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Thread Number: 11368
Belt drive Whirlpools/Kenmores |
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| Post# 204612 , Reply# 1 4/16/2007 at 22:51 (6,212 days old) by 70series ( Connecticut.) | ||
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The last production year of the belt drive WP/KMs was 1985. I don't know if any direct drives were produced before this. | ||
Post# 204629 , Reply# 2 4/16/2007 at 23:36 (6,212 days old) by dadoes  (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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Direct-drive and belt-drive were on the market concurrently. Sears introduced direct-drive first (usual new product test scenario). I wasn't following Kenmore closely at the time, had no idea. Then Whirlpool followed in 1983/1984, I think it was. IIRC, Whirlpool's initial Design2000 was model LB5500. I remember when they were introduced when I worked summers for the Whirlpool dealer. Belt-drives were being sold at the same time. After several months, or a year or whatever was the time period, the Houston distribution office wanted names and addresses of customers who had bought them, I assume to follow-up on customer satisfaction.
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Post# 204699 , Reply# 3 4/17/2007 at 08:20 (6,212 days old) by neptunebob (Pittsburgh, PA) |
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I remember when it happened....
Around 1985 our previous Kenmore leaked badly and it was time for a new one. I went with my mother to Sears in Monroeville. We had a saleslady who was very informative. My mother really like the Kenmore "Limited Edition" set and I wanted her to get it but she said "Your father would probably let me have it but it would worry him because it's expensive" (about $1500 at the time for both washer and dryer). It was probably called the limited edition because it was the last of the belt-driven models. I saw one of the lower priced narrow models and the saleslady stated that "this one has a polypropylene tub and the Limited Edition has a steel tub"(referring to the outer tub). She said "Sears is really excited about the Limited Edition" probably not sure if it would be last of Kenmore as the world knew it. It was a beautiful machine and I wish she had bought it. We ended up getting the 80 series which we had up to 2000, replaced with the Neptunes because a leak and was extremely noisy. One way I know it was 1985 is the songs on the radio "Don't you forget about me" and "Glory days" (though it sounds like the glory days for Kenmore would soon be over). It seems that the lower priced models were first to be switched over to direct drive. Direct drive models were/are made in a plant up the PA and Ohio turnpikes in Clyde, Ohio. I believe the BD models were made in Michigan, and that production was gradually shifted over to Clyde. One thing I have found is that Whirlpool and Sears have done their best to make the cabinet look the same as the BD machines, I guess hoping that some people won't notice the difference. Here's another song from 1985 that was playing and what a coincidence, the rhythm and bass line are just like a Belt Drive Kenmore! CLICK HERE TO GO TO neptunebob's LINK | ||
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Post# 205286 , Reply# 6 4/19/2007 at 23:31 (6,209 days old) by dadoes (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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1983, 1984, 1985, 1986
It was somewhere in those years! I cannot recall now exactly when my grandmother got her Design 2000, but I think it was 1986, and Whirlpool had already been selling direct-drive for at least a year. She needed to replace the Kenmore 70, so I took her to the local Whirlpool dealer (which is NOT where I had worked, not in the same town). I wanted a direct-drive machine, and the fellow got snippy. "We don't sell those! Not gonna mess with 'em!" I told him to kiss-off and we went to the dealer where I had worked, in the next town over. | ||
| Post# 205305 , Reply# 7 4/20/2007 at 06:24 (6,209 days old) by jasonl (Cookeville, TN) | ||
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I was bummed. I remember opening the lid of a new DD sears machine and saying to myself, "The classics are gone. I'll never get to see the old Kenmores again." | ||
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Post# 205400 , Reply# 8 4/20/2007 at 23:38 (6,208 days old) by neptunebob (Pittsburgh, PA) |
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| Post# 205441 , Reply# 9 4/21/2007 at 08:50 (6,208 days old) by jasonl (Cookeville, TN) | ||
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I measured the classic Kenmore rhythm at about 125bpm. That's "On Broadway" by George Benson (live cut. The handclaps sound almost like water splashin) "The Reflex" by Duran Duran "Slip Away" by Clarence Carter "All Right Now" by Free to name a few. | ||
| Post# 205444 , Reply# 10 4/21/2007 at 10:46 (6,208 days old) by agiflow () | ||
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"Welcome to the machine" by Pink Floyd | ||
| Post# 205445 , Reply# 11 4/21/2007 at 10:47 (6,208 days old) by agiflow () | ||
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"Welcome to the machine" by Pink Floyd | ||
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Post# 205450 , Reply# 12 4/21/2007 at 10:59 (6,208 days old) by rinso (Meridian Idaho) |
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How about The Locomotion by Little Eva? | ||
| Post# 205471 , Reply# 13 4/21/2007 at 14:35 (6,208 days old) by westytoploader () | ||
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There are a LOT of songs that match the beat of a BD Kenmore, moreso than any other machine, in my opinion... | ||
| Post# 205477 , Reply# 14 4/21/2007 at 15:52 (6,208 days old) by jasonl (Cookeville, TN) | ||
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AND The Numa Numa Song. Yep it matches. | ||
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Post# 205542 , Reply# 15 4/21/2007 at 23:51 (6,207 days old) by neptunebob (Pittsburgh, PA) |
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Here's an excuse to put someone I like on....
The Belt driven Kenmore also made a sound that was more resonant, probably becuase of the thick metal cabinet and large amount of space inside. Sometimes a song will have a dramatic background that sounds like the pumping during the neutral drain (although I may be all wet about that). Here's another song that has kind of a belt drive underlying rhythm that I really like and has a message to not give up on our collections. And Josh is handsome!
CLICK HERE TO GO TO neptunebob's LINK | ||
| Post# 205968 , Reply# 16 4/24/2007 at 08:14 (6,205 days old) by westyslantfront () | ||
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I have two belt driven Kenmores. 1950 bolt down and 1959. They are great machines. After an ititial going over by my mechanic and timer rebuilds, they work great. The are reliable and dependable. Ross | ||
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Post# 206112 , Reply# 17 4/24/2007 at 23:43 (6,204 days old) by neptunebob (Pittsburgh, PA) |
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