Late 1980's Kitchen Aid All Pushbutton Washer and Dryer Set...

Thank you everyone for the nice replies. It's nice to have a washer and dryer with such a high reputation.

Couple of things:

I expect that these machines are NOT truly "electronic", but are of the old "electro-mechanical" school, yes?? When you punch start on either one, you can hear the the timer motor whir it thru the cycles until it comes to the correct setting. I liken the sound to the sound of a lift on an old roller coaster..lots and lots of clicking until its where it needs to go.

Just to be safe, when we are done with laundry for the week or bi-weekly etc., we unplug them both to prevent any voltage spikes etc. And I we had one of those new gas valves installed that prevents leaks or a blowout. If it senses too much gas going out It shuts itself off. So anyway, when they are plugged in I pretty much monitor them the whole time. That way they don't get damaged electrically anyway...

I apologize for the pic quality. My camera phone is kinda gunky, albeit being brand new.... But the chrome on the agi-cap is pretty shiny. I will keep the steel wool idea in mind too. There are actually a few very tiny spots on the dryer vent door...Ill look to lightly use that to see if they will disappear.

When I got them home both of them were given baths and a polish. However, I noticed that the fascias are VERY prone to electro-static issues, hence all the dust that CLINGS to the panels. Its very noticeable in the up close pics. Any thoughts to how to remedy that?? Or is it just a " ya gotta live with it guy" kinda thing"?

John L. That was a most kind offer to parts needed in the future. I plant to keep these as long as the gods let me. My only concerns as of this point is the electrical system-timers, as they someday will become NLA, and made only out of unobtanium. Its comforting to know that there are people willing to help IF and when that day ever comes. So far from what you all wrote, these are a pretty durable product, so I think ill be good to go for a LONG time.

Water concern was an issue of my best-friend, and room-mate, the level-headed touchstone that she is. Until I calmly pointed out to her that we are on our own private well. We live on one of the LARGEST fresh watersheds in our county. We have far more than enough for our needs...LOL IT's filtered and softened to a awesome level, so I do not have to worry about tub-rust. And It appears that it's a porcelain tub too?...

It's pretty obvious, that the previous owners used these VERY little. IN fact the guy who sold us the set said that he remembers that the gentleman who dropped them off said that they were in his folks estate at their vacation home that was used year round, but only when they chose to BE here. So that kinda makes sense as to why they are in such perfect shape.

Now for all of you who would be so kind to respond, is there ANYTHING else that I can do to make these things last as long as possible? Anything to look out for as time goes on??

Thanks Again for the comments.... I feel pretty blessed to have these honestly..

Chad

Now, just to find an old wringer too. Then my thought of a cool small laundry will be complete!!! :-)

This post was last edited 04/19/2013 at 16:59


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Post# 673920 4/19/2013 at 10:14 (4,024 days old) by programcomputer (Ann Arbor Michigan, USA)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Hi Everyone, wanted to share this new set of mine for a few weeks now. I recently acquired a nice rental home (after YEARS of apartment living), and needed a W&D set. I scrounged around every craigslist city for 200 miles of me and had little, no or "too-late" isues with any respectable vintage set. Now, had I wanted a new bland Whirlpool or Kenmore, I had so many options that I could puke. But nothing really motivated me to buy. I did have my heart set on a later model Amana Distinctions pair (pre-Whirlpool built), but they were far more than this, and I was VERY leery of the main seal leak I've seen on here that can happen to those old Alliance built machines. That said, the weekend we moved, I still had NO set, and was starting to panic. My roomate, ever the levelheaded woman said..lets check out some appliance stores. Which I agreed to. Well, about five miles from home there is a County Re-Store. We decided to stop there after a recommendation from the local appliance store, who sells them parts as they go thru their machines pre-sale. So we pull up, and go into this place Ive never set FOOT into in the 9 years i've lived down here...and as we round the corner to the appliance area....these beautiful, perfect, low use babies were smiling at me. I actually squeed as I ran toward them. Like loudly, alerted the country folk that I was a "strange duck" kinda squeed. And with a whip out of the Am-Ex. They were MINE.... Here they are....

Post# 673921 , Reply# 1 4/19/2013 at 10:16 (4,024 days old) by programcomputer (Ann Arbor Michigan, USA)
Checkrate/Likes 2. 2. Pushbutton goodness....

Post# 673922 , Reply# 2 4/19/2013 at 10:17 (4,024 days old) by programcomputer (Ann Arbor Michigan, USA)
Checkrate/Likes 3. 3. More pushbutton goodness...

Post# 673924 , Reply# 3 4/19/2013 at 10:18 (4,024 days old) by programcomputer (Ann Arbor Michigan, USA)
Checkrate/Likes 3. More...

Post# 673925 , Reply# 4 4/19/2013 at 10:18 (4,024 days old) by programcomputer (Ann Arbor Michigan, USA)
Checkrate/Likes 4. More....

Post# 673926 , Reply# 5 4/19/2013 at 10:19 (4,024 days old) by programcomputer (Ann Arbor Michigan, USA)
Checkrate/Likes 5. And some more....

Post# 673927 , Reply# 6 4/19/2013 at 10:19 (4,024 days old) by programcomputer (Ann Arbor Michigan, USA)
Checkrate/Likes 6. ...

Post# 673928 , Reply# 7 4/19/2013 at 10:20 (4,024 days old) by programcomputer (Ann Arbor Michigan, USA)
Checkrate/Likes 7. Clean as a whistle....

Post# 673929 , Reply# 8 4/19/2013 at 10:22 (4,024 days old) by programcomputer (Ann Arbor Michigan, USA)
Checkrate/Likes 8. This thing has more options than I ever could imagine. The HOT/Warm setting certainly is the first time Ive ever seen or had it on a washer...

Post# 673931 , Reply# 9 4/19/2013 at 10:28 (4,024 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *KITCHEN - AID!!!!!!!!!!!* THOSE... are AWESOME! CONGRATS! Kevin

Post# 673947 , Reply# 12 4/19/2013 at 11:28 (4,024 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Aferim!* I've always loved that massive KA blue agitator. Those were probably the last great top loaders.

Post# 673958 , Reply# 13 4/19/2013 at 12:39 (4,024 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)
Checkrate/Likes 1 What a great story and a great catch to start the weekend. "Pushbutton goodness," indeed. And a hold button just like on the conventional timers. Love that. These machines are like Maytags: they work forever and they never break! We had 2 KA's in the family for 20 some years, both sorely missed and passed on for silly reasons. If there are any cycle surprises on the Short & PP settings, please let us know, and post the cycle chart if you can. Thanks, and good luck on the rest of your lifetime with trouble free monster washing. I have Big Blue in my Whirlpool; in turnover, Big Blue has no equal.

Post# 673961 , Reply# 14 4/19/2013 at 12:44 (4,024 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Nice set! Funny to think what is still hiding in these smaller, 2nd hand appliance stores. I'm always leery of stepping in these places, but it might be worth a shot. Never know what you're gonna find! Ben

Post# 673936 , Reply# 10 4/19/2013 at 10:38 (4,024 days old) by programcomputer (Ann Arbor Michigan, USA)
Checkrate/Likes *Oh and also....* this dryer is gas. My first one I have have used since I was about 14. Man this thing dries FAST!!!! I was pretty stunned to say the least!!!!

Post# 673939 , Reply# 11 4/19/2013 at 10:56 (4,024 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Push-Button KA Pair* Chad you did very well, these are a true modern classic that will truly beat out any Maytag pair ever built in the performance and capacity area. We have a pair of these for our museum project here and I have stripped a few pairs of these so I do have some extra electrical parts if you ever need anything. My brother has the Westinghouse Wash N Dry combo that you are using in your profile, thanks to Robert our Webmaster.

Post# 673974 , Reply# 15 4/19/2013 at 14:05 (4,024 days old) by whirlykenmore78 (Prior Lake MN (GMT-0500 CDT.))
Checkrate/Likes 1 *OUTSTANDING!* One of the best TL sets EVER! These are very well built and trouble free. Truly WP at their best. WK78

Post# 673992 , Reply# 16 4/19/2013 at 15:18 (4,024 days old) by whirlcool (Just North Of Houston, Texas)
Checkrate/Likes 1 We have a 93' electronic no button WP set and these look pretty much the same as far as the controls go. It looks like the cap on your agitator has a little rust on it. Take an SOS pad to it to make it sparkle again. I remember your set because a set in almond just like it was in our local appliance store. These were not cheap machines, BTW. They probably cost was a high level FL machine would cost today. Our WP set was $1800 when new in 93' this set probably sold for at least $2000, partially because of the KitchenAid name. Plus it had lighted controls! But by the time we were ready to buy our W/D set KitchenAid only had manual control washers available, no more electronic controls. These will last you for years and years if you take care of them. And they will clean your clothes using plenty of water. Congratulatons!

Post# 673996 , Reply# 17 4/19/2013 at 15:49 (4,024 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)
Checkrate/Likes 1 They are gorgeous.......great find....... I would search for the windowed door for the dryer, suprised this one did not have it!

Post# 673997 , Reply# 18 4/19/2013 at 15:50 (4,024 days old) by programcomputer (Ann Arbor Michigan, USA)
Checkrate/Likes *A few thoughts...* Thank you everyone for the nice replies. It's nice to have a washer and dryer with such a high reputation. Couple of things: I expect that these machines are NOT truly "electronic", but are of the old "electro-mechanical" school, yes?? When you punch start on either one, you can hear the the timer motor whir it thru the cycles until it comes to the correct setting. I liken the sound to the sound of a lift on an old roller coaster..lots and lots of clicking until its where it needs to go. Just to be safe, when we are done with laundry for the week or bi-weekly etc., we unplug them both to prevent any voltage spikes etc. And I we had one of those new gas valves installed that prevents leaks or a blowout. If it senses too much gas going out It shuts itself off. So anyway, when they are plugged in I pretty much monitor them the whole time. That way they don't get damaged electrically anyway... I apologize for the pic quality. My camera phone is kinda gunky, albeit being brand new.... But the chrome on the agi-cap is pretty shiny. I will keep the steel wool idea in mind too. There are actually a few very tiny spots on the dryer vent door...Ill look to lightly use that to see if they will disappear. When I got them home both of them were given baths and a polish. However, I noticed that the fascias are VERY prone to electro-static issues, hence all the dust that CLINGS to the panels. Its very noticeable in the up close pics. Any thoughts to how to remedy that?? Or is it just a " ya gotta live with it guy" kinda thing"? John L. That was a most kind offer to parts needed in the future. I plant to keep these as long as the gods let me. My only concerns as of this point is the electrical system-timers, as they someday will become NLA, and made only out of unobtanium. Its comforting to know that there are people willing to help IF and when that day ever comes. So far from what you all wrote, these are a pretty durable product, so I think ill be good to go for a LONG time. Water concern was an issue of my best-friend, and room-mate, the level-headed touchstone that she is. Until I calmly pointed out to her that we are on our own private well. We live on one of the LARGEST fresh watersheds in our county. We have far more than enough for our needs...LOL IT's filtered and softened to a awesome level, so I do not have to worry about tub-rust. And It appears that it's a porcelain tub too?... It's pretty obvious, that the previous owners used these VERY little. IN fact the guy who sold us the set said that he remembers that the gentleman who dropped them off said that they were in his folks estate at their vacation home that was used year round, but only when they chose to BE here. So that kinda makes sense as to why they are in such perfect shape. Now for all of you who would be so kind to respond, is there ANYTHING else that I can do to make these things last as long as possible? Anything to look out for as time goes on?? Thanks Again for the comments.... I feel pretty blessed to have these honestly.. Chad Now, just to find an old wringer too. Then my thought of a cool small laundry will be complete!!! :-) This post was last edited 04/19/2013 at 16:59

Post# 673999 , Reply# 19 4/19/2013 at 15:54 (4,024 days old) by programcomputer (Ann Arbor Michigan, USA)
Checkrate/Likes *I would search for the windowed door for the dryer* Yogitunes... LOL funny you mention that, as it was that picture you just posted that prompted me to search for one a few weeks ago. You really cant find bupkus online, and none of the appliance stores I have visited either ever have heard of, or want to deal with such a thing/find. I imagine that they made this door in almond too??? IF I COULD find a door like that. I think I would have just the ultimate set ever.... Now to find that window-door...... Chad

Post# 674001 , Reply# 20 4/19/2013 at 15:58 (4,024 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There�s a Lady on Stage)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *So The Rest Of Us Can Only Dream* Video from another member who owns same or similar: This post was last edited 04/19/2013 at 16:41

Post# 674013 , Reply# 21 4/19/2013 at 16:25 (4,024 days old) by whirlykenmore78 (Prior Lake MN (GMT-0500 CDT.))
Checkrate/Likes 1 *"Timers are not truly electronic"* Correct! They are rapid advance electro-mechanical timers. KitchenAid had been using this technology in their dishwashers for years at this time. WK78.

Post# 674043 , Reply# 22 4/19/2013 at 18:10 (4,024 days old) by DADoES (TX,�U.S. of A.)
Checkrate/Likes 1 � The pushbutton washer predates 3-speed motors, although IIRC it does do a shift from high to low agitation in some of the cycles. The initial introduction of KA laundry (circa 1986 or 1987?) offered only two sets ... an electro-mechanical, rapid-advance timer pair and a fully-electronic pair.� A rotary-dial was then added. The serial numbers will reveal the year & week of manufacture.

Post# 674048 , Reply# 23 4/19/2013 at 18:22 (4,024 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Dust:* The solution is as close as your bottle of fabric softener. Put some softener on a rag, and wipe it on to the panel. Buff dry. You should probably spot-test before doing the whole of both panels, but I've never had this hurt anything. Softener is a great anti-stat agent.

Post# 674073 , Reply# 24 4/19/2013 at 19:28 (4,024 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Anti static remedies can be found in a number of locations..... rubbing with a dryer sheet..... Endust for Electronics..... look for car wax/polish with the negative charge ingredient.....actually repels dust.....works really well on TV screens... Static Guard spray, and buff to a high shine.... and YES, the door does come in Almond......just have to keep our eyes peeled for the windowed door, once you have this, you'll want an "oven window" on every dryer!.....lol

Post# 674092 , Reply# 25 4/19/2013 at 22:27 (4,024 days old) by squeenjj ()
Checkrate/Likes 1 I love those blue agitators. My mother's 1991 KA Washer had the blue agitator. My KA made in 2002 has the white one. I wish they had kept the Blue one just to have something different.

Post# 674094 , Reply# 26 4/19/2013 at 23:17 (4,024 days old) by ovrphil (N.Atlanta / Georgia )
Checkrate/Likes 1 Oh man, those are really sweet machines...would love a pair, too. A windowed door would be cool.