Three cheers for the washer/dryer pair that served our family from 1960-1984! Worried that a 1-year old Frigilux was going to electrocute himself crawling about unplugging the '57 Kenmore wringer washer in our laundry room, my Dad took the leap and purchased the Model 80 pair (w/suds-saver) in white.
While I grew to despise the machine and took it completely for granted (due to a severe case of Frigidaire envy in the 1960's-'70's), I now realize what a cool washer it was. I can still hear the clackety-clacking of the rapid-advance timer setting up the cycle; the timed bleach and fabric softener dispensers; the brightly-lit tub; the array of cycles; the infinite water level feature; the lit console; the awesome waterfall lint filter; the "preggers" Roto-Swirl agitator. It had nearly all the high-end features you could ask for in 1960.
This was the washer that triggered my interest in appliances. I spent countless hours, when I was a toddler, standing on a step-stool with the lid open, watching it operate. I would set up camp in the laundry room every wash day and my poor Mom would always hoist me up so I could press the cycle button. The suds return was even more fun, as you'd push the desired cycle button, then immediately move the lever on the console to "return".
It made all the characteristic early-60's Kenmore sounds which I can still recall with precision. Loved the sound of the solenoids kicking in for the timed dispensers, the woo-woo sound during agitation; the otherworldly sound it made when going from drain to spin; the sound of the wig-wag still doing its thing during drain/spin. It had many interesting rhythms which caught my attention as a tyke--especially the loud rapid-advance timer, which was practically a little percussion solo of its own. And then I became a musician. Coincidence...or a case of appliance-as-mentor, LOL?
Thanks for indulging my ramblings; I'm feeling uncharacteristically nostalgic, today.
[this post was last edited: 4/23/2013-11:26]
While I grew to despise the machine and took it completely for granted (due to a severe case of Frigidaire envy in the 1960's-'70's), I now realize what a cool washer it was. I can still hear the clackety-clacking of the rapid-advance timer setting up the cycle; the timed bleach and fabric softener dispensers; the brightly-lit tub; the array of cycles; the infinite water level feature; the lit console; the awesome waterfall lint filter; the "preggers" Roto-Swirl agitator. It had nearly all the high-end features you could ask for in 1960.
This was the washer that triggered my interest in appliances. I spent countless hours, when I was a toddler, standing on a step-stool with the lid open, watching it operate. I would set up camp in the laundry room every wash day and my poor Mom would always hoist me up so I could press the cycle button. The suds return was even more fun, as you'd push the desired cycle button, then immediately move the lever on the console to "return".
It made all the characteristic early-60's Kenmore sounds which I can still recall with precision. Loved the sound of the solenoids kicking in for the timed dispensers, the woo-woo sound during agitation; the otherworldly sound it made when going from drain to spin; the sound of the wig-wag still doing its thing during drain/spin. It had many interesting rhythms which caught my attention as a tyke--especially the loud rapid-advance timer, which was practically a little percussion solo of its own. And then I became a musician. Coincidence...or a case of appliance-as-mentor, LOL?
Thanks for indulging my ramblings; I'm feeling uncharacteristically nostalgic, today.
[this post was last edited: 4/23/2013-11:26]
