1959 Kenmore Eighty - long road to Iowa

Hey Folks!

Thought I would share a quick video I put together this evening of the 59 Kenmore that has found a basement in Iowa to be the current residence it claims. I know this machine has quite the history with the group - from what I've been able to track it has been in the hands of 5 club members over the last 20 years! Thank you Bob, Tom/John, Greg, Don (for housing it in MN for months!), and anyone else I may be missing for keeping wonderful machines such as this Kenmore alive.

This, along with the amazing 1958 Kenmore Eighty, was on yours truly's dream machine list - and I can rest assured that it has now been checked off. While the machine is not perfect, it has a welcome home here. Didn't take much to get the machine up and going - anyone know how long since it has seen a wash? Just a quick rub down with a towel and some chrome cleaner - and it was ready for the photo shoot! I apologize that I don't have too many actual photos of the machine washing - but I hope everyone is able to enjoy.

I love these 1958/1959 model Eighty machines. Not quite as feature-packed as their big sister, the Lady Kenmore - but they still pack a punch. Thankfully though they were built with some very creative styling and options that set them apart from their model year siblings. The '59 Eighty model has pre-programmed settings/cycles that you first choose by turning the cycle selector to the desired cycle, pull out on the timer dial, then turn clockwise till the dial hits the stop cam. Push the dial in and away you go - no more guess work on temp selection, speed selection, or timed wash - this machine does it all for you! Just one more extra step compared to the '59 Lady K's one touch washing action. This machine also included the wonderful Waterfall Lint Filter - everyone's favorite belt-drive eye-candy; also included was the Kenmore scrubber cap and a 1 year only fabric softener dispenser. Oh yeah, did I forget the tub light too and extra exterior trim?

Over the next few days I'll pop up a few other machines that have fallen into my lap over the last year. The house project has taken me away from this great hobby - but still here wishing I was in the basement tinkering with a machine.

Please enjoy the short movie (see link below) for some demonstrations of a few above-mentioned features. I hope everyone enjoys this machine as much as I do.

Ben

CLICK HERE TO GO TO swestoyz's LINK


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Post# 245545 10/31/2007 at 22:41 (6,019 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)
Checkrate/Likes Hey Folks! Thought I would share a quick video I put together this evening of the 59 Kenmore that has found a basement in Iowa to be the current residence it claims. I know this machine has quite the history with the group - from what I've been able to track it has been in the hands of 5 club members over the last 20 years! Thank you Bob, Tom/John, Greg, Don (for housing it in MN for months!), and anyone else I may be missing for keeping wonderful machines such as this Kenmore alive. This, along with the amazing 1958 Kenmore Eighty, was on yours truly's dream machine list - and I can rest assured that it has now been checked off. While the machine is not perfect, it has a welcome home here. Didn't take much to get the machine up and going - anyone know how long since it has seen a wash? Just a quick rub down with a towel and some chrome cleaner - and it was ready for the photo shoot! I apologize that I don't have too many actual photos of the machine washing - but I hope everyone is able to enjoy. I love these 1958/1959 model Eighty machines. Not quite as feature-packed as their big sister, the Lady Kenmore - but they still pack a punch. Thankfully though they were built with some very creative styling and options that set them apart from their model year siblings. The '59 Eighty model has pre-programmed settings/cycles that you first choose by turning the cycle selector to the desired cycle, pull out on the timer dial, then turn clockwise till the dial hits the stop cam. Push the dial in and away you go - no more guess work on temp selection, speed selection, or timed wash - this machine does it all for you! Just one more extra step compared to the '59 Lady K's one touch washing action. This machine also included the wonderful Waterfall Lint Filter - everyone's favorite belt-drive eye-candy; also included was the Kenmore scrubber cap and a 1 year only fabric softener dispenser. Oh yeah, did I forget the tub light too and extra exterior trim? Over the next few days I'll pop up a few other machines that have fallen into my lap over the last year. The house project has taken me away from this great hobby - but still here wishing I was in the basement tinkering with a machine. Please enjoy the short movie (see link below) for some demonstrations of a few above-mentioned features. I hope everyone enjoys this machine as much as I do. Ben CLICK HERE TO GO TO swestoyz's LINK

Post# 245547 , Reply# 1 10/31/2007 at 22:45 (6,019 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)
Checkrate/Likes *Panel Shot -* As found in the short video. Choose your letter, dial it in, set your water level and away you wash!

Post# 245548 , Reply# 2 10/31/2007 at 22:47 (6,019 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)
Checkrate/Likes *Timer Dial* As explained earlier - you can twist either clockwise or counter-clockwise to the desired cycle. Pull the center dial out, turn clockwise till it stops, then press in to start.

Post# 245549 , Reply# 3 10/31/2007 at 22:47 (6,019 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)
Checkrate/Likes Front panel shot ~

Post# 245550 , Reply# 4 10/31/2007 at 22:48 (6,019 days old) by tlee618 ()
Checkrate/Likes Ben that was really fun!! Thanks for taking the time to share it with us. Hope all is going great for you. Terry

Post# 245551 , Reply# 5 10/31/2007 at 22:48 (6,019 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)
Checkrate/Likes Switched the door to the factory left-swinging opening.

Post# 245552 , Reply# 6 10/31/2007 at 22:50 (6,019 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)
Checkrate/Likes *Lid Open* Hopefully it opens correctly - was a pain to get that clip adjusted right.

Post# 245554 , Reply# 7 10/31/2007 at 22:51 (6,019 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)
Checkrate/Likes *Last one: Tub Shot - Tub Filling* As assumed ;-) Enjoy ~

Post# 245555 , Reply# 8 10/31/2007 at 23:06 (6,019 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)
Checkrate/Likes *I love it* The one and only Multiple Choice washer!

Post# 245556 , Reply# 9 10/31/2007 at 23:15 (6,019 days old) by 70series ( Connecticut.)
Checkrate/Likes THANK YOU! That was awesome! Good choice of mood music in the background as the (almost) Lady seduces us by swishing her voluptuous Roto Swirl. Have a good one, James

Post# 245563 , Reply# 10 10/31/2007 at 23:34 (6,019 days old) by aldspinboy (Philadelphia, Pa)
Checkrate/Likes Thats just perfect!!! What a beautiful kenmore washer..... i never seen that model! Thanks for posting the pics & video i really feel im right there, that's one of the best shots & tasteful washing machine video iv'e seen in months!! Thanks again. Darren k

Post# 245564 , Reply# 11 10/31/2007 at 23:38 (6,019 days old) by peteski50 (New York)
Checkrate/Likes *Kenmore!* Ben, Real Cool machine - It looks in real Great condition. Best Of Luck with it. Peter

Post# 245565 , Reply# 12 10/31/2007 at 23:41 (6,019 days old) by frontaloadotmy (the cool gay realm)
Checkrate/Likes *That was great Ben* A very nice Kenmore!!!

Post# 245566 , Reply# 13 10/31/2007 at 23:47 (6,019 days old) by appnut (TX)
Checkrate/Likes Ben, thanks for all the detail and video. This washer has always fascinated me. Bob

Post# 245570 , Reply# 14 12/31/2069 at 18:00 (19,837 days old) by peteski50 (New York)
Checkrate/Likes *Vidio!* I just viewed the vidio - it is in awsome shape Best Wishes Peter

Post# 245576 , Reply# 15 12/31/2069 at 18:00 (19,837 days old) by powerfin64 (Yakima, Washington)
Checkrate/Likes *BRAVO!!!* what a fantastic Video! I too, have been fasinated by this washer. Is there a Mate, the dryer lurking close by? Rich

Post# 245586 , Reply# 16 11/1/2007 at 04:55 (6,018 days old) by laundryshark (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
Checkrate/Likes *Well Done, Ben!* Great descriptions, video and audio. Very well orchestrated. Thanks for sharing.--Laundry Shark

Post# 245593 , Reply# 17 11/1/2007 at 06:31 (6,018 days old) by cycla-fabric (New Jersey (Northern))
Checkrate/Likes *Excellent Kenmore* What a nice Kenmore you have there and the video was great too! My mom's sister had that same machine complete with suds saver and all. What's ironic is that my other aunt had the matching dryer with the lint storage system. Enjoy!

Post# 245596 , Reply# 18 11/1/2007 at 06:51 (6,018 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)
Checkrate/Likes That's a beautiful washer, Ben! Great video too - I've played with Don's '59 and it sure is a nice machine.

Post# 245600 , Reply# 19 11/1/2007 at 07:05 (6,018 days old) by harvestgold (Deland, Florida )
Checkrate/Likes *Kenmore washer* Ben ; Wow awesome machine what a beauty i just love all the chrome trim on kenmore machines thanks for sharing John

Post# 245609 , Reply# 20 11/1/2007 at 08:27 (6,018 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA)
Checkrate/Likes Beautiful, classic machine. The "pregnant" Roto-Swirl was the best Roto-Swirl (IMO) and I'm sure you will have great results washing in this machine. Of course, it is always good to have a Unimatic close by (such as you do) to provide that extra water extraction! Have fun Ben!

Post# 245623 , Reply# 21 11/1/2007 at 10:19 (6,018 days old) by pdub (Portland, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes Ben, That video was great. I'm very impressed with your talent. Beautiful washer too that would be great fun to play with. thanks, Patrick

Post# 245626 , Reply# 22 11/1/2007 at 10:35 (6,018 days old) by dadoes (TX,�U.S. of A.)
Checkrate/Likes Gorgeous machine! When I saw one (for the first time) at John Lefever's warehouse, it took me a couple minutes to figure out the dial, LOL.

Post# 245636 , Reply# 23 11/1/2007 at 11:28 (6,018 days old) by unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)
Checkrate/Likes Fabulous video Ben! Congrats on another beautiful machine.

Post# 245671 , Reply# 24 11/1/2007 at 17:31 (6,018 days old) by hooverwheelaway ()
Checkrate/Likes Way neat-o! Never seen anything like it! Watching machines do their thing is really quite mesmerizing! ~Fred

Post# 245676 , Reply# 25 11/1/2007 at 17:45 (6,018 days old) by rickr (.)
Checkrate/Likes Beautiful machine Ben! Now you know how I love the classic belt drives from the 1950's...... <: Loved the video! And the music was perfect! <:

Post# 245735 , Reply# 26 11/2/2007 at 00:41 (6,017 days old) by sdlee (south dakota)
Checkrate/Likes I hadnt seen this modle either. Its way cool. Wish you would have left the lid alone ( just a personal preference, not trying to tell you what you should or shouldnt do) but it was the first unique thing i noticed about it. Congrats tho, really awesome

Post# 245799 , Reply# 27 11/2/2007 at 09:50 (6,017 days old) by tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)
Checkrate/Likes I remember seeing the dryer at an estate sale in College Park, MD years ago. It was all auto dry, but you just turned the dial to the proper letter like a regular timer dial.

Post# 245809 , Reply# 28 11/2/2007 at 10:34 (6,017 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)
Checkrate/Likes *HI Ben--I asked Geoff to give you my best* Isn't it neat the way modern dials turn every which way, but with the old ones--big No No, except for the R.'s 47 GE, and now your beautiful Kenmore. Gasping over the Suds, and surprised at another little twist in that machine: the lever for suds return or save --a feature so common in GE's , but not in Kenmores--hmmmm, that's two GE KM commonalities. Makes you wonder. Give your baby more credit when comparing to the Lady. You have to turn a wheel, turn a dial; the Lady press a button, turn a dial. We have to read for both of them, then start. What a great flick that was to watch during breakfast. Wonderful. Thank you.

Post# 245928 , Reply# 29 11/2/2007 at 19:53 (6,017 days old) by lightedcontrols ()
Checkrate/Likes *WOW!* Ben, The timer reminds me of the Hotpoint ''Wonder Dial'' that Robert demonstrated. Really beautiful machine. Congratulations!!! Mark

Post# 245941 , Reply# 30 11/2/2007 at 21:07 (6,017 days old) by abcomatic (Bradford, Illinois)
Checkrate/Likes Ben, Great find and wonderful video. How is your house coming? Gary

Post# 246199 , Reply# 31 11/4/2007 at 06:54 (6,015 days old) by dick_s. ()
Checkrate/Likes Ben-Just a quick line to say your 59 Kenmore is fabulous! Congratulations guy, and enjoy many happy washes. Dick S.

Post# 246347 , Reply# 32 11/4/2007 at 19:37 (6,015 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)
Checkrate/Likes Great video! Interesting to learn how the control dial works. I had a '59 Sears catalog for years and always wondered about that dial.