Sears Best Kenmore dishwasher

[reactor]

220/240 volt

The D&M dishwashers were 110/120 volts across the board with the exception of one Kenmore model, which Sears offered for a time, that operated on 220/240v to achieve a higher wash temperature. The extra voltage was for the larger heating element. The rest of the dishwasher (timer, main motor, solenoid) operated on 110/120.

[this post was last edited: 11/17/2022-10:21]

 

[estesguy]

Reply #17

That was my first and only experience with a Sears/D&M, thats who I was told made it, back in 1975. I installed one in my first house, that I added a dishwasher to, that had none before. The first thing I noticed was hairline cracks extenting out from screw heads in the porcelain holding the motor assembly in. These cracks were already showing signs of rust. Out it came and back to Sears. I installed a Kitchen Aid Imperial in its place, whatever model it would have been back then.

 

[circlew]

If the motor, etc. operates on 120 volts, the machine would require a 120/240 volt 3-wire circuit (with neutral). As dishwasher circuits are usually 120 volt 2-wire, new wiring would have to be installed if replacing an existing unit. They might have sold better if the machine was all 240 volt, as the same 2-wire cable could likely be used, requiring only a new double pole breaker in place of the original single pole (assuming wire is of sufficient size for load).

 

[reactor]

220/240v Sears DW

I doubt if the dishwasher was that big of a seller, Tom, for the reason you have given. One would have to run a new line to build that dishwasher into their kitchen. It might be OK if someone was building a house where they could customize their kitchen circuitry.

I wonder if anyone ever installed it using their prexisting wiring? All they would need to do is to use the ground line for the neutral and the black and white lines for the two hot legs.

It would be simple to add one breaker and put the previous neutral (white) line on the new breaker. The ground line would then become the neutral. In most residential panels the ground and neutral are connected together at the box anyway.

Of course, since ground line is now uninsulated, that would prohibit it from being as a neutral per the NEC regulations, but when did that ever stop anyone.

 

[combo52]

230/240 V lady Kenmore dishwashers

Yes I’m sure these were not big sellers Barry, I only ever saw three of them in my career.

The one that I have that I got from Kevin in Long Beach that’s in the museum.

And we removed one in 1976 that was a 1969 model installed a new Maytag reverse rack dishwasher in its place. That was easy to do we just didn’t use the one hot wire when we hooked it up the Maytag that is.

That dishwasher I stripped the 240 V 2400 W element out of it and, I ended up using that element in a porcelain tub 18 inch DNM dishwasher that a friend put in his office where there was no water heater and that 2400 W element would heat the water up amazingly fast running the dishwasher on cold water.

I also saw a Lady Kenmore up in Vermont about 35 years ago a friend was looking for a house and I noticed that the old DNM dishwasher said 180 on the high temperature cycle.

John L

 

[gansky1]

 

 

I took these pics in 2015 at John's, note the double element.  

 

 

 

[Unimatic1140]

D&M 11+ Years Later

So I have had my 1965 Lady Kenmore D&M dishwasher installed in my kitchen for well over 11 years now. I use it normally about 4 times a week. It has no rust build-up nor have I needed to do much repairs. The racks are still nearly in pristine condition. Earlier this year I had to rebuild the water valve but that was the first repair since I started using it. Every few years I need to remove the mount and take something out that shouldn't have gone in the dishwasher and is being thrown around loudly by the macerator. I do realize that the earlier models like this were probably built much better than the later models in 1970s and beyond.

I never find any bits of food left over, the only exception is the occasional bit on a piece of silverware but that only happens if it is cupped next to another utensil. Of course this happens in any dishwasher I've ever used. Centrifugal force throws any bits on the top rack off and I love not having to clean any filter. I do not pre-rinse or even scrap much and the D&M takes care of removing all the food. I really do love this dishwasher.

Here are pictures of the interior after 11 years of use, I took these picture this week...

 

[reactor]

Nice machine, Robert.

Love your modifications to add a tub light and door window to allow you to see your machine in action. The D&M machines were really not as bad as some are making them out to be. I wish some of the AW members would learn not to to view the world in gross generalizations and communicate with overt, and often false, exaggerations.

Those turquoise racks are nice. The later mustard yellow racks that Sears used were not as attractive, at least in my opinion. The one nice thing Modern Maid did with the D&M machines was to color coordinate the racks and tubs. My family's Modern Maid had a "Robin's Egg Blue" porcelain tub with complementary Marina blue racks. It was quite striking. Too bad they used off-white silverware baskets and detergent dispensers, though.

Thanks for sharing the pictures, Robert. I can't imagine how much time and pabor you put into the modifications of your machine!

 

[peteski50]

D & M

My experiences have not been bad either. I had a 18" kenmore in a apartment once it worked beautifully. I knew others that had other Kenmore models and they had no rust or no real problems either. I knew someone that had a 1970 caloric and it was a super DW! Later on they did cheapen everything!

 

[combo52]

The last year of a somewhat OK DNM dishwasher

Was 1966 after that they really cheap and gasket and tub design and the baffled inside the door and the door panel started to rust out and the dishwashers leak down the sides they were a mess after that.

Our family‘s first dishwasher was a 1966 TNM middle of the line Kenmore dishwasher it required about 10 service calls in this many years.

Three warranty calls in the first year, new motor new inlet valve, pump had to be rebuilt inner door panel rusted out and had to be replaced, the ball bearings fell out of the Roto rack and jammed the pump up.

Other than that it was sure better than not having a dishwasher it did clean the dishes reasonably well in spite of not having a filter the Roto rack gave better water patterns and you never got that stuff on the tops of things I will say that for it but of course it didn’t hold near as much.

John

 

[hobarthero]

Found Another Almost New Like This

I found a different one just like this in almost new condition. Figured it would be a good one for my vintage collection which is primarily vintage KA machines with a couple Whirlpool, Maytags and a NIB 1989 GE 1100. I think I’ll probably pick it up in the next week or so. Don’t care about the quality as it won’t be used really.
-Shannon

 

[DADoES]

 
Those D&M-sourced Lady Kenmore / Sears Best dishwashers were always intriguing and flashy with lotta panel buttons and lights.

 

[combo52]

Sears lady Kenmore dishwasher

Looks to be in great shape, these make great museum pieces that’s for sure not something I would put in my kitchen because of the danger of leaks, however

Congratulations

 

[hobarthero]

Never used

According to the owner it was installed in a lower level kitchen in a home and was never used and still operates perfectly. Which explains the condition of it.
-Shannon

 

[cleanteamofny]

Shannon,
That dishwasher is suitable for that period of time. Please scrape plates, pots, and pans before loading to reduce the yibbles on the top rack.
This model is known for leaving fine food waste where cup bottoms are concave.

The great thing about Sears Best is that it will heat the water in both pre-wash and main-wash, plus the rinse cycles.
Our boiler in our building would fail in the wintertime, and I would load the dishwasher and let it rip. Everything came out clean.
It's loud and powerful! [this post was last edited: 11/9/2023-22:44]

 

[hobarthero]

Expensive Unit

Can’t believe these were over $519 in 1983! That’s over $1,600 after adjusting for inflation.
-Shannon

 

[repairguy]

Congrats Shannon. That’s a nice piece of dishwasher history.

 

[peteski50]

Kenmore!

Best of Luck with this great dishwasher!

 

[hobarthero]

It’s Home!

It’s a virtually unused machine, and perfectly clean with zero rust or chipping/scratching anywhere. I’m excited to give it a test run. Couldn’t find any videos of one of these online so I’ll probably post one.
-Shannon

 

[appnut]

Shannon, congratulations!! Glad it worked out!!