POD 3/5/18: 1960 Lady Kenmore

[frigilux]

A stunningly beautiful console from the design wizards at the Whirlpool corporation; another example of flagship Kenmores lavished with styling and features that trumped those of the corporation's namesake brand.

Timed liquid detergent, fabric softener and bleach dispensers; super wash (prewash) that automatically advanced to the chosen full cycle; lights galore inside and out; heavy and light soil versions of many cycles; nifty scrubber cap on the agitator to pretreat stubborn stains; self-cleaning lint filter. This beauty was noisy as a bowling alley, but loaded with features.

Photos from achieved threads show the evolution of Lady K consoles:
1) The 1959 Lady Kenmore; post courstey of DADoES
2) The 1960 Lady Kenmore (today's POD) courtesy of Gansky1.
3) The elusive 1961 Lady Kenmore; again from DADoES.

 

[swestoyz]

Years ago Justin followed an unfortunate cold lead for a 1961 Lady Kenmore. I believe this is the only actual photo of a '61 LK that any of us have seen in the wild.

A shame too, as those buttons look perfect! Wish the buttons on my '59 LK looked that nice.

Ben

Keep your fingers crossed

I found this set and am attempting to contact the seller about these. If it works out, I'll be getting them. If I think they are too much for my pocket book or someother reason I may not get them, I will pass the information along.

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[DADoES]

 
No one thus far (that I've run across) has come up with operational/mechanical details on the described 1961 feature "Automatic water level never wastes a drop . . never needs setting either.  Provides just enough for any size load from 2 to 10 lbs.  Even adds more water if you add more clothes."

 

[combo52]

Robert posted details of how the AWL system worked several years ago.

It basically started agitating at low water level and there was a micro-switch that the tub cover would contact if the tub was rocking and hitting the MS if the washer need more water, there was a upper and lower limit via regular type WLS that was not adjustable by the user.

John L.

 

[DADoES]

 
Can anyone find that thread?  I tried some relevant search terms and nothing comes up with the information.

 

[Unimatic1140]

I'm pretty sure Glenn that it was a Patent of the Day that showed how the '61 Lady Kenmore automatic water level worked.

 

[brisnat81]

This patent seems to go into a lot of detail, there are quite a few however from 1955 onwards that discuss how this could work

1960 patent
https://patents.google.com/patent/U...ore=priority:19620101&after=priority:19550101

Search results from 1955 onwards

Google Patents

Search and read the full text of patents from around the world with Google Patents, and find prior art in our index of non-patent literature.

patents.google.com