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Thread Number: 41310
The two sisters Lady Kenmore, reunited after 26 years |
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Post# 610562 7/16/2012 at 13:40 (4,299 days old) by KenmoreGuy64  (Charlotte, NC) |
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In late March of this year, I brought home the newest belt-drive Whirlpool/Kenmore washer that I own, and possibly the newest in our collective collection, having been made the 35th week of 1986.
This machine was the subject of a thread, as I hauled the machine from storage and introduced it to my home collection. It was found in late 2010 by Andy/Redcarpetdrew, who was brimming with enthusiasm when he called me, as he knew it would be a fun washer. Here is a picture of that machine, all cleaned up, before we go much further: ** pardon the screwed up date on my camera, I had taken the battery out and not reset the date ** 
This post was last edited 07/16/2012 at 14:23 | ||
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Post# 610564 , Reply# 1 7/16/2012 at 13:44 (4,299 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC) |
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This is a unique machine, as it differs from other Lady Ks of the period by one digit in its model number.
That one digit eliminates the standard porcelain top and lid that was included with all 1980s Lady Kenmores, in fact nearly all Lady Kenmore washers, period. It also deleted the standard white basket for the mid-line speckled tub instead. I have yet to learn why this model was produced, but the mystery grew a bit deeper as I acquired another of these recently, courtesy of another member of the site. Following is an excerpt of the letter I wrote him, which explained why the Lady he'd sent me was so cool to me. This post was last edited 07/16/2012 at 15:36 | ||
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Post# 610565 , Reply# 2 7/16/2012 at 13:58 (4,299 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC) |
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I started my letter explaining some history of the 1983 Kenm
The final belt-drive retail washer lineup with Kenmore starred 10 large capacity models, and one 24-inch machine. There were four Toyota washers as well, which were not retail models.
Of the 10 large cap machines, one was a 60, four were 70s, four were 80s, and one was the Lady K 90. The 60 is very rare and I have never seen one, though it was on the back of the 1983 Sears Christmas catalog. It was out of production by 1985 I think. All four 70s sold well, but two sold MUCH better than the other two, with the other two being somewhat uncommon. All four of these were available until fall, 1986. The four 80s are an odd combination. One was very popular too, and sold right up there in numbers with the two best-selling 70s. The other three, not so much. One was around til the end but just doesn't seem to be around a lot, and the other two are uber rare like the 60. One was dropped by late 1983 (I have only ever seen one) and the other I have never even seen a picture of. The LK 90 sold quite well too, but was pricey, along the lines of almost 25% higher in price. Features in these machines increased as you went up the line, naturally. The 60 was a nice machine, and it and the four 70s all featured the new DynaGuard tops and lids, which were now powdercoated for the first time, vs. the previous baked enamel tops. Powdercoating makes these parts much more durable and long lasting as compared to the rust-prone painted tops, which seem to avoid rust only in Nevada and Arizona. So the DynaGuard was a huge improvement. The 80 series added infinite water levels, and porcelain tops, whihc were still better than the powder coating/DynaGuard. Of course the LK 90 had all this and more, including a snow-white double coated basket. The model numbers of all these machines began with 110.823xxxxx. 8 for 80s, 2 for 29-inch cabinet, and 3 for 1983. The Toyota machines were 110.824xxxxx to separate them, though they were not precisely 1984 models. I have learned most of this from the 1990s Whirlpool parts catalog I have, which lists all Kenmore washer and dryer models since 1975. There has always been one mystery machine to me, that I had also never seen, until 2011 anyway. It is 110.82592x00, the x being for the color. In early 2011, Andy / Redcarpetdrew calls me wanting to play "stump the master" which he loves to do. He rattles off a model number, and I have to describe what it is. When he said 110.82592100 I think I sounded like a Price Is Right contestant. When I first saw the machine, I learned that its a clone essentially of the '83 Lady, with a few very curious traits. It has a powder coated top and lid, AND a speckled basket. To get these features you have to go back to the earliest 80 series for the speckled basket, and the 70-series models for the powder coating. Why Sears did this I don't know, though I do remember in the fall 1986 there being a very inexpensive Lady K that was 60 or more dollars cheaper than it had been in July when I ordered my 70, cheap enough that I might have considered a TOL machine just for fun at that price. This was during the closeout of the BDs, so who knows what manufacturing oriented resons may have been going on at the time. Well, Andy's machine was made in September 1986, and it is three weeks newer than my other newest belt-drive, the one I got new. I like that machine Andy gave me for all its weird nuiances. End of letter.... | ||
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Post# 610566 , Reply# 3 7/16/2012 at 14:07 (4,298 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC) |
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Fast forward to one swelterig HOT weekend evening in July, 2
Another site member sends me a note saying he's come across a lovely almond Lady K. That's all the first note said.
I thought about this while doing my monotonous cardio at the gym...."Hmmm, it must be a mid-80s machine. Since almond came out for Kenmore in 1978, and he didn't say the machine was electronic (all Ladies since 1978 were electronic controlled until the 1983 Lady), it's probably a mechanical timered 1983 model. Then I said to myself "Wouldn't it be cool if this was another de-contented Lady like the one Andy sent!" Well, SURE ENOUGH. The machine is a 110.82592800. Same machine as Andy's except it is Almond. The T O T A L L Y C O O L part though is it was made ON THE SAME DAY as Andy's, in fact the machines were probably in view of each other, or certainly in the finished goods staging area together in the plant. The serial number of Andy's Lady is C63515098. The serial of this 'new' one is C63514958, only 140 units apart. WP can build that many in less than an hour. I understand they were making more than 10,000 washers a day back then. So, these two Ladies, separated by more than 2/3 of a continent, are now both residing in Charlotte. | ||
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Post# 610568 , Reply# 4 7/16/2012 at 14:08 (4,298 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC) |
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Here are a few cell phone pics | ||
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Post# 610569 , Reply# 5 7/16/2012 at 14:09 (4,298 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC) |
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Here is the gray specked tub | ||
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Post# 610570 , Reply# 6 7/16/2012 at 14:10 (4,298 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC) |
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This post has been removed by the member who posted it. | ||
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Post# 610571 , Reply# 7 7/16/2012 at 14:11 (4,298 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC) |
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Post# 610574 , Reply# 8 7/16/2012 at 14:21 (4,298 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC) |
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Still very puzzled by the existence of this model
As I said in my letter above, Sears made a big deal about the presence of porcelain tops in their upper end machines. Even though the new powder coated process was light years more water resistant than the painted tops (Sears in the late 70s had begun using painted tops in quite a few MOL models), porcelain was best, and the Lady Kenmores always had the best of the best.
Also, during the 80s WP offered the blue/gray speckled tub, or the double coated white tub. Two of the 80 series machines had this white tub, and all of the 80s had porcelain tops and lids. Why these two items were de-contented from the Lady I don't know, but I do have a theory... From a friend who was working at WP at the close of belt-drive production, I have learned that Whirlpool put a substantial number of LA7800 machines "away" in warehouse storage after production, to be used as customer consolations when a difficult situation existed and the customer was unsatisfied and not going to made happy with a direct drive washer purchase. LA7800s were made into April 1987, and I have seen two of these in the past few years (One I should have rescued, but that's one of those "woulda coulda" stories that we all eventually learn to grab it while we can... Anyway, I'm wondering if Sears didn't do the same thing - pack a warehouse with a big pile of these special Lady Ks so that if customers could not be made happy with the new 1986 Large Capacity DDs, Sears would bring them a belt-drive Lady - something more like what they would be accustomed to. Since primary selling of BDs was over by the fall of 1986, Sears could get away with this model not having some of the typical perks usually found in belt-drive machines. That's my theory anyway. Whatever the reason, I now have two Lady Kenmore sisters, produced on the same line, on the same day, probably on the same shift in September, 1986. I hope to enjoy both for a good while... I hope you enjoyed my story! Gordon This post was last edited 07/16/2012 at 15:59 | ||
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Post# 610595 , Reply# 9 7/16/2012 at 16:23 (4,298 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions) |
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| Post# 610629 , Reply# 10 7/16/2012 at 19:26 (4,298 days old) by xraytech (Rural southwest Pennsylvania ) | ||
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| Post# 610634 , Reply# 11 7/16/2012 at 20:08 (4,298 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA) | ||
'Price Is Right Contestant' is a bit of an understat
I think the model number of the Lady was the first time you didn't have the features list ready to go! I NEVER can shoot you a model number without you knowing all the features down to the number of screws used to put it together... LOL... I always feel like Grasshopper from Kung Fu trying to outwit the master.
It's really neat how close those two Ladies are. It's like the AW version of a separated at birth then re-united later in life movies. I'm glad I could rescue the Nevada Lady for you. She couldn't have gone to a better home! When can we see pictures of the sisters side by side, running laundry? This brings up a new challenge for you: Can you rescue any other Lady K's with serial numbers that fall in between the two you have? Hee Hee Hee! RCD | ||
| Post# 610648 , Reply# 12 7/16/2012 at 22:47 (4,298 days old) by lebron (Minnesota) | ||
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| Post# 610711 , Reply# 13 7/17/2012 at 09:29 (4,298 days old) by moparguy (Virginia) | ||
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Hey Gordon... wow what an amazing story, the two unique ladies reunited after all these years! And the history story is fascinating! I am so glad they are in a good home together now! | ||
| Post# 610733 , Reply# 14 7/17/2012 at 11:47 (4,298 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY) | ||
 Serendipity, telepathy, synchronicity, "a strong psychic connection" as Hyacinth would say, or just a total head rush to have one prized beloved machine and then have a good friend, Andy, no less, give you its twin born on the same day in the same hospital. Fabuous!
You must feel amazing, and lucky, and blessed. Buy one of those Mega balls today, win it, then build the Automatic Washer Institute, and our collective dream will come true. | ||
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Post# 610748 , Reply# 15 7/17/2012 at 14:17 (4,297 days old) by lotsosudz (Sacramento, CA) |
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What no video? | ||
| Post# 610758 , Reply# 17 7/17/2012 at 14:39 (4,297 days old) by Dick_S. () | ||
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Oh, and the... ..model # is 82592800. I'd better also take a look at some of my other Kenmores that are hanging around and see what I've been dragging home. Woops-the other day it was a big tub Whirlpool! 
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Post# 610805 , Reply# 18 7/17/2012 at 18:19 (4,297 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions) |
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Post# 610812 , Reply# 19 7/17/2012 at 18:57 (4,297 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC) |
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On video and other long lost sisters...
David - video is a great idea, and I have envisioned both my machines running side by side. BUT, it won't happen immediately. You see, I've made this promise to myself that some older long-standing projects must be completed in the world of my washers before I can bring anything else home. The white Lady from Andy is here, but it leaks like a boat hull made of swiss cheese. Cross your fingers that it is only a bad centerpost gasket. The almond machine is not yet here, it resides in the warehouse, and thus it can't come home until I determine that the other projects are done. They are not considerable, but enough to keep me busy a few good solid days. The almond Lady was holding stagnant water, which it pumped out when given a chance, so maybe all that one needs is a good cleaning?
Dick - I think you have as many of this version of Lady as I do! Yes indeed, let's get a serial number! In the interim, since you have that one ultra-elusive 1983 80-series outside, and you have all these cool Ladies, we need to work on getting that 80 out of there! I know the "proper" 1983 Lady with the white tub and the porcelain top/lid were made well into 1986 as well, so it will be interesting to see what your other set turns out to be. Gordon | ||
| Post# 610822 , Reply# 20 7/17/2012 at 19:53 (4,297 days old) by Dick_S. () | ||
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the serial # is C53401943 
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Post# 610916 , Reply# 21 7/18/2012 at 08:39 (4,297 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC) |
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Thanks Dick!
That "dis-confirms" part of my theory, that this model was made late in BD life only after most of the BD selling was done. But, this is a 1985 model number, and at least we know now that some did exist in 1985. Yours was made during the 34th week of 1985 (without looking at a 1985 calendar, that's the end of August, or first of September). I wonder now if a customer was interested in a Lady Kenmore (I didn't even look at them semi-seriously, being a kid with only a part-time job) would the salesman show the customer both versions, or just whichever one was on sale? Maybe some day we'll have a former Sears salesperson join our forum... Gordon | ||
| Post# 612371 , Reply# 22 7/25/2012 at 23:07 (4,289 days old) by bpetersxx (laf in on the banks of the Wabash River) | ||
Boy I think that we may have had one of those strange models as well
Ours looked like the ones on top almond but it had the spreckled basket and porcelain lid I know for sure the underside of the lid where the operating instructions was not almond but black with white lettering And the top of the control console was woodgrained instead of black Cannot remember when we got it maybe winter 82 or 83 it was either after I graduated or before I started work at Payless In fact the dryer we got was different than the one we picked out at the Sears store We had it until 97 when Mom wanted a Electronic DD set when we remodeled the house and Sears took away the almond set I still kick myself to this day that they were hauled away as they still worked | ||
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Post# 612448 , Reply# 23 7/26/2012 at 09:22 (4,289 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC) |
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Pete -
The model you refer to most likely is a 1981 21831 or a 1983 23811. Both these models did indeed have the woodgrain console top, a speckled basket, and porcelain top and lid (which would make the lid underside a dark navy blue color, almost black, with white print) just as you mentioned. The 81 model was the top of the line Kenmore that year except the electronic Lady Kenmore. This model did NOT have the triple dispenser. This machine was very expensive, and though it was available for about two years, they are not very common at all. The 1983 model is very obscure, and wasn't available very long - less than a year I'd say before the 1983 Lady K replaced it. This one DID have the triple dispenser but was otherwise the same as the '81. I believe this model debuted to market in very early 1983. I have never seen an '83 model built before January of that year, and most seem to come from that summer or later. Either way, you had a cool and rare machine. Both these models or on my limited dream machine list. Gordon | ||
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