Presenting the 1965 Kenmore Alphabet washer (Warning: may not be for weak stomachs)

[kenmoreguy64]

A couple weeks back I acquired a 1965 Kenmore 70-series 'Alphabet' washer and a companion 1964 Lady Kenmore dryer, both in Coppertone. These machines had apparently been out of service for quite some time. They were in the home of a deceased woman, and her daughter was clearing out the house to sell.

A hauler that I've come to know thanks to our own Bygted was in the area and was able to retrieve the machines and bring them to me. That's the good part. The machines are gorgeous, at least externally. They both look minty, and I love Coppertone.

Now I'll post a couple shots that I took today, starting naturally with the washer:

 

[kenmoreguy64]

And here's the dryer

Just as nice on the outside as the washer. (sorry for the background clutter).

 

[kenmoreguy64]

OK, so on with the story. Once I got the washer and dryer situated in their temporary store room amongst other vintage machines (except the plastic top trio behind the dryer), I stood there giving the room some viewage, when this "scent" wafted past me that made me cough and made my eyes burn.

The nose knows, so I followed it to the new washer. I opened the lid again, which I had previously done on the warehouse floor where there was a strong breeze from a 3ft. floor fan. Without the breeze, I nearly tossed my cookies. The washer smelled like an old diaper pail that was well past needing to be dumped. Can you say "NASTY"? Ew! I surmised that the machine had been used as a toilet, much to my disgust.

So, today I decided to do something about that. I am fortunate to be able to use this room and I don't want anyone complaining of the smell.

I placed the machine in front of a sink in the room, which has it's own water heater, and filled the machine 1/4 or so full, and put the machine into agitate in the 'dry agitate' section of the normal cycle. I put the lid down immediately so I would not get splashed, and let it woo-woo for several minutes. I nearly tossed my cookies again when I stopped the machine and opened the lid:

 

[kenmoreguy64]

I immediately put the machine into 'drain' to get rid of the bilge, only to find out the pump barely works. Glad I didn't put much more water in there!

GROSS GROSS GROSS

 

[kenmoreguy64]

I had seen almost this exact same machine behavior while at Kevin's last summer on his swanky Whirlpool, so I lowered the drain hose, and voila, it drained much better into a bucket.

I filled the machine again, this time with largely hot water, a full box of baking soda, and a full-load worth of low-suds detergent. I let it run the entire wash period on Normal.

I love the blur of the detergent cup in this shot...

 

[kenmoreguy64]

The machine is mezmerizingly soothing to listen to. It's all belt-drive, and sounds wonderfully healthy for a machine built so long ago. It's a 1965 model built in 1968. The first version of this machine had a bakelite Roto-Swirl and gray scrubber cap. One version had the 1967 black plastic Roto-Swirl, and mine has the 1968 gold version. I like that it was built in St. Joe Michigan vs. Clyde Ohio where so many more belt-drives were born.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

I have the dispenser bezel, it's just not snapped-in right now.

I ran the machine again after this shot was taken, and had pretty clear water, but I admit that I was tired of dumping buckets of water down the drain due to the nearly useless pump (at least that's what I hope it is).

The machine will need another good dis-infecting before I will even think of using it. I am not sure I can get past those first pictures, even if was it santitized. It sure runs nicely though!

 

[kenmoreguy64]

I have the washer parked next to the dryer right now, as they were meant to be. However, I think I have a new mate for the dryer long-term:

 

[kenmoreguy64]

The dryer may have issues, or it may not. This is the first dryer I have ever come across that had it's lint filter RUSTED into the chute.

It must have been installed next to a vent that allowed humidity to enter the dryer from outside. I finally got the filter dislodged, but not before leaving a long rust line in the chute and partially breaking the filter. If other parts of the dryer are rusted like that, such as the blower, it might need a lot of work.

In the meantime, very soon the washer will get a new pump so I can take it home to be further fumigated. I will wash a couple cars and have those rags and towels for the washer to wash, and maybe the throw blanket that I use in my vehicles when hauling. Whatever it takes to convince me that the washer is cleaned before I put anything in there that touches me or anyone else!

Gordon

 

[appnut]

Gordon, isn't that "new mate" long-term for the dryer the actual LK that went with that dryer or is it just simply an extremely close match? Looking foreward to seeing the dryer and close-ups of the panel. I had some friends here that lived here from 1989 to 1992, moved here from Lexington. His dad was an appliance repairman, formerly with Sears, and they had this dryer and a Kenmore 400 washer that was 3 temps, 1 water level and regular and delicate cycles and recirculating filter. It was in a laundry closet and never really got a good look at the dryer because it was too dark in there for me to see. So I hope I can see some good detail of the panel, thanks. Does the dryer have the sprinkler resevoir in the door? Always wondered what year of LK dryer it was and what its mate looked like, particularly since ther was no "representation" on the panel for "buttons" like on the 1963 Kenmore 800 LK. The auto dry didn't work any more on it.

 

[westingman123]

I have a bottle of the original formula Lysol, it doesn't smell pretty, but it will kill anything! Want me to send it down?

 

[revvinkevin]

This is SO DISGUSTING... shouldn't it be posted in "

ROFLMAO!

Kidding G-man! Yeah that IS pretty DIS-GUSSSS-TING! But It IS showing promise of cleaning up! You said the water was looking cleaner after each fill, yes?? YAY! It sure is purrrty!

However, Gordon I'm sorry, but that 1964 Lady K pair REALLY take the cake!!! Those are just stunning! Wowzers!

Congrats!
Kevin

Pee S... (LOL). Yes, I think all you need to do is change the pump, because as you said my "swanky" WP did the exact same thing and after replacing the pump it worked perfectly!

 

[appnut]

Naturally I am in total agreement with kevin about hose 64 LKs.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Kevin -

I just nearly fell off my chair, so THANKS! Pee-S, LOL!

I agree though, I think the machine just needs a pump.

I do like the 64 LK set - that was the second of the two reasons I got this mis-matched set because I knew the dryer would be just awesome next to the previously single washer.

Bob - Yes, those are a matched pair now. The dryer is a mechanical clone to the '62 800 and the '63 Lady K 800. I do believe it has a sprinkler in the door. I'll get you some better pics next time I'm at the warehouse with my camera.

Gordon

 

[appnut]

thank you Sir!!!

 

[revvinkevin]

I agree though, I think the machine just needs a pump.

Um... isn't that what I just said?? LOL

And I am VERY pleased that you nearly fell of your chair Gordon, I was laughing pretty hard when I read your reply!

Kevin

 

[cfz2882]

YEECH!!

I've had fresh aquisitions foam up on me from detergent residue
and found mouse"evidence"but nothing like that!-yuck!

 

[strongenough78]

Dude.......

Seriously?? Run some mega amounts of bleach through that machine and with the hottest water you can possibly get into it. I would even concider taking the top of it off and cleaning it everywhere possible. I wonder what the hell that was in there.

 

[mrb627]

Plastic Top

That 2-Cycle plastic top machine is in MINT condition. Is that a standard capacity machine with a straight vane agitator? Or a large capacity penta-vane model?

Malcolm

View attachment mrb627++9-19-2010-05-21-57.jpg

 

[goatfarmer]

Nice set, Gordon!

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Malcolm, it's a large capacity Penta-Vane model. I should have brought that machine home already as it should be ready to go. I am going to use it, but not sure how much, as I don't want the southern warm & humid air to rust the non-porcelain top.

There are more pictures of it in my other recent post if you care to check them out.

 

[fridgiman]

A couple cups of Clorox bleach with hot water and detergent left to soak overnight will clean, disinfect and deodorize completely. Next day just let it complete its cycle.
Do it all the time with my newly found vintage washers.
Works like a charm.

 

[combo52]

CLEANING THE SMELLY WASHER

Bleach is very good but I wouldn't use more than a cup or so and diffidently don't ever leave bleach in any washer more than 30 minutes. LCB will make the basket rust around the holes and its hell on rubber in high concentrations.

 

[mrb627]

Hot water & Cascade

Try a cup of powdered cascade and a hot wash. Double the agitation time to give the enzymes plenty of time to do their thing.

Malcolm

 

[frigilux]

A beautiful washer, and in great shape, too. I trust the scrubber is also in great shape, as it looks like it's been protected by the detergent cup. As for what the machine may have been used for: BLECHHHHHH!! Hope you get a pump soon and can the washer a Silkwood scrub-down.

By the way, is that a 1965 Lady Kenmore in the photo above? Don't know that I've ever seen one, before. Cool!

 

[qsd-dan]

LOL, I've seen worse, but that's still pretty bad. I guess nastiness like that doesn't bother me much since I continued to finish my lunch while viewing.

You certainly have made a quick recovery in the collection department since the trailer was raided.

(sorry for the background clutter)

NEVER apologize for background clutter related to appliances and appliance repair

 

[70series]

Blechh! Those photos of the bilge water are sickening. To think a washer could have been used in such a manner. Truly repulsive. Thank God it is in your hands and receiving the cleaning overhaul it needs. Glad to hear that the cleaning effort is working, and hopefully soon it will be fit to wash actual clothing. Otherwise it is a beautiful machine, and in good shape. I saw the video and it runs very smoothly.

I enjoyed the shots of your other machines too. The warehouse really has taken shape. I must say these newer collectibles are perhaps more handsome than the ones you lost. (I still miss the 1970 500s though.) I like the Coppertone 1964 Lady K washer shot. Now you have to pair it up with its matching dryer and you're good to go.

Have a good one,
James

 

[amyswasher]

Speaking of that

What ever became of the Trailer Disaster?

 

[mixfinder]

Mickey and Minnie

Any chance a rodent family turned the outer tub into a condo? One of their hairy little bits could be covering the drain port making the pump slow.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Trailer disaster?

Well, there has been two in the last year. Last fall a storage trailer I have had for years, which had 21 washers and 2 dryers aboard, was found to have been robbed empty. I had not seen the inside of the trailer for a couple weeks and did not know when they were taken, so there was really nothing I could do other than file a police report and bid au revoir to the machines, many of which I was 'glad' to be rid of. I have missed a few, but they seem to have replaced themselves in some cases with machines that are better!

Earlier this year, a truck from Arizona to the East was stopped and 'inspected' by the Highway Patrol. It had about 15 machines on it. That has been taken care of and I am not out any money.

Is that what you meant?

Gordon