Several have asked for pics of my stored Kenmores and WPs.....

[kenmoreguy64]

Re: a '62 Lady K

Charles,

I have only seen one '62 Lady K in my life. It belonged to our neighbor when I was a kid. My mother had a 1961 Kenmore 70 (there's a clone of it in the trailer, but some "brilliant engineer" years ago transplanted one of those early 70s plastic tops on to it).

Moms machine and the neighbors '62 Lady both had bearing chatter problems, which I think was not unusual. The two together, if they were in the same room, could have drowned out a marching band.

Anyway, the '62 seems to have been the basis for the '63. I have no idea why, but I have seen about a dozen '63 Lady Ks over the years - in aqua, coppertone, and white. I could have had one as-is when I bought my sister's washer from the same guy, but I didn't have room for it (kicking myself now almost DAILY). The '62 has the same style control panel, though I remember the dial being smaller, the push buttons were white in color with letters A thru H but had printing on them too and Kenmore pastel colors. The pregnant Roto Swirl was still in use, and the machine had an "800" tab on the far right corner of the top. It had "automatic washer" in classic script printed above the controls. The '63 is clearly a decendent of the '62, and I think even a casual observer would recognize the lineage.

Still not sure why so many '63s seem to be out there.

I hope that helps Charles!

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Hey Jason!

Yepper that is another 800. I thought of it when I saw the white one at lighted controls recently. I don't know much about that machine yet because I acquired it late in my dealings with these and put it directly into storage.

A local appliance store gets weekly truckloads of old machines from Maryland. Not sure why they do that, but they have for years. It came in, and went immediately to the yard, which means that eventually it would go into the scrap bin. So I helped myself. Actually a few of the machines in my storage came from there.

I think the recent 800 in white (is that yours?) may be a tad nicer cosmetically but I'm hoping someone will want that 800, and it is indeed Avocado.

The no-guesswork machine is surely the dark horse of that trailer. I think it is going to need a new cabinet as the right front leg gusset was rusted nearly away 10 years ago. I was given that machine by an enthusiastic co-worker, but I said "Gee thanks!" and went on my way wondering what the heck to do with it. If anyone knows of an Avocado cabinet out there in decent shape, I can probably do a cabinet swap and the machine would be dandy.

I have a white no guesswork machine too, though it is not in the trailer. I took it on trade from a guy who was using it until 1992 when the pump went out. It's dirty like the others, and that's an ugly gash in the porcelain, otherwise it's a pretty cool machine.

Have a great day everyone, more washer work awaits me.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Another two views

With the access door open

 

[kenmoreguy64]

The money shot....

I like white and gold together.

 

[chaskelljr2]

Re: Re: a '62 Lady K

"kenmoreguy64":

Wait a minute..... Remember that night that I was uploading of washers that were out in 1961, and there were two models that I have uploaded.

(01). A "mid-priced" Model 70 with the three controls on the right side of the panel (there were two versions of this machine..... there was a one-speed version and there was a two-speed version..... the one I uploaded for you was the two-speed version).

(02). An "upper-end" Model 70 with the eight colored push-buttons with a small control knobbed cycle-timer in the middle (which was (I am assuming) the #2 model...... just below the Touch Control Lady Kenmore that year).

Remember when I have uploaded pictures of those two machines for you???? Okay now..... you mean to tell me that picture of the second machine that I have uploaded for you was what the 1962 Lady Kenmore looked like??? Okay then...... if that's the case, did it have a lighted console just like the Lady Kenmores before it did???

I'm curious now.......

--Charles--

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Charles,

Though similar, especially by verbal/written description, the 62 Lady K and the 61 high-line 70 are a good bit different in appearance.

The '62 Lady K's eight buttons are white, with printed on colors of yellow, aqua, etc. instead of being fully colored like the 61 model 70. I think the '62 had a flourescent lighted panel to the left of the timer & buttons just like the '63, but I am not certain of that.

The '62 looks like the cousin to the '63 that it is. The 1961 model 70, though presumably a product of the same cosmetic design shop, does not have the same styling cues that the other two have.

The '61 seems to have the last remnants of 50s styling, whereas the 62 and 63 seem to have set the stage for a round-dial, streamlined approach that was seen in 63 model 60s and 70s, and well into the later 60s on model 70s, etc.

I'll try to get you a pic from a catalog. I have to have an assistant at work scan it....that'll be fun explaining!!

What catalog had the model 70 in it that you scanned? I am still glad you did that for me, btw!

 

[chaskelljr2]

The Early 1960's Kenmore Model 70 Washers.....

"kenmoreguy64":

I have Sears Catalogs from the following years:

1957, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, S/S 1968, F/W 1968, 1969, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1983 (Canadian), 1985, 1986 and 1992.

I would like to add a 1962, a 1964, a 1978 and a 1979 to complete the collection.

The catalog that I have uploaded those Model 70s from was a S/S 1961 Sears Catalog.

Thank you for asking......

--Charles--

 

[70series]

1962 Lady K.

I think I may have found them. From the description given of a 62 Lady Kenmore above, I remembered the thread in the early 2007 archives entitled "TV Sitcom Washer Trivia Question" In Post# 178387 you see Donna Reed standing in front of a Lady Kenmore pair. They are said to be 1963 machines, but I always thought they looked a little different. The 1963 Lady Ks did not have the words "Automatic Washer" scripted above the controls like these do, and the oonsoles in this pic look more squared compared to the slight oval shape of the 63s. In addition, these machines have that plate on their top right front corners, which is not on 63 models or thereafter, but is on models from earlier years. I had never seen a 62 Lady K, and always wanted to know what they looked like. Upon reading Kenmoreguy's description above, I realized these machines must be the 62 Lady Ks.

Have a good one,
James

http://www.automaticwasher.org/TD/ARCHIVE/VINTAGE/2007/9176x57.htm

 

[chaskelljr2]

1962 Lady Kenmore Set....

"70series":

Yep..... I think that about sums it up. Given the description that "Kenmoreguy64" has given me about a 1962 Lady Kenmore Washer that his neighbor had when he was a kid, and looking at the picture that you have just described in the link (I did check the picture out just now), I NOW also think that that's a 1962 Lady Kenmore Set in that photo. The sides of the control panel look EXACTLY like the ones that I seen on the 1961 Touch Control Lady Kenmore Set.

But now, my question to you and/or "Kenmoreguy64" is that the plates that are seen right in front of both of the machines, could it be possible that the plates say Lady Kenmore on them??? Because I don't see the Lady Kenmore name on the control panel(s) themselves.

Also..... Did the 1962 Lady Kenmore Dryer had push-buttons with a dial as well as the Washer did???? From the looks of the photo, it looks like it did. Unless they're nothing more than fabric cycle descriptions engraved in the panel on either side of the Dryer's timer.

--Charles--

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Guys -

I think the dryer had engravements like you're suggesting. The 63 Lady K dryer didn't have button aside the knob like the washer did, and mechanically I don't think the two years were very different.

I was just thinking the same thing about where "Lady Kenmore" is written on the machine. Of course I forgot to bring my catalog with me today, or I'd look now.

That tab on the top had said "Seventy" on some models in 61, perhaps earlier too, then I've seen "70" and "800" on others from 62. I am not sure if the Lady says that or 800. Again, I'll check the catalog when I get home tonight.

 

[mickeyd]

HI Guys! Sorry to add to the confusion......

the 4th&5th pics in the link are those of my 62 Lady Kenmore--or so I was told. But when I opened her up the brass switcing plates for the bleach and softener dispensers say 64. Dating machines (HAHAH) remains one of life's great mysteries for me.

Enjoy the pictures and forgive the new confusion ;'D

http://www.automaticwasher.org/TD/ARCHIVE/VINTAGE/2007/13823x17.htm

 

[suds14]

Kemoreguy64,

Thanks for posting the 68 kenmore washer pictures 3-9-08. That was my grandma's washer, only hers was avacoda green, and had the suds saver. It brought back some great memories for me.

Thanks

David

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Figuring out an elusive Lady's age...

Mickeyd -

I think that is a '63. If the model number is anything like 110.6304800, 801, 802, etc. then it's a 63 model. Anything that is a 63 model could have been made from the later half of 1962 well into 1964. The parts you were looking at could well be original and therefore the machine was made in 1964, OR the parts themselves were made then and replaced to the machine at some point later on, or scavenged from a later model.

My personal 1986 made Kenmore (August production) is actually a 1983 model release. In my rebuilder days, I had two copies of one machine that were '74 models made in 76 and 77, then I got another years later that was made in 78, yet was the same model. The 78 even had the short centerpost engineering that came out that year.

Some models only lasted a year or a season with Sears, others stayed out there for three or four years. I'd love to know how those decisions were made.

WAY COOL washer, btw. Years ago I could have had one of those and I screwed up and didn't get it. Has yours been restored or is that beauty an original? VERY nice indeed. Lots of my friends mothers had those growing up, one lady, who had 5 kids and a mother of her own at home, had two at once with a dryer (a 60 series) in between. When they were both running I'd go nuts. My friend just tolerated my enthusiasm...

 

[kenmoreguy64]

David / Suds14

It's cool to be reminded of these old machines, isn't it? I bet your grandmother's wasn't as dirty as mine, but I'm hoping that this summer mine will have new bearings and other new parts, and be like new again.

 

[jamman_98]

OMG

My dad has the matching dryer to the Kenmore 800 with the hidden controls!!. Be still my heart!! I'd love to see it. I'm down in cola, sc just and hour and a half away.

jamman_98
Joe

 

[johnb300m]

i hate to bust your nuts, but GAHD Kenmore had UGLY machines back in the day.
Many of the other vintage brands are cool and nice looking. But jeez, these are pretty bad.

No offense.

 

[rickr]

Why don't you post some pics of your restored Maytags for us johnb300m? I know you must have quite a few, as they are the most easy brand to find. Only because they only changed the console design twice in 30+ years.....

No offense.

 

[johnb300m]

they're machines, not your children.
i love old machines as much as you do.

but these kenmores are styling nightmares.
just making an observation.

 

[70series]

First, I will say I believe that all Kenmores are just as beautiful and good looking as all other vintage brands.

John: While it is true that machines are not children, you must remember that their collectors take pride in them nontheless, just as you have with your washers I am sure. Therefore you should not be surprised at any negative response you may receive to your comments. You may claim no offense and mean it, but your verbiage IMHO could easily be seen as offensive. Kenmoreguy64 was kind enough to post these pictures, and did so at the request of members, and you should have taken that into account.

You are welcome to your opinions and observations as we all are, but if those opinions could offend unnecessarily, it would be better to refrain from rendering them, and adding unpleasantness to an otherwise happy thread.

Have a good one,
James

 

[jons1077]

I like the Kenmores...

It's not always about whether or not a particular machine looked good in our current perception. It's about these machines bringing back good memories. At least that's what it is for me. Alot of people would walk by an avocado green machine or one of these Kenmores and say it looks horrible. When I see one of those black-panel BD Kenmores I think of my childhood because it's what I grew up with. I couldn't care in the least otherwise. I think that's where their beauty is. Granted, some machines are simply beautiful. Terry has the most gorgeous Maytag! Thanks for readin.

Jon