Thread Number: 53668
A time capsule opened and look what was inside...
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Post# 760050   5/28/2014 at 15:18 (3,591 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        

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A customer of mine, 93 years young!, called for service on a K/A stove. It's in a house older than the hills and belonged to a prominent doctor way before that. Well, I was admiring a beautiful curio cabinet and she said that her sons were cleaning out a old cottage behind the house. They already cleared out a bunch of washers and dryers she had kept over the years, coppertone and pink being the colors. TO THE DUMP, Aaiiieeeeee! But there was still her first washer there. An old Kenmore. Would I like to look?

Ok, everybody raise your hands if you know what my answer was... LOL!

It's available and would I like to offer something as it would certainly be worth a small amount at the recyclers. I did and she'll talk to her sons. Look at these pics and give me advice as to what you'd think a fair offer would be...

Presenting the Kenmore!



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Post# 760053 , Reply# 1   5/28/2014 at 15:22 (3,591 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        

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So, whatcha think? OMG. She took it out of service just because she thought it was getting old...

There are also some neat older cars to be sold off. A time capsule there too. Any interest and I'll take pictures and post. A souped up Chrysler (ordered from the dealer with the hottest engine available!), a clean station wagon, etc. She doesn't want to just advertise as she wants to keep crowds from invading her...

RCD


Post# 760055 , Reply# 2   5/28/2014 at 15:30 (3,591 days old) by ken (NYS)        

ken's profile picture
That Kenmore is neat to say the least. Better take that home!

What a shame the other W/D were scrapped. I hate to hear stories like that.

I'll bet no theres no rust on those vintage cars. Not like here in the rusty Eastern U.S. Id like to see them.


Post# 760056 , Reply# 3   5/28/2014 at 15:39 (3,591 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        
Well...

redcarpetdrew's profile picture
I'll show a brief picture or so of them. I love Robert's picture feature!

The Country Squire. This was her's to take her kids and their friends to Lake Tahoe. I love the lines on it and it's still in the box (that's for you, Kevin...)



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Post# 760057 , Reply# 4   5/28/2014 at 15:41 (3,591 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        

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The DeLuxe. I think this one is available too. Cute!



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Post# 760058 , Reply# 5   5/28/2014 at 15:42 (3,591 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        

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Old ranch pickup, anyone?



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Post# 760061 , Reply# 6   5/28/2014 at 15:46 (3,591 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        
Last but definitely NOT least! Fury III!

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This one was her uncles and was ordered from the dealer with what was the hottest engine available at the time. Nice restorable cars. She asked me if I knew anyone who would make a fair offer on them. I said I'd pass it on. Well, mission accomplished!

RCD


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Post# 760063 , Reply# 7   5/28/2014 at 15:50 (3,591 days old) by whirlykenmore78 (Prior Lake MN (GMT-0500 CDT.))        
THAT'S A HARDMOUNT!

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I would have to believe that top loading hardmount washers are VERY rare! The principle of a suspensionless bolt down machine was mostly reserved for front loading commercial washer-extractors.
In fact, for decades the ONLY Hardmount machines have been commercial FL W-E's.
WK78


Post# 760065 , Reply# 8   5/28/2014 at 15:56 (3,591 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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Whoa!  What a haul!!  The washer HAS to be one of the first Kenmore automatics (or at least a really early one)!  Definitely worth saving.

 

The 'DeLuxe' car looks a heck of a lot like the 1951 Pontiac Silver Streak my father had when I was literally a 'babe in arms'.  


Post# 760068 , Reply# 9   5/28/2014 at 16:03 (3,591 days old) by ken (NYS)        

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The Deluxe is a 1950 Chevy Fleetline which, as you can see, had fastback styling. Introduced for model year 1942 that body style reached its peak in popularity in 1948 out selling the notchback body. With the restyled 1949 models the notchback became more popular. Last year for the Fleetline was 1952 and only available in two door form.

Post# 760073 , Reply# 10   5/28/2014 at 16:43 (3,591 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E)        
The Country Squire:

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Is a '68 - first year for side marker lights.

This one is sort of upper-MOL - it's a Squire, which meant LTD-level exterior trim, but you can tell from the interior shot it's not optioned up as far as some of them were. It also has the standard LTD wheel covers, not the extra-cost vaned "turbine" wheel covers that LTDs shared with Mark IIIs.

This one appears to be complete and very restorable. It will be a bit of a challenge in two respects: The woodgrained side panels and their woodgrained Fiberglas trim are on the expensive side to re-do. And that grille with its retractable headlights will be kind of picky to restore; the vacuum mechanism for the headlights is not too bad, but the "blackout" detail painting on the grille is going to take a lot of very patient, picky masking to get right.

Nice car.


Post# 760093 , Reply# 11   5/28/2014 at 18:36 (3,591 days old) by washman (o)        
I'd jump all over that plymouth

What engine was in it? I'd guess 383 or 440?

Post# 760104 , Reply# 12   5/28/2014 at 19:19 (3,591 days old) by 300C (Jonesboro, GA)        
Engine in the 1969 Plymouth

It's a 383 2 barrel with 290 horsepower -- a strong, smooth running and reasonably economical engine. The base was a 318 V8 or 225 slant six. The 4 barrel 330 horse power 383 had an unsilenced air cleaner and was actually somewhat temperamental. The Super Commando 440 was the top engine at 375 horsepower. It had a dual snorkel air cleaner and a pie tin sticker on the air cleaner.

In case you didn't notice, I grew up with a dual obsession -- washers AND cars.


Post# 760107 , Reply# 13   5/28/2014 at 19:30 (3,591 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        
We noticed!

redcarpetdrew's profile picture
I also noticed you don't post often but, with info like that, wish you would.

RCD


Post# 760113 , Reply# 14   5/28/2014 at 19:36 (3,591 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)        

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That Fury is a find these days. Quite the following.

Drew - is say the Kenmore is worth what your willing to pay for but, but I'd start with a crisp $100 and see where it goes.

What a day you had!

Ben


Post# 760116 , Reply# 15   5/28/2014 at 19:56 (3,591 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        

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The stuff I saw in that abandoned cottage! The original wood stove for it, a vintage toastmaster with the wording 'automatic rising' on it, a vintage Radio Flyer wagon that was her husbands when he was a kid, real metal roller skates (the kind you used a key to clamp it onto your shoe with metal wheels and bearings! and lots of other things among the expected clutter that goes with a building that's barely standing with missing windows and the like.

Just a cool little thing to find. I'll bet with a bit of searching, there is other treasures to discover. The machines already hauled away just make me sick. She remembered the pink set as machines that had consoles that lit up the room and her (grand?) kids, in school learning the alphabet, would say out loud the letter that each button had. ALPHABET Kenmores! Aarrgghh! I apparently just missed the hauled off machines by 6 months or so. Dang it! Why couldn't that KitchenAid stove have crapped out sooner!!! The coppertone machines were described as top of the line units with, again, lit consoles but the neatest agitators that went up and down. Wahh!

RCD




This post was last edited 05/28/2014 at 21:10
Post# 760130 , Reply# 16   5/28/2014 at 21:42 (3,591 days old) by ovrphil (N.Atlanta / Georgia )        

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Yeah, too bad about missing the Alphabet Kenmore in pink, no less. As a Detroit motor city kid, growing up with cars, these weren't my favorites, but that Fury III was not uncommon on the Woodward Avenue circuit and around town. I like the Ford Squire Wagon - remember seeing many ads for those in magazines.

What an experience Drew! Enjoyed viewing this thread, thanks for taking some photos.


Post# 760132 , Reply# 17   5/28/2014 at 21:48 (3,591 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c )        
Im With 300!!!

Ill take a Chrysler Product ANYTIME! I had a 68 Sport Fury with a 383 2 barrell, if you held it wide open it would change from 1st to 2nd at 48 miles an hour and from second to third at a little under 80!

Post# 760136 , Reply# 18   5/28/2014 at 21:58 (3,591 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Some Good Finds

combo52's profile picture
Hi Andy, that KM bolt-down is about if not the first automatic washer Sears sold.
The suds-saver feature was standard on these and the earliest ones even used a separate brush-type electric motor for the suds return pump. It should be built between 1947 and 1949. I have a 1947 one that I have not restored yet.

Larry the 69 Plymouth was a very good year for that car. My brother Jeff and I took the 2 barrel 383 engine out of a 69 Chrysler T&C wagon and installed it in a 73 Imperial many years ago. We changed out a perfectly good 73 440 to increase the gas mileage of the Imperial and boosted the mileage from about 11 MPG to an easy 15 MPG without any loss of performance.


Post# 760140 , Reply# 19   5/28/2014 at 22:13 (3,591 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        

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Thanks for the info, John. Parts wise, how comparable were these to later model BD's? Bearings, seals, anything? How much of a pita are these to get wear out parts like those?

RCD


Post# 760154 , Reply# 20   5/28/2014 at 23:41 (3,591 days old) by DigAPony ()        

Nice country, look at those beautiful blue skies. I want to be there..


Post# 760196 , Reply# 21   5/29/2014 at 06:16 (3,591 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
Wow nice finds

jetcone's profile picture

That Kenmore is a great find.

The Country Squire I think is adorable ! I remember those, the idea it was for hopping up to Lake Tahoe even makes it more attractive!

 

 


Post# 760210 , Reply# 22   5/29/2014 at 07:56 (3,591 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Rebuilding a Early KM Bolt-Down Washer

combo52's profile picture
Hi Andy, these were essentially the same as later BD WP built washers with LOTS of little changes, The belt, agitator shaft, spin-tube, bearings and seals are the same, you could even put in a late style transmission if you also wanted to use a later style water pump.

You could even install a dual-action agitator for better turn-over if you use a later agitator shaft, LOL.

I do not know how authentic [ mechanically ] I will try to keep my BD when I get around to restoring it. My 1952 pair of WPs I have keep completely authentic inside and out, the gas dryer is done the washer is awaiting reassembly.


Post# 760335 , Reply# 23   5/29/2014 at 22:40 (3,590 days old) by whirlcool (Just North Of Houston, Texas)        

I don't know. Is that area known for flooding? The way there is driftwood under the cars, the fog on the inside of the windows and the tires "melting" into the earth remind me of cars that have been flooded at one time.

Just wondering. Did the cars have an odor to them?


Post# 760340 , Reply# 24   5/29/2014 at 23:18 (3,590 days old) by abcomatic (Bradford, Illinois)        
Stove there

I noticed that behind the Kenmore automatic, it looked like there was a cast iron cookstove. I wonder what brand it is? If it is a Copper Clad, the entire underside of the top of the stove is copper. It was a very upscale stove in its day, the copper was used for better heat conduction.

Post# 760354 , Reply# 25   5/30/2014 at 00:13 (3,590 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        

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Allen, it is a desert setting. The fog was years of dust, mesquite/juniper branches and sandy dirt swallowing the deflated tires. There was no real smell other than that of closed up car in alternately wintery and desert heat environments.

RCD


Post# 760514 , Reply# 26   5/30/2014 at 22:02 (3,589 days old) by packardmanken (atlanta ga)        

Hi RCD, I hope you get the Kenmore. It is one of my dream machines, if not for the design alone. I believe Whirlpool made it? If you get it, let me know, I have the original operators manual with all the various models in it. AND its a suds saver???

Post# 760515 , Reply# 27   5/30/2014 at 22:04 (3,589 days old) by polkanut (Wausau, WI )        

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My friend Bob is curious about what will happen to the Plymouth Fury.  Keep us updated if you can.


Post# 760529 , Reply# 28   5/30/2014 at 22:57 (3,589 days old) by hydralique (Los Angeles)        

It’s probably good the Fury doesn’t have a high performance 440. If it did I’d guess it would be bought by someone for part-out purposes to get the engine, tranny and rear end and create a 440 Satellite, Coronet, Challenger or Barracuda. The Fury is a rather less exciting and valuable car but there aren’t many left so would be nice for this one to be preserved.

The ‘68 Ford brings back some memories. My mother had a ‘68 sedan when I started driving. Outside of having a really large interior and trunk and looking handsome there wasn’t much to recommend it. The steering was slow and imprecise and the brakes grabby with the usual Ford nose dive. It was better to drive than my grandmother’s ‘64 wagon, but that car had evil handling and braking. Both were happiest in a straight line on a smooth highway.

The Ford truck is cool, I suspect that will bring more interest than either car.


Post# 760543 , Reply# 29   5/31/2014 at 00:50 (3,589 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        

redcarpetdrew's profile picture
Hi, Tim. If there is any interest in any of the cars, send me a good contact number and I will forward it to my customer (and her adult boys) and you can talk it out.

RCD


Post# 760778 , Reply# 30   6/1/2014 at 15:00 (3,587 days old) by 1952Crestwood ()        
The Country Squire.....

To help it find a loving new home, I can post it on a Country Squire enthusiast page on Facebook that I belong to. If you would like to provide a name and contact phone number I will be happy to post it to the group along with the pictures. Who knows? It might be someone's dream car.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO 1952Crestwood's LINK


Post# 760787 , Reply# 31   6/1/2014 at 16:05 (3,587 days old) by retropia ()        

There's a Country Squire enthusiast page on Facebook? I guess I should check it out.

Big Ford brakes did get better when they went to front discs. My '70 with discs is pretty good at braking.

My '66 full-size Mercury sedan with power drums all the way around, on the other hand, was a handful at times. You would press down on the brake pedal, not much braking action, push more on the pedal, and suddenly the brakes would go into full lock-up.

But back to washing machines, I hope that early Kenmore automatic finds a good home!



Post# 760882 , Reply# 32   6/2/2014 at 09:21 (3,587 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        
That's a kind offer!

redcarpetdrew's profile picture
Thank you, Robyn. I will contact my customer and make sure it's cool sending you her info. I can also take more pictures if needed.

RCD


Post# 760905 , Reply# 33   6/2/2014 at 11:34 (3,587 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c )        
If you want to see

Some of those Furys in action, Check out the movie Moonrunners on youtube!

Post# 760911 , Reply# 34   6/2/2014 at 12:29 (3,587 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E)        
1968 Squire:

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Looks like it's the frequently-seen Wimbledon White color with the Parchment interior. A lot were also sold in Lime Gold with the Ivy Green interior; I personally remember three of them in my neighborhood (these were the Avocado years for cars as well as appliances).

A Country Squire was the wagon to have in those days; Ford did a better job than any other manufacturer at making wagons that were easy to use. GM tried very hard to play catch-up, always matching Ford feature for feature, but never getting the popularity of Squires. Chrysler made some very nice wagons as well, but again, people really wanted a Squire. This is personal opinion, but to me, the wagon that actually came closest to the comfort and ease-of-use of a Squire was the AMC Ambassador SST wagon. The problem with those was that they were pricier than Squires, and didn't have anything like the resale value. But they were a damn solid deal if you were buying one used.

One of the things people liked about Squires is that they were very well-equipped standard, and if you whipped out your checkbook, they could be optioned up to Lincoln levels of luxury. You could have a 429 c.i.d. V-8 (I had a '70 with this engine), power everything, Astro-Sonic stereo and the same turbine-vaned wheel covers used on the Lincoln Continental Mark III (with unique LTD centers), among other goodies. They were incredibly comfortable on trips, nothing like the wagons that had been made only a few years before. If you went full-house with the options list, the list price was around $5500 in '68.

Here are ad shots showing one in Lime Gold, front and rear. Note the front grille, which is a knucklebuster to restore correctly. It's diecast pot-metal, and in the middle, the design elements are pierced to permit airflow. But on the far left and right, what looks like part of the grille is actually covers for the hidden headlights. The design elements are not pierced on these; flat black paint was used to simulate piercing. Getting all of this right on a restoration is, I hear, Not Fun:


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This post was last edited 06/02/2014 at 12:50
Post# 760926 , Reply# 35   6/2/2014 at 14:29 (3,586 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        
Focus people, focus!

revvinkevin's profile picture


 

As this is in the Imperial forum..... can we get back to the old bolt-down Kenmore automatic washing machine....? 

*Stubbornly standing my ground, rather than ducking and running!  tongue-out

 

Kevin




This post was last edited 06/02/2014 at 18:54
Post# 760946 , Reply# 36   6/2/2014 at 17:11 (3,586 days old) by hydralique (Los Angeles)        

Ford would unquestionably appreciate it if everyone would Focus, but I suspect the bolt down Kenmore would more likely fit inside the Country Squire . . .

 

Hopefully the Kenmore will find a good home, it would be such a cool addition to a Kenmore collection. I wonder how its performance compared to an early Westy Laundromat or Bendix? No doubt the first Unimatic made all those bolt-down machines look pretty primative once it hit the showrooms in the late '40s!


Post# 760951 , Reply# 37   6/2/2014 at 17:25 (3,586 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        

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Kevin, I never thought you to be stubborn. Well, not MUCH anyway...

RCD



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