POD 8/22/2017

[brucelucenta]

Kenmore by this time had so many different models and sizes of machines it was difficult to keep track of all of them. I do remember my Aunt and Uncle bought a Kenmore washer and dryer that reminds me of these models somewhat. It was fairly plain and had the big dial knob with the cycles printed right on the console. That washer had just the timer dial knob and another knob for hot, warm or cold water temp. It had a pre set water level and three cycles. It would wash on normal, wash 'n wear and delicate. It had the standard bakelite straight vane agitator with a small cap and was 29" wide. The dryer was the older design of smaller capacity with the entire drum rotating and by then had the long belt all the way around the tub, so no pulleys in back. It did have the separate belt for the blower though and a standing pilot light, since it was pretty much a BOL model with no frills. It also had no lint filter other than one attached to the back of the duct opening. The washer did have the standard lint filter so popular with Kenmore at that time. They were probably about 1963-64 models.

 

[frigilux]

Never paid much attention to the 24" machines, but interesting to see that 1967 Model 7430 (110.6703400) had a few features found on upper-end full-size models: Automatic cycle buttons (four on each side of the cycle dial), a scrubber cap, infinite water level control and a self-cleaning lint filter.

How much smaller was the tub in a 24" machine compared to a standard-sized tub in a 29" machine? What was the capacity rating for 24" washers?

Resident Kenmore model/serial number experts: How did they manage to use the number 110.6703400 but call it Model 7430?

 

[brucelucenta]

Kenmore used to rate the 29" models as 9 lbs. and the 24" ones 8 lbs. The tub size difference wasn't very much. Most of the 24" models did just have the straight vane agitator, but the agitators would interchange with either size machine. The very first Kenmore washer and dryer I ever saw belonged to my grandparents. They had a carport with a breezeway and the washer and dryer were in a room at the end of it. They had a 24" pair with a gas dryer that must have been from the early to mid 50's. I remember it quite well. They had a very slightly raised back with big gold knobs about the size of a half dollar on either side for the cycle and such. They were pretty basic and when they moved the last time, grandma kept her washer but had no place to put the dryer so my Uncle got it. His wife used it well into the 60's and possible even early 70's. Even though it was only 24" wide, they used it with a new 29" Whirlpool washer the last time I saw it. So it must have been a good gas dryer to have lasted that long. I know it had no lint filter that I could see, but the matching washer did.