Sarah and Kelly
To give you some perspective in your future washer shopping, this machine is actually the largest direct-drive available, that is if the model number is original and the machine has not been 'hybridized' by an appliance shop, etc.
The model number 110.82672810 translates into an '86 model, large/super capacity, 70-series, in almond, and appears to have been manufactured the 45th week of 1986. The first zero in the serial number is most likely a 'C', which is often confused for a zero.
This machine in 1986 was considered a 3.0 cubic ft. model. This basket size remained in mass production into 2012, though small numbers are made for commercial and export markets to this day. This 3.0 cu ft model has morphed, thanks to the geniuses in marketing at both Sears and Whirlpool, into 3.2 cu ft models, then 3.5 cu ft, and ultimately the 4.0 cu ft direct drives --- they all used similar tub and basket dimensions. The difference was in the agitators and the variously improving Dual Action designs that were employed as the line got fancier. As agitators improved in their handling of large loads, the machine's useable capacity was said to increase by WP, all within the same basket size.
There was a 2.4/2.5 cu ft direct drive, which is what was fitted in all the 24-inch models, and some 27-inch machines. This is the tall, slender basket that many people think of when discussing a space-challenged Direct Drive.
I am pointing this out in case you wind up looking at another direct drive, in hopes of helping you avoid dissappointment...if it is also a super capacity of one iteration or another, it won't be any larger physically in basket size than this machine. The various Dual-Action agitators, some of which appear taller than others, and the various colors of baskets, especially the white ones, all have a major impact on the visual perception of the machine and expecially the basket.
I mentioned 'hybridizing' above which happens at many appliance shops. Because so many direct drive washers were made, and they being very widely available used, many are used as parts donors in small shops, etc. to supply parts to other machines which are being refurbished. I have seen some shops which will blend Whirlpool control panels onto Kenmore tops, blend WP agitators into KM models, it goes on and on. It is possible that if this machine is one of the 2.4/2.5 cu ft baskets, that a large capacity Kenmore cabinet, along with the cabinet's original model number, could have been transplanted onto a standard capacity 'guts'. For reference, a true regular capacity Kenmore model from the same period would have a model number of 110.8167xxxx instead of 110.8267xxxx.
This hybridizing was done in belt-drives too, and probably other brand machines as well. I have a 1980 Kenmore BOL large capacity machine, which has a 1970 Kenmore 60-series console installed. This involved replacing the machine's original single speed motor for a 2-speed, it involved modification to the wiring harness both in the 1980 cabinet and the 1970 standard capacity console, and in this machine's case the addition of the off-balance relay (why the person did that I cannot say). At least in this case the machine's original model number was removed from the cabinet so that parts weren't accidentally ordered in the future which no longer fit the machine. Many shops don't bother with this much re-fittig detail, but many others mix and match to a great extent...
As to machines that are larger in true capacity, Combo/John L as well as some others would know better as I am not that familiar with other brands, but I am fairly sure that the large capacity DD and its large cap. belt-drive ancestor are among the largest volume machines out there, especially in vintage or semi-vintage machines, at least ones that are worth having.
I hope this is somehow helpful!
Gordon
[this post was last edited: 1/3/2013-14:47]
