arbilab
Well-known member
It's not that bad. You could touch up those white streaks.
RUSTED 1950'S KENMORE WASHER - PRESCOTT
- Thread starter agitatorboogie
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Or you could drop it off at Rick's Restorations and pick up a brand new machine $5,000.00 later.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
P.S.:
The thread I linked to in Reply # 18 has a Sears Christmas catalog page from 1952, showing the washer brand new.
The finishes are described as "Porcelain enameled tub and basket. White Durabond finish protects metal parts."
In other words, painted top and cabinet, true to its Whirlpool roots; they were already doing painted tops and cabinets, even then, on their own machines. No porcelain cabinet option is listed. List price, $219.95, equal to a little over $1800 today. Suds-Saver option was $20 extra.
The thread I linked to in Reply # 18 has a Sears Christmas catalog page from 1952, showing the washer brand new.
The finishes are described as "Porcelain enameled tub and basket. White Durabond finish protects metal parts."
In other words, painted top and cabinet, true to its Whirlpool roots; they were already doing painted tops and cabinets, even then, on their own machines. No porcelain cabinet option is listed. List price, $219.95, equal to a little over $1800 today. Suds-Saver option was $20 extra.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
And Just For Grits 'n Giggles....
....Here's the facing page, with the matching dryer and the ironer. They were big on package deals, as you'll see - probably trying to move ironers, which weren't that huge a seller even back in the day.
....Here's the facing page, with the matching dryer and the ironer. They were big on package deals, as you'll see - probably trying to move ironers, which weren't that huge a seller even back in the day.
firedome
Well-known member
that'll buff out!
Early 1950s KM Washer
The bright metal trim on this washer is not pot metal, the band around the machine is polished SS as is the name plate emblem in front. The knobs are pot metal but the larger skirts are stamped SS.
What is all this nonsense about WP not using porcelain tops on their washers and dryers. Maytag did not have porcelain tops on their washer and dryer during this time period either.
WP & KM started using PTs on their W&Ds around 1953 and when the first LKM came out in 1957 it had an all porcelain cabinet, top and control panel cover was standard and this continued through 1962 on the LKMs at no additional cost, and KM and WP continued to offer this upgrade till the early 1970s for a mosdest $10 extra charge. MT never had an all porcelain cabinet or control panel cover on ANY washer and dryer they EVER sold. YES it was an excellent feature that MT washers and dryers had porcelain tops Right to the end, but keep in mind that WP is still making selling washers and dryers with porcelain tops today and even great companies like SQ are NOT.
The bright metal trim on this washer is not pot metal, the band around the machine is polished SS as is the name plate emblem in front. The knobs are pot metal but the larger skirts are stamped SS.
What is all this nonsense about WP not using porcelain tops on their washers and dryers. Maytag did not have porcelain tops on their washer and dryer during this time period either.
WP & KM started using PTs on their W&Ds around 1953 and when the first LKM came out in 1957 it had an all porcelain cabinet, top and control panel cover was standard and this continued through 1962 on the LKMs at no additional cost, and KM and WP continued to offer this upgrade till the early 1970s for a mosdest $10 extra charge. MT never had an all porcelain cabinet or control panel cover on ANY washer and dryer they EVER sold. YES it was an excellent feature that MT washers and dryers had porcelain tops Right to the end, but keep in mind that WP is still making selling washers and dryers with porcelain tops today and even great companies like SQ are NOT.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
John:
My description of a pot-metal emblem was based on memories nearly half a century old; forgive me the inaccuracy.
The combination of a porcelain top and a painted cabinet was standard with most manufacturers for a long, long time. As you point out, there was a time it wasn't standard yet, and we're now in a time when it isn't necessarily standard any more. But for a while there, porcelain tops were the expectation.
My description of a pot-metal emblem was based on memories nearly half a century old; forgive me the inaccuracy.
The combination of a porcelain top and a painted cabinet was standard with most manufacturers for a long, long time. As you point out, there was a time it wasn't standard yet, and we're now in a time when it isn't necessarily standard any more. But for a while there, porcelain tops were the expectation.
Argh! I sure could use the pump from that machine to restore my '53 model. But, I've since moved away from the dreary and depressing Arizona desert back home to California so no trips to AZ in my future. But if anyone has a pump they'd like to sell, please let me know. Thanks.
Maytag did not have porcelain tops
The top of the original AMP was porcelain, where both halves the lid was painted. Later AMP's had a painted top half and the bottom half of the lid was porcelain, which followed suit through till the end of AMP transmission production in '57.
Maytag dryers did not receive a porcelain top until the SuperMatic 601 dryer in '54. The original 60W dryer in '53 was all paint.
Back to the original thread - for the price, the Kenmore is worth picking up for the parts alone. If someone wants to tackle the 'body work', then more power to ya!
Ben
The top of the original AMP was porcelain, where both halves the lid was painted. Later AMP's had a painted top half and the bottom half of the lid was porcelain, which followed suit through till the end of AMP transmission production in '57.
Maytag dryers did not receive a porcelain top until the SuperMatic 601 dryer in '54. The original 60W dryer in '53 was all paint.
Back to the original thread - for the price, the Kenmore is worth picking up for the parts alone. If someone wants to tackle the 'body work', then more power to ya!
Ben
Orignal MT AMP Washer
Hi Ben , I have a 1950 AMP and it has a painted top, the top of the lid and the bottom of the lid are also painted, I have also seen other early AMPs that had painted tops so mine can't be the only one, LOL.
Hi Ben , I have a 1950 AMP and it has a painted top, the top of the lid and the bottom of the lid are also painted, I have also seen other early AMPs that had painted tops so mine can't be the only one, LOL.
Painted tops/panels - 1960s, 1970s, and on
There was a period in the late 1970s and early 1980s where Kenmore offered certain MOL models with painted tops, often combined with a porcelain lid. I never respected these models much as here on the east coast, these often rust, and badly, before the machine is worn out. They seem to have much more longevity due to the lack of humidity in the west.
I used to attach "blame" for that on the bean counters who were counting every penny, but I have come to find out that these were more the result of promotional models that Sears wanted to sell lots of at really low prices, thus we were seeing a lot of them in the 1990s entering the replacements population. The rest of the model lines usually remained with full porcelain tops and lids. Certain 1977 and 1979 models were very common without them and they seemed to be everywhere for a while.
I was of the understanding that all previous Kenmores, especially those from the 1960s, were always porcelain coated on the tops and lids, at least. John is certainly correct as well, that KM offered a full porcelain cabinet on some models, but they seem to be somewhat rare. They are noticeably heavier than their painted cabinet counterparts.
Since joining AW.org, I have learned, much to my surprise, that certain KM and WP models always had painted lids and tops, even in the porcelain rich days of the 1960s.
Kenmore 400, 500, and even some 60/600s were painted with baked or acrylic enamel. For the 1961 models for example, the first model to have the porcelain top and lid as standard was the 70 series. The 60 had a porcelain lid but painted top. The 500 had both lid and top painted, with blue one-coat tub. These are features usually reserved for total BOL units, and the 500 and 600 are not BOL or low-volume units. This really surprised me.
I've studied ads and catalogs closely, and Sears always mentions how much of the machine is porcelanized in the 'Construction' section. I was really surprised to see this, but it may explain why we seem to have a few of these older models in our collections, but usually the better models - the BOLs may have all rusted out long ago.
Same applies to WP, though I think they were more liberal with their porcelain. One member here I am certain has a painted top 1962 model.
Gordon
There was a period in the late 1970s and early 1980s where Kenmore offered certain MOL models with painted tops, often combined with a porcelain lid. I never respected these models much as here on the east coast, these often rust, and badly, before the machine is worn out. They seem to have much more longevity due to the lack of humidity in the west.
I used to attach "blame" for that on the bean counters who were counting every penny, but I have come to find out that these were more the result of promotional models that Sears wanted to sell lots of at really low prices, thus we were seeing a lot of them in the 1990s entering the replacements population. The rest of the model lines usually remained with full porcelain tops and lids. Certain 1977 and 1979 models were very common without them and they seemed to be everywhere for a while.
I was of the understanding that all previous Kenmores, especially those from the 1960s, were always porcelain coated on the tops and lids, at least. John is certainly correct as well, that KM offered a full porcelain cabinet on some models, but they seem to be somewhat rare. They are noticeably heavier than their painted cabinet counterparts.
Since joining AW.org, I have learned, much to my surprise, that certain KM and WP models always had painted lids and tops, even in the porcelain rich days of the 1960s.
Kenmore 400, 500, and even some 60/600s were painted with baked or acrylic enamel. For the 1961 models for example, the first model to have the porcelain top and lid as standard was the 70 series. The 60 had a porcelain lid but painted top. The 500 had both lid and top painted, with blue one-coat tub. These are features usually reserved for total BOL units, and the 500 and 600 are not BOL or low-volume units. This really surprised me.
I've studied ads and catalogs closely, and Sears always mentions how much of the machine is porcelanized in the 'Construction' section. I was really surprised to see this, but it may explain why we seem to have a few of these older models in our collections, but usually the better models - the BOLs may have all rusted out long ago.
Same applies to WP, though I think they were more liberal with their porcelain. One member here I am certain has a painted top 1962 model.
Gordon
The 1962 Whirly LJA-3200 that my family had, was full porcelain cabinet and top/lid.
An Ephemera document lists it as LJA-32V with porcelain top/lid and LJA-32 without. No reference to porcelain cabinet but I'm absolutely positive ours did have it.
Porcelain cabinet models were a $10 option with Sears in the 1960s, which John already mentioned. I have no idea how Whirlpool priced it, but I would expect it was in the same ball-park. There are great in moist enviroments like northeastern basements --- no rusty cabinets. You got a better deal when buying a model that wasn't full porcelain on the top and lid in the regular model, as it would have both these in the porcelain cabinet version for no extra money.
Sears seemed to spec the painted parts much more liberally than WP did in the 1970s and early 80s, though I never really understood the need to have a porcelain lid but a painted top. Eventually on these the lid looked nearly new in a rusted lid well (dumb).
When the powder coated tops and lids debuted in early 1983, this made a big improvement in durability over the painted tops, and suddenly many of WP's models were getting them along with most Kenmores under the 80 series. The powder coating is a much more environmentally friendly process, as porcelanizing requires chemical etchers (Hydrochloric Acid) and uses a lot of heat (therefore energy) as well. Not only is it cheaper and more environmental, powder coating can be applied more quickly.
Long term now that these first models are 25-30 years old, the powder coating seems to last much longer than the painted parts, without significant rust exposure, but they seem to get dull and scratched just like the painted parts.
Gordon[this post was last edited: 2/7/2013-16:11]
Sears seemed to spec the painted parts much more liberally than WP did in the 1970s and early 80s, though I never really understood the need to have a porcelain lid but a painted top. Eventually on these the lid looked nearly new in a rusted lid well (dumb).
When the powder coated tops and lids debuted in early 1983, this made a big improvement in durability over the painted tops, and suddenly many of WP's models were getting them along with most Kenmores under the 80 series. The powder coating is a much more environmentally friendly process, as porcelanizing requires chemical etchers (Hydrochloric Acid) and uses a lot of heat (therefore energy) as well. Not only is it cheaper and more environmental, powder coating can be applied more quickly.
Long term now that these first models are 25-30 years old, the powder coating seems to last much longer than the painted parts, without significant rust exposure, but they seem to get dull and scratched just like the painted parts.
Gordon[this post was last edited: 2/7/2013-16:11]
John - that's the first I've heard, but I'll certainly take your word for it! Of all the AMP's I've seen, they all had porcelain tops.
I also would have swore I read some Maytag brochure or manual somewhere talking about it, but this is pretty cool to hear!
Ben[this post was last edited: 2/7/2013-20:36]
I also would have swore I read some Maytag brochure or manual somewhere talking about it, but this is pretty cool to hear!
Ben[this post was last edited: 2/7/2013-20:36]
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