POD 11/11/2016

[brucelucenta]

Another multi featured machine with a low price from Sears. For the value you got for the price, it was hard to beat. Those machines were quite durable and required little servicing for many years of use. I never payed that much attention to Kenmore machines, probably because they were so abundant in numbers and were fairly common place. I liked anything out of the ordinary like Frigidaire, Kelvinator and Philco, just to name a few. Kenmore/Whirlpool machines were good machines. The only somewhat objectionable thing about them was that they did not extract water from the clothes quite as well as some machines did. They certainly washed clothes very well though.

 

[appnut]

The washer my parents bought when I was in10th grade. 

 

[yogitunes]

I was thinking the same thing, really low price for an 800 series....

self clean filter, 2 speed, triple dispensers, 5 temps....plus a full fluorescent light.....seriously feature packed....

 

[vacerator]

Nice looking

as well.
They were very well made, but some did require servicing because families were larger then still, and overloading could be hard on their belts, clutches, motors and spin tubes. Little items too, like the occasional mix valve, timer, and solenoids.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Ah, sort'a like the last (11/5/16) Kenmore ad--'cept for the addition of Nu Tawnee G'Old!!!!

 

 

-- Dave

 

[cycla-fabric]

Similar to this one

This is my Sears Kenmore 800 a 1973 model that runs very well.

Doug

 

[combo52]

Over Loading A Belt Drive WP or KM Washer

The ONLY thing overloading these sturdy washers could is cause is a belt failure, overloading had NO effect the motor, clutch, spin tube etc.

 

Overloading as with most washers actually makes them last LONGER as you are doing less total loads, do bear in mind that the laundry results are better and clothes look better and last longer if you put the correct amount of clothing in the washer.

 

[mrclean87]

My Grandmothers's first automatic

This was the exact washer my grandmother had--it was the first automatic washer she purchased along with the matching dryer. The bright console light lit up the corner of the basement where the washer and dryer were located. Many memories of doing laundry in that machine when I was a teen.

 

[gyrafoam]

Bruce, I know what you mean.

Kenmores were everywhere when I was young and I liked the same machines you mentioned. I found them to be much more entertaining. I wasn't giving a thought to the big picture of performance and practicality.LOL.
Now, I can appreciate them.

I never had to line-dry items, so spin-speed didn't mean much to me. What I did not care for was what I thought was a lame Rinse. That was really because the regular detergents back in the day were way more high sudsing than they are now. A full load of heavy fabrics such as towels virtually guaranteed suds-lock and the spray-rinses always seemed to make it worse . Then the machine would stop to fill for a deep rinse with a huge suds cake on top. Sometimes it would suds lock again for the final spin.
The wise housewives in those days only used All or Dash in their Whirly/Kenmores.

Nothing did a Deep-Rinse like a Kelvenator.

 

[volvoguy87]

KM.

I have a 1971 800 set, and it's one of my favorites. It has every feature I want, plus several more, and it has my favorite agitator, the gold Super Roto Swirl. The light looks great and it performs quite well. It's true the spin isn't phenomenal, but it gets the job done.

Dave