"Ya know, Every Now and Then"....(in my best Tina Turner Voice)

[peteski50]

Kenmore!

This is a real beautiful set and imagine getting all new in the boxes! I wish all the vintage machines can be brand new! Don I wish you Luck with this awesome set!
I am Happy to see all you guys are together for a mini meet washin! I wish I could be their. I hope you all have a great time and regards to all!
Best Wishes,
Peter

 

[tolivac]

I swear-that's my Grandmothers washer!!!!Just like hers!!!!!Liked watching it whenever I visited her.Thats neat to find one fresh in the factory box--"unissued"!!!

 

[toploader55]

Good Lord !!!

Congratulations on such a amazing find.

And what a great group for the Un Boxing.

I know they are coming, but to hear and watch those machines running will be a trip down memory lane.

My best to everyone and congratulations again.

 

[swestoyz]

More photos...

I came up to Don's Friday evening, and after some grilling on the brand new Weber and chatting with family and friends, they had saved the best for last - the washer unveiling.

For prosperity sake, here are a few photos I snapped during the process.

 

[swestoyz]

And... some more

 

[swestoyz]

Finally - a video

I published this out to YT over a cell signal so it wouldn't upload as HD. Either way, this was the maiden wash, and we get to hear the first timer advance click!



EDIT - Later this evening I'll republish this in HD.

Ben

 

[realvanman]

Tub Light!

As a lightbulb collector, I would LOVE to have a clear photo of the label and the base of that 1958 lightbulb! It's very rare to get to know exactly when a lightbulb was made.

By documenting known ones, it helps to identify those that are found in the wild.

Keith

 

[norgeway]

Im glad

These were saved, this really shows just how much better products were than todays junk...Absolutely no comparison...I'm glad John put the magic touch on it, he can make anything run forever!

 

[turquoisedude]

Oh my.... I need a cigarette after seeing the unveiling photos and first run videos.  And I don't even smoke!! 

 

Don, you truly have a treasure there!! 

 

[toploader55]

Just look at the build quality there. God, That Top of the machine open with the snubber and everything sooooo brand new. All that steel and porcelain.

Good Lord. This country should be ashamed of itself for not building machines like this anymore.

Yeh, Yeh,... I know I am living in the past but this is stellar.

Thank Goodness Don found these and for some reason a young couple had bought the house and scrapped them.
Just gorgeous !!!

Don, Will you bring these to Boston in October ? ( I heard a rumor you are coming back : )

And Thanks for the Vid Ben. Oh the sounds of the More washing away.

Sweet Dreams tonight for everyone that watches that vid.

"Dreams of the Woo-Woo dancing in their head"

 

[frigilux]

Thanks for the video of the maiden wash. The well-deserved attention these '58s are getting is akin to the excitement surrounding an archaeological find.

Tub Light: One word of caution. Expect that bulb to pop every now and then due to splashing water during the suds return or at fast agitation combined with a low water level. The bulb on our 1960 Model 80 went out on a regular basis. The repairman finally installed a foil shield directly in front of the bulb to protect it from splashing water...but it ruined the dispersion of light flooding the interior. Is that what John is working on in the photo above, or is that the heat shield to prevent the top directly above the bulb from getting too hot? Anyway, I removed the shield and put some of my allowance money toward purchasing appliance bulbs (can't remember if it was 25 or 40 watts). We always had several in stock as replacements.[this post was last edited: 8/8/2017-18:50]

 

[swestoyz]

Here's the HD version of the video.

 

[pulltostart]

It's a Time Machine!

Suddenly - it's 1958 again.  How sweet is that?  Thanks to everyone for sharing the photos and videos.

 

lawrence

 

[akronman]

WOW WOW WOW

Thanks for pics and vids!!!!!
I have a well-used 1959 Whirlpool and 1960 Whirlpool, now I know where to add in a tub light!

Thank you for documenting and showing off these 2 great machines, congratulations!

 

[mrb627]

Damn!

How do they show absolutely NO SIGNS of age?
Where were they stored? In a vacuum?

Malcolm

 

[lesto]

Beautiful machines! Thanks so much for sharing the pics and video. I love the way the three colors of the cycles light up.

 

[realvanman]

Hard Glass

It is entirely possible that the original tub light bulb was made of "hard glass", which would resist breakage due to thermal shock. But once these burned out, they more than likely got replaced with ordinary bulbs, which of course will pop when splashed, as mentioned.

I wonder if hard glass bulbs can still be had?

 

[amyofescobar]

I finally clicked on this thread today :'-]

@jetaction would you mind if I shared some of these photos on a Facebook page of mine?

 

[sears9000]

I agree with Eddie that this country ought to be ashamed for not making good quality appliances , or anything as well as that beautiful washer and dryer. Nothing today comes up to the standards of that 58 Kenmore laundry pair. I know without a doubt that washer would clean clothes a lot better while being gentle with them. If I could, I'd build a time machine big enough to go back in time, and buy my appliances if I can get the currency of that time period, and bring them here instead of buying the modern junk of today.
Don, I'm so glad you got them. I know you will appreciate, and take care of them. Like I said before, I hope they will last you a good long time.

 

[frigilux]

Keith-- I always replaced the tub light with what was called an 'appliance bulb' made for use in washers, dryers, refrigeration and ovens; never with a common household incandescent. Don't know whether those were the 'hard glass' bulbs you referred to.

Putting our Kenmore experts to work: What features did the '58 Lady Kenmore have that the 'Four Star' model did not? Bleach and fabric softener dispensers? Self-cleaning lint filter? Ultraviolet 'hygiene' light? Scrubber cap on agitator? Thanks in advance for any light you can shed. The 1959 Lady K I had briefly back in the mid 90s featured all of the above. Would be interesting to find out which of those features were held over from '58 and which were new for '59.