POD 03/27/11

John,

I don't know about Sears not mentioning a capacity reduction in the machine, not by the time this model was available anyway.

When Sears had their 24" BDs and the two capacity sizes of 29" BDs, the 24-inchers were called 'Space saver' models usually. Sears never did seem to mention much about a capacity reduction between these machines and their 29-inch standard capacity counterparts, not in the 60s, 70s, or 80s even. But, I am not sure how much less useful they were as the 24-inch models hold 17 gallons full, and the 29-inch standard were at 18 until the late 1970s when they were cut back to 17 also, probably for the sake of the yellow energy guides. There is a definite diameter difference in the 24-inch machine's wash basket though.

But, by the time this ad came out (the machines in the ad are 1981 models), Sears had eliminated the 29-inch standard capacity models completely, as 1980 was the last line of them. Thus, Sears had the large capacity models, and the 24-inch machines, which they called "Regular Capacity" for the first time. It was one or the other and the Regular machines were no longer a compromise from something else.

All that said, I do find it odd that the ad mentions nothing at all about capacity, not even on the dryer. It doesn't mention a cabinet width either. It's like they skirted the whole issue. It's not bait and switch because Sears would have been glad to sell you that model if you came to the store and ordered it, but there was certainly a 29-inch large cap. model of the same specs that could have been had for almost the same money.

Gordon


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Post# 585298 3/27/2012 at 08:50 (4,406 days old) by ingliscanada ()
Checkrate/Likes Is this a very early KM DD from the early 80s? I notice it's narrower than the typical BDs. Gary

Post# 585299 , Reply# 1 3/27/2012 at 08:52 (4,406 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes Its a 24-inch belt drive model. These were the first to be replaced by the DD generation in 1982 to 1984.

Post# 585375 , Reply# 2 3/27/2012 at 20:43 (4,405 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *24" belt drive KM washer* This was classic Sears bait and switch advertising as they never mention in the ad that this is not a full sized machine. Sears and just about every other appliance maker including Maytag did the same thing at various times.

Post# 585383 , Reply# 3 3/27/2012 at 21:22 (4,405 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)
Checkrate/Likes *Smaller Kenmores* Many, MANY years ago, my mother and aunts got together and had the bright idea that my grandmother should not use her wringer washer any more and went to Sears and bought her a sale priced 24" one cycle automatic washer, square box style, no console, one water inlet. She hated it! She used it but still had to use her big stick to punch the clothes down. I still have her old Maytag wringer and it still works as good as new.

Post# 585517 , Reply# 4 3/28/2012 at 15:02 (4,405 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Not a full-size machine...* John, I don't know about Sears not mentioning a capacity reduction in the machine, not by the time this model was available anyway. When Sears had their 24" BDs and the two capacity sizes of 29" BDs, the 24-inchers were called 'Space saver' models usually. Sears never did seem to mention much about a capacity reduction between these machines and their 29-inch standard capacity counterparts, not in the 60s, 70s, or 80s even. But, I am not sure how much less useful they were as the 24-inch models hold 17 gallons full, and the 29-inch standard were at 18 until the late 1970s when they were cut back to 17 also, probably for the sake of the yellow energy guides. There is a definite diameter difference in the 24-inch machine's wash basket though. But, by the time this ad came out (the machines in the ad are 1981 models), Sears had eliminated the 29-inch standard capacity models completely, as 1980 was the last line of them. Thus, Sears had the large capacity models, and the 24-inch machines, which they called "Regular Capacity" for the first time. It was one or the other and the Regular machines were no longer a compromise from something else. All that said, I do find it odd that the ad mentions nothing at all about capacity, not even on the dryer. It doesn't mention a cabinet width either. It's like they skirted the whole issue. It's not bait and switch because Sears would have been glad to sell you that model if you came to the store and ordered it, but there was certainly a 29-inch large cap. model of the same specs that could have been had for almost the same money. Gordon