Quick - bolt-down Kenmore going soon!

[swestoyz]

Hard to believe that with 4 hours left, this bolt-down Kenmore auction on Fleabay has zero bids. A big rough, but that certainly hasn't stopped us before - complete with both knobs and lid! Hopefully someone here in the midwest has room in their basement for this.

Ben

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290271423533

 

[tuthill]

Hmmmmmmm

 

[toploader55]

Well, I never...

I never knew a machine like that existed. Is that like late 40s early 50s ??? So like a Bendix with Prehistoric Suspension ?

 

[roto204]

Fifties, like a belt-drive...

...with a nonexistent suspension. Instead of being suspended from the top of the cabinet with rods, the baseplate is the bottom, and the surrounds just cover the goods--no springs or wiggling whatsoever. They're cute and fun machines; Ross (westyslantfront) has one.

Like Sears says, you have to bolt it down! Even spinning it dry in the unbolted state can result in instant samba lessons.

 

[toploader55]

Well

I haven't done the Samba in years. Is like a Thor ? I think I saw one at one of Wash in clips in Tuscon on YouTube. Is that one a Bolt Down ????

 

[mickeyd]

Eddie, I think all the round ones are bolters, but not sure

I hope Gordon sees this and maybe grabs it; he's never seen a KM BD before, using "BD" in the ancient sense, of course.

See how much suds-savers were SOP back then.

Where is it again, Nebraska?

Ben, should we snag this for someone, and see about holding it?

Nice catch, Buddy--you sure are uncovering a lot of ancient ruins these days.

 

[gansky1]

These were sold by Sears beginning in 1947. Made by Whirlpool (really?) and only sold in Sears stores, not through the catalog. Sears would send someone out to make sure the installation site was appropriately braced and solid enough for the bolt-down washer, and of course, hot/cold water supply. They were all suds-saver models so had to have the storage tub and drain facilities as well. I've only seen one of these with the Whirlpool brand, those are far more rare. This one is in Dixon, NE which is very near Norfolk, NE that would have had a small Sears store.

 

[westyslantfront]

I have a Kenmore bolt down and it is a fun machine.

Ross

 

[westyslantfront]

Here is a picture of the tub and agitator.

 

[mickeyd]

Still gorgeous after all these years--61 and still gleaming-

:+D

 

[filterflo]

Very Nice Kenmore Ross !! nice to see it again

Picked up this service manual recently.....which shows quite a bit on the early Kenmore washers.......

 

[filterflo]

For MRS. America

Washer descriptions.......

 

[filterflo]

Variety of models.........thru the years

 

[filterflo]

Close up.........

 

[filterflo]

More info.........

 

[westyslantfront]

Hi Jimmy. Those are great looking manuals.

Ross

 

[filterflo]

Thanks Ross, let me know if you need any copies!

 

[xyz]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the service man that come to install this machine also sell you a pre-poured concrete square slab that this machine would be bolted to? So maybe if you wanted it to be in a room with wood floors, you could have him place the slab and then bolt the machine onto that concrete slab. Enlighten me.

 

[mickeyd]

"oldewash" got it--one bid, one catch!

Hope it's a member. Really enjoy someone getting a treasure like that, even more when they let us know so the rejoicing is grand and public.

Marty, I have a dim memory of concrete slabs too; we'll find out.

 

[xyz]

thanks Mick, I really do think from listening to mt Dad that this machine did come with a pre-poured slab that come at an extra cost to the buyer.

 

[tlee618]

Growing up my nieghbor had that same machine. Theirs was bolted to the concrete basement floor. Would be interesting to know if they offered a special concrete block as an extra.

 

[toggleswitch2]

~if you wanted it to be in a room with wood floors, you could have him place the slab and then bolt the machine onto that concrete slab.

The weight of the slab would be a factor to consider.

 

[tbolt25]

A washer my Mom had once

A 1960's Sears Kenmore automatic washer my Mom had once (in 1978)-not a bolt-down, but a standard left-opening-lid automatic washer, had the same black Bakelite straight-vaned agitator (hex-block drive), sieve waterfall lint filter, and a chromed control console-I wished that my Dad hadn't thrown it over the creek bank-I dearly liked that washer-seeing that agitator in that bolt-down brought back a flood of childhood memories for me.

 

[70series]

tbolt:

Was your Mom's washer an early 60s model, or was it from the mid to late 60s? Did it have the flat chrome lid handle and the visible lid switch which was typical of earlier 1960s models, or did it have the curved chrome lid handle and the hidden mecury switch like the mid to late 1960s models? The chrome console you describe sounds interesting. The black agitator reminds me of the Kenmore automatic washer my neighbor had when I was a kid.

Have a good one,
James

 

[foraloysius]

"oldewash" got it--one bid, one catch!

Then it sure is in good hands. That is Lee Maxwell, he has his own washing museum.

http://www.oldewash.com/

 

[mickeyd]

You've gotta be kiddin' me, Louis, that's awesom

Of course, I know who he is; his site led me to the discovery of Automatic Washers.Robert. What a riot. We could not have been bested or outbid *chuckle*
by a better man than Lee Maxwell. What a nice Saturday spirit lift, Louis. Thanks.

 

[tbolt25]

lid handle type

My Mom's washer had the curved chrome lid handle, with the visible plunger-type lid safety switch-you could push it in and watch it spin. Year was unknown.

 

[launderess]

Yes, Indeed!

"OldeWash" is a great person, with a wonderful site and IIRC, has published a book or two on vintage appliances.

 

[filterflo]

Thank You Launderess.......

Yes Lee is a wonderful person. I have one of his books and its a "must" read for washer collectors.........also it helps to support Lee with his collection..........

 

[filterflo]

More of Lee's book.........