Pictures of my '72 Lady K

[partscounterman]

Sanitize

Because I am neurotic, I always used to like filling my DD Lady K just to the top of the agitator fins, add a good snort o' bleach and let'er rip on high speed-Which of course threw the bleachy water all over and disinfected the tub. (plus it gave me another thing to "do" with my beloved washer)
the only good germ is a dead germ!

 

[kenmore1978]

Selective dialing button

So what was "selective" dialing?

 

[fixerman]

I don't know for sure but it must be because you push the cycle button and then turn the timer dial until it stops then pull the dial out to start. That's the way I believe these machines work

 

[powerfin64]

Selective Dialing

Fixerman, that is correct.

Rich

 

[powerfin64]

Selective Dialing

Selective Dialing is where you select the wash time on any cycle, instead of the pre-set wash time, OR canceling any wash & options previously picked for a certain cycle.

Rich

 

[DADoES]

Echoing powerfin64, "Selective Dialing" makes the timer work like a regular timer that can be set at any position, rather than the usual LK method of selecting a fabric care button which locked the timer at the appropriate position for starting the cycle and wash time.

The "Cancel" reference on that button is to release the lock for resetting the timer if you changed your mind about the selection before actually starting the cycle. It may also release the optional selections such as Custom Care and 2nd Rinse.

I believe Custom Care triggered the ex-slow agitation speed.

 

[cehalstead]

lady k

We had the 68 version of this machine in avacodo. It was a Sears 900 (which was the previous year's Lady Kenmore, renamed and sold at a lower price). The 900 had a gold Vari-Flex which did not have upper extended fins. All the buttons were the same. I remember that it very frequently suds-locked, and the "optional second rinse" button was very handy. It also had a "Custom Care" option that slowed agitation, but left the high speed spin. The matching dryer was very good, completely automatic. You just pushed the start button. The drier adjusted the heat automatically. There were eight degrees of dryness that could be selected. Great machines, and were used until '97, replaced by Dependable Care Maytags.

 

[powerfin64]

Vari-Flex question

Is there more than 1 version of the Vari-Flex Agitator? Are the gold vari-flex different than the white ones? IF so, what are the differences between them?

 

[kenmore1978]

Selective dialing

So they finally got wise and made the pushbuttons more flexible? As much as I loved the pushbuttons, it always sort of irked me that I couldn't have a long wash with cold water or a shorter wash with hot water, Permanent Press with a longer wash, etc.

 

[cehalstead]

variflex

I think the gold Vari-Flex on our '68 model was an early version. Sears may have added the higher extended vanes to increase rollover. Seems to me like the clothes didn't turn well in ours.....