I love open top Lady K's and Whirlpools because a garment-wrap-around-wringer error is almost impossible, and this machine, with its slightly different mechanism operating the tension than the later chrome version, is my all-time favorite.
Ya know Christopher, life is a real kick in the ass sometimes. I watch the Ebay wringer rollout all the time, but you miss a few days, and BINGO, an unused perfect diamond of washing machine comes and goes in a heartbeat. Be awesome if a club member got it. Not that I would have driven to Chicago tomorrow to get it--who knows what I may have done--just stunned that I missed. Ah, life.
Good luck on your search. If you lived closer, I'd let you have one of mine.
Funny you should mention your preference for the open top. I have one and it was my favorite wringer because it was so fast, the fastest wringer I've experienced, and the easiest by far, of any wringer ever, to reset after a wrap around; but once late at night on the deck in dim light, a massive wrap around incident snapped a huge metal part right smack in half. Still haven't fixed it yet, alas; it would have to be soldered. A much photographed beauty. Enjoy these handy examples.
