Yet another project (OY!) but at a price I couldn't pass up!

[revvinkevin]

Once again the (evil) Craig's List strikes...

As soon as I saw the photos AND the price, I KNEW it would be coming home with me![this post was last edited: 4/30/2010-23:54]

 

[revvinkevin]

Yes boys and girls, it's a 1963 Lady Kenmore 800 and is pretty darn kewl!

While I have seen many on photos, this is the first time I've actually touched one!

Once I saw the ad and the price, I called the seller immediately! Even though the ad was posted 6 days ago, it was still available! After work I rushed to the appliance parts store to pick up some parts before they closed (in prep for my Sunday morning visit to Lovepuppy and her WP mark 18 set). Then went home to get my truck, THEN over toward LAX to take a look at this washer.[this post was last edited: 5/1/2010-00:23]

 

[revvinkevin]

No it wasn't free... but it was VERY close!

...and yes it does need A LOT of TLC... but for the price.....

The seller said it does agitate, drain and spin... and it does seem to do that. But it definitely needs bearings, seals, a lid switch, lid hinge bushings, the little dispenser cups, probably a pump, maybe one of the wig-wag magnets and I assume hoses as it was dripping in the bed of my truck the entire 25 minute drive home... and as I unloaded it.

Oh sure, there are a few small rust spots here and there, especially where the dispensers go, but it looks worse then it is.[this post was last edited: 4/30/2010-23:45]

 

[peteski50]

Lady Kenmore!

Kevin this is a awsome find!
Peter

 

[a440]

Very Nice Find!
So much Fun!
Brent

 

[revvinkevin]

A close-er up of the control panel.

I was pleased and surprised when I pushed a button, turned the timer and "THUNK" it locked into position! Very cool! I had not idea they did that in 1963!

There is a light in there (I looked) but it doesn't work. I was also surprised there is a TUB LIGHT... but unfortunately the socket is broken. :-(

So... yet ANOTHER project added to the pile of already existing projects sitting in my garage. But that's OK... this is a LADY KENMORE!

[this post was last edited: 4/30/2010-23:56]

 

[countryford]

If you ever want to sell it. I could always use a backup one for parts for mine. Too bad it didn't come with the matching dryer.

 

[alr2903]

Kevin, I remember when a neighbor had one of these delivered brand new. I was just tall enough to get a whiff of "new washer" smell. That big "K" on the roto swirl, looked like it would whip Tide into butter. Kenmore back then was like a religion. Thanks for the pics of a great Old Lady. alr2903

 

[chaskelljr2]

The 1963 Lady Kenmore Model 800 Washer.....

@ RevvinKevin

The 1963 Lady Kenmore did have the "Click-Stop" Timer back in 1963. This model was derived from the 1960 Whirlpool Imperial that was the POD not too long ago. And the 1960 Whirly had a "Push-Button/Click-Stop Timer" arrangement as well.

And, the 1963 Lady Kenmore did have a tub light as well. The 1965 Lady Kenmore was the last model to have a tub light. When the first Keyboard Lady came out in 1966-67, the tub light was then eliminated.

Cool washer nonetheless..... I can say that I saw THIS baby on both sides of the family (my mother's older sister had one of these babies in Pink..... and at one time on my father's side of the family, my Grandmother had one in Coppertone a long time ago).

Once you get her fixed up, you'll enjoy playing with her. I guarantee it.

Regards.....

--Charles--

 

[chaskelljr2]

@ Gordon.....

The 1962 Lady Kenmore sort of looks like THIS model, doesn't it???

Or did it look like an entirely different animal altogether???

AND

@ RevvinKevin....

When you said that the light doesn't work, are you referring to the Tub Light??? Or the Console???

--Charles--

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Wow. That will be one snazzy washer when you finally get her up and running. Night shots of the lights will be on the agenda.

BTW, the power company heard you picked up yet another lighted console and is planning on installing a substation in your driveway...

RCD

 

[spiralator60]

You've Found Another One (Again)

Congratulations Kevin! My mother had this same model from 1964-1968. Apart from the dripping in your truck, does the machine have any issues with leaking?

 

[kenmoreguy64]

WOW Kevin

That's a dandy washer!

I think we've established by now that I sort-of like Kenmore washers, sort-of, LOL, but this one is one of the models that tops the charts for me and defines what washers are. I had exposure to a bunch of these as a kid, and one of my friends moms had two of these simultaneously. I have seen this washer in white, turq. and coppertone.

I have always wanted one of these, and had access to one at the very beginning of my rebuilding career, but I didn't have a concept of a washer collection yet, and I didn't get it (dumb!). Seems to be about 5 of these out there in the club, three white and two turquoise. I think a former member had a beautiful set as well, so maybe there's at least 6?

Oh, btw....with all due respect - the notion of using this washer as a parts source for another one? NOT HAPPENING Kevin! lol.

Charles - the 1962 800/Lady is functionally identical and cosmetically very similar. It has a console shaped like a 1962 Kenmore 70, but with the same functions of this machine. I am not sure if it had a left-side console light or not. Instead of gray/black A thru H buttons with silver inserts, it had white buttons with pastel inserts to match the cycle. The dial was a little smaller, and it said "Automatic washer" above the timer like the '62 70 did.

NEAT Kevin. I will ad this machine to the list in my mind that we'll be working on this summer when I am out there.

Congrats to you and to the machine! You both did good.

Gordon

 

[revvinkevin]

BTW, the power company will be installing a substation in yo

Drew: they already contacted me after I brought home the 1956 Bendix w/the Magic Heater! Rated @ 13.5 amps, that thing draws some SERIOUS power!

Gordon: your "Not Happening" comment should be addressed to Justin, not me. I already know! LOL

Charles: neither light (console or tub) work. The tub light socket is broken but still "might" hold a bulb. Everything is there on the console light, so I have to investigate.

I've not thoroughly "explored" the washer yet as I didn't get it home until nearly 8 pm last night... and since I had to be at work @ 6am this morning.....

Thank you to all! I was very excited when I first saw the ad and I'm more excited now that it's home!

There will be more to come!

Kevin[this post was last edited: 5/1/2010-08:37]

 

[combo52]

1963 L K WASHER

Great find Kevin that was a very popular washer around here at one time , when I first worked for Lanham Appliances in the mid 1970s they had at least 10 of them in the back room saved for rebuilding. Thats where I spotted a pair of 1964 LKs witch they sold me for $10 each. I had always wanted a 64 pair as I had convinced my 6th grade teacher to buy a 1964LK and she would always tell me how she would pull up a bar stool and just sit and watch it work. She is the same teacher who came to school with a ribbon around her neck with two car keys on it one day, it turned out she had just bought a new 1964 Chrysler New Yorker and was very proud of it. It may be one of the reasons I became such a Chrysler nut.

 

[appnut]

Congratulations Kevin. People down the street had this set. They had a Sunny yellow Frigidaire kitchen and this set in the laundry room, but I cannot remember if it was turq or white. There are still a few matching dryers out there scattered around. I'm sure washer karma will bring it to you when the time is right. They were wonderful Soft Heat dryers. [this post was last edited: 5/1/2010-11:49]

 

[laundromat]

Lady Kenmore gas combination washer dryer

We got the Washer Dryer that has the same style push button,lighted control panel similar to this one that was delivered and installed the day JFK was asassinated.Both of the delivery guys, along with us stared,at our Zenith Space Comand tv set watching in horror as Walter Cronkite covered all that was going on and finaly state JFK's death.My grandmother had set up the delivery date because she wanted it to be there for the birthday party she had set up for me.due to all of the greaf and sadness in that loss of a great president,it was the very worst birthday party anyone could have ever had but,watching the combo was a great way of escaping all that drama.

 

[fridgiman]

Kevin:

What a beautiful washer!!!
American ingenuity, style and design all in one package.
Seeing this makes me even sadder at how far downhill America has come.

Jim

 

[jaxsunst]

My dream machine, that's the one my mother had that my father by-passed the lid switch on. I had a little stool that stayed beside it, so I could watch it.