The First Lady

[bajaespuma]

Well, she arrived with a delivery of several things and the company that brought her to me did such a good job of packaging that I decided it would be a good idea to leave them as they were because Hurrrrrrrricane Sandy was already on its way. By the way, she's on the right.

 

[bajaespuma]

After 3 weeks of waiting patiently ( actually, I've been cleaning and clearing out my basment, frantically, because I have run out of room and it is way past time to start throwing out years of garbage and hoarding and make room for the treasures that's now occupied with trash) I decided to take a peek:

 

[bajaespuma]

Then I got brave and decided it was time to look under the hood to see if it is everything that I am hoping it will be:

 

[bajaespuma]

I think one of the reasons that I pursue this hobby, passion, avocation, whatever you wanna call it, is because it's the closest thing I have to a time machine. I lift a washing machine lid and I'm transported back to 1970, the last time I saw this model in person. This is very satisfying. I can't wait to hook her up and see what she's able to do. The Vari-Flex isn't doing its thing, mostly because she's cold and dirty and when I lift to turn and extend the fins, the whole assembly goes along with it, but I think that won't be a problem for long...

 

It doesn't get much more "bells and whistles" than this. And here's the lid that I think is so silly, but I will learn to appreciate. Especially since it has the "easy" version of a safety switch and corresponding poker.

 

[rberryiii3]

Could you tell me who you used for shipping. I just purchased two Easy Spindrier, one in New York and one in New Hampshire and need to ship then to Palm Springs California. Any shipping advise would be helpful.

Thanks

Rob

 

[arbilab]

Few believe that some timers were pull-to-STOP but there's one for sure, and I think early 'Tag autos were too.

Photo us your Easys please Rob.

 

[70series]

It's kind of like unwrapping a present you cannot wait to open anymore. I hope she's everything you want her to be.

Good luck,
James

 

[qsd-dan]

Huh....A white variflex agitator. Don't recall seeing one of those.

 

Congrats on your new set.

 

[mrsalvo]

Congratulations on your new find. I hope you enjoy many years of trouble free washing. Nice laundry pair.

 

[frigilux]

She's a beauty! I grew up with a 1960 Kenmore Model 80 and spent years being tired of the old belt drives...but now I have a far greater appreciation for them. Congrats!

 

[moparguy]

Beautiful, congratulations, these are such beautiful and practical machines, and I love the coppertone color! A new toy for the holidays, enjoy!

 

[bajaespuma]

Thank you!

Might anybody here have any of these to sell ?

 

[revvinkevin]

Huh....A white variflex agitator. Don't recall seeing on

 

 

~ The Vari-Flex in the Lady's are white, in non-Lady's, like (for the moment) my '70 KM 800 are gold. 

 

~ Yes the timers on these are Pull to stop.   All of the Maytags I've seen from 1958 & up are push to stop.

 

Congrats on you new additions Ken!   Don't you also have a Harvest Gold 1974 Lady K pair coming too?

 

Kevin

 

[combo52]

Push To Stop Timers

All MT washers from the 1949 AM-AMPs on were push to stop pull to start.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

All MT washers from the 1949 AM-AMPs on were push to stop pu

I wonder why Whirlpool/Kenmore did it the wrong way?

Ducks and runs...

RCD

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Andy:

Um, no, it's not "ducks and runs" for you mister, I suggest "ducks, runs, and hides" is more appropriate.

Since I will be in Sacramento, NOT VERY FAR FROM YOU, in about two weeks, and I am always looking for a better cardio experience than what the typical hotel gym has, I may just run to Reno...



As a P.S. - Kenmores from 1960 to 1974 all seem to be 'pull to stop'. At least I've not seen something different in full-size, stationery machines. The transition to 'push to stop' started in 1974 and finished in 1976 as timer numbers were revised or re-designed.

G

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Running to Reno...

You can try. It very well may snow hard up on Donner so you may get to relive the Donner Party experience. Better bring friends... LOL!

Can't wait for more pics and video, Ken!

RCD

 

[bajaespuma]

Ok, so I've already started my favorite job in earnest, cleaning the old girl up. First, the dispensers and the Vari-Flex agitator, which, thank heaven came right off and revealed a pretty clean agitator post and a surprisingly well lubricated spline:

 

[bajaespuma]

I connected her to an auxiliary hot water hose and ran an extension cord, held my breath and plugged her in. Will she, or wont she?

 

[bajaespuma]

Let there be light!

Looks like she might...

 

[bajaespuma]

Water in--and with just 5 seconds of hesitation, she turned over like a champ!

 

[bajaespuma]

Ok, first misconception/problem maybe/confusion, isn't there supposed to be a constant stream of water that channels through the Detergent Dispenser, or does this happen underneath without being able to see it? If I had put powdered detergent in that dispenser, it wouldn't have gone anywhere. Do I have a problem already?

 

[revvinkevin]

isn't there supposed to be a constant stream of water th

 

 

Only for the first 4 minutes of the cycle.    If it doesn't... it could have #1 a clogged/dirty supply hose.  #2 have a bad/clogged/disconnected solenoid/valve, or #3 a problem with the pump.

 

Kevin

 

[bajaespuma]

Well, I ran her through a cycle, and beyond the detergent no-go, she filled, washed, neutral drained, spun, spray rinsed, stopped, filled, rinsed and finished without a hitch. My first washing machine was a BBBBBB  BOL Whirlpool that behaved not too differently that this Lady Kenmore. There is something comforting and heimisch about this machine. The Kool Aid tastes good.

 

This agitator is so freakin' cool I can't believe how this is put together. She's a mess in this picture, but she is now covered with Mr. Muscle oven cleaner and we will see how she cleans up. Hope I can get her back together again.

 

[bajaespuma]

Thank you Kevin! I guess my next job is to lift the cabinet top and send in the probe. Is it safe to assume that the Lady's cabinet top comes up and off like a Filter-Flo's?

 

[revvinkevin]

 
 
Here is a little tutorial for you Ken!
(boy am I prepared or what? LOL)
 
 <iframe width="853" height="480" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[bajaespuma]

Bitte

????

 

By the way, why aren't your nice green Kenmores with the gold Vari-Flex Lady Kenmores? If those aren't the TOL's what more do you get?

 

[bajaespuma]

Great help!

Oh thank you so much! My computer took a minute to register that the video was there.

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

If I understand your question correctly, the Green KM pair is in another part of the garage at the moment.   The brown washer in the video (a 1970 KM 800) and the green one are the same year and same model, just a different color.   Yes they both have the gold vari-flex in them.

 

The difference between this 800 and the LK... colored cycle buttons, the famous "garage door" and the white vari-flex.   If there are any differences beyond that... I will leave it up to Gordon or others to explain (because I don't know).

 

Kevin

 

[bajaespuma]

I meant the brown Kenmores. Thank you for the answer about the detergent dispenser. I'm not quite sure if I gave it a fair test because I didn't have a cold water hose hooked up to the machine, only the hot service. I think the pump is working ok because it drained like a young man. Probably I will find some lint or crap in the hose leading to it. So the lint filtration goes on underneath without being able to see it I guess. And yes, I have a newer set on it's way from New Hampshire, but I have to arrange it with a shipper; the guy I bought it from was supposed to let me know when the check cleared, and then there was the interruption by Mother Nature, yadah yadah yadah. I'd like to hook up the matching dryer, but it's gas and I have to have the gas company come and run a line and I can't do that until I clean up the basement in a big way. Winter's coming and I'm going to use the electric dryer and vent it indoors. Can't do that with the gas dryer.

 

More pictures and maybe a video to come. So far I love this machine. It really is a trip back in time. I'll get the information on the shippers dug up for those of you who asked. They were great.