Pictures from the warehouse visit today

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

Help Support :

Great pictures!  I had the "middle washer in the seventh picture" as well, loved that machine.  I bought it from a used appliance shop, as is, for $15 delivered in 1987.  It wouldn't spin so after some exploratory poking around, I fixed the wigwag pin with a bent nail and it  worked perfectly.  My first restoration :-) 

 

I always wanted that "radio dial" washer & dryer - some friends of ours had that set in their garage they were left behind in a new rental house purchase.  I wanted them instead of our GE's in the worst way - only a handful of years old at the time, I was convinced we had to have them. 

 

I have the white version of your Coffee washer and have grown to really love it.   It's maybe not the prettiest Kenmore but it does grow on you after a while.   Since I was a little kid, that timer dial always got my heart racing for some reason - and now I have one!

 

Thanks for sharing your stored-collection with us, brought back many Kenmore memories!

gansky1++3-8-2011-21-33-25.jpg
 
Randy -

Yes, those are definitely Penta-Vanes in the last handful of photos. These are the original version (1973-1981); the 1981-1986 version is white and has a couple minor modifications that are hardly noticeable. The Penta-Swirl also came in both colors.

Although technically speaking any non-compact belt-drive agitator would fit in your machine (EXCEPT the original 1967-1972(ish) super-tall centerpost agitators which are too tall) I think most of them won't work unfortunately.

The problem with your machine, I am presuming anyway, is that if it has an original transmission (as lightly used as it looks I would be surprised if not), the agitator shaft is not compatible with splined agitators like the Pentas and anything made of Polypropylene. You'll be limited to bakelite 'tators like the Surgilator, and the two Roto-Swirls.

The easiest way to tell is to look at the drive block under your agitator - if it is metal, you can't use the plastic agitators. If it is plastic either in gray or creme color, then you can remove that and use any of the basic BD agitators. You'll need the proper caps and seals however that go with each agitator, in order to ensure your centerpost and bearings have the best chance of remaining dry.

Gordon[this post was last edited: 3/8/2011-22:45]
 
Radio-dial washer & dryer

Wasn't that the set that was on the set of Knotts Landing in the Karen & Sid Fairgate laundry room?  If I remember correctly, Scott, now in California, was really fascinated by that set.   Actually I think the intent of that style of panel was to add an air of sophistication or avante garge style.  These were MOL machines with higher-end features such as alphabet washing and solid state sensing dryer and lighted control panels. 
 
Greg -

Glad you enjoyed the pictures! I had fun playing with the machines that day.

I really like the 1972 Kenmore 700 and yours is absolutely FANTASTIC. What's its story? I know that Dave/Volvoguy87 has one too, his in gold, so we'll have a trifecta of colors if I get mine cleaned up and working. I noticed a missing hose the other day that might be a challenge. Kevin sent me one in Avocado that needs some TLC, so that should cover all the colors! The timer in the coppertone washer is a challenge to turn, so I may be sending it to Midwest for rebuild.

YES INDEED, there is something about those knobs isn't there? I have no idea how to explain it, but you and I might have been the same age when they came out, but somehow they made me go nutty for new washers anytime I saw them on the Sears floor. I guess I should say "Nuttier than usual".

The knob was available in all white (bol), white skirt with silver knob, black skirt with silver knob, all black (also for bol), and all silver. I like the all-silver the best. Our 1972 dryer had the white skirt and silver knob. They had some very handsome machines back then and I still call one or two of them on the top of my dream list.

Again, that's a great looking washer you have!

Gordon
 
Knots Landing laundry room:

Yep they were, the washer in Reply # 19 and the dryer on the left in Reply # 6 above were the matched set in the Fairgate's laundry room. They are a 1970 Model 70/700 series set. They were featured on Knot's Landing from Season 2 until the end of the show.

Have a good one,
James
 
I'm so glad...

That other people notice appliances in old t.v. shows besides me. I will be in a room with some people and without thinking I'll say: "Give us a close-up! GIVE US CLOSE UP!" And someone will turn to me and ask a close-up of what for which I reply: "It's a Frigidaire! I know it is! They're not going to show us, but I know it is!" My family, freinds, they give you this look like you have absolutely lost it!!" :-)
 
Gansky,,,

That is one of the nicest looking Kenmore designs they have ever produced.  And it looks like it has been taken very good care of, too.  Thanks for posting it.

 

Malcolm
 
Kinda funny...

Thanks for posting these! Pretty certain my Mom had the 1963 600. Were these the MOL? I DO recall the turquoise ovals on the panel.

We shared a two flat house wih my grandparents during the 60 and all the laundry was in the basement. Mom was quite proud of her new Kenmores, but she could not talk my Grandma into using them! She did NOT trust those new fangled automatics, and instead relied on the ol' wringer washer she'd brought from the farm on Beaver Island, MI and placed next to the modern interlopers. If she couldn't hang the clothes outside, she'd hang them in the basement to dry.

I think that many (esp. rural) folks still saw dryers as an expensive extravagance; Mom didn't seem to use the dryer much and seemed to hang most of our clothes. One convenience she embraced WHOLEheartedly though was the TV dinner! Again, Grandma would rather make things from scratch!

Thanks for bringing back some GREAT memories, Gordon!

Duane
 
two-family flat

In this neck of the woods, a two-family flat is a two-story home with separated quarters on each level. Most of the time, they share a basement. Also most of the time, they are flat-roofed, thus the "flat" distinction. There are many two and four family flats in St. Louis, years ago my Mama's immediate family had a four-family on Oakland Avenue. Togetherness, yet with privacy.
 
Kenmore Store

Gordon,

 

Maybe you should start a restoration business out of that warehouse.  Restore a matched set and then sell them to the group for a few bucks.  I'm sure there are a few members on here that would pay to have a minty fresh belt drive machine in their laundry room.

 

Malcolm
 
Malcolm's restoration busines idea

That's a really good idea Malcolm. I used to have such a business in the 1990s, which is where I got much of my working experience on these machines. It was strictly a hobby, I did it in my spare time out of my garage, and for the most part I loved every minute of it, at least early on. I eventually rebuilt (or mostly so) something like 55 or 56 WPs and Kenmores, 1967 to 1986 models.

I had intended to do this ever since my Dad and I put a basket drive in our '74 Kenmore in 1981. I felt it was too soon to dispose of the washer, nor did I want to let it go to scrap (I didn't know there were rebuild shops then) so I talked my parents into trying to fix it, AFTER Mom had bought a new, but as yet undelivered machine. We succeeded, I was ecstatic, and long story short, I decided that I would do the same work on other machines when I had my own house since both parents flat-out said "NO!" to the idea of doing this at home when I was 16.

I enjoyed it from fall 1990 to about 1997. I worked out a deal with Sears in Charlotte for my washer buddy/mentor to pick-up all their haul-aways, and we saved countless hundreds of machines from the Sears compactor. Of those, my buddy and a colleague of his worked on them full time for many years, and I got to pick from what was left, especially when he was overloaded. That is where some of my machines that I have today came from, including the 1974 machine on the left of the twin pair in this post.

I could go out to the garage on a Saturday morning and start on a machine, and stay out there ALL DAY until it was dark. Never ate anything, no phone, no socializing, just the radio (1960s oldies mostly which today remind me of washer work) the machine, and me. What a way to blow a whole day!

In the mid 90s I moved across town, and stopped spending so much time with my friend (I feel bad about that to this day). I kept working on my own, and had enough business that word of mouth referrals sold every machine I could complete. It became less fun and more work, and finally the last machine I sold, which I worked on when I had bronchitis only to get a nagging referral off my back, sapped the last enthusiasm I had and I put all the rest of my machines in the infamous storage trailer and the rest was done history until I found AW.org in very early 2008.

I would love to find homes for many of these machines now. I got many of them to save from the crusher or because it was too easy not to. However, I don't want to recreate the "work" that they were toward the end last time, and I am not sure many people here would be willing to wait for me to get them a machine ready on my schedule. Time will tell - I have a couple machines including both the coppertone machines in this post, the 63 and the 72, that I want to get running this spring and summer. I have the '64 Lady and the other '61 70 that I must do soon too. After those, if there is something in my collection that someone would like that I don't want to keep, I'd be all for it. I think this year is going to be a good year for washer work, at least I hope and that's how it feels, so we'll see.

Gordon
 
Duane...... on the 63 Kenmore 600

I have a 1963 Kenmore 600 here at the house - found it about a year ago in the Nashville,TN area (I live in Knoxville) from a Craig's List ad. Lady there was wanting to get rid of it and it had been lightly used over the years and was in immaculate condition all considered. Picked it up for $40 and got it back home, hooked it up and it worked perfectly. Will include a photo. My mom and dad got theirs just before I was born in Sept of '63 and it lasted 16 years - always wanted to find one got lucky on this one. I have vids of it on YouTube - query 1963 Kenmore 600 and you should find them - Enjoy!

The link included with this post will take you to a past thread/post that has some of the 600 photos - stills.

www.automaticwasher.org

Updated photos on the 1963-64 Kenmore 600

Hey guys, here's some new photos of the Kemo 600 from this evening while doing a load of towels. Various shots of the control panel, motor and tranny, wash and spin action. Video is not ready yet but hope to have it up on YouTube this weekend but for now, enjoy these photos. Can't believe how...
www.automaticwasher.org www.automaticwasher.org
 

Similar threads

combo52
Pink1960 whirlpool gas combination washer dryer
2
Replies
22
Views
55
cfz2882
C
turquoisedude
A wash-in visit with some fellow collectors
2
Replies
25
Views
26
hoover28
H
H
I went all electric - Hyundai Ioniq 6
Replies
5
Views
15
henene4
H
DADoES
Streaming TV vs. Cable
2
Replies
24
Views
25
sudsmaster
sudsmaster
rp2813
Classic '60s LPs
Replies
3
Views
14
maytag85
maytag85

Latest posts

Back
Top