The Little BOL Kenmore that followed me home.

Guys -

Several mentioned questions for me, so I'll address them all at once.

First Nick, this is a 1981 Kenmore 100 series, and yes, it is absolutely BOL. There is nothing in the non-portables that was lower in the line or less expensive. This was in one of the 1981/1982 catalogs for $249. This is the one-dial wonder type machine that really fascinated me, and still does.

How long ago was this machine last used Nick, any idea? Do me a favor and get the hoses out of the basket when you run it next time - the brass ends can chip porcelain when they clang together, especially the one-coat blue tubs.

This is another case that I was talking about earlier this year of a timer having cycle portions or entire cycles that are wired to be OFF and dis-used. The large off-section in this machine is a Perm-Press cycle in the next machine up, which shares this timer.

There was a 29-inch large capacity version of this machine too - it is on my dream machine list. Same exact thing, just a wider cabinet and the large capacity (with Penta Vane) tub.

This machine was made in the 24th week of 1981. I am fairly sure this model hung around for quite some time - well into 1983 even though direct drives were coming into the picture, as they didn't take over over-night.

Darren - The motor is a standard issue Emerson. This or something very similar is in about every belt-drive there is from the late 70s on. This is a single speed motor, but the 2-speeds look very similar. There were some GE motors at least in large cap. machines with an externally mounted capacitor, but they are rare, thankfully (they suck). The Emersons used on standard capacity machine are split phase motors. Large capacity machines are capacitor start. They come to life just a tad more abruptly than the others.

Also Darren, that large tube is the manifold trap. All your belt-drives have the same unless you have some from the 1950s. In this case it gives away the fact that this machine is very low use, as these are often stained, or have some rusty debris in them from pins, coins, etc.

Greg - The direct drive invasion was about to begin (there had already been a couple test models on the market) when this machine was built, but there were some 24-inch models in production well into 1983 and maybe even 1984. There was even one new model 24-inch belt-drive in the line for 1983, which was the last major new belt-drive issue of models for Sears. Most of the first direct drives utilized this console styling, but had two or three cycles and some temp/level selections. I remember a Sears TV commercial in spring or early summer 1983 for one of the surviving 24-inch machines - it had a white straight-vane agitator! I would LOVE to see one of those.

The next model up is a 200 series - same exact machine except it has an adjustable pressure switch, and the Perm cycle is not OFF. I put a picture below. It has the ebony insert on the left panel side. Just a few minor changes make the machine look quite a bit different. Sears got $20 more for this model for nothing more than the black plastic sheet and a chromed knob. The serial number on mind is C21612345. I love the 12345 part!

COOL find Nick!

Gordon


Forum Topics & Rules Manuals & Literature	New users Click-here to sign-up

Post# 597333 5/18/2012 at 15:02 (4,354 days old) by whirlykenmore78 (Prior Lake MN (GMT-0500 CDT.))
Checkrate/Likes 3 Just picked the little guy up today. It has only been used for 2 washloads in it's entire life! Runs very smoothly. will post video soon. Nick WK78

Post# 597334 , Reply# 1 5/18/2012 at 15:03 (4,354 days old) by whirlykenmore78 (Prior Lake MN (GMT-0500 CDT.))
Checkrate/Likes *BOL KM* Money shot

Post# 597335 , Reply# 2 5/18/2012 at 15:05 (4,354 days old) by whirlykenmore78 (Prior Lake MN (GMT-0500 CDT.))
Checkrate/Likes *BOL KM* Model/serial tag Gordon Please look up it's info.

Post# 597336 , Reply# 3 5/18/2012 at 15:06 (4,354 days old) by whirlykenmore78 (Prior Lake MN (GMT-0500 CDT.))
Checkrate/Likes *BOL KM* Underside

Post# 597337 , Reply# 4 5/18/2012 at 15:07 (4,354 days old) by whirlykenmore78 (Prior Lake MN (GMT-0500 CDT.))
Checkrate/Likes *BOL KM* Close up of mechanicals.

Post# 597339 , Reply# 5 5/18/2012 at 15:24 (4,354 days old) by Westie2 ()
Checkrate/Likes Good find Nick

Post# 597341 , Reply# 6 5/18/2012 at 15:24 (4,354 days old) by DirectDriveDave ()
Checkrate/Likes wow, nice! amazing that it has only been used for two wash loads. I'm still trying to learn what the mechanisms of the BDs do wyen they switch to each mode.

Post# 597343 , Reply# 7 5/18/2012 at 15:31 (4,354 days old) by Pulsator (Saint Joseph, MI)
Checkrate/Likes *GORGEOUS!!!!* Only use TWICE in its life??? WHAT A FABULOUS FIND!!!! Congrats! I'm quite jealous!!!

Post# 597344 , Reply# 8 5/18/2012 at 15:32 (4,354 days old) by aldspinboy (Philadelphia, Pa)
Checkrate/Likes Wooooo Hoooo ! What a nice find Nick ! Love the one cycle models.. and that straght vane can move some water. The underside looks mint very exciting Goooood luck with this washer. Gordon that motor is different then I am use to seeing I no this was in the last stages of BD production care to elaberate on this motor.. And I gather the long tube is a self cleaning filter.. Nick cant wait to see it in action . Darren

Post# 597355 , Reply# 12 5/18/2012 at 16:46 (4,354 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)
Checkrate/Likes Hey Nick, CONGRATS! It looks like it is in pretty amazing condition, neat little machine! So what's the story behind it? Where has it been and why only two wash loads? Thanks! Kevin

Post# 597359 , Reply# 13 5/18/2012 at 17:23 (4,354 days old) by badgerdx ()
Checkrate/Likes Wow...that control board... It is TOTALLY BOL. Made for rental units, you suppose? I want something no one can break! Whadda ya have?

Post# 597372 , Reply# 15 5/18/2012 at 18:08 (4,353 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)
Checkrate/Likes Wow, that looks like it was right out of the showroom. And runs like it also. I always prefered to call them Whirlmores. Thought the Kenpool sounded like something Barbie had.

Post# 597377 , Reply# 16 5/18/2012 at 18:18 (4,353 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes *24" Belt Drive KM Washer* WOW Nick cool find, as Greg suggested this must be about the last of the full sized 24" BD washers. The model tag shows it to be built the 24th week of 1981 in the Clyde Ohio WP plant, the plant is still running and is by far the biggest washer factory in the world today. The DD 24" machines did appear in certain markets in late 1981 and I never saw one of these 24" BD washers built in 1982. This BOL model was built mainly as an advertising piece to lure customers into Sears so their salesman could try to move them up the line a little. You needed very strong sales resistance and resolve to ever buy one of these basic machines. So what is its story Nick

Post# 597345 , Reply# 9 5/18/2012 at 15:47 (4,354 days old) by whirlykenmore78 (Prior Lake MN (GMT-0500 CDT.))
Checkrate/Likes *Here are the vids* Agitation test. CLICK HERE TO GO TO whirlykenmore78's LINK

Post# 597346 , Reply# 10 5/18/2012 at 15:49 (4,354 days old) by whirlykenmore78 (Prior Lake MN (GMT-0500 CDT.))
Checkrate/Likes *BOL KM* Spin test with very quiet solenoid. CLICK HERE TO GO TO whirlykenmore78's LINK

Post# 597347 , Reply# 11 5/18/2012 at 15:51 (4,354 days old) by lebron (Minnesota)
Checkrate/Likes Omg nice find. Love these unused kenmores

Post# 597361 , Reply# 14 5/18/2012 at 17:27 (4,354 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)
Checkrate/Likes Wow - do you know what the story is that it wasn't used? What a great find! Must be one of the very last 24" belt-drives - didn't the 24" DD machines come out around 82?

Post# 597382 , Reply# 17 5/18/2012 at 18:42 (4,353 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes *WOW Nick, that little bugger looks GREAT!* Guys - Several mentioned questions for me, so I'll address them all at once. First Nick, this is a 1981 Kenmore 100 series, and yes, it is absolutely BOL. There is nothing in the non-portables that was lower in the line or less expensive. This was in one of the 1981/1982 catalogs for $249. This is the one-dial wonder type machine that really fascinated me, and still does. How long ago was this machine last used Nick, any idea? Do me a favor and get the hoses out of the basket when you run it next time - the brass ends can chip porcelain when they clang together, especially the one-coat blue tubs. This is another case that I was talking about earlier this year of a timer having cycle portions or entire cycles that are wired to be OFF and dis-used. The large off-section in this machine is a Perm-Press cycle in the next machine up, which shares this timer. There was a 29-inch large capacity version of this machine too - it is on my dream machine list. Same exact thing, just a wider cabinet and the large capacity (with Penta Vane) tub. This machine was made in the 24th week of 1981. I am fairly sure this model hung around for quite some time - well into 1983 even though direct drives were coming into the picture, as they didn't take over over-night. Darren - The motor is a standard issue Emerson. This or something very similar is in about every belt-drive there is from the late 70s on. This is a single speed motor, but the 2-speeds look very similar. There were some GE motors at least in large cap. machines with an externally mounted capacitor, but they are rare, thankfully (they suck). The Emersons used on standard capacity machine are split phase motors. Large capacity machines are capacitor start. They come to life just a tad more abruptly than the others. Also Darren, that large tube is the manifold trap. All your belt-drives have the same unless you have some from the 1950s. In this case it gives away the fact that this machine is very low use, as these are often stained, or have some rusty debris in them from pins, coins, etc. Greg - The direct drive invasion was about to begin (there had already been a couple test models on the market) when this machine was built, but there were some 24-inch models in production well into 1983 and maybe even 1984. There was even one new model 24-inch belt-drive in the line for 1983, which was the last major new belt-drive issue of models for Sears. Most of the first direct drives utilized this console styling, but had two or three cycles and some temp/level selections. I remember a Sears TV commercial in spring or early summer 1983 for one of the surviving 24-inch machines - it had a white straight-vane agitator! I would LOVE to see one of those. The next model up is a 200 series - same exact machine except it has an adjustable pressure switch, and the Perm cycle is not OFF. I put a picture below. It has the ebony insert on the left panel side. Just a few minor changes make the machine look quite a bit different. Sears got $20 more for this model for nothing more than the black plastic sheet and a chromed knob. The serial number on mind is C21612345. I love the 12345 part! COOL find Nick! Gordon

Post# 597385 , Reply# 18 5/18/2012 at 19:02 (4,353 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)
Checkrate/Likes *Sweet Golden BOL* That is a sweet machine. There is something about simple machines that is quite fascinating. My Granny had a single cycle Kenmore back in the late 60's. Had a bakelite SV agitator in it. Used to stand on my tiptoes and watch that thing churn away. I can hardly wait for additional videos... Malcolm

Post# 597398 , Reply# 19 5/18/2012 at 19:27 (4,353 days old) by cfz2882 (Belle Fourche,SD)
Checkrate/Likes *utterly mint!* wow-no lint,no belt dust,no water stains,no debris in the trap,the white plastic is not even yellowed!!Awesome BOL score! I have the DD 1995 version of this one- knob wonder.

Post# 597402 , Reply# 20 5/18/2012 at 20:17 (4,353 days old) by AutoWasherFreak ()
Checkrate/Likes Gordon some friends of mine that I stayed with on and off during the summer when I was growing up had this same washer. I was used almost on daily basis, they lived on a farm and two kids, and she was always doing laundry. She would set it at 10 to fill with warm water then reset set it to 14 for the longer wash cycle. The only problems that they had with it were an occasional belt breaking and problems with the water inlet valves since they were on well water. They were all giving me heck because I had a TOL WP, and spent all that extra money just for the name and a fancier machine.

Post# 597403 , Reply# 21 5/18/2012 at 20:18 (4,353 days old) by AutoWasherFreak ()
Checkrate/Likes Nick: I think it's a pretty machine for being BOL.

Post# 597442 , Reply# 22 5/19/2012 at 01:02 (4,353 days old) by whirlykenmore78 (Prior Lake MN (GMT-0500 CDT.))
Checkrate/Likes *Hey guys* The questions I can answer are as follows. 1. John, Gordon Gansky and Kevin. The story I have of this machine is that it was purchased by a guy who only used it twice before having to move and discontinue it's use. He stored it under a plastic cover in a walk in closet. The guy I bought it from saved it from being scrapped. They were going to chop it for scrap value! The little guy is in perfect shape and has all the original hoses and clamps he came from the WP plant with. Little Kenny is now in a good home where he will be preserved. 2. Malcom I will make videos of Little Kenny washing in the near future. I will tell Little Kenny that he's been well recived into the AW family. He will be grinning from hinge to lid switch to hear it LOL!. Glad you guys like him and thanks for the info. Nick WK78

Post# 597460 , Reply# 23 5/19/2012 at 05:11 (4,353 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)
Checkrate/Likes Great save! It pains me to see what people scrap these days.

Post# 597461 , Reply# 24 5/19/2012 at 05:15 (4,353 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)
Checkrate/Likes You mean someone was going to junk a NEW UNUSED washer?----SICK!!!!Glad it was found!!!Nice machine-builders model!

Post# 597465 , Reply# 25 5/19/2012 at 06:45 (4,353 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod)
Checkrate/Likes *Little Kenney* What a Great name for the little guy. Very Minty. Nice Find. Enjoy Nick. (Kinda like finding a UM from a Church that was only used once a year for the Spaghetti Dinner) Eddie

Post# 597563 , Reply# 26 5/19/2012 at 15:39 (4,353 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Poor thing, that's a real section 8 (subsidized housing)/mobile home model. I am glad it escaped the fate of most and now has a loving home.

Post# 597566 , Reply# 27 5/19/2012 at 15:55 (4,353 days old) by jaxsunst ()
Checkrate/Likes I love the sound of BD WP/KM

Post# 597665 , Reply# 28 5/20/2012 at 00:50 (4,352 days old) by pdub (Portland, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes *What a great machine!* Nick, what a fantastic save. That is extra cool that you know the history of its low use. It kills me to think someone wanted to scrap it but thank goodness that didn't happen. Gordon - thank you too for all your knowledge you are always willing to share on anything Kenmore! Patrick

Post# 597723 , Reply# 29 5/20/2012 at 07:19 (4,352 days old) by cphifer5115 (Jackson, TN)
Checkrate/Likes i think several of you guys should get together and write a history book on american made appliances dating allt he way back to WWII.

Post# 597957 , Reply# 30 5/21/2012 at 11:37 (4,351 days old) by rll70sman (Hastings, Minnesota)
Checkrate/Likes *Beautiful!* Nick, Where around here did you find this? I am looking for an older Whirlpool or Kenmore washer and electric dryer but keep coming up empty-handed. Almost everything on the Minneapolis craigslist is newer garbage. By the way, have you refurbished the avocado Kenmore set I gave you? Rob

Post# 598567 , Reply# 31 5/23/2012 at 23:12 (4,348 days old) by 70series ( Connecticut.)
Checkrate/Likes Wow, this is truly the one knob, one cycle wonder. Awesome washer you have found. I remember the first time seeing the BOLs with the solid blue tub. I thought they were some of the coolest ones Sears ever produced. I love the gold str8 vane; it will surely perform with vigor. Luckily it has found a home with you, and not in some scrap heap like it might have, had you not come along. That would have been a travesty. Have fun with it. Have a good one, James

Post# 600802 , Reply# 32 6/3/2012 at 18:57 (4,337 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes Any news on the washer Nick? I'm hoping its giving you some enjoyment. I worked on its sibling the 200 series today - hope to have it up and running, leak free SOON. Gordon