POD 11/05/2016

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

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brucelucenta

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Jul 21, 2013
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Look at the price on this high end washer! No wonder Kenmore washers and dryers were in more homes than any other brand! They were build like tanks and good performers too. You couldn't beat the sale prices Sears ran all the time.
 
NOT a high-end washer

 

 

This is a Kenmore "700", pretty much middle of the pack I believe, not a high end model.   There are at least 3 models above this one, including the TOL Lady Kenmore model.
 
Highly featured Kenmore washer

This is a pretty high-end washer when you consider it has timed bleach and fabric softener dispensers, self-cleaning lint filter infinite water level and the second for rents option.

If you compare all these great features to any Maytag Toploader ever made through the year 2006 none are as versatile and well-equipped.
 
While it may not be 'highest end'

I would agree that this is an upper line model.

In the late 60s Sears seems to have started a diversion from the old norm a bit on what features went with what series, or in how fully to equip each series notch.

I have one of these machines, and John is right, it has a lot of fancy features. Kevin is right too though, a 700 series is not usually fully loaded enough to consider it 'high end'. There isn't much that this model is missing except for a third speed and a water powered detergent dispenser that would separate this model from the functionality of a Lady Kenmore. The vari-flex agitator too...

This diversion in Sears marketing went far enough by 1972 that a 60 series machine had five cycles including a soak and two dispensers. This was totally reversed in 1976 when one of the two 60 series machines had only a single speed motor and thus no delicate cycle.

Speaking of my copy of the machine in today's pod, I would love to give it to someone. Just let me know if anyone is interested.

Gordon
 
Bob,

I think the ones with the solenoid activated dispenser typically have fake wood grain in the timer bezel area. I think a former member by the screen name of Wigwagster had one.

I will have to go look through the archives.

Gordon
 
That was my point exactly! At that ridiculously low price you got many features that other brands didn't even offer except on their TOL machines. This particular washer would do about anything that the TOL Lady Kenmore would do, just not as many buttons or knobs. Sears used to really clean up on selling washers and dryers back in the 60's and 70's with their sale prices!
 
Yep,

my first credit card was from Sears. I bought a Kenmore Powermate 3.5 horse and paid it off before 30 days. Then I bought a Kenmore powerspray carpet cleaner with motorized brush for my small cleaning side business.
One customer's carpet was black from some soot. He was a co worker and junk dealer on the side. I got his carpet clean with it. I added oxy bleach to the solution.
He was too embarrassed to call anyone else. His sister was so impressed, I had work coming out of my ears from friends she told. Firemen and policemen were calling me for a month to clean their houses. I then bought a professional portable steam cleaner, and a Host dry extractor that used a Capture type of grainual detergent.
My ex was laid off from GM, and that little side job got us through the recession of the early 80's. No he didn't help me. He had a little $5 an hour job at a video arcade. I got bitched at for spending money on the equipment.
He finally got called back to the plants in spring of '84, and I was promoted, so I let it all go.
My cousin couldn't find a good job, so he used it to get started, then he bought a van and a truck mounted system. He did very well, then people started going back to wood flooring.
 
So close yet so far!

Gordon, if only we lived closer.. I would love to get a good top loader again. I miss my Kenmore 70 Series machine. Even more so since I had a small portable Kenmore TL that out washed our Duet. My dirty uniforms came out cleaner in that half sized machine with a simple straight vaned agitator than the full sized Duet without any special pre-treating!

And all in 1/3rd the time!
 

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