Quintessential Kenmore Wash Action

[Unimatic1140]

Ready for some more wash action videos? Well it was a tough decision but I decided to also sell my turquoise 1964 Kenmore washer and dryer set. They are beautiful and work well but I just can’t keep everything and I’m more of a 40’s and 50’s guy anyway. I know there are plenty of belt-drive Whirlpool/Kenmore fans who would just cherish having a beautiful set like this.

So below is the link to my next and hopefully last action for a while. I’ve gotten some feedback from a few members who would like to bid on some of this stuff but they don’t feel comfortable having everyone see their eBay screen names if the don’t win. So with that in mind, I decided to make this a private auction which means that whoever bids on the auction their eBay screen name will not be revealed, only their bid amounts. If the winning person wishes to share with the club their new set, that is totally up to them.

Anyway, the link to the videos is listed in the auction…

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[jasonl]

OH Sweet sounds!

I wish I could get those beautiful machines but since I'm moving and all I can't.

Did you get the whole cycle on video or can you make one for me?

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hi Jason, I'm sure I'll get around to making a Kenmore DVD sometime soon. I wish is wasn't so time consuming to do.

 

[jasonl]

how about just send me the raw video on a tape? What format does your cam use? I can convert anything to anything

 

[jasonl]

Purple sheets?

I noticed you using the Cotton/white cycle. Hot water I'm assuming. What temp is the rinse on that machien?

How quickly the childhood memories come flooding in. The hypnotic rocking of the tub during agitation and you perfectly captured the sound I've been waiting to hear since 1983. You got an excellent "grind-click-clunk". I'm impressed!

Is this washer too early to agitate and fill at the same time during cooldown?

I hope this set finds a good home. 1964 was a good year.

 

[DADoES]

Interesting that the designated "F" for Delicates runs a hot wash, and that there isn't a formal "G" for the flagged warm wash. I suppose a "G" selection would have interrupted the symmetry of the control panel legend.

 

[westytoploader]

Excellent videos! I'll keep this one in mind too...

Even though they are 18 years apart, this machine sounds EXACTLY like my large-capacity '82...wash, rinse, drain, spin--the whole thing! I really believe that BD Kenmore machines have a slightly different sound than BD Whirlpools, especially after watching Geoff's videos of the '76. Anyone else think so? During agitation, the "woo-woo-woo-woo" sound is slightly higher-pitched, and the tub makes a barely audible "grinding" noise during spin. I thought my machine had bad spin bearings (which it doesn't...much different "dry" sound) until I heard it on here.

That Roto-Swirl agitator is AWESOME! I ran a load of sheets in the '82 (I'm definitely going to have to make videos of the Penta-Vane and Roto-Swirl in action) and I couldn't believe how well it cleaned and got rid of the air bubbles on rinse! Are you including the scrubber cap with the auction?

--Austin

 

[jasonl]

The sounds of my childhood

This is an example of the old-school belt drive kenmores. The whine is higher and the wigag makes a louder sound than the plastic ones from the 80s.

 

[jasonl]

RotoSwirl

What'd I tell ya. There's the Frigidaire 3-ring and the Kenmore RotoSwirl, it just doesn't get any better.

I'd really like to hear that thing sloshing on low water level.

"woo-slosha-woo-slosha... etc."

Kenmore is magic.

 

[Maytaged]

Belt drive WP/KM machines have to be the best sounding machines ever. Anyone know why the earlier machines have a higher-pitched whine? There where no obvious changes through the years other than minor things that changed from metal to plastic. I too like the "hypnotic rocking" of the tub. I serviced a 1972 Whirlpool the other day and was more than happy to test run it afterwards. Must all go back to what you grow up with.

If I could get this set to Pittsburgh I would probably use it as my everyday washer/dryer. It would get a real workout with a family of five.
-ED

 

[Unimatic1140]

JasonL, I'm sorry but I already copied over that 8mm tape. Yes, you are correct this machine is early so it just does the fill and drain cool down.

and as for you Austin,
"I really believe that BD Kenmore machines have a slightly different sound than BD Whirlpools"
And I believe there really was a horse in the Stephen’s living room

Are you including the scrubber cap with the auction?
No, the washer was missing the rubber shell to the agitator cap when I found it. Unfortunately I only have one left in my parts collection and I want to save that. I’ve given a few away over the years.

 

[westytoploader]

Maybe it's not as high-pitched as I originally thought; I'll fire the '82 up later on because Robert's leading me to believe that the only thing that's "whining" is my head...LOL ;-)

 

[jasonl]

:-(

Oh well, I was hoping you'd have the whole thing. Maybe next time.

Not boring at all.

 

[tolivac]

Can't get the video clips to play-just get the "Winamp" player-but no playback.Anyone have any ideas how I could see the film clips-want to see it-the machines here remind me of the ones my stepmother had.

 

[pulsator]

I LOVE the sound of the brakes after the spin cycle!!!!!! That stopping of the motor is just a wonderful sound, what exactly makes that sound? Is it just the brakes? Or some other component as well?

 

[tcox6912]

auctions and sales

Robert, while I wish I could bid on this, I have temporarily run out of room ... had to put my last acquisition in my folks garage. But, I am grateful to you and those others in the club who are willing to part with some of your machines; for those of us who are not really knowledgeable enough to restore a machine ourselves. I quickly own up to my mechanical short comings and I wouldn't have the machines I have had it not been for you and some others in the club. Who ever gets this set is definitely getting a gem! Todd.

 

[kenmore1978]

video playing

"Can't get the video clips to play-just get the "Winamp" player-but no playback.Anyone have any ideas how I could see the film clips-want to see it-the machines here remind me of the ones my stepmother had."

It's a .wmv file, which is Window Media Player, but Real Player might be able to do it.

My Windows Media Player crashes, but since I have an ATI All-In-Wonder video card, it has a file player that will play .wmv files so that's what I use

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hi Jamie, I don't know exactly what causes the whirring sound of the brake, I assume its the style of the brake, baseplate and spinning basket that makes that sound.

 

[jasonl]

35 minutes of joy

I remember how the whine got louder as the tub drained and that sudden Whooop (sharply decrease pitch) at the end of the cycle. What a sad sound that was.