classiccaprice
Well-known member
just wondering.
When/What was the first KA front load portable dw?
- Thread starter classiccaprice
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danemodsandy
Well-known member
I'm Going....
....Out on a limb and saying it could be the KDS-55 of 1965. I'm not aware of a 14-series front-loader, nor any from series prior to that.
If anyone knows better, feel free to correct me - and you will, you will! ;-)
....Out on a limb and saying it could be the KDS-55 of 1965. I'm not aware of a 14-series front-loader, nor any from series prior to that.
If anyone knows better, feel free to correct me - and you will, you will! ;-)
toploader55
Well-known member
I think...
They offered the Superba and the Custom Series.
Custom being "Full Cycle" and that's all folks. Well, You could advance the timer dial to "Plate Warm".
They offered the Superba and the Custom Series.
Custom being "Full Cycle" and that's all folks. Well, You could advance the timer dial to "Plate Warm".
stevet
Well-known member
Franken-Portable!
I had either a KD-11 OR 12 series front load portable which I got from one of our customers at the Hobart NY office. It came with 2 sets of racks as they maintained a Kosher Home and needed the double rack set. I had that machine for about 3 years and then my cousin used it for at least another 5 years and it sadly went to the curb in working condition! Minus a few key parts! Damn.. Who Knew!
The racks stood up very well and I used them in a UM-4 Machine which I turned into a pumped drain using that Portable's pump assembly. But in order to use the short timer cycle and a pumpo out feature, I utilized a timer and wiring from the more modern WM (based on the 15-16 series)timer and the classic drain solenoid used on the 15 and up machines. Worked just as good and still had the dishes done in less than 3 minutes!
It also helped to have it installed next to the hot water heater that I could set to 170 degrees!
So they had them pretty much before the 60's
I had either a KD-11 OR 12 series front load portable which I got from one of our customers at the Hobart NY office. It came with 2 sets of racks as they maintained a Kosher Home and needed the double rack set. I had that machine for about 3 years and then my cousin used it for at least another 5 years and it sadly went to the curb in working condition! Minus a few key parts! Damn.. Who Knew!
The racks stood up very well and I used them in a UM-4 Machine which I turned into a pumped drain using that Portable's pump assembly. But in order to use the short timer cycle and a pumpo out feature, I utilized a timer and wiring from the more modern WM (based on the 15-16 series)timer and the classic drain solenoid used on the 15 and up machines. Worked just as good and still had the dishes done in less than 3 minutes!
It also helped to have it installed next to the hot water heater that I could set to 170 degrees!
So they had them pretty much before the 60's
fnelson487
Well-known member
Nope
They had portable conversion kits going back to the 11 series in 1956. I know I have a brochure somewhere, just can't put my hands on it. Here is a price list from 1956. The KD-26. Check out the asterisk at the bottom of the price list.
They had portable conversion kits going back to the 11 series in 1956. I know I have a brochure somewhere, just can't put my hands on it. Here is a price list from 1956. The KD-26. Check out the asterisk at the bottom of the price list.
toploader55
Well-known member
Great Price List Fred
That was Huge Money for the Average Joe back then to buy his wife a machine.
That was Huge Money for the Average Joe back then to buy his wife a machine.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Popular:
Dan:
Oh, dishwashers were very popular, just like mink stoles were popular.
It's just that - exactly as with mink stoles - most women couldn't find a way to have what they coveted so highly.
My mother was agitating for a dishwasher a good fifteen years before she got one. So were most of my adult female relatives.
Dan:
Oh, dishwashers were very popular, just like mink stoles were popular.
It's just that - exactly as with mink stoles - most women couldn't find a way to have what they coveted so highly.
My mother was agitating for a dishwasher a good fifteen years before she got one. So were most of my adult female relatives.
Oh, dishwashers were very popular
They were certainly around, but not a whole lot of people seem to own one in the 50's. Nobody on either side of my family did. I lived in an upper middle class area as a kid in the 80's and there was still a surprising amount of home owners that still didn't have a dishwasher. They didn't seem popular at all with the over 50 crowd back then.
I could be totally wrong on an overall aspect. Just my observations from back then.
They were certainly around, but not a whole lot of people seem to own one in the 50's. Nobody on either side of my family did. I lived in an upper middle class area as a kid in the 80's and there was still a surprising amount of home owners that still didn't have a dishwasher. They didn't seem popular at all with the over 50 crowd back then.
I could be totally wrong on an overall aspect. Just my observations from back then.
Maybe it was different in different regions. In the mid to late 50s, we knew several families with DWs and after my mother pronounced her approval of her Mobile Maid at least two of her friends went and bought Mobile Maids within a few weeks, but they were, as we say, "comfortable." It was a visit to the beach house of one of dad's business associates in Jacksonville who had a Mobile Maid that showed my parents the possibility of having a portable and not having to lose precious kitchen cabinet space for a dishwasher. Of course, GEs were not nearly as expensive as KitchenAids and by the late 50s, builders were installing dishwashers in new construction so that helped get them in a lot of homes.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Dan:
I mean "popular" in the sense that consumer awareness of the product was very high and consumer desire was very strong, too. The deal-breaker was the price.
The situation began to turn around with the housing boom of the late '50s/early '60s, when builders began offering dishwashers in their new offerings. They were often BOL machines, but hey, they were dishwashers. Folded into the price of a house, they were an easily justified expenditure; my second cousin Betty Ann used to say, "It only adds fifty cents a month to the mortgage."
In her case, it may have been a bit more than that; she had all Westinghouse majors, upper-MOL, in turquoise. Betty Ann always was a luxury lady.
I mean "popular" in the sense that consumer awareness of the product was very high and consumer desire was very strong, too. The deal-breaker was the price.
The situation began to turn around with the housing boom of the late '50s/early '60s, when builders began offering dishwashers in their new offerings. They were often BOL machines, but hey, they were dishwashers. Folded into the price of a house, they were an easily justified expenditure; my second cousin Betty Ann used to say, "It only adds fifty cents a month to the mortgage."
In her case, it may have been a bit more than that; she had all Westinghouse majors, upper-MOL, in turquoise. Betty Ann always was a luxury lady.
toploader55
Well-known member
I have a Question.
Not to get off thread...
Which Manufacturer was the first to offer "Options" instead of just one cycle ?
BowTie Mobile Maids I know had a model with 3 cycles so that would be before 1960 correct ???
What about Whirlpool and KitchenAid ?
Not to get off thread...
Which Manufacturer was the first to offer "Options" instead of just one cycle ?
BowTie Mobile Maids I know had a model with 3 cycles so that would be before 1960 correct ???
What about Whirlpool and KitchenAid ?
classiccaprice
Well-known member
Thanks Fellas
I'm trying to narrow down my want list. I'm thinking a KD14, 15, or 16 series portable. At least now I know what to be on the look out for.
I'm trying to narrow down my want list. I'm thinking a KD14, 15, or 16 series portable. At least now I know what to be on the look out for.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
KDS-15
The portable version, cataloged as the KDS-55, was a very nice machine.
Have you had a portable before? If not, here's a tip that may save you some grief - be sure your kitchen floor is in really good shape. Portables are heavy (vintage being heavier than new, of course), and they're even heavier when fully loaded.
That means they can wreak some havoc on a floor that's not sturdy and in good repair. If someone has cheap no-wax vinyl, or old VCT tiles, or a funky subfloor, a portable is going to do some damage. KitchenAid vintage portables have larger casters of better quality than many machines, and tend toward less damage, but the problem is still there.
And make sure none of your new acquisition's casters are stuck in one position or have a flat spot - these conditions will just make things worse.
The portable version, cataloged as the KDS-55, was a very nice machine.
Have you had a portable before? If not, here's a tip that may save you some grief - be sure your kitchen floor is in really good shape. Portables are heavy (vintage being heavier than new, of course), and they're even heavier when fully loaded.
That means they can wreak some havoc on a floor that's not sturdy and in good repair. If someone has cheap no-wax vinyl, or old VCT tiles, or a funky subfloor, a portable is going to do some damage. KitchenAid vintage portables have larger casters of better quality than many machines, and tend toward less damage, but the problem is still there.
And make sure none of your new acquisition's casters are stuck in one position or have a flat spot - these conditions will just make things worse.
classiccaprice
Well-known member
Good point
I had a first gen (mid-80s) Whirlpool KA portable for a while, but I foolishly let it go. I'd like to get one of the right era for the house. My floor is in great shape, and the 80's aid didn't have any major issues rolling. Thanks for the reminders though.
I had a first gen (mid-80s) Whirlpool KA portable for a while, but I foolishly let it go. I'd like to get one of the right era for the house. My floor is in great shape, and the 80's aid didn't have any major issues rolling. Thanks for the reminders though.
classiccaprice
Well-known member
Good point
I had a first gen (mid-80s) Whirlpool KA portable for a while, but I foolishly let it go. I'd like to get one of the right era for the house. My floor is in great shape, and the 80's aid didn't have any major issues rolling. Thanks for the reminders though.
I had a first gen (mid-80s) Whirlpool KA portable for a while, but I foolishly let it go. I'd like to get one of the right era for the house. My floor is in great shape, and the 80's aid didn't have any major issues rolling. Thanks for the reminders though.
toploader55
Well-known member
KDS 55
Here's my KDS 55.
Here's my KDS 55.
toploader55
Well-known member
They are Heavy Machines
And a Tad bit noisy
And a Tad bit noisy
Which Manufacturer was the first to offer "Options"
Robert has a 1958 Hotpoint brochure with a model that has two cycle buttons
Robert has a 1958 Hotpoint brochure with a model that has two cycle buttons
classiccaprice
Well-known member
If I recall KA was always a little noisy
My parents KD-20 is a bit loud, but you can't beat the cleaning power! Eddie, I'm quite jealous! One of these days, maybe...
My parents KD-20 is a bit loud, but you can't beat the cleaning power! Eddie, I'm quite jealous! One of these days, maybe...
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