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
