beware of what you wish for!
The commercial versions of these venerable Kitchenaids were the Hobart UM series dishwashers. The original Kitchenaids and the original UM, had a horizontally mounted pump with the electric drain solenoids and gravity drains. Then they were redesigned with the vertical pumps with the Hobarts using a gravity drain only(never had pumped drains)and the Kitchenaids offering the option of the pump drain which was desgnated by the "P" in the model numbers.
The Hobart machines were always the smaller tank configuration, therefore no upper rack could be used which had more to do with the NSF requirement of a specific amount of water needing to be sprayed on the dishes in a given time. These machines were less than 34 inches high and fit well under bars and in coffee shops. They could be fitted with additional supports to bring them up to standard counter height.
The Kitchenaids had the same set of single frame supports but a higher tank which allowed for the top rack.
Both machines used the same pump system with the commercial model having all cast iron pump housing components with a brass impeller. The domestics had the black phenolic plastic housing parts and a plastic impeller of the same size as the commercial unit.
If you wanted a commercial version of that Kitchenaid, you would be very hard pressed to find one, though they are still out there. They were obsoleted in 1979 and all production of nearly every replacement part was stopped by 1994. Some parts did remain in production but probably totally gone from Hobart's inventory system now. Also, if you do find one, it will have to be plumbed to a gravity drain, has no internal heating element and would do best with at least 180 degree water so that after the 3 minute cycle, the dishes can flash dry when you go to unload them!
If your heart is set on a commercial machine, I would recommend trying to find a WM series machine in good condition.
The original WM series was a 15-16 series kind of hybrid machine as it used all the 15 components when it was first produced and then was switched to the 16 series tank but with the 15 bottom metalwork to continue to accept the straight 15 series pump assembly. There was never a top sprayer of any kind in the original WM Series. Hobart did make various upgrades to the original WM's which went on to have short and long cycle selection as well as models which had built in low temp bleach sanitzers built into them.
Up from there were the 18 series based WM5 series which were essentially the European KD18 machines reworked for our market.These had the upper washarm, but it was attached to a housing on the top of the tank and sparyed water down onto the dishware. The upper arm always reminded me of the smaller washarm originally fitted under the 18 series upper rack.These units could be had with or without a built in booster and sump heaters to keep the water warm while waiting for the next wash. They saved the final rinse water for the next wash!
Definitely an electrical hog and electrically complicated to repair.Both of the WM series were standard counter height machines and would slide right into the same space a machine uses today.
Wm 5's needed a 50 amp 208-230 4 wire service when equipped with the electric booster.The original WM series were standard 115 volt units all the way. Both were what I call pumped gravity drains in that they still had the overflow pipe in them which prevented a flood if the machine overfilled and had to be piped to a gravity drain.The drain pumps simply teed off into the overflow pipe to drain and if the drain was slow running or got clogged, the drain pump would just pupm the water back into the machine. You could be sure there would be flood as soon as it would fill for the next part of the cycle
Hobart now has their SR24 machines which is an updated and much improved version of the WM5 series which has positive water level control and a true pumped drain ala the 18-19-20 series using the same pumps those units used. Once again, single racks like all commercial undercounter machines have in this country regardless of brand.
And they also have the fully electronic LX and LXI series units which can be had with or without a booster heater. They also qouls reuire 180 Degree water if you don';t use chemical sanitizing.
And dont forget!!! You can't just toss in a Cascade Gel pak into these babies.. you need to use specially formulated commercial detergent and often a rinse agent to get good results.
One last point.. if you want one, and want it new or used, plan on spending thousands of dollars on any undercounter commercial machine regardless of the manufacturer! No $299-399 dollar Lowes or Home Depot specials in this domain!
Anyone have any questions?? Let me know!
