What was YOUR first washing machine?
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bokenmore
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Kenmore 110.92195510 Washer.
The Electronic Fabric Care pair stopped me dead in my tracks when I laid eyes on them at Sears. I had never seen a black washer and dryer and they were stunning. When I got up close and saw the touch controls I was dumbfounded. My grandma had a set from the 60's with color-coded push-buttons similar to a cigarette vending machine, I think maybe GE's, the buttons were in two rows across hinged at the center and I played with them constantly when I was a child. Before I was a teenager my Mom picked out an avocado set of Whirlpools with chic-let push-buttons and I loved fiddling with them almost as much. When I saw the touch-pads on the Ebony Lady K's, (well sadly the "Lady" had been removed, I guess to be non-sexist), I was in Laundry nirvana.
I think I practically begged my boyfriend to buy them. He'd grown tired of the dryer buzzer peeling constantly on the Old white Kenmore Back home that had been fixed before.
Sitting up against the back wall were a purposeful set of white Ropers, he chided they would do the job just fine. I think they might have been just under $400 for the pair.
I can't remember exactly how much the death-star twins were, but I think $2500? I'm also not sure of the year, but probably 1994 based on the date from the serial #.
We left without them. I was bummed out, happy to chip in my half but it needed to be mutual.
I think we made another trip to the mall in the ensuing week and I surreptitiously dragged him by electric ave to get another look see.
A few days later I cam home from work and he was grinning when I walked in the door. Said he wanted to show me something. The was a cold glow coming from the laundry room. It was the fluorescent lights glaring from the consoles of these workhorses I still have today.
I have converted the gas dryer to propane and back 6 times, every move has been the opposite, I can almost do it with my eyes closed.
The washer ate one coupling for it's tenth year. I managed to break one of the nipples on the Water Inlet Valve when I was taking the hoses of to clean the hard water deposits from the solenoids to get the dispensers working again. I glued the nipple back on with a ferrule and super glue and it held for a few years, but sprung a leak so I put in a new valve. It's had one set of Dogs and that's about it. I intend to keep it forever (Okay everybody chime in: ..... "as long as the control panel keeps working").
The Electronic Fabric Care pair stopped me dead in my tracks when I laid eyes on them at Sears. I had never seen a black washer and dryer and they were stunning. When I got up close and saw the touch controls I was dumbfounded. My grandma had a set from the 60's with color-coded push-buttons similar to a cigarette vending machine, I think maybe GE's, the buttons were in two rows across hinged at the center and I played with them constantly when I was a child. Before I was a teenager my Mom picked out an avocado set of Whirlpools with chic-let push-buttons and I loved fiddling with them almost as much. When I saw the touch-pads on the Ebony Lady K's, (well sadly the "Lady" had been removed, I guess to be non-sexist), I was in Laundry nirvana.
I think I practically begged my boyfriend to buy them. He'd grown tired of the dryer buzzer peeling constantly on the Old white Kenmore Back home that had been fixed before.
Sitting up against the back wall were a purposeful set of white Ropers, he chided they would do the job just fine. I think they might have been just under $400 for the pair.
I can't remember exactly how much the death-star twins were, but I think $2500? I'm also not sure of the year, but probably 1994 based on the date from the serial #.
We left without them. I was bummed out, happy to chip in my half but it needed to be mutual.
I think we made another trip to the mall in the ensuing week and I surreptitiously dragged him by electric ave to get another look see.
A few days later I cam home from work and he was grinning when I walked in the door. Said he wanted to show me something. The was a cold glow coming from the laundry room. It was the fluorescent lights glaring from the consoles of these workhorses I still have today.
I have converted the gas dryer to propane and back 6 times, every move has been the opposite, I can almost do it with my eyes closed.
The washer ate one coupling for it's tenth year. I managed to break one of the nipples on the Water Inlet Valve when I was taking the hoses of to clean the hard water deposits from the solenoids to get the dispensers working again. I glued the nipple back on with a ferrule and super glue and it held for a few years, but sprung a leak so I put in a new valve. It's had one set of Dogs and that's about it. I intend to keep it forever (Okay everybody chime in: ..... "as long as the control panel keeps working").
mjg0619
Well-known member
The first washing machine I ever purchased myself was a 1993 Maytag LAT7793. It was a bargain Craigslist find two years ago. It had belonged to a little old lady who never married, never had children, and never had any pets. That washer was run twice a month for 22 years whether it needed to be or not. I purchased it from the lady's nephew two years ago and it's been washing away beautifully ever since with only one very minor repair!
First washer I purchased was a 1984 middle-of-the-line large capacity belt drive Whirlpool (with matching dryer). Washer had the Double Duty Super Surgilator agitator. That thing could turn over a load like nobody's business.
Back story: Our 1960 Model 80 Kenmore had been kept alive by a complete transplant of innards from a lightly-used mid-1960s machine thanks to the many talents of my stepfather. I was so sick of the thing that I stopped at the local Whirlpool dealership on the way home from my mom's funeral and purchased the pair, LOL.
I now have a much greater love for the old Model 80 with its awesome features and clickety-clacking rapid-advance timer. Don't know what you've got 'til it's gone, right?
Photo posted by Malcolm (mrb627) in a thread from days gone by.
Back story: Our 1960 Model 80 Kenmore had been kept alive by a complete transplant of innards from a lightly-used mid-1960s machine thanks to the many talents of my stepfather. I was so sick of the thing that I stopped at the local Whirlpool dealership on the way home from my mom's funeral and purchased the pair, LOL.
I now have a much greater love for the old Model 80 with its awesome features and clickety-clacking rapid-advance timer. Don't know what you've got 'til it's gone, right?
Photo posted by Malcolm (mrb627) in a thread from days gone by.
lordkenmore
Well-known member
I now have a much greater love for the old Model 80 with its awesome features and clickety-clacking rapid-advance timer. Don't know what you've got 'til it's gone, right?
So very true, and I'm sure this is a line many of us would have...
My mother had a 1960s Lady Kenmore, which I don't think I fully appreciated when the time to move on came. It had clearly served us well, but I was taken in by the newer is better! line of thought...
I don't have a collection...but a washer like that would be one thing I'd like to have in a collection if I ever have one...
So very true, and I'm sure this is a line many of us would have...
My mother had a 1960s Lady Kenmore, which I don't think I fully appreciated when the time to move on came. It had clearly served us well, but I was taken in by the newer is better! line of thought...
I don't have a collection...but a washer like that would be one thing I'd like to have in a collection if I ever have one...
Thanks for reviving this archived thread, Bo, and welcome to the sublime hot mess that is AW.com. If you're into appliances, you've come to the right place. Awesome electronic Kenmore set and back story, by the way.
Lord Kenmore-- You're so right; most of us have a "the one that got away/the one I gave away" story in our washer history. I wish I'd hung on to the unused 1959 Lady Kenmore I found behind the appliance store across the street when I lived downtown in a warehouse apt. Had it for a year or so before it moved on to a young Hispanic couple who needed a washer and dryer. The matching dryer had been used, but it was electric so I couldn't hook it up at the warehouse apartment. Never realized it had a rapid advance timer to set up the cycle just like the washer.
I'd also have hung on to the 1987 (or so) Frigidaire-badged front-loader with the solenoid clanks and the late-70's Frigidaire 1-18 I found behind the aforementioned appliance store...which I found out later came from my physician's home.
[this post was last edited: 11/27/2017-18:46]
Lord Kenmore-- You're so right; most of us have a "the one that got away/the one I gave away" story in our washer history. I wish I'd hung on to the unused 1959 Lady Kenmore I found behind the appliance store across the street when I lived downtown in a warehouse apt. Had it for a year or so before it moved on to a young Hispanic couple who needed a washer and dryer. The matching dryer had been used, but it was electric so I couldn't hook it up at the warehouse apartment. Never realized it had a rapid advance timer to set up the cycle just like the washer.
I'd also have hung on to the 1987 (or so) Frigidaire-badged front-loader with the solenoid clanks and the late-70's Frigidaire 1-18 I found behind the aforementioned appliance store...which I found out later came from my physician's home.
[this post was last edited: 11/27/2017-18:46]
lordkenmore
Well-known member
Frigilux--you've had some interesting machines that got away! It's too bad--a momentary decision (maybe even a very practical one for the moment), and then, years later, regret...
In a way, I wonder how much my sadness over my mother's LK comes from the fact the LK is an interesting machine from a collector view, and how much of it is that specific machine and the history... I could probably replace it in the sense of finding something like it. I could even, perhaps, find something better (like a LK with suds saver, which I think existed with that design of washer). But it would only be "a washer like what we had in my childhood home." Not the same exact washer. One might be sentimental about owning a dime a dozen washers simply because it was, say, what Grandma had.
Another sad "it got away" for me was a Kelvinator refrigerator, which was first owned by my grandmother, and then my parents. It was AMC era, freezer on bottom, and had a sticker referencing the AMC Rambler inside. As I recall, it was in really good condition. But, again, it was a practical decision to let it go. That particular decision was my mother's, and past practicality, I think she might have wanted it gone simply because of part of its history.
[this post was last edited: 11/28/2017-02:53]
In a way, I wonder how much my sadness over my mother's LK comes from the fact the LK is an interesting machine from a collector view, and how much of it is that specific machine and the history... I could probably replace it in the sense of finding something like it. I could even, perhaps, find something better (like a LK with suds saver, which I think existed with that design of washer). But it would only be "a washer like what we had in my childhood home." Not the same exact washer. One might be sentimental about owning a dime a dozen washers simply because it was, say, what Grandma had.
Another sad "it got away" for me was a Kelvinator refrigerator, which was first owned by my grandmother, and then my parents. It was AMC era, freezer on bottom, and had a sticker referencing the AMC Rambler inside. As I recall, it was in really good condition. But, again, it was a practical decision to let it go. That particular decision was my mother's, and past practicality, I think she might have wanted it gone simply because of part of its history.
[this post was last edited: 11/28/2017-02:53]
My first washer was a TOL Kenmore 90 Series washer, circa 2000. It came with my first (and current) house when I bought it and was in immaculate condition. It was running when I replaced it. I wanted a front loader, and so far, I don't regret that decision (don't worry, I made sure the set went to a good home!). I have more capacity than my Kenmore DD, which was probably the biggest they offered. I also use less water since my wife and I are constantly doing laundry. Furthermore, I like that I have steam, better rinses due to the inherent design of front load machines and better extraction which means less dry time.
From time to time I miss the chugga-chugga action of my Kenmore, however, I am impressed with my Korean-built LG front loader. I'm aiming for 8-10 years, then I'm off to a SQ FL and gas dryer. Maybe I can gather up enough courage to ask my wife to let me start collecting, and rotate the machines out every so often. I'd love to start with a GE Filter-Flo and a 1980s 80/90 Series Kenmore DD, and perhaps an old Whirlpool BD.
From time to time I miss the chugga-chugga action of my Kenmore, however, I am impressed with my Korean-built LG front loader. I'm aiming for 8-10 years, then I'm off to a SQ FL and gas dryer. Maybe I can gather up enough courage to ask my wife to let me start collecting, and rotate the machines out every so often. I'd love to start with a GE Filter-Flo and a 1980s 80/90 Series Kenmore DD, and perhaps an old Whirlpool BD.
The first machine I bought myself was a solid-door Maytag Neptune with heater back in 2006. Being an Iowan it seemed right to support the embattled Maytag!
And by 2006 I figured most of the Neptune problems had been worked out.
It was a problem-free machine until this year when I had to put in a new water inlet valve and a new motor control board. Both were easy DIY repairs. The water inlet valve was $50 new and I bought a used motor control board for $60 from eBay.
I love the machine, it's just the right size and does a great job. Not sure what I would buy now if I needed a new washer tomorrow.
And by 2006 I figured most of the Neptune problems had been worked out.
It was a problem-free machine until this year when I had to put in a new water inlet valve and a new motor control board. Both were easy DIY repairs. The water inlet valve was $50 new and I bought a used motor control board for $60 from eBay.
I love the machine, it's just the right size and does a great job. Not sure what I would buy now if I needed a new washer tomorrow.
My own first machine was a mid '80s filter flo.
Would have ben a straight blade gneric Kenmore washer bought from the swap shop when I first moved to Greenville long ago.Was in my first house.
My first washer was a used Maytag Model J square tub wringer washer with a pump, I bought it at the Salvation Army Thrift Store for $35.00 in 1972. At the time I lived in an old apt. over a 5 car garage in Petaluma, Calif. The bathroom was very large and had a ball and clawfoot tub that I could roll the Maytag up to. I would first fill the washer tub with hot water, then the tub with lukewarm water for rinsing. I’d wring the clothes into the tub and swish them around with a broom handle to rinse them, then run them back thru the wringer. It was a perfect setup for me at the time. I had a reel in clothes line that I could use when the weather permitted, or take the wet laundry to the laundromat just down the street. This was one of the very best washers I ever owned and I could get a weeks worth of laundry washed in about an hour.
Eddie
Eddie
The first washer I actually bought was a Harvest Gold GE Filter Flow washer. It was quiet and did a great job, plus we LOVED the mini basket. I see the NEW machines that have 2 washer systems for small loads and think that is nothing new, GE actually did it better with only ONE washer system that was able to do the mini load without all that extra mechanical stuff!!!
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