The cheap plastic control panels look like something made for a doll house and enlarged for life size. These were offered for sale at a time of national economic distress when the GOP was plundering the nation, I believe.
POD 4-29-2023 Cheapest Looking Kenmores Ever
- Thread starter tomturbomatic
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Isn't this a Canadian ad?
My understanding this was to essentially shame potential buyers into considering a model higher up. You know, one that literally has a 0.05 cent jumper on the same timer and costs $50 more. The sales man would then push you to a MOL model.
repairguy
Well-known member
Yes Bob it is. I wouldn’t mind having a set of these in the collection. Parents had a kenmore 300 set from this era but the control panels were metal in the 1974 kenmore 60 style but theirs had wood grain on the entire front with white lettering and numbering for cycles. I’d like to have a set of those as well. I believe they were only sold through contract sales.
We looked at those on the floor at our White Oak Sears store so if that plague spread to Canada, it is regrettable.
In the late 60s a friend went to Sears to buy a laundry pair. The salesman was so obnoxious about steering him to the higher priced machines that he said he was going to the catalog desk to buy what he wanted. The salesman told him he would have to pay for delivery. My friend told him it would be worth it not to have to deal with his high pressure tactics.
In the late 60s a friend went to Sears to buy a laundry pair. The salesman was so obnoxious about steering him to the higher priced machines that he said he was going to the catalog desk to buy what he wanted. The salesman told him he would have to pay for delivery. My friend told him it would be worth it not to have to deal with his high pressure tactics.
As Bob mentioned, these are models sold by Sears Canada. They were manufactured by the John Inglis Co., a licensee of Whirlpool, which was part owner of that company.
The dryers used the Whirlpool side opening door instead of the drop down type used on most US models, and the same separate lower panel was used for both gas and electric units, instead of the electric model having a one piece front as used on US built models. The tops of both the washer and dryer are the same on the US and Canadian versions, while the Canadian models used the lower cabinet stamping like used on the 1957 - 1960 Whirlpool units in the US. The reasons for these differences are due to the much lower volume of units made in Canada, and has been discussed in several other posts.
The dryers used the Whirlpool side opening door instead of the drop down type used on most US models, and the same separate lower panel was used for both gas and electric units, instead of the electric model having a one piece front as used on US built models. The tops of both the washer and dryer are the same on the US and Canadian versions, while the Canadian models used the lower cabinet stamping like used on the 1957 - 1960 Whirlpool units in the US. The reasons for these differences are due to the much lower volume of units made in Canada, and has been discussed in several other posts.
Give it a break, Sean! And since you have to post frequently everyday, why haven't you upgraded to being a PAID and SUPPORTING member? Too CHEAP to spend $12.00 a year helping Robert support the site? Shut up or put up!
bradfordwhite
Well-known member
Those one piece plastic consoles were basically the test subject for what is basically standard today. Certainly easier than putting together all the parts required for a 1960s chrome console of any brand.
Reply #7
Okay, if I were a paid member from the time I was 18 6 years ago, and 6 x 12 = 60. That’s 60 bucks, sure $60 isn’t much these days but when you consider I picked up a Maytag HOH I was in search of since 2017 in August of 2018 for $50 and a matching Maytag A606 set in avocado for $30 the following March in 2019, that’s kind of a lot to spend. Not being cheap, but I’d rather devote that money towards vintage machines and for parts as well.
Okay, if I were a paid member from the time I was 18 6 years ago, and 6 x 12 = 60. That’s 60 bucks, sure $60 isn’t much these days but when you consider I picked up a Maytag HOH I was in search of since 2017 in August of 2018 for $50 and a matching Maytag A606 set in avocado for $30 the following March in 2019, that’s kind of a lot to spend. Not being cheap, but I’d rather devote that money towards vintage machines and for parts as well.
Still machines like this made it more to most laundry rooms than anything fancy like GE, Whirlpool, Maytag, Westinghouse or Frigidaire...
Clearly beating even Sears'' "Lady" upper-level counterparts...
-- Dave
Clearly beating even Sears'' "Lady" upper-level counterparts...
-- Dave
To the best of my knowledge, these specific models were never sold in the US. If they were, the only reason I can think of is if there was some kind of production problem at Whirlpool, such as a strike, and Sears obtained them from Canada to have something to sell. The 5 program washer appears to be comparable in features to the US Lady Kenmore, and the 4 program seems similar to the 800 series. I don't particularly care for the control panels on the comparable US models of that time, either. These were immediately before the black panel models that were introduced in 1976, and I don't know if the Canadian models had the black panels like in the US, or not.
I saw at least one washer-dryer pair with the wood grain panels like this in a Sears store. I did not see all three models, but I did see one and was repulsed by it and remember remarking at the time that the plastic housing for the control panels looked like a fire hazard.
bradfordwhite
Well-known member
Maybe this is what you saw?
Fall/Winter 1975 U.S. vers.
Fall/Winter 1975 U.S. vers.
‘74 Kenmores
I’m still working on this pair but these are the plastic panel Kenmore 60’s I picked up a month or so ago. I feel like these panels are slightly reminiscent of my ‘67 Whirlpool washer.
I’m still working on this pair but these are the plastic panel Kenmore 60’s I picked up a month or so ago. I feel like these panels are slightly reminiscent of my ‘67 Whirlpool washer.
repairguy
Well-known member
I’ve always liked the particular panel style of those Jon and I’m glad you decided to save and restore them. And avocado is one of my favorite appliance colors.
chaskelljr2
Well-known member
Post # 1179449
My Childhood Dryer is pictured in next one before the previous one.
DEFINITELY it’s no Lady, but it went well with my 1967 Kenmore Washer then later on, my 1976-78 Kenmore Series 70 Washer.
It didn’t have a lighted console nor a lighted drum, but it had the core features like a Full-Width Door that opened downward, a Solid-State Sensor, and a 2.5 Hour Wrinkle-Guard. It was our first dryer and we had it from 1976-1993.
All intents and purposes, great dryer.
Wish we still had it.
—Charles—
My Childhood Dryer is pictured in next one before the previous one.
DEFINITELY it’s no Lady, but it went well with my 1967 Kenmore Washer then later on, my 1976-78 Kenmore Series 70 Washer.
It didn’t have a lighted console nor a lighted drum, but it had the core features like a Full-Width Door that opened downward, a Solid-State Sensor, and a 2.5 Hour Wrinkle-Guard. It was our first dryer and we had it from 1976-1993.
All intents and purposes, great dryer.
Wish we still had it.
—Charles—
chaskelljr2
Well-known member
Post # 1179449
My Childhood Dryer is pictured in next one before the previous one.
DEFINITELY it’s no Lady, but it went well with my 1967 Kenmore Washer then later on, my 1976-78 Kenmore Series 70 Washer.
It didn’t have a lighted console nor a lighted drum, but it had the core features like a Full-Width Door that opened downward, a Solid-State Sensor, and a 2.5 Hour Wrinkle-Guard. It was our first dryer and we had it from 1976-1993.
All intents and purposes, great dryer.
Wish we still had it.
—Charles—
My Childhood Dryer is pictured in next one before the previous one.
DEFINITELY it’s no Lady, but it went well with my 1967 Kenmore Washer then later on, my 1976-78 Kenmore Series 70 Washer.
It didn’t have a lighted console nor a lighted drum, but it had the core features like a Full-Width Door that opened downward, a Solid-State Sensor, and a 2.5 Hour Wrinkle-Guard. It was our first dryer and we had it from 1976-1993.
All intents and purposes, great dryer.
Wish we still had it.
—Charles—
bradfordwhite
Well-known member
#14
Those look like they're in wonderful condition Jon. And to have a matched set too, that's perfect.
Those look like they're in wonderful condition Jon. And to have a matched set too, that's perfect.
