So How About This Kenmore?

[washerlover]

I got a text from someone I got a ‘76ish Whirlpool set from a year or so ago asking if I’m interested in this machine. He said it works (as does the Whirlpool set) and that this belonged to his parents. I already said I want it, but any idea of vintage? I haven’t seen one exactly like this before. The console is interesting with the knobs on the very top...judging by the style of the font and dial, should be mid- to late 70s?

 

[hippiedoll]

I don't know much...

About Kenmore but I would guess mid to late 70's, being that is Kenmore's style of CENTER-DIAL.

I wonder what kind of agitator this Kenmore has??

 

[washdaddy]

I wonder if maybe this machine is from our dear neighbors up in Canada? Would anyone from that side of the border care to chime in and give their input on the possible history to this model?

 

[washerlover]

Hi Rick,

Thanks for the reply! The washing machine resides in San Jose...could have come via Vancouver? You must agree, it’s an odd console...

 

[gansky1]

1974-75 Gordon will know for sure, but was just looking at the 74 S&S and F&W catalogs last week.

 

[washerlover]

By George, that’s it! Hope to pick it up this weekend. Very curious as to agitator type, but don’t really care. Just a fun addition to my slowly-growing collection.

 

[rp2813]

That was my mom's exact machine -- in San Jose!  It was purchased in 1975 from Sears at Vallco shopping center in Cupertino.

 

This machine has the penta-swirl agitator (gold) and quiet-pack transmission.  It served my mom well for 25 years, only needing a new belt early on (the green ones were infamous for early failure) and an upgraded filter.

 

Get it Todd!  This is just a notch below a Lady Kenmore.  Extra points if it still has its (powdered) detergent dispenser for the automatic advance from soak cycle into pre-wash/wash cycles.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Hello everyone!

All comments above are spot on. This is a 1974 Kenmore 70 series. For much of its model run which I believe was only one year, there was nothing between this machine and the lady Kenmore until that no guesswork model was introduced as seen above in the catalog. I have never seen that particular no guesswork model above in the wild, especially in large capacity.

This model seems to have been in production for only one year, and was followed up by 1975’s model 70 that have the controls moved to the console itself, and lacked the second rinse. That machine seems to be much more common even today.

Both had a gold Penta Swirl agitator, I believe the only models to ever have this, as the Lady Kenmore had white ones, and they were white across the board in 1976 and thereafter.

The 1974 Kenmore that my family had was the model on the bottom of the second page, the five cycle model. We really liked that washer and it was the first one I worked. Ours had a premature basket drive failure that could have meant it’s demise, but I insisted on a repair attempt. That’s another story for another day.

Gordon

 

[appnut]

Gordon, the no-guesswork Model 700

Gordon, I don't think the above 700 was any more than the standard capacity model.  I think this just had an updated control panel aesthetic. 

 

[hippiedoll]

Gansky1/gan:

Thank you for posting them pictures.
ESPECIALLY the picture of the different agitators. That definitely answered my question, as it said in the description of each washer, which agitator it had.

THANK YOU GANSKY1!
)

 

[70series]

My aunt and uncle had the matching dryer in electric from Spring of 1974 until the summer of 1995. With the pilot light above the dial, as well as the drum light, I thought it was one of the coolest dryers I had ever seen as a kid. More than anything I loved the sound of its motor, especially when it would start. Great memories.

 

[washerlover]

Now all I need to do is find the matching dryer!

 

[searsbest]

1974 KM

One of my favorite consoles! Great find!

 

[washerlover]

Thank You Dionne Warwick!

I found my way to San Jose (and back) today to pick this beauty up. Haven’t cleaned it up yet — I did plug it in and the light came on and it did kick into spin. I was told it was lightly used — appears to have been sitting in the garage unused for years. The dark spots in the photos of the tub are just dirt/dust balls. No rust anywhere! Will give it a once over tomorrow along with a water test.

Never saw a PentaSwirl in any color other than white. Also, what on earth is the tray contraption in the upper left corner of the tub? It appears to have a switch behind it, but I can’t tell what it is supposed to do. It rests on a little notch (see photo) and extremely easy to remove. Worry about an off-balance load and it falling into the tub? Once I get it up and running, I’m sure I will find out.

 

[DADoES]

 
The device is a detergent dispenser for the automatic soak-to-wash function.

 

[washerlover]

Hi Glenn, thanks for that! I will give it a test drive hopefully tomorrow. Am wondering how the detergent is dispensed since it doesn’t appear to have a water flume/tube going to it...

 

[DADoES]

 
It's intended for powder (I assume) and the detergent dose simply drops out when the bottom of the cup is kicked open by the actuator pin.  My understanding is the cups are often lost so you're fortunate to have it included.

 

[rp2813]

What Glenn Said

Todd, that's the detergent dispenser I mentioned further up, and the information from Glenn is 100% correct.

 

There's one more thing you should know, since I presume you don't have the owner's manual.  The only ways that dispenser will work are 1)  If you set the Soak & Wash selector to the "on" position (and set the timer dial for the soak or prewash cycle of course), or 2)  If you set the timer dial to the maximum of, IIRC, 14 minutes of  "Normal" wash time, which is sort of a "why bother" scenario.  It's easier to dump the detergent into the tub yourself. 

 

My mom rarely used the dispenser and it just sat on a shelf near the machine.  It was left behind when she had the machine replaced in late 2000, and I ended up sending it to a member in New England who had also found this same machine, but I don't think he ever showed up again with a progress report.

 

The weak link on this machine, and likely other Kenmores using the same design, is the fabric softener dispenser.   Dilute, dilute, dilute or it will get gooey in there and the mechanism will get stuck.  The solenoids for the bleach and FS dispensers may (have) develop(ed) a buzz, but it only lasts for about a minute.

 

This machine will last you a long, long time, and you'll barely be able to hear it agitate on full loads (Mom's used to make a weird "snorkeling" sound out of the drain hose on low water levels).  I'm glad you found it.  If I had been cruising CL, I'd have alerted you to it, but right now I'm in the midst of downsizing, so CL and thrift stores are two places I've been avoiding. 

 

[akronman]

more pictures, please

I have an incredibly similar 1974 machine as far as features, but you have a rare console for sure. And congratulations, that Penta-Vane and huge tub will turn over anything.

Take some closeup pictures of the console and various knobs across the top please.

I never found a detergent dispenser for mine, darn it, but it would be extremely rarely used anyhows. And as stated above, the Fabric softener dispenser and bleach dispenser are easily clogged, try some cleanup on them first. Also, in loads where you may not use the softener, pour 3/4 cup of warm water down the hole, it helps keep it flowing clean.

Also,. with Kenmore's, I have found that towels and blankets don't get as much suds out during the 4 short sprays, I switched to a low-suds HE detergent and all works well.[this post was last edited: 9/30/2018-11:08]