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Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

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aldspinboy

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 11, 2007
Messages
2,452
Location
Philadelphia, Pa
Hey guys, those low end Kenmore models are so cool.

They where the first washers I saw with the ( GOLD ) straight vane agitator,very splashy low water level wash with the wig wag sound ( That I love ) the where very popular in low & mid income homes. Where i saw a lot of them in the 70's.
The second washer with the stainless grid on the back, and one knob on the front!
LOVE IT ! Anyone else have, or used these machines?

Darren k
 
Memories of the Top Set

The POD,the set on the top what a memory that is, we had that exact same set bought new in 1969. That washer lasted 22 years without a repair before giving up. Little did I know, I should have check it out to see what the problem was but didn't. That machine ran very well and had a lot of action, and loved the 2 cool down period in the permanent press cycle. Great Kenmore pair.

Doug
 
After I bought my 1st house in 1980, the house next door had that 2nd pair--saw it in their garage. I thought, that's as cheap as you can get. Yuck!! But then again, all I ever saw them wear were jeans and t-shirts. No special laundry requirements at all. Personally, I dislike BOL machines intensely!!
 
Top set

My dads parents purchased the top set, I thought it was in 72 or so. Interestingly, they are still in use today. Neither of them has ever had a repair. Sometime in the late eighties I was visiting and my grandmother asked me to check out the dryer as it had a slight burn smell. I pulled it out and cleaned away the lint inside and out and it was good to go.

They really don't make them like that any more.
 
BOL Dryer!

The BOL dryer is like the one Mom got in 1969..still in her basement hooked up and used occasionaly..(she loves using the wringer washer and clothesline...even at 77!)Even though Dad worked for Westinghouse, we never had a 'W' washer or dryer..
 
The top Kenmores:

My aunt, and her mother before her, had that exact washer for a combined total of 19 years from 1969 to 1988. My aunt got it from her mother when she, my uncle and their 5 children moved to Virginia from California in 1972 It washed 4 to 5 loads a day. This was the best washer, and the one that inspired my love of Kenmores. The gold str8 vane agitator with the cone cap really splashed the water on the Lo water level, which my aunt used frequently. The gold cartridge filter and whole filtering system worked very well; water reached the agitator as it recirculated back in. I learned all of the classic Kenmore sounds standing in front of this washer. The woo woo sound, the sound of the wig wag as it was going into agitate, and then the grind-click-clunk of the spin solenoid being engaged were imprinted in me in that laundry room. In addition there were the pump sounds such as the one it made when the tub was finally empty and the rhythmic pulse sounds that it made through the remainder of the neutral drain and continued through the spin cycle. This really was the greatest Kenmore, and I could not wait for our annual visits to my aunt and uncle's house to hear and watch it.

The models are originally 1970 models of the 500 series, Model # 110.70045**, which debuted in the summer/fall of 1969. They were around as late as 1972/3. Very popular models, and it is pretty understandable why. They had all of the basic necessities and were moderately priced. My friend across the street from me had the set; his parents bought it in 1969 when they moved there. In addition at least 2 other neighbors had the washer. I am sure there were many more.

Thanks for the POD.

Have a good one,
James
 
The bottom ones look like the portable with a spoiler. The two recently rescued portables have that same single front dial and trim.
 

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