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WOW!!!! What beautiful machines! That washer and dryer are some of the best built machines that were ever made!!! It is how Kenmore machines were in more homes than any other.
 
Just Incredible!

Not a spec of oil or corrosion under there! Simply gorgeous!

I would have saved the boxes though. :) Tipped gently on their sides to open the bottom flaps, pull out slightly, then right the machine, and slide the intact box off.
 
I am speechless with wonder and tingling all over my chest, neck, and arms!!.  To see that virgin bakelite rotoswirl preggo agitator.  Brings back such fond memories of the 2 Kenmores that had this same agitator when I was 5-8 years age. I've never seen a new dryer drum of this style, all I ever saw were drums that had been well loved by their families.  Greg, you're gonna have to give me an indepth discussion of this experience.  I'm glad to see all of y'all got to experience this together.  Don, "Madame Kenmore" can't hold  candle to you!!

 

I look forward to ALL the literature/documentation being placed on ephemera. 
 
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
 
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
 
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"
 
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]
 
Beautiful machines! Thanks so much for sharing the pics and video. I love the way the three colors of the cycles light up.
 
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?
 
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.
 
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.
 

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