POD 12/08/2016

[brucelucenta]

I have run across a few of these machines in the past and the dryers. They were good machines, one of the best you could get at the time. Who ever was in charge of things at Sears had a good eye and knew a good thing when they saw it too. With the help of Sears that Whirlpool mechanism was in more washers than any other. When you look at the choices Sears could have tried to go with, they were the right one. Maytag did not get really really good until after the AMP models and Frigidiare had the "tangling" problem and Norge had their own issues. It certainly helped Whirlpool to be the leader of this industry now after all others fell to the wayside. Interesting history.

 

[frigilux]

Whirlpool + Sears for laundry appliances was certainly beneficial to both companies. And that was back in the day when Sears was still a huge player. They used to run an ad that said something like "One out of every three washers in American homes is a Kenmore." We had one; a 1960 Model 80 with a much-used suds-saver. Ours saw the repairman fairly frequently, but those machines were definitely workhorses. With a spin speed of only 500-525, it's no wonder the high-speed electric dryers paired with them had to run so hot, LOL.

 

[turquoisedude]

I have a '56 Imperial washer and dryer set and they are great performers.  I swap the washer in and out of service regular down in the Ogden laundry - it's one of the very few of my vintage washer that I feel 100% comfortable with leaving alone if I have to.  Of course that's 'cause the machine was rebuilt from the ground up by John and Jeff Lefever.  If I'd done it, it'd probably leak and/or have caught fire by now.... LOL  

 

One thing that I don't care for on this washer, though is the end of cycle buzzer.  Towards the end of the final spin, a buzzer will sound twice to let you know the washer is almost done.  It still startles me.... LOL Probably a good thing in a household where you need to do three or four loads a day, though...   

 

[kenwashesmonday]

I get a kick out of the ad proclaiming "Safe 500 R.P.M. spin speed" and "seven rinses".

 

[lesto]

They were well built machines and had some of the most interesting cosmetic features. I loved how Kenmore washers of the late 50's to mid 60's had different colors for each cycle. But that 525 RPM spin was pathetic. My father liked Sears Kenmore products because he knew they were well built but my mom refused to have a Kenmore or Whirlpool washer. We always had Hotpoint or GE. Mom said to my dad: "Only an idiot would design a washer that drains the dirty water back through the clothes. Don't you dare bring one of those things in this house!"