BD spec tag

A riveted spec tag is a 1976 to late 1978 product. These tags are literally riveted to the cabinet with small, plastic rivets which were originally clear or almost transparent (they can yellow or get cloudy with age). There are two small holes in the cabinet for the rivets.

In 1979 this tag moved up about 3/4 of one inch, and became glued in place, without any holes. There was a small recess in this area of the cabinet to counter-sink the tag. In January 1983 the tag moved to a new counter-sunk area of the lid well --- no more bending and stooping to read the tag.

Correcting James a bit, the Penta-Swirl was available from 1974 to 1981. The earliest versions of the P.S. have five swirled vanes at the skirt, and were available in white for the high-end models such as the 1974 Lady Kenmore, and in gold for a few other models such as the 1974 Kenmore 70 series model. Quickly, the Penta-Swirl mold was modified to add five 1/2" inch tall mini-vanes that span the space in between the vanes, in the shape of a hammock. I don't know how much good these do, but management at Sears or WP must have felt they were worth modifying the agitator molds (which is not a small undertaking).

By 1976 the gold Penta-Swirls were gone and all were white. This agitator was last available in three 1980 Kenmore models, including one with a manual filter (first time ever for that combo of features) but when the tub and basket were re-sized in summer 1981, the Penta-Swirl bid us "good-bye".

The light gray tubs were features of the 1976-1981 upper-end Kenmores, as in better 70-series machines and above. This tub is actually a very light gray / light tan or beige combination. The lower end 70 and below had dark blue and white speckled tubs. Kenmore never made mention of this that I have ever seen, but such was the case for five years until the re-design in 1981.

Gordon


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Post# 608939 7/7/2012 at 22:22 (4,309 days old) by cfz2882 (Belle Fourche,SD)
Checkrate/Likes noticed a black panel KM "70"at a local used shop-didn't have a flashlight with me to check the spec tag in the shadows,but it was a metal tag rivited to the LH lower corner.This washer had a pentaswirl and the tub was light gray speckled. Anyone know what year spread this machine could be?

Post# 608963 , Reply# 1 7/8/2012 at 01:06 (4,309 days old) by 70series ( Connecticut.)
Checkrate/Likes The tag present in the lower left corner of the cabinet would indicate that the washer was built sometime between 1976 and 1981. Models built before and after that time frame did not have that tag, so this is the time period during which this washer was issued. The Penta Swirl had a greater time window, as it made its debut around 1974, and (if I'm correct) continued through the end of belt drive Kenmore production in 1985/86. Have a good one, James

Post# 608994 , Reply# 2 7/8/2012 at 07:49 (4,309 days old) by cfz2882 (Belle Fourche,SD)
Checkrate/Likes thanks,might be getting this one as it appears to be in really nice shape.

Post# 609015 , Reply# 3 7/8/2012 at 09:11 (4,309 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes *CFZ...* A riveted spec tag is a 1976 to late 1978 product. These tags are literally riveted to the cabinet with small, plastic rivets which were originally clear or almost transparent (they can yellow or get cloudy with age). There are two small holes in the cabinet for the rivets. In 1979 this tag moved up about 3/4 of one inch, and became glued in place, without any holes. There was a small recess in this area of the cabinet to counter-sink the tag. In January 1983 the tag moved to a new counter-sunk area of the lid well --- no more bending and stooping to read the tag. Correcting James a bit, the Penta-Swirl was available from 1974 to 1981. The earliest versions of the P.S. have five swirled vanes at the skirt, and were available in white for the high-end models such as the 1974 Lady Kenmore, and in gold for a few other models such as the 1974 Kenmore 70 series model. Quickly, the Penta-Swirl mold was modified to add five 1/2" inch tall mini-vanes that span the space in between the vanes, in the shape of a hammock. I don't know how much good these do, but management at Sears or WP must have felt they were worth modifying the agitator molds (which is not a small undertaking). By 1976 the gold Penta-Swirls were gone and all were white. This agitator was last available in three 1980 Kenmore models, including one with a manual filter (first time ever for that combo of features) but when the tub and basket were re-sized in summer 1981, the Penta-Swirl bid us "good-bye". The light gray tubs were features of the 1976-1981 upper-end Kenmores, as in better 70-series machines and above. This tub is actually a very light gray / light tan or beige combination. The lower end 70 and below had dark blue and white speckled tubs. Kenmore never made mention of this that I have ever seen, but such was the case for five years until the re-design in 1981. Gordon

Post# 609050 , Reply# 4 7/8/2012 at 13:21 (4,308 days old) by cfz2882 (Belle Fourche,SD)
Checkrate/Likes thanks,that narrows it down even more-pretty much"disco era"LOL.

Post# 609165 , Reply# 5 7/9/2012 at 00:44 (4,308 days old) by 70series ( Connecticut.)
Checkrate/Likes Thanks Gordon for the refresher on these. Remembering the ending years tends to get me. James

Post# 609852 , Reply# 6 7/12/2012 at 11:20 (4,304 days old) by cfz2882 (Belle Fourche,SD)
Checkrate/Likes went for a 2nd look and the washer was sold-however it has been returned to the store because it"wouldn't spin"told the store i was quite interested in it in as is;might score yet another BD,this one in nicer cosmetic shape than my other two big BDs. 748 date.

Post# 609895 , Reply# 7 7/12/2012 at 15:04 (4,304 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes CFZ - That'd be a good machine to have if you like the rest of it other than the no-spin condition. If it has a "748" date I presume you mean C748xxxxx or J748xxxxx is the serial? If I am correct, that is a 48th week of 1977 production. I have mixed feelings about these machines vs. those that would be made just four or five weeks later in January, 1978. The 77s still had the standard height centerpost. The 1978 centerpost, being 5-inches shorter, is far easier on bearings, in fact I've seen only a couple that had bearings worn sufficiently to warrant replacement, whereas it is commonplace in the 77s and older. However, the 77s are less likely to poison their mechanicals underneath (with water and laundry chemicals) when the centerpost seals wear out. I have at times loathed those short centerposts for the premature life-ending failures they caused. Many many 10-12 year old machines I saw in the 1990s had water filled transmissions already from that centerpost, which would much less likely have happened in the older units. Some revisions in seals prevented this from being an issue with direct drive machines which have much the same centerpost. For the BDs, long lasting bearings / spoiled transmissions - I am not sure which is worse.... Gordon

Post# 609900 , Reply# 8 7/12/2012 at 15:37 (4,304 days old) by cfz2882 (Belle Fourche,SD)
Checkrate/Likes it was "c748xxxx"looked nice and clean underneath and i didn't notice any excess play in the bearings.Looked like it might be a "low mileage" machine.

Post# 609927 , Reply# 9 7/12/2012 at 18:32 (4,304 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes Great! Then I'd say you stand a good chance then that the non-spin is something easy to fix like a bad control magnet/wig-wag, a broken wire to the wig-wag, or a lid switch. Good luck and let us know you decide. Gordon

Post# 609952 , Reply# 10 7/13/2012 at 01:08 (4,304 days old) by badgerdx ()
Checkrate/Likes Gordon, your WEALTH of KM knowledge never ceases to AMAZE me. You're a walking encyclopaedia.

Post# 609956 , Reply# 11 7/13/2012 at 03:11 (4,304 days old) by alr2903 (TN)
Checkrate/Likes You are right Badgerdx, Gordon is sharp as a tack on his Kenmore facts, IIRC Gordon's Mom and my mom both had that unsual transition machine arranged like the soon to come, black panel machines but the panel was brushed chrome. They were stunning for 1974, none of that block printing either they had that memorable 70's font in paint . alr