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Thread Number: 10928
1956 Kenmore restoration project |
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| Post# 198230 3/18/2007 at 15:43 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 198231 , Reply# 1 3/18/2007 at 15:45 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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it got an acid wash | ||
| Post# 198232 , Reply# 2 3/18/2007 at 15:46 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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another | ||
| Post# 198233 , Reply# 3 3/18/2007 at 15:49 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 198234 , Reply# 4 3/18/2007 at 15:51 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 198235 , Reply# 5 3/18/2007 at 15:53 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 198236 , Reply# 6 3/18/2007 at 15:54 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 198237 , Reply# 7 3/18/2007 at 15:57 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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after pixs | ||
| Post# 198238 , Reply# 8 3/18/2007 at 15:58 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 198239 , Reply# 9 3/18/2007 at 15:59 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 198241 , Reply# 10 3/18/2007 at 16:01 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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Post# 198242 , Reply# 11 3/18/2007 at 16:03 (6,241 days old) by gansky1  (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!) |
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| Post# 198243 , Reply# 12 3/18/2007 at 16:06 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 198244 , Reply# 13 3/18/2007 at 16:08 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 198246 , Reply# 14 3/18/2007 at 16:11 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 198247 , Reply# 15 3/18/2007 at 16:12 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 198248 , Reply# 16 3/18/2007 at 16:14 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 198250 , Reply# 17 3/18/2007 at 16:16 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 198251 , Reply# 18 3/18/2007 at 16:18 (6,241 days old) by decodriveboy (FL, US) | ||
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I love the color you chose! | ||
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Post# 198255 , Reply# 19 3/18/2007 at 16:19 (6,241 days old) by gadgetgary (Bristol,CT) |
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Congrats | ||
| Post# 198256 , Reply# 20 3/18/2007 at 16:20 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 198257 , Reply# 21 3/18/2007 at 16:23 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 198258 , Reply# 22 3/18/2007 at 16:25 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 198259 , Reply# 23 3/18/2007 at 16:27 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 198261 , Reply# 24 3/18/2007 at 16:31 (6,241 days old) by westytoploader () | ||
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Rick, what a FANTASTIC job you did on the restoration! I would have never recognized it from the after pictures! Congratulations! | ||
| Post# 198263 , Reply# 25 3/18/2007 at 16:33 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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The entire panel lights up on this machine. It uses six 7watt bulbs. The Temp control lights up Red for hot Amber for medand Green for warm. The water level lights up Red for high, Amber for med, and Green for low. It also has the 40watt tub lamp, and the blue ozone lamp for the tub. So this machine has eight lights total. How fun is that?? I really love this machine. <: Thank you once again for saving it Greg! 
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| Post# 198275 , Reply# 27 3/18/2007 at 17:05 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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Post# 198281 , Reply# 28 3/18/2007 at 17:19 (6,241 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions) |
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| Post# 198292 , Reply# 29 3/18/2007 at 18:07 (6,241 days old) by northwesty (Renton, WA) | ||
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Really an amazing restoration There aren't too many of these out there. Was the plastic panel okay or was that redone too? I couldn't tell from the before picture - too dark on my computer. Again, great job inside and out - I know rechroming, etc., isn't cheap. | ||
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Post# 198301 , Reply# 31 3/18/2007 at 18:39 (6,241 days old) by unimatic1140 (Minneapolis) |
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Post# 198309 , Reply# 32 3/18/2007 at 19:07 (6,241 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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Rick - again, another AMAZING resto from your garage! The color choice was superb - your paint guy is great! I am so glad that you took pictures of the whole process, you really put a lot of hard work and dedication into this amazing machine - thanks for sharing. The '56 looks nice and cozy with the company of the basement. Enjoy ~ Ben | ||
| Post# 198310 , Reply# 33 3/18/2007 at 19:08 (6,241 days old) by bestcleaning () | ||
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Great job, Rick. These restorations are very cool. Did you paint the porcelain of top and lid? I’d like to see your Kenmore turquoise set. | ||
| Post# 198312 , Reply# 34 3/18/2007 at 19:09 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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Have you got the balls to prove it?? <:
Thanks Robert! Nice to be able to see the original catalog ad for this machine too! Thank you. I have seen ads for this machine with pink listed as an option, but not the Seefoam Green. I don't care if it did or did not come that way, because I love the mint green also. One of the rarer colours I think. This one is a "he" btw, and here are the balls to prove it! lol! 
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Post# 198313 , Reply# 35 3/18/2007 at 19:10 (6,241 days old) by sambootoo (Moody, AL) |
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Great job!!! That is awfully close if not the washer that I grew up with...the one that got me started as a washerholic. Somewhere there's a photo of me standing on a chair beside my mom's Kenmore. I remember those glowing temp and water level lights. Very neat. Glad you saved another treasure. | ||
| Post# 198315 , Reply# 36 3/18/2007 at 19:16 (6,241 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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Thanks Guys! Here is a pixs of the restored "guts" of this boy. There was nobody around when it came time to reinstall this into cabinet. (of course) So... I tipped the whole thing upside down, then lifted the cabinet upside down over the mechanism. Secured it, and turn the whole cabinet and mechanism upright again. Not an easy task to do quickly, but I did it, and only a few drops of oil had leaked out. It is amazing what one can do when one has to do it! <: 
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Post# 198322 , Reply# 37 3/18/2007 at 20:02 (6,241 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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Rick, that is so beautiful. You really do know how to pull off a great restoration! Fabulous green color! | ||
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Post# 198330 , Reply# 38 3/18/2007 at 20:38 (6,241 days old) by peteski50 (New York) |
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Kenmore! | ||
| Post# 198335 , Reply# 39 3/18/2007 at 21:04 (6,241 days old) by golittlesport (California) | ||
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Post# 198338 , Reply# 40 3/18/2007 at 21:29 (6,241 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie) |
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Thanks for all the great pics of your restoration. It's nothing short of stunning---great choice of color, too. I'm always amazed that you can take a 51-year old rusted out, battery acid-scarred washer and make it look (and operate) as if it's showroom new. Absolutely beautiful, Rick. I can't imagine how proud you must be! Congratulations and thanks for sharing with us. | ||
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Post# 198369 , Reply# 41 3/19/2007 at 02:53 (6,241 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia) |
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What a beautiful colour! | ||
| Post# 198373 , Reply# 42 3/19/2007 at 03:45 (6,241 days old) by lederstiefel1 () | ||
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restauration U N B E L I E V A B L E!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STUNNING!!!! Ralf | ||
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Post# 198386 , Reply# 43 3/19/2007 at 06:09 (6,241 days old) by kenmore58 (Rhode Island) |
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| Post# 198398 , Reply# 44 3/19/2007 at 08:56 (6,240 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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Thank you guys! I really love this machine. I was looking for a 1957 Kenmore, because that is what we had when I lived with my parents as a kid. Moms 57 KM was still in use when I left home. I remember helping mom fold towels and washclothes down the basement as the 57KM was running. Of course I also recall the wonderful sounds it made! I could not find a 1957 model, but Gregm offered me this 1956 model. It was close enough for me. <: Anyway, the machine sat in my garage for almost three years. I dreaded starting with it, because I knew it was going to be a difficult restoration. In fact I kept finding more machines to restore, and kept "bumping this one to the end of the line" I tore this one down last spring, and finally got all the parts back from the platers, and was able to put it back together this past fall. Have been using it all winter, and just LOVE it! Was going to make this one pink, until I found the 1958 pink Maytag set in 2005. I picked the Seafoam Green instead. I think it looks really nice with that colour, and the gold knobs and the all white control panel really set it off. The machine has all new hoses,pump, seals, bearings, clutch and spin tube, plus I added the waterfall filter system during the restoration. (The filter system was only available in 1956 as an option. The filter system became standard on all models in 1957) The motor was reusable,as well as the transmition. Both were torn down and serviced. The timer was repairable, even after the acid bath. The machine also has an end of cycle signal bell, which is really cool feature! The original bell was destroyed because of the acid bath. The signal bell is the exact same as used on the old Maytag dryers, and I had an extra bell, and was able to use that one on this machine. The bell chimes once every 30 seconds or so, during the last minute or two of the final spin cycle. The bell also chimes if the out of balance switch is tripped. All in all, this is a fairly "high tech" machine for 1956. I have a couple pixs of the console without the "hood" on, so the lights,timer, and signal bell are shown.Will try to find those pixs and post them too. Thanks again for all the nice comments! <: | ||
| Post# 198444 , Reply# 45 3/19/2007 at 16:59 (6,240 days old) by customline (pennsylvania) | ||
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Customline replies WOW !!!!!! | ||
| Post# 198456 , Reply# 46 3/19/2007 at 17:56 (6,240 days old) by helicaldrive (St. Louis) | ||
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Awesome job Rick You didn't tell me you had her restored and running! There aren't enough superlatives for it. | ||
| Post# 198460 , Reply# 47 3/19/2007 at 18:05 (6,240 days old) by alr2903 (TN) | ||
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OMG RickR we are going to have to start calling you the Miracle Worker. I really do like the color you picked. There are Some in this group that would have taken this project on, but not Many. You really have talent. It's Fabulous. arthur. | ||
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Post# 198461 , Reply# 48 3/19/2007 at 18:08 (6,240 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay) |
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Post# 198473 , Reply# 49 3/19/2007 at 18:51 (6,240 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers) |
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WOW RICK
Thar be some restoration! That takes ALOT of work and time!! I have only done a few Frigidiares that honor in my time,- now I am lazy and just get the mechanicals back to working condition. I love the that color, I love that floating console I never noticed it before and ofcourse you have my favorite agitator in there Mr Atomic Bomb!! Did your chrome guy do the filling in of the pits or did you? Is that a spray enamel on the top cabinet, it looks as durable as porcelain? The 56 frog eye you helped me with last fall, it has the filter system too, so would that have been an option on my machine? Nice POST! jon & al | ||
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Post# 198488 , Reply# 50 3/19/2007 at 20:05 (6,240 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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| Post# 198521 , Reply# 51 3/19/2007 at 22:08 (6,240 days old) by dick_s. () | ||
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Hi Rick! well, after almost every adjective has already been used by other members to describle your gorgeous 56 Cycla Fabric, what is left for me to say than "absolutely superb" guy. A magnificent restoration. And the color! My favorite! Dick_S. | ||
| Post# 198523 , Reply# 52 3/19/2007 at 22:12 (6,240 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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Thanks you guys! Shucks....You are all just too kind! <: At any rate, the paint is single stage automotive grade enamel. It is VERY durable, but not as durable as the original porcelain, since porcelain is paint with a glass coating on top of it. However as we all know, porcelain can scratch and chip too! So... We be careful with our classic machines. <: It's the only way to be! The plating company filled in the missing metal. And they charged me plenty for it.... But, it was lots of work, and they do a great job. Am thankful they were able to repair the damage. A perfect console is important to me. (just my thing) BTW: someone asked about the plastic on the console, and I forgot about that until just now. Sorry! The plastic was not damaged by the acid. Only the metal parts were damaged, and the porcelain. The spin basket was ok, although the porcelain is etched at the bottom, as the acid ran through the holes in it.(It is hard to notice it.) The outer tub had acid damage, that ate through the metal however. Acid eats it's way out. And this machine had a full batterys worth of acid ran though it. Jon, are you sure your Frog Eye is a 1956? If it is, they lady must have ordered the optional lint filter. I was thinking your was a 57 model, but can't really remember. What is the model number. Usually KM is easy to figure out. It's like: 110.56xxxxxxxx And the first two numbers are 110 volts (I think) Then after the dot is the model year. (but may or may not be the BUILD year however) So check it out,and let us know Jon. Tomorrow I will scan and post a few more pics that I found. The inside of the console. Kind of cool how it was built. <: | ||
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Post# 198571 , Reply# 53 3/20/2007 at 04:11 (6,240 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands) |
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Post# 198647 , Reply# 54 3/20/2007 at 14:06 (6,239 days old) by petek (Ontari ari ari O ) |
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| Post# 198702 , Reply# 55 3/20/2007 at 20:11 (6,239 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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Under the console pixs | ||
| Post# 198704 , Reply# 56 3/20/2007 at 20:26 (6,239 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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Rear shot of console. The timer motor has some etching on the it, but the acid did not seem to harm it.I only had to lube the motor to get it running again. The timer contacts had to be cleaned and adjusted in the timer. I was able to do that myself, rather than having to send it in. It was stamped: REBUILT 6/ 1960 So the timer had been rebuilt at one point during this machines former lifetime. The wiring was undamaged by the acid, and I was forever thankful of that! I did make a few small repairs to the harness, however they did not relate to acid damage. The acid poured over the console cover, down into the gray console base, and then leaked out on the top of the machine, and into the wash basket and outer tub. Note the new pressure switch, and of course the replacement end of cycle bell (used) The windings for the original bell were of very fine gauge wire, and were destroyed by the acid. 
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| Post# 198707 , Reply# 57 3/20/2007 at 20:31 (6,239 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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LIGHTS ON! And yes that is a 1961 Frigidaire washer knob on there for testing. There is a small refecter just behind each coloured dial that refects the light from the lamps through the dial and into the lens of the console face. The dials turn with the knob and change the text and colour with the stem of the control. Very simple, but how vintage fun is that? <: 
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| Post# 198709 , Reply# 58 3/20/2007 at 20:34 (6,239 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 198710 , Reply# 59 3/20/2007 at 20:36 (6,239 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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Before pix of the back (again) | ||
| Post# 198713 , Reply# 60 3/20/2007 at 20:43 (6,239 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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After pixs of the back (first time) | ||
| Post# 198755 , Reply# 62 3/20/2007 at 23:59 (6,239 days old) by wannapinkset () | ||
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Its Beee-U-T-Foool! I am in lust and positively pea green with envy. You did a fab job! | ||
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Post# 198784 , Reply# 64 3/21/2007 at 08:07 (6,238 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut) |
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Rosebud
I have never appreciated Kenmores until today. You did an award-winning job of restoration! That sea-foam green color is fantastic; did you do it yourself or did you have it done? And something about that black agitator next to that beautiful white tub with the four rows of holes on the bottom takes me back somewhere...
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| Post# 198788 , Reply# 65 3/21/2007 at 09:25 (6,238 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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Thanks! I can't believe that we have a member of the Kenmore Hater Club showing love to the "Green Machine" Thats a WOW for me! <: I have a friend that is the painter at the Porche-Audi-Mazda dealership. He never charges me for anything but the paint and materials.He restores cars also, and we take our cars to car shows together in the summer. Good friend to have! The bulbs are just standard clear 7watt nightlight bulbs, so they are very easy to get. The sticker on the rear of the machine came right off just by pulling on it. It had been wet so many times the glue was "gone" I put the sticker on straight when I re-attached it. So the 110. on Sears appliances stands for the department? Cool! I did not know that. Thank you! | ||
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Post# 198796 , Reply# 66 3/21/2007 at 11:01 (6,238 days old) by coldspot66 (Plymouth, Mass) |
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Sears uses a 3 digit "source code" for appliances. 110 is Whirlpool sourced laundry; 665 is Whirlpool sourced cooking and dishwasher: 363 is GE; 293 is Frigidaire etc. When I get a service call for a Kenmore appliance, I always ask for a model # because it can be any brand. | ||
| Post# 198799 , Reply# 67 3/21/2007 at 11:19 (6,238 days old) by laundryshark (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) | ||
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Video Demonstration? Greegings, Rick--Big congrats on your most successful restoration of that classic '56 Kenmore. Are you planning to share a video/audio demo of your machine?--Laundry Shark | ||
| Post# 198852 , Reply# 68 3/21/2007 at 17:32 (6,238 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 198891 , Reply# 69 3/21/2007 at 20:51 (6,238 days old) by bethann (Indianapolis) | ||
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Wow! She looks wonderful Rick! Your just so much a perfectionist!I love it! Congrads to you for all your hard work! It paid off! Can't wait to see her in person. XO | ||
| Post# 199024 , Reply# 70 3/22/2007 at 18:44 (6,237 days old) by gregm () | ||
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wow stunning Rick, amazing job, you should and am sure are very proud, you sure put A LOT of time, money and effort into that machine and you didn't skimp or miss a bolt. I still cannot get over the before and after. Unbelievable .......... | ||
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Post# 199026 , Reply# 71 3/22/2007 at 18:51 (6,237 days old) by trainguy (Key West, FL) |
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Congrats Rick | ||
| Post# 199038 , Reply# 72 3/22/2007 at 19:34 (6,237 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 199236 , Reply# 74 3/23/2007 at 22:09 (6,236 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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Hi Tim I had the top sandblasted to remove the porcelain. The cabinet, and parts were bead blasted. The parts should be primed with etching primer, then regular primer, then the finish coat. My friend painted the inside of all cabinet parts with spray POR15 for car frames. It is not shiny like the POR15 that I have used. This looks dull and is rough, almost like auto body undercoating. Good luck with your projects, and be sure to share the photos with us. <: | ||
| Post# 199349 , Reply# 75 3/24/2007 at 17:31 (6,235 days old) by drmitch () | ||
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Beautiful restoration,Rick! You ar my Idol! :) (Bows down) | ||
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