Vintage InSinkErator installed and operating

[hoover1060]

buying an ISE

Years ago, ISE was the super premium brand, well known but not widely or easily available. To get one, you either bought a new house with one installed(either a Badger I or Badger V) or you had a plumber come install one(for big $$$ I might add)
I don't know when I became aware of ISE, but I remember the surprise at the brand...I knew them as Sears Kenmore first! If my memory serves, it was the early 1990's before ISE was sold in mass market retail stores such as Home Depot.

I always peeked under sinks too, and in my childhood days the brands and types were many, from Waste King and Hotpoint to GE, Tappan, Kenmore, National... you name it!

 

[westytoploader]

I mainly saw ISE and Kenmore, however, my grandmother had a strange orange-colored machine! Thought it was a Sears as well but can't remember off the top of my head. Here, the 3/4 HP Kenmore replaced another builders-grade ISE that had fallen victim to corrosion and was 100% non-functional.

We had a 1988-89 Jenn-Air disposer in our old house (with matching dishwasher; replaced it and installed the disposer at the same time). This was definitely before Jenn-Air was considered a high-end brand, as the disposer looked the same as a builders-grade ISE, and the dishwasher had only 3 cycles with no heated-wash option. The disposer was relatively noisy (probably due to the swinging-hammer design), but otherwise jam-free. Same with the dishwasher--very reliable.

Did Maytag make their own disposers or were they outsourced? I had a bunch of Maytag brochures I picked up at a home-builders show in early 1996 (somehow lost it) and their disposer line looked like the 1976-77 ISE line pictured, however, their lowest-end model resembled the Model 333.

 

[tolivac]

thats usually what I would find if I looked in someones cabinets-Mostly "Badgers"

 

[hoover1060]

who made/makes what...

Years ago, everybody made their own stuff. Today, ISE makes 80% of the disposals sold, under various names, including Maytag, Whirlpool, and Kitchenaid.
Maytag made their own until the late 80's(tougher than nails)
Kitchenaid/National were made by Hobart.
Whirlpool did their own
Waste King did their own, Frigidaire, and Montgomery Ward(Waste King was bought up by Anaheim in the middle 90's)
ISE used to be just them, and Kenmore, and Westinghouse for a time.
GE made their own, Hotpoint, and AO Smith
Anaheim/Tappan made them under at least 20 different brands, including Sinkmaster, Whirlaway, Caloric, Magic Chef.. ect.

Today the only companies left that manufacture disposers are:
ISE(too many brands to name)
Whiterock(Sinkguard and Monarch)
Viking(the old Hobart made Kitchenaid)
Anaheim(Waste King, Whirlaway, Sinkmaster, GE and a few others. Anaheim disposers have permanant magnet motors, and sound somewhat like a blender)

 

[tolivac]

Disposer builders

Its now boiled down to ISE and Anehiem Engineering. Note how ISE still stays with the induction motor.Both have their faults though.Caps,start switches in the induction models burn out. In the PM ones,brushes wear out(will take MANY years for a disposer)and the rectifier blocks can burn out from a heavy load.The PM ones have a Bridge rectifier block to rectify the incoming 120VAC to about 100Vdc to run the PM motor.I ran into a Anehiem Engineering model(GE named) that has a burned out (shorted) rect block.Pops out its OL button when plugged in.Just haven't gotten around to replacing it-probably could get a new rectifier from Radio Shack.The ISE folks and Anehiem folks make the bulk of the disposers sold today.I doubt the Viking machines(former KA) are big sellers due to their VERY high price.

 

[westytoploader]

I prefer an induction motor on a disposal because it is quieter and has more torque, IMHO. I think hearing the sound of a vacuum under your sink would take some getting used to...

The Viking disposer was well-liked by CR if I can remember correctly. I might have to pull the issue out and check. Very sleek design as well; the best-looking machine in that report.

 

[programcomputer]

Well I went to Lowes today......

So, the final chapter on my disposall challenge was.....the purchase of an ISE Badger 5 model 5-81. The reasoning was, I got a great deal on it from the actual retail price, and it come with everything to install, and they threw in a brand new new powercord as well. Normally $69.99, I was given it for 54.00 becasue the box had a ding in it, and the free powercord a $5.99 value saving me $20.99. The one at MeeNards was not quite as good a deal after all of that...I love Lowes..

I have yet to install it becasue I am home WAAAAY to late to start this tonight. So I will be gettin to it tommorow. I have unpacked it...and it looks body wise similiar to what I already have down there...and well it's an Emerson Corp. product explained elsewhere.

It is also of swing hammer design.

I look at it this way, ISE is still a good brand as many people seem to feel on this topic, the salesman was cool w/ me and diddn't act like I was wasting his time, and like I said threw in a cord for free. Also our old disposer was installed on 2/13/83 according to the info that I found written on it in black marker...so going off that the little guy's simplisitc info , again smaller in shape than the "new" one and less powerful 1/3 horsepower and the new one is 1/2 horsepower...it lasted 22 years.

It looks in many ways VERY similiar to the Badger V in the above brochure "Builders Model" last row, second from last.

We'll see how happy I am with it when i have it installed tommorow afternoon.

Thanks Again Jeff for the input, and all. As usual your the man...

Thanks

Chad

 

[mrcleanjeans]

the Disposor Dah-ling

Doesn't the 1968 "chick" with that outfit that looks like it's from "Lost in Space" look just like Suzanne Pleshette?

 

[hoover1060]

DAH-LING! Its number one

I can just hear someone such as Tallulah Bankhead saying that in her gravel-y voice. That 1968 brochure is full of pictures of that girl in various reynolds wrap style outfits, specially designed for ISE by some designer who's name escapes me.

Chad: decent choice and price on the Badger V. Should serve you well.

Motors: I prefer the induction motor too, just for quietness. One of my neighbors here installed a new GE last fall with the PM motor. I watched it work at a dinner party, and it took everything and was reasonably quiet about it. The sound of the PM motor reminds me of a tree chipper.
Does anyone remember the disposals GE made(just up til a few years ago) with the universal motors and 8000 RPM? They were LOUD, but would chew almost anything!

 

[petek]

Septic field models

ISE brought out a model a couple of years ago for those like me not on city sewers. It utilizes replaceable bottles of a liquid bacteria that flushes a measured amount down the drain along with the waste to help in the breakdown. Intriguing but I still don't want to chance it along with figuring that after a couple of years I'd probably not be able to find refills on such a limited item.

 

[westytoploader]

There was a GE 8000 RPM Disposall on eBay that ended not too long ago...it did look like it could eat almost anything! Also, believe it or not there was a poppy red GM Frigidaire disposal on there as well, unused in the box!

I pulled out the Feb. 04 CR issue (last disposer test) last night, and checked out the models. The Viking was top-rated and cost $420. According to the reports the Kenmore, KitchenAid, Waste King, Whirlpool, and GE models were good choices. Some of the low-end ISE models weren't that great. Avoid the Maytag or SinkGuard models (although isn't Maytag built by ISE...again there are those "subtle differences" between otherwise similar models that CR notices).

What about the current KitchenAid disposer lineup; who manufactures them? The high-end models seem to resemble the old Hobart design.

 

[hoover1060]

There are currently two 8000 RPM GE's on ebay, in orange/black colors!
There's also two older Waste Kings, an SS5000 and a cheapie 111.

The current Kitchenaids are made by ISE. The top models are the equals of the ISE 555 and 777ss models.

That consumer reports article is interesting. The 1/2 hp Kenmore 6011 was a best buy, while its ISE twin the badger V sored bad...
Whats that all about?

 

[mrcleanjeans]

Consumer RIPorts

Consumer Reports has had the dubious distinction of often being completely contradictory in their "unbias" reports.There are SO MANY examples of this that it isn't funny.One year,a Kirby was rated # 2 in overall ratings,then the next year ,the same machine went down several notches.One may say maybe it had different competition that year, but the machines near the top that were competing were the same ones from the year before.And look at the 50s articles on Frigidaire washers, either outright not recommending them, or severely penalizing them for clothes entangalment, then 2 years straight, recommending them as #1.Or how about the tests done in the early 70s on the SELF-PROPELLED Hoover Dial-a-Matics,whose floating self adjusting nozzle, they said caused it to be only fair to good at deep cleaning carpets, then soon after, 'twas #1 rated,I could give numerous examples but you get the point.

 

[hoover1060]

Ahh yes, Consumer reports can be fickle at best sometimes.
I have the one Dial-a-Matic report from 1974, the powerdrive was near the bottom.
In 1976 it was the top scoring upright, right up there with the TOL Eureka.
Amazing!

 

[tolivac]

I have used and had several of the GE "high speed" disposers.These machines have a "universal" motor in them-just like in a blender.They also have swivel flial like impellors and a tiny projection on the stampted shred ring.But two models I have used(Piranha) and another that was installed in a Levitt home had the GE "Carboloy" cutters in their shred rings-these are made of sharpned tungsten carbide-and those disposalls shredded just about anything you put in them.Whoa onto any spoon that fell into one.Cut it up pretty bad.also had an induction motor equipped GE disposer that had the carboloy cutter.wished they still used them!!
I can go along with the inconsistent reveiws on cunsomer reports.Finally gave up on the magazine entirely. Have more faith in "Epinions"At least REAL users and consumers.-not just someone poking at the products in a lab.

 

[hoover1060]

GE Disposalls

Tolivac,
I lived in an apt that had an 8000 rpm GE, I don't believe it had the carboloy thing, but it would eat just about anything, and in some cases did better than the induction models. The GE would eat corn cobs with much less DRAMA than an ISE would!
I need to charge my digital camera, downstairs amongst the Hoovers I have 3 of those high speed GE's one GE, one Hotpoint, and one A.O. Smith, as well as a Piranha, and a GE induction motor model with the True value name on it. All came from estate sales or ebay, and are unused.
My mom had an induction model GE, a batch feeder that replaced the original builders Hotpoint about 1978. She liked it, and I remember it worked well and lasted a LONG time. The bearings started going on the GE, and it would run for about 30 seconds before the overload would trip. The GE finally went in 2001, mom got a new kitchen sink and faucet, and we bought her an ISE 333SS.

 

[tolivac]

Hoover1060-Bearing failures seem to be the most common failures in GE units wether induction motor or universal motor equipped.Sad-GE themselves made some pretty effective disposers.The hi speed ones are cool-but they would slow down some when you poured the water in them-but still they spun fast enough to decimate anything put in them.The Aneheim GE's just don't compare to their original machines.In a townhome I lived in-I replaced a rotted out Badger(must of come with that house when it was built)with an ISE 333SS.Only Hi-end machine the Lowes or Home Depot in the area had.Both carried the same brands of disposers.

 

[hoover1060]

GE and Hotpoint

Tolivac,
Mom's GE kinda went all at once, although I do remember the switch being dodgey too, after 20+ years of use, the cams on the stopper were wearing out.
That 1978 GE batch feeder was very VERY similar to the 1959 Hotpoint it replaced. The poor Hotpoint was still running, instead it just corroded itself apart. I remember sitting at dinner with my parents and sister when we heard a "thump" from somewhere in the kitchen. We couldn't find anything that had fallen, until mom started the dishes. The Hotpoint had deteriorated to the point where the motor/disk section had seperated from the upper section, and just dropped to the cabinet floor...

 

[tolivac]

Hoover1060-Strange disposer failure mode-the motor and flywheel dropping out of the unit.Guess you found out the mystery of the "thump" while your Mom was doing the dishes and her feet got wet!I have had "leaker" disposers do that to me.

 

[toggleswitch]

The law ..

Funny thing about disposers...

Some cities/areas require them.
others remain silent.

In North America, Toronto and New York City (not long ago) were the only cities in which these were prohibited.

But almost as soon as the law changed, guess who was at Sears
and found some open box specials!

Love this toy. It is the greatest!

 

[hoover1060]

Love my disposer!

I live in a townhouse, with no garage. My garbage goes out back door to a can on the back steps, which goes out to the curb every Tuesday night.
More than once I have awakened in wee hours of the night to the sound of that can being tipped over...by racoons or possums!
Wednesday morning(trash day) is interesting when I walk my dog, we can walk up the street and see bag after bag of trash ripped open(from the tuesday night racoon buffet)
I don't throw food away at all anymore...if I can fit it down the mouth of the disposal, thats where it goes. Cleaning up after the racoon buffet can be a real chore!

 

[tolivac]

Wow--do you have 'possums that far North-didn't think they lived that far North.Raccoons are everywhere though.One night a 'possum spent the night in my garage-he was well behaved-didn't bother anything or make any messes-found him as I came home from my 4-Mid work shift.He had the right idea-curl up in the corner and go to sleep-was with him-and he was gone the next morning-didn't see him again.I don't leave food out for the things.since I live by a small lake have ducks,geese and snapping turtles come by to visit.Just leave those snapping turtles alone-big ones can take off body parts!!The ducks and geese clean up the slugs and snails in the yard.Yes disposers lessen the frequency of those nightime "freinds"Could your garbage barrels be being visited by stray dogs in the area?they will use them as buffets like raccoons and possums.

 

[hoover1060]

Racoons and possums and rabbits.... OH MY!

Yes we have possums and racoons and rabbits and squirrels and who knows what else roaming around. The feast on the trash that all of us townhouse store out back of our homes.
I don't think it could be stray dogs, well in my case anyway. My backyard is covered by a 24X12 cedar deck, with a 5 foot tall fence and gate. I usually keep the gate locked as well. Whatever is occasionally getting in my trash bin is small enough to fit through the spokes in that fence.
Another vintage machine about to enter the collection, I just won a Waste King SS5000 NIB from ebay!

 

[westytoploader]

Attention Jeff

Excellent news on the SS5500!

There's also a GE Portable Disposall (used but clean and in great shape...and it looks like the cord still has the plastic on it) as well as a Harvest Gold National disposer (NIB) on eBay as well.

 

[hoover1060]

Thanks Austin

I've seen the GE portable, and when I was in LA last month one of the VCCC members had one. It was very cool, and the grinding mechanism is almost identical to what GE used on their full sized induction motor models.
I looked for the National disposer, what is it listed under? I can't seem to locate anything but a 1960 ad.
Jeff

 

[westytoploader]

Here's the link to the National...in that 60's-70's gold!

Vintage disposers have been pretty easy to find on eBay recently.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5986304429&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT&rd=1

 

[hoover1060]

National

How fun is that???
I have the same model, aquired last year.
A very well made machine built by Hobart.
Thanks for the link
Jeff

 

[tolivac]

Congrats on getting the WKSS5000 those are pretty effective machines.Lots better than what they have now.Wards used to sell WK machines under their brand-remember at one time Wards Called one of their disposers "Jaws"The Universal movie folks sued them over that-than Wards changed the machines name-If you find one under the name "Jaws" from Wards you will have a collectable machine for sure.should have bought one-was out in the late 70's just about when the Movie "Jaws" was out.
The National machine sounds interesting-haven't seen many of
those.
If the critters are crawling between the slats of the fence-then must be Possums and raccoons.Cats can "dumpster Dive" as well but not real common.They usually like to catch "live" things.Mice or rats trying to dumpster dive.

 

[hoover1060]

Waste King amd JAWS

I remember Wards and the JAWS series of disposers. You are correct Tolivac about that being the late 1970's, maybe even 1980.
Plugging in my camera tonight to charge, I do have a Wards disposer, same as the WK SS5000 but it does not say Jaws its just a plain "Disposer 800" and towards the end of the Waste King models. The owners manual is dated 1985. Wards switched to Anaheim made disposers sometime in the middle 80's.
I am excited about the SS 5000 coming, I wish it would fit my kitchen, but alas my kitchen sink(Eljer cast iron DuMont model) is too deep, and the drain pipe is too high on the wall.
The National on ebay is made by Hobart. Its a neat machine, and for the $.99 totally worth picking up.

 

[tolivac]

Hoover1060-Are you getting both the National and the WKSS5000? For 99 cents the National sure would be a good buy for a user as well as collector.Suppose the WK machine will be in your collection.I sort of gave up collecting disposals for now since about all I could find are USED ones or current models.Used ones can be pretty nasty.I can remember seeing the WK-Wards earleir machines in a Wards store near where I lived.It was a Brown and Gold color.Early 70's was the TOL machine.When I looked inside-had the cast shred ring and WK swivel hammers.Very nice machine.That makes sense Wards switching to Anehiem Machines in the later 80's was that about the time Anehiem acquired WK?