I can honestly say I've never seen this agitator in person and that rim of the basket is unfamiliar too... Is this very early?
VERY Very First LEAP (Direct Drive) Kenmore?
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I'd say extremely early. Ones I've seen had a wire mesh guard on the basket.
Gordon will likely have an answer. This machine is unusual to be certain. That's the pre-1981 control panel screening. I also, have never seen that agitator.
redcarpetdrew
Well-known member
Yup. It's very early.
Another clue is the clear plastic timer dial skirt cover. It was supposed to keep people from using the skirt to 'bump' the timer thru a cycle while running, I think. I will defer to Gordon's expertise on that tho. I am betting this is a 'direct into spin' before they made it neutral drain to save wear and tear on the drive train and help with stabilization during spin.
RCD
Another clue is the clear plastic timer dial skirt cover. It was supposed to keep people from using the skirt to 'bump' the timer thru a cycle while running, I think. I will defer to Gordon's expertise on that tho. I am betting this is a 'direct into spin' before they made it neutral drain to save wear and tear on the drive train and help with stabilization during spin.
RCD
aldspinboy
Well-known member
Wow Jamie I feel the same.
I saw it in Agitators go to Washington,
and wonder how the lint filter works...
or how to clean it ?
Number 3.
Darren k
Looks like the rim of an old Frigidaire tub, then, doesn't it?
Rare, indeed.
Hi, Jamie! How's life at Whirlpool?
Rare, indeed.
Hi, Jamie! How's life at Whirlpool?
The first thing I have to say is...
W O W
That IS INDEED one of the very earliest DDs. The print font on the control panel from the 1976-1980 models as Mark pointed out is one of the first clues.
The slightly different basket, the different clothes guard, the odd shape of the "D-ring", and the gold agitator are other cues. This machine is literally one of the first original few models of DDs ever. No doubt that is a spin drain model.
Those that had the gold agitators had their entire mechanisms rotated/shifted about 110 degrees clockwise as compared to where they were in the vast bulk of DD production. This meant that pumps were REAR FACING, or toward the back of the cabinet pointing to the left rear corner if I recall. I have seen exactly two of these before, and just to look at. This is a rare machine indeed.
This machine isn't "all that" in condition or features, but I'd say that someone in the club in the midwest really should get their hands on this machine, to save it for future study and have it in our club. It is truly a special oddity being the developmental ancestor (and somewhat different) to what I think is the most widely produced washer in western world history.
COOL find Jamie!
Gordon
W O W
That IS INDEED one of the very earliest DDs. The print font on the control panel from the 1976-1980 models as Mark pointed out is one of the first clues.
The slightly different basket, the different clothes guard, the odd shape of the "D-ring", and the gold agitator are other cues. This machine is literally one of the first original few models of DDs ever. No doubt that is a spin drain model.
Those that had the gold agitators had their entire mechanisms rotated/shifted about 110 degrees clockwise as compared to where they were in the vast bulk of DD production. This meant that pumps were REAR FACING, or toward the back of the cabinet pointing to the left rear corner if I recall. I have seen exactly two of these before, and just to look at. This is a rare machine indeed.
This machine isn't "all that" in condition or features, but I'd say that someone in the club in the midwest really should get their hands on this machine, to save it for future study and have it in our club. It is truly a special oddity being the developmental ancestor (and somewhat different) to what I think is the most widely produced washer in western world history.
COOL find Jamie!
Gordon
strongenough78
Well-known member
I'm curiousto see the turnover that agitator would produce. Those are some large vanes on it.
If I can figure out transport, I'll try to go for it... Someone should! If anyone else has more of a shot at getting it, by all means, please do!
Frigilux - Whirlpool is going absolutely fantastically well! I'm doing things that people with 10 years experience normally do thanks to my knowledge of the machines and experience in CAD software. I've had the head of Fabric Care come to my cube and compliment me on the work I've been doing! The town is very conservative and small, but Whirlpool is awesome!
Frigilux - Whirlpool is going absolutely fantastically well! I'm doing things that people with 10 years experience normally do thanks to my knowledge of the machines and experience in CAD software. I've had the head of Fabric Care come to my cube and compliment me on the work I've been doing! The town is very conservative and small, but Whirlpool is awesome!
First WP Built KM DD Washer
These came out in very late 1980-early 1981, I had one of these a few years ago and we have the fully restored early 1981 WP version of this washer. As you can see it had a different wash basket, the basket had an all steel balance ring that was part of the wash basket that was filled with light oil. The tub cover and washer top was also different and as Gordon mentioned the pump and motor was pointed toward toward the rear [ as you looked at the machine the pump and motor were on the right side, if you were looking down at the top of the washer the pump was in the 2 clock position.
The agitators lint filter lifted off for cleaning just like the filter on the current WP DD 24" Thin Twins.
These are cool washers and someone may want to get this one, we restored the one we have about 10 years ago, but you could still easily get the parts to restore this washer.
John L.
These came out in very late 1980-early 1981, I had one of these a few years ago and we have the fully restored early 1981 WP version of this washer. As you can see it had a different wash basket, the basket had an all steel balance ring that was part of the wash basket that was filled with light oil. The tub cover and washer top was also different and as Gordon mentioned the pump and motor was pointed toward toward the rear [ as you looked at the machine the pump and motor were on the right side, if you were looking down at the top of the washer the pump was in the 2 clock position.
The agitators lint filter lifted off for cleaning just like the filter on the current WP DD 24" Thin Twins.
These are cool washers and someone may want to get this one, we restored the one we have about 10 years ago, but you could still easily get the parts to restore this washer.
John L.
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