Vintage KitchenAid Portable DW in Tennessee

[bwoods]

At the AMVETS Thrift Store in Knoxville, there is a nice KitchenAid front load, Coppertone portable dishwasher. I believe the model was KDS57, or something close to that.

It has no upper wash arm, so I speculate it is from the early 70's. No rust, and has the original instruction manual.

One the inside of the door, part of the features-at-a-glance label is still stuck onto the porcelain. It's not really legible, but the fact that some of it still remains indicates that the dishwasher was not used much, or it would have washed off after 30+ years.

This is the model that has the "Party Cycles" on it.

Sorry, I didn't have a camera with me. Only a few small stains in the tub, but definitely in good enough shape to be collectible.

They are asking $59.96 for it.

 

[a440]

Thanks for the Heads up Barry!
Why don't you go for it?
It is an awesome dishwasher!
It would be your favorite dishwasher!
Brent

 

[bwoods]

Thought about it, Brent, but I am running out of room! It is a nice machine, though.

 

[a440]

I think you would regret not getting it.
They are a dying breed....

 

[bwoods]

Am I assuming correctly that this model, KDS57, (I may not have the letter totally correct as I didn't write them down) is actually the portable version of the KDS17?

If so, Hobart added 40 to their model numbers to differentiate between their built-in and portable?

Does anyone know if this model has only one final rinse preceded by a purge, or does it have two final rinses?

 

[danemodsandy]

Brent:

Yes, KitchenAid used the "5" at the beginning of a model number to denote the convertible/portable version; the last digit remained the same as for the undercounter version.

So - KDS-17 means undercounter, KDS-57 means convertible/portable. They are nearly identical except for the cabinet, top and unicouple.

I can't answer your question about rinses and purges, but I can tell you that the 17s are extremely desirable machines. If you don't get this one, you are turning down a machine many collectors find to be the best.

 

[rp2813]

Go get it!

I'm pretty sure the single final rinse began with the 21 or 22 series.

 

I'd say these machines are a disappearing breed as opposed to a dying one.  KitchenAids of this era are nearly indestructible with proper care and maintenance.

 

[combo52]

KDS17 and KDS57

Actually have THREE final rinses, the KDS17 was among the top water using DWs of all time, they use about 20 gallons for a full cycle, in fact the other DW that I know of that used this much were the all plastic tank GEs from the late 70s with the dual wash arms. These GEs had more of an excuse for using this much water as they had no filter and their sump held about one quart of water that because of the poor pump design that GEs used was incapable of dumping all this extra water when it drained.

 

[classiccaprice]

If I were closer, I'd get it... Go for it!