VERY early Visimatic - my next find?

[redcarpetdrew]

Got this picture from someone I know nearby. I was looking for the wringer head until John (Combo52) gave me some info. It appears to be a very early bolt down Visimatic. Very rare. Now the gentle email inquiries begin. Johns only seen one other. It's in his collection but doesn't look this good.

We'll see...

RCD

 

[rp2813]

Why I love my job, the sequel.

You go guy!

 

[westie2]

I saw one like this in Sears late 70's early 80's on display as first Sears Automatic washer and was next to the current Lady Kenmore set.  Was at the Sears at Clearview Mall Metairie, LA.

 

[westie2]

I remember seeing one of theses in Sears late 70's early 80's was display that after so many years was still working and was next to the current Lady K.    Had both hookd up to run.  The big prego agitator in it.  This was in the Sears at Clearview Mall Metairie, LA

 

[gansky1]

Bolt-Down Automatic

That looks very nice!

Ross, westyslantfront, has one in AZ, Robert at one time had one in the attic (maybe the one John has now?) and I saw a Whirlpool version at an appliance store in Des Moines, IA 8-10 years ago. Ross' is the only one I've seen running, it's so Kenmore -- without the "D" shape opening, so strange...

 

[swestoyz]

A few of these have popped up over the years on here - but this one certainly is the best looking one.  Keep us posted!!

 

Ben

 

[westingman123]

Oh!

I'd never seen one of these. So handsome.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

What cute! It would be nice to see a money shot!

 

[mickeyd]

Agree, best one we've seen. Looks NEW!

There is a movie somewhere of Ross's in action, Wash-in footage from maybe a decade ago or less. These all had suds-savers as standard equipment.

 

An early Visi-matic, looking for its wringer head--that's really funny, Andy. Seeing the thread title sure woke me up fast.

 

[bendix5]

Our neighbors had one of these on the back porch when I was a kid. One of my fun things to do when I heard it running was take off the lid and watch. My friends mom didn't care if I stood there all day and watched it. They used this machine way in to the 60's then came along a nice coppertone Kenmore with a nice lighted control panel. Those were the days...Dano

 

[golittlesport]

My aunt, who lived in Kenmore, NY, (honest!) had one of these bolted down in her basement. It had a straight-vane agitator in it. Love those pretty blue knobs.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Yay Drew!

Ohhh now that a nice find, it appears to be in beautiful shape! As far as I know this wasn't referred to as a Visi-Matic, that was only Whirlpool/Kenmore wringer washers.

This is indeed Kenmore's first automatic washer design, made from 1947 thru the early 50's.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Thank you, Robert. Took another look at the picture and now see 'automatic' not 'Visimatic'... Aaiieee, the eyes are tired...

RCD

 

[whirlykenmore78]

RCD

I really hope you can get this washer.  This is finding the home appliance version of a rare early 50's Hobart dishmachine.  A true classic beauty. 

WK78

 

[e2l-arry]

Whoa!

My Dad's family is from Kenmore NY. And I'm sure in 1953 one of my Aunts or my Grandmother had a Kenmore like this. My Mom had one. I don't remember it but my Dad told the stories about how the old Automatic's had to be bolted to the concrete basement floors. Their house in Kenmore, before I was born, was on Hamilton Ave. My Grandparents house was on Tremaine Ave.

They had to move to D.C. during the Korean War and this washer tore itself out of the wooden floor in the apartment. Luckily, it was 1952 so they traded it for a 1952 Kenmore, I guess you all call them frog eyes? Complete with Suds Return. But it didn't need bolting.

We had that until 1965 when we got a new Maytag

 

[whirlaway]

Frog Eye

I dont think the frogeye came out till 53,when they came out with the first automatic in 47 or 48,Sears sent a man out to make sure you had a correct place for you to have the machine bolted to and or to have cement poured to have access to this machine properly. It was like a Bendix you had to bolt them down.Ive seen in the last few years a few for sale,I would really like one myself,I think they are cute also. Thanks Bobby

 

[combo52]

First Kenmore automatic Washer

Great find Andy hope you can get it, I have this same washer but it needs total restoration, the knobs are currently at my friend John E being restored. Hopefully if you get this one Andy it will inspire me to get mine painted and restored, keep us posted. The suds return pump on these washers was a small electrically driven pump where the motor even was a brush type motor.

 

[kenmore58]

A few years ago, a mint condition machine exactly like this turned up here in Rhode Island, about five minutes away from me. I tried, unsuccessfully, to negotiate with the owner. She was insisting on at least $1,000 for the machine, which was in the basement when she purchased the house.

Needless to say, the discussions didn't go well. Always wondered if someone from the site was able to purchase it, as she did get several responses from people here.

Who knows? Maybe she still has it.

Ron
Kenmore58

 

[alr2903]

It is a beautiful find.  Go to the archives, Sears sent a tech to your home, to make sure you had the right tubs, drain, and concrete slab prior to the sale of the automatic Kenmore.  It was a lot to go through, at the time,  to buy a washer.  Pretty hi-tech,  back in the day. alr