The timer knob on the washer looks to be out of whack a little, it won't fill until between the 8 and 10 minute wash, where it should be filling between 12 and 14, it doesn't drain until it's into the rinse, rinses in the spin portion, and spins on "off", shutting off just before the start of the next cycle. It runs through the cycle fine, just the knob is out of tune. The dryer is pretty quick for running on 120v, it takes around an hour for half a load from a normal size washer, and around 1 1/2 hours for a load from it's mate. Not bad at all in my opinion, seeing as our Maytag Performa gas dryer upstairs takes about 1 1/2 hours for an average load. The dryer runs super smooth and quiet, only a slight noise from the front of the drum. I am going to get them cleaned up and offer them to friends who are currently using portables from rent a center, basically the same dryer!. If they don't want them, I may just keep them. It's nice being able to vent the dryer inside in the winter for the heat and humidity, which we can't do with the gas dryers (no 220v in the laundry rooms for a standard electric dryer)
 
Just an idea what's coming off of these things, here is a picture of the front of the washer after I've sprayed it with some diluted Awesome cleaner...

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I had the dryer. It outlasted three washers. Great little machine and with the rack it sat right over the washer. Before I has the washer plumbed, it was over to the sink to hook it up. These were removed in 2005 when I did the kitchen remodel. The dryer was still working. Today, the same space is occupied by stacked LG units.

Harry
 
The dryer is great, dries really well for it's size and being 120v. I've dried all my laundry in it since I've brought it home. The washer works good, but I can see things that could have been done differently in the design process. Working on cleaning them a little at a time, the smell is starting to dissipate anyway! After I'm done I'll have a load of nasty cleaning rags to wash for sure!
 
I almost have them finished, and they have found a new home (as soon as I finish them), but I will still be keeping an eye on them and doing any repairs or maintenance they may need. I'll be sad to see them go but I can't keep everything! I will post pictures of them "after", they are looking pretty nice!
 
Isn't that LA's Totally Awesome cleaner great stuff? I love it from full strength to diluted to pretty weak concentration, works so well on grime and grease just melts away.

Looking forward to the "after" cleaning pics. Nothing is so gratifying as a cleaned and detailed vintage washer :-)
 
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