Some help needed identifying a childhood machine...

[macboy91si]

So I've been thinking here lately, I was trying to recall what kind of machine my grandparents had in their basement when I was a kid and I don't think I've seen any pics of it around here that I can remember. This is somewhat important to me because this is the machine that started it all for me, I will be on the lookout for one, but most of all I want to know what it is for my own knowledge. Here's what I do know:

*White cabinet
*Black agitator with rubber scrubber cap and a "K" on top
*Large, loud timer dial on the right
*Chrome lid handle
*Slider switche(s) along the lower edge of the control panel
*Lid switch in top-center of opening
*"Kenmore" printed on the left side of the control panel

These are the facts that I can wholly remember. Kenmore was one of the 1st words that I learned to identify and know what it was. It seems like this machine may have also had a pilot light of some sort, if seems like there was a rectangular red light on the control panel, but it's hazey. Also I beleive the left side of the control was blank except for the Kenmore name plate, which was a large rectangle than extended over to the timer area. There were sliders along the bottom, and I know one was the water level switch and it seemed like you had to slide it over to the right to reset it, there may have been more than 1 slider, but I don't honestly remember. The control panel was sort of tall and had a "brow" on it that angled forward, but I don't remember a light, it could have been burned out. It seems that the dial was pretty prominent and large, it was loud when you turned it.

I'd really like to find out what model this machine was, I haven't been able to locate any pictures of it, but hopefully someone here may have an idea and/or picture of this machine. Any contribution is very greatly appreciated. I have a truck and a basement now, and I intend to find this machine, and it's sort of a surprise for my grandmother as well, I think she would enjoy this.

Thanks

-Tim

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Tim -

You've got memories of what sounds like a higher-end Kenmore. I don't want to say for sure which one, as I'm still pondering. If it had a rectangular pilot light on the right side in red (that was a "filtering" light), then there aren't many models that I can think of that fit that bill. The '63 Lady K, the '63 Kenmore 70, and more likely the '64 Lady K. There are some others that had pilot lights, but they were round - the '63 Kenmore 80 (see Farm pic 23), the '65 Lady K, etc. The 63 70 didn't have the slider switch, and the 63 Lady doesn't have a brow, so I dunno yet.

The only one I can think of that had a "brow" along with the linear water level switch is the '64 Lady K. One other idea...check the owner's manual section, look at the Kenmore manual and see if the second model down looks familiar. That is the predecessor to the '65 Kenmore 800. It's either a 63 or 64 model.

Still thinking if there are any others....the pilot light is the kicker...

Gordon

 

[macboy91si]

Much Closer...

I'm not sure of the pilot light at all, for some reason it seemed like it had that, so lets just count that out for now. That machine isn't really exactly like any of those. The "brow" I speak of is like that on the 800 model in the manual for the '63 model. It's more of a overhang/ridge than the lit brows. It definitely had a slider for the water level. The left half of the control panel was sort of like the Model 70, there was a raised rectangle that read "KENMORE" in spaced out letters. The actual control panel was like a chrome/patterned aluminum style with I think a fine grid pattern to the material. I'm honestly not sure if there was a smaller dial next to the timer, if there was I never noticed, it seemed like there were 2 sliders but I could be wrong. The timer knob handle was like that of the Lady K and the 800 of that manual.

Hope that helps a little more.

Thanks so much

-Tim

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Maybe it was a '62 Kenmore 800 - I'll have to see if I can get a pic of one. Quite a few machines had the slider/linear water level switches. But the raised block letters on the panel to me speak "62 800". Did it have a bank of buttons on either side of the timer? They were white with pastel printing on them for the alpha-letters that corresponded to the cycles they controlled.

Do you remember if the machine had a 'pregnant' or Super Roto-Swirl?

G

 

[macboy91si]

Buttons

I don't remember any buttons, it seems like the letters were engraved into the rectangle? I don't *think* it had a bleach dispenser or waterfall filter?

-Tim

 

[70series]

I agree, this sounds like it could be the 1962 model. Macboy, do you remember if the washer had a rectangular tab on the upper right hand corner of the front part of the machine's top? Right above where the cabinet begins? The tallness of the console amongst other things suggests 62; as that year featured models with noticeably taller consoles.

Have a good one,
James

 

[lesto]

The 63 and 64 "alphabet" models had the red filtering light right above the timer control. It might be one of those.

 

[70series]

Macboy take a look at this thread from the archives. You'll have to page down a bit before you see the photo, but here is a 1962 Lady Kenmore set with Donna Reed in front of it. From what you describe, I think these may match your grandparents washer.

Have a good one,
James

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

 

[macboy91si]

Similar

These are similar, but different at the same time. I don't remember a marking on the cabinet, or buttons around the dial. The Kenmore name was centered on the left half of the console, but the console in these machines is the same height and with the same ridge I spoke of.

I really appreciate the help from you and everyone else on this. My grandmother is looking for some old photo albums that would have been from this time. If I can find a pic, I'll post it.

-Tim

 

[macboy91si]

New info...

I had a chance to speak with my grandmother, and we can't locate any photo's with this machine in it *YET* but I did find out that the machine had no dispensers, no lights and no filter. There were 2 knobs, one large and one smaller (temp) and the slider was for the water level. The tub was white and the left half of the control panel was blank except for Kenmore. The panel had a fine "grid" pattern to it like the green Kenmore that Robert posted, she could not remember the model, I'm assuming it was a lower model.

She was given this washer after her brother won a contest and received a new house with all new Kenmore appliances (a trailer actually). She ended up with the washer, dryer and stove from their old house. The washer was supposed to be about 12 years old she said and that was in 1982, but I think it was older. She also received a DA420R GE Electric Dryer with the little control box on the top and a Monarch electric stove. I'm not sure about the dryer model, but there is a 1958 GE lineup on this site that has a photo of it, it's the only dryer I've ever seen like it.

Hope this shines a little more light on things, I'm still going through old photo albums. I did find a pic of me when I was about 2 in a laundry basket, so the obsession must have started REALLY early.

Thanks

-Tim

 

[70series]

Not lower end:

Given that it had a white tub, and both a load size and water temp adjuster, this would have to be a 70 series model at least, thereby making it a middle of the line washer. You are right in guessing that it was older than you were told. It would have to be an earlier 1960s model because those did have the same visible lid switch as you describe. The other reason I believe it was a Model 70 is because you said there were no dispensers or lights, which narrows things down a lot. Prior to 1966, most 70 series models issued had no dispensers. In addition, the 1962 and 1964 models had no lights, however they do not fit the description of your grandmother's washer entirely. I am a little puzzled by that your grandmother's had two knobs and the slider switch; as it does not fit the descriptions of models I have seen. Given that this was a contest prize, I wonder if a special edition model was produced, much in the way the Toyota washer was of later years. I can think of plenty of models that are close, but none that fit exactly what your grandmother's looked like. I hope you do find those photos because I am intrigued.

Good luck,
James