Hmmmm...
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toploader55
Well-known member
Hmmmmmm....
I spy a D+M Detergent Dispenser maybe ???
And a same color Over flow Float in the left front corner ???
Do I dare say MMMMMMontgggggommmmery WWWWWard ????
I spy a D+M Detergent Dispenser maybe ???
And a same color Over flow Float in the left front corner ???
Do I dare say MMMMMMontgggggommmmery WWWWWard ????
Kenmore, top looks like a rotorack
Time for modern living
David, Roger, and I locked onto this at a local estate sale place. It looked like a cabinet from afar, especially with the bleached oak Formica top. Suddenly, I spotted the door latch.
"You're not a cabinet," I mused. Then, I saw the picture with the door open--no, a cabinet it was not.
David, Roger, and I locked onto this at a local estate sale place. It looked like a cabinet from afar, especially with the bleached oak Formica top. Suddenly, I spotted the door latch.
"You're not a cabinet," I mused. Then, I saw the picture with the door open--no, a cabinet it was not.
First, some amendments
After my miserable luck with seal failures on the last two machines, I started to question the meaning of life. So naturally, I assumed the worst when I found this (and also assumed the dispenser was likely broken).
The universe smiled upon me with radiance, and lo, the dispenser was not broken after all--just peeking out a bit. Nor--after an obligatory hot-water test--did the pump seal leak a drop.
One of the things I noticed in the ad picture, however, was that the lower rack had something attached beneath it. What could it be? Did Sears actually offer a hardware-cloth-like device to prevent items from dropping into the sump?
No, but someone got creative.
After my miserable luck with seal failures on the last two machines, I started to question the meaning of life. So naturally, I assumed the worst when I found this (and also assumed the dispenser was likely broken).
The universe smiled upon me with radiance, and lo, the dispenser was not broken after all--just peeking out a bit. Nor--after an obligatory hot-water test--did the pump seal leak a drop.
One of the things I noticed in the ad picture, however, was that the lower rack had something attached beneath it. What could it be? Did Sears actually offer a hardware-cloth-like device to prevent items from dropping into the sump?
No, but someone got creative.
Like...
...really creative.
They had attached the screen--first with ferrous wire, which rusted away; then, with stainless. Unfortunately, the heated dry melted the hot wire like a knife through the butter of the vinyl coating. Sigh.
They were vigilant, though--the pile to the right is all the attachment points we un-did. Each of the corroded spots on the panel represents a spot where they'd tied it.
...really creative.
They had attached the screen--first with ferrous wire, which rusted away; then, with stainless. Unfortunately, the heated dry melted the hot wire like a knife through the butter of the vinyl coating. Sigh.
They were vigilant, though--the pile to the right is all the attachment points we un-did. Each of the corroded spots on the panel represents a spot where they'd tied it.
So then...
We water-tested outside, and found that everything looks great. Amazingly, on this unit, the pump housing appears to be metal? I thought D&M used bakelite for all of these. Fascinating.
No drips, and no signs of them in the past, either. Yay!
However, when we brought it into the house, I heard a telltale "pssssssss" when the unicouple was attached, and the water turned on. The rubber washer where the unicouple attaches to the water valve was rock-hard and shot; it was lobbing a stream of water toward the cabinet. We broke it into pieces, and replaced it with a new one (after a quick mopping of the floor). Hooray for machines that need a quick tweak to get on their feet!
The unicouple ring is broken--you can see where the plastic contracted over the years, and snapped. The whole assembly will probably need replacement, since--if the crack rotates over the ball bearings--they can fall out.
Still, all that notwithstanding, she just needed a lot of cleanup. She smelled like an ashtray, and was covered in that coveted film of tar and nicotine, which--oddly--seems to act like the world's best metal and finish preservative.
After a thorough detailing with some degreaser, here we have...
We water-tested outside, and found that everything looks great. Amazingly, on this unit, the pump housing appears to be metal? I thought D&M used bakelite for all of these. Fascinating.
No drips, and no signs of them in the past, either. Yay!
However, when we brought it into the house, I heard a telltale "pssssssss" when the unicouple was attached, and the water turned on. The rubber washer where the unicouple attaches to the water valve was rock-hard and shot; it was lobbing a stream of water toward the cabinet. We broke it into pieces, and replaced it with a new one (after a quick mopping of the floor). Hooray for machines that need a quick tweak to get on their feet!
The unicouple ring is broken--you can see where the plastic contracted over the years, and snapped. The whole assembly will probably need replacement, since--if the crack rotates over the ball bearings--they can fall out.
Still, all that notwithstanding, she just needed a lot of cleanup. She smelled like an ashtray, and was covered in that coveted film of tar and nicotine, which--oddly--seems to act like the world's best metal and finish preservative.
After a thorough detailing with some degreaser, here we have...
Money shots
The porcelain is still in nice shape. Although clearly used, this machine appeared to lie fallow for a LONG time. There was an eighth of an inch of dust on the topmost surfaces--underneath, and above. It seems to have just sat, but dig that gleaming top! No hot pans set on it, or crap dragged across the surface.
The build quality is so much better than later D&Ms; the finishing bits of chrome and molding are so nice; the bottom kick panel has an ingenious attachment system, that is much easier to remove than later incarnations that have the screws accessible by the corners of the door.
The porcelain feels nice, and there's not the typical rust-ring at the bottom. I like the thumbscrews to service the wash arms, compared to later generations that needed tools (or at least, a pliers).
I love the construction of the <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">dil</span> spray tube.
The porcelain is still in nice shape. Although clearly used, this machine appeared to lie fallow for a LONG time. There was an eighth of an inch of dust on the topmost surfaces--underneath, and above. It seems to have just sat, but dig that gleaming top! No hot pans set on it, or crap dragged across the surface.
The build quality is so much better than later D&Ms; the finishing bits of chrome and molding are so nice; the bottom kick panel has an ingenious attachment system, that is much easier to remove than later incarnations that have the screws accessible by the corners of the door.
The porcelain feels nice, and there's not the typical rust-ring at the bottom. I like the thumbscrews to service the wash arms, compared to later generations that needed tools (or at least, a pliers).
I love the construction of the <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">dil</span> spray tube.
Silverware baskets
No, those aren't the original, but I disliked the "off to the side" uni-basket that these had (and this one was MIA). They were perpetually in the way. Now, with the skinny baskets from the Chambers, I can keep the silverware where it belongs--off to the side, so that large bowls and other items can have free run of the rack.
No, those aren't the original, but I disliked the "off to the side" uni-basket that these had (and this one was MIA). They were perpetually in the way. Now, with the skinny baskets from the Chambers, I can keep the silverware where it belongs--off to the side, so that large bowls and other items can have free run of the rack.
toploader55
Well-known member
Gee...
That machine is in beautiful shape. Real Purdy too.
Congrats on your find
That machine is in beautiful shape. Real Purdy too.
Congrats on your find
turquoisedude
Well-known member
Wow! Great find, Nate - this has to be a real early version of a spray-arm plus rotorack combination in a Kenmore dishwasher. The control panel as well as the front access panel have a pretty unique style to them. Congratulations!!
Thank you!
Thanks, Eddie and Paul! :-D
This is fun. It's like finding a precursor species. It must be analyzed.
Thanks, Eddie and Paul! :-D
This is fun. It's like finding a precursor species. It must be analyzed.
Intriguing
I'm surprised to see what's likely one of the earliest iterations of the much-hated swing-cup dispenser in this. Robert's Lady K has a metal-lidded cup where the lid panel swings aside--a much better design in many respects (including its capability of holding a detergent pac or tablet--the swing-cup is much too shallow for either).
I'm surprised to see what's likely one of the earliest iterations of the much-hated swing-cup dispenser in this. Robert's Lady K has a metal-lidded cup where the lid panel swings aside--a much better design in many respects (including its capability of holding a detergent pac or tablet--the swing-cup is much too shallow for either).
Very nice!
It does not look to have all that much use.
Everyone can say what they want about D&M Dishwashers being cheap, but I have never used one that could not clean! They really moved the water and got the job done in a small amount of time.
Fun find for you guys!
It does not look to have all that much use.
Everyone can say what they want about D&M Dishwashers being cheap, but I have never used one that could not clean! They really moved the water and got the job done in a small amount of time.
Fun find for you guys!
I believe this is the lowest end of the line of this series I've ever seen. Don't think anyone else in the club has anything similar. Pat on the back for recognizing it as a Kenmore.
Very nice. We'll be expecting the full review, though not much different than other D & M iterations, the top rack is a bit shallower and interesting to load. Thankfully, the tines aren't very high so larger bowls and the like tend to lie down easier than later versions like I have.
Congrats on a fun weekend find - Santa came early.
Congrats on a fun weekend find - Santa came early.
No Monkey business this time around!
Nate, I'm in a state of shock and awe.
That is a really beautiful Kenmore. The early door pull/latch assembly has a clunky elegance about it.
I noticed your posts have not been in upper case. Might this be among the quietest dishwashers to grace a kitchen of yours?
Nate, I'm in a state of shock and awe.
That is a really beautiful Kenmore. The early door pull/latch assembly has a clunky elegance about it.
I noticed your posts have not been in upper case. Might this be among the quietest dishwashers to grace a kitchen of yours?
toploader55
Well-known member
I can keep the silverware where it belongs..
Off to the side.
A long time ago a Commercial Dish Machine Chemical guy told me the side of the rack gets the most cleaning action. It's is strange to write this, but the sides get more of a scrubbing action than the center due to the water passing more vigorously than the center.
I still like the KitchenAid Flatware baskets better than most. Those Chambers Baskets are nice.
Off to the side.
A long time ago a Commercial Dish Machine Chemical guy told me the side of the rack gets the most cleaning action. It's is strange to write this, but the sides get more of a scrubbing action than the center due to the water passing more vigorously than the center.
I still like the KitchenAid Flatware baskets better than most. Those Chambers Baskets are nice.
delaneymeegan
Well-known member
So glad you've found something to redeem your trust in mankind.
It's really a waiting game in finding compatible partners, ah, um, ... machines.
We had a 1968 or 1969 mol Kenmore roto-rack, in avocado, and the pump housing was metal. I've seen several metal pump housings on KMs. It seems by about 1974 they were switched to plastic.
I am amazed to see the fit and finish quality, as you pointed out, of this 60s built machine compared to those later models sloppily thrown together in the 70s and 80s.
It's really a waiting game in finding compatible partners, ah, um, ... machines.
We had a 1968 or 1969 mol Kenmore roto-rack, in avocado, and the pump housing was metal. I've seen several metal pump housings on KMs. It seems by about 1974 they were switched to plastic.
I am amazed to see the fit and finish quality, as you pointed out, of this 60s built machine compared to those later models sloppily thrown together in the 70s and 80s.
Wow Nate
that is a nice looking machine. I've had 2-3 D&M portables , always loved the cleaning action. I had roomies that would stuff the machine and everytime things came out KLEEN !
Love the large chrome on the front.
Great save. I saw the first picture and said to myself what the heck is Roger doing taking a vacuum to a dishwasher.
that is a nice looking machine. I've had 2-3 D&M portables , always loved the cleaning action. I had roomies that would stuff the machine and everytime things came out KLEEN !
Love the large chrome on the front.
Great save. I saw the first picture and said to myself what the heck is Roger doing taking a vacuum to a dishwasher.
Late 60s D& M dishwasher
This would be the second generation do you have dishwasher with the four charm and rotor rack. The first generations of these came out about 1964 like Roberts.
These certainly were better built than the later D&M designs D&M steadily got worse and quality no doubt about that. This was the first machine where they made the tub a little bigger than Roberts it's an early tall tub designs so to speak. These did still use a cast-iron porcelain enamel covered drain pump housing.
D&M dishwashers were probably the best cleaning dishwashers of machines that did not have a filter during this time period.
They were below average and durability during this time. Westinghouse hot point and even whirlpool dishwashers were not all that great and durability either.The problem with D&M was that they continued to get worse while other brands like whirlpool GE and hot point got much better throughout the 70s and 80s.
But it certainly a great find and save Nate and a great example of one of these dishwashers you'll have fun using it if you need any parts call we are boxes of them that I've been throwing out actually have a good holiday everyone.
This would be the second generation do you have dishwasher with the four charm and rotor rack. The first generations of these came out about 1964 like Roberts.
These certainly were better built than the later D&M designs D&M steadily got worse and quality no doubt about that. This was the first machine where they made the tub a little bigger than Roberts it's an early tall tub designs so to speak. These did still use a cast-iron porcelain enamel covered drain pump housing.
D&M dishwashers were probably the best cleaning dishwashers of machines that did not have a filter during this time period.
They were below average and durability during this time. Westinghouse hot point and even whirlpool dishwashers were not all that great and durability either.The problem with D&M was that they continued to get worse while other brands like whirlpool GE and hot point got much better throughout the 70s and 80s.
But it certainly a great find and save Nate and a great example of one of these dishwashers you'll have fun using it if you need any parts call we are boxes of them that I've been throwing out actually have a good holiday everyone.
Bob--yes, you have great eyes! I was hoping you'd spot the teaser rack. ;-)
Greg--Oh, you know me. I'm itching to put it through its paces. We've been a little spoiled with a Maytag JetClean (non-reverse rack, ultra-generic model), so this might be a little bit of a culture shock to use.
Ralph--LOL No, no Monkey business. ;-) It's quiet-ish; about average, and has that classic cavitation/gronking noise when draining that all D&Ms seem to possess. I'll let you know how quiet it is when it's full of dishes. I'm going to have to go to remediation classes for how to load the Roto-Rack--it's been several years.
Eddie--hear, hear! That's a good point, and I never thought of that, but the drama at the tips of the wash arm would likely be far more intense.
Delaney--that's great to know! And yes, it's nice--after having a couple of misbehavers--to have something waltz in that only needs a pinch and a poke to get it going again.
Jon--I can't wait to dive in and run some test loads. The coffee mugs will be blissfully free of water--finally, a dishwasher that gives your wares a final spin!
John--thanks for the great info! That's good to know, and makes sense--you're right, there was no climb in quality for D&M whatsoever. Such a shame, since they definitely cornered the market on pretty machines. I'd definitely be interested in parts--I'll message you on here shortly.
We took the vacuum to it because it was full of debris--not dishwasher-related debris; instead, stuff like threads, hair, bits of cardboard, and whatnot. I think it was used as a chip-storage device/breadbox for years. It certainly had not been doing any dishwashing.
No broken glass, though, thank goodness. Nice that we dodged that bullet.
Here's a question for y'all--what's up with the plastic shield over the sump? I noticed these earlier machines had them, and always wondered why. Were they trying to deflect items away from the pump intake? Trying to prevent you from seeing that ring of rust forming?
Or maybe hiding the residual water-pool?I went ahead and put this one back on after cleaning, since it, well, adds to the authenticity, I suppose.
[this post was last edited: 12/20/2015-12:18]
That was the first d/w my parents bought---they'd been gifted a James (cool that it had my name on it) from my great grandmother who used it for 10 years or so. They used it in the rental house, but when we bought the house across the street they bought this dishwasher from Sears Crestwood Plaza in about 1968 or so. My dad converted it into a permanent installation soon afterward (I remember stretching the hoses across to the sink and plugging it into the stove next to it before that--I think I recall staining a piece of plywood for the top) and it was there in the house when we moved in 1978. I remember replacing the upper impeller/macerator once with my dad, and I could take it apart myself when it (inevitably) seemed to get a milk cap lodged in there. The cycle pushbutton also split, so had to order the buttons from Sears Parts. I don't recall the pilot lights on ours, though...but they could have been there. The new house had a 30" Youngstown, which wasn't even as good as this and lasted all of 30 days before my mom had had it.
Roto-Rack memories...
The first dishwasher I remember growing up in the early 70's...ours was a notch or two down from this model...though it was noisy the Roto-rack was fun to spin around!
The first dishwasher I remember growing up in the early 70's...ours was a notch or two down from this model...though it was noisy the Roto-rack was fun to spin around!
Black Plastic Shield Around The Pump Diffuser
Was used for a number of years to shield your eyes from the water that normally sat there and to try to hide the rust stains till the machine was out of warranty or at least paid for LOL.
Bad thing about this silly plastic shield was you didn't see all the foreign objects lying in the sump and often they would work themselves into the grinder blade and do all kinds of damage the the pump etc, so it was great for service calls. Every servicer I knew would just throw the stupid thing away when repairing these DWs, if your DW still has one you can probably assume it was never worked on or used much.
John L.
Was used for a number of years to shield your eyes from the water that normally sat there and to try to hide the rust stains till the machine was out of warranty or at least paid for LOL.
Bad thing about this silly plastic shield was you didn't see all the foreign objects lying in the sump and often they would work themselves into the grinder blade and do all kinds of damage the the pump etc, so it was great for service calls. Every servicer I knew would just throw the stupid thing away when repairing these DWs, if your DW still has one you can probably assume it was never worked on or used much.
John L.
oldskool
Well-known member
Congratulations on your great find!
So happy for your recent find. It reminds me of the one I found some time ago, possibly of a similar year. Older DM units seemed to clean much better than those of later years. Hope you'll have many great loads with your new find.
Picture below is of mine, that also is a portable unit, and yes, my coupler is also not functional at this time, another one of of those someday projects....
Congratulations,
John
So happy for your recent find. It reminds me of the one I found some time ago, possibly of a similar year. Older DM units seemed to clean much better than those of later years. Hope you'll have many great loads with your new find.
Picture below is of mine, that also is a portable unit, and yes, my coupler is also not functional at this time, another one of of those someday projects....
Congratulations,
John
Nate, that's one purrty machine! Excellent shape and love that it's a BOL, yet it still has class! Great find.
delaneymeegan
Well-known member
"Was used for a number of years to shield your eyes from the water that normally sat there and to try to hide the rust stains till the machine was out of warranty or at least paid for LOL." ROFL
I found they were usually so brittle they easily broke in pieces, and one could throw out the pieces. I think they stopped using those mid 70s. In the early 80s, when I was picking up dishwashers, KMs were my fav. and that shield was the first thing to go. It wasn't rare to find chicken bones, broken glass pieces, a clothes pin, money, pieces of plastic, or even a paper clip down.
I found they were usually so brittle they easily broke in pieces, and one could throw out the pieces. I think they stopped using those mid 70s. In the early 80s, when I was picking up dishwashers, KMs were my fav. and that shield was the first thing to go. It wasn't rare to find chicken bones, broken glass pieces, a clothes pin, money, pieces of plastic, or even a paper clip down.
D&M joy
Jamie -- I love that story. Those Youngstown Kitchens 30" units are fascinating, but I gather there's a reason why they didn't prevail design-wise--well, aside from standard-sized dishwasher enclosures. Yes, if you haven't had a D&M apart to fish objects out of the pump, or to replace the impellers and seal, you just haven't bonded with it yet.
Jerry--they are fun! I just did a mega-load in it last night, and was surprised that I was able to get a couple of my largest mixing bowls in the top rack. I'm impressed so far. It is only really noisy when the bottom panel resonates against the hooks that hold the top portion of it, so I may stick some weatherstripping in there to try and quiet that.
John L. -- Ha! I wondered. I couldn't figure out any other rational reason for that. I also wonder why they even bothered to put those random holes through it, when I would assume the water would just run off the top. Maybe to make it look more official?
John -- Yours is BEAUTIFUL! I love the translucent buttons, how pretty! It's a handsome control panel. I saved the unicouple from the last D&M I had, which is identical in length, and also has the improved, shrouded drain port that doesn't allow the water to shoot out in a solid stream, blasting the sink surface and bathing the entire countertop and the wall with overspray. If you use the old unicouple, stick a coffee mug underneath, for sure.
David and I talked about it, and the chance for the coupler falling apart is just too great to bother with keeping the old one on there. That, and the hoses are pretty stiff.
Todd--thank you! It is a cutie, isn't it?
Delaney--Oh, yeah. Usually when I find D&Ms, I take the wash arms out and shake them, to see how many glass chunks and other bits of detritus I can recover. It's incredible what gets shot through the pump and right into the wash-arms. If it was particularly abused, sometimes I'll find shorn-off vanes from the drain impeller in there, too. Then I know it's time for an impeller/seal kit.
Jamie -- I love that story. Those Youngstown Kitchens 30" units are fascinating, but I gather there's a reason why they didn't prevail design-wise--well, aside from standard-sized dishwasher enclosures. Yes, if you haven't had a D&M apart to fish objects out of the pump, or to replace the impellers and seal, you just haven't bonded with it yet.
Jerry--they are fun! I just did a mega-load in it last night, and was surprised that I was able to get a couple of my largest mixing bowls in the top rack. I'm impressed so far. It is only really noisy when the bottom panel resonates against the hooks that hold the top portion of it, so I may stick some weatherstripping in there to try and quiet that.
John L. -- Ha! I wondered. I couldn't figure out any other rational reason for that. I also wonder why they even bothered to put those random holes through it, when I would assume the water would just run off the top. Maybe to make it look more official?
John -- Yours is BEAUTIFUL! I love the translucent buttons, how pretty! It's a handsome control panel. I saved the unicouple from the last D&M I had, which is identical in length, and also has the improved, shrouded drain port that doesn't allow the water to shoot out in a solid stream, blasting the sink surface and bathing the entire countertop and the wall with overspray. If you use the old unicouple, stick a coffee mug underneath, for sure.
David and I talked about it, and the chance for the coupler falling apart is just too great to bother with keeping the old one on there. That, and the hoses are pretty stiff.
Todd--thank you! It is a cutie, isn't it?
Delaney--Oh, yeah. Usually when I find D&Ms, I take the wash arms out and shake them, to see how many glass chunks and other bits of detritus I can recover. It's incredible what gets shot through the pump and right into the wash-arms. If it was particularly abused, sometimes I'll find shorn-off vanes from the drain impeller in there, too. Then I know it's time for an impeller/seal kit.
Its the one
Nate...yours is the one we had way back when...it was the one just above BOL as I remember from reading the owners manual!
Nate...yours is the one we had way back when...it was the one just above BOL as I remember from reading the owners manual!
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