Thread Number: 1681
Steve-Gyrofoam Visits The Mighty Plains
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Post# 61613   3/29/2005 at 15:51 (6,939 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

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Steve/Gyrofoam drove out to Omaha last week for a visit and to deliver a pick-up load of appliances from back east. We had a great time all last week and really enjoyed working on machines, washing and getting fat on Steve's wonderful cooking & baking!! Chocolate fudge pound cake, chili, cornbread, pecan pie...oh yeah, the appliances! The following pics are just a few candids of what Steve brought out:

This first one is the KitchenAid KDC-14 dishwasher that came from Steve 1-18 in Augusta, GA. Steve and I cleaned it up and installed it in the kitchen one afternoon. It works perfectly and turned out beautiful! Thanks again Steve1-18!





Post# 61614 , Reply# 1   3/29/2005 at 15:55 (6,939 days old) by westytoploader ()        

I'm dying to see more pictures!!!

As for Steve's cooking...my mouth is watering right now!


Post# 61615 , Reply# 2   3/29/2005 at 15:56 (6,939 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        
Turquoise - Yay!!!

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This picture is of a turquoise Maytag pair that Steve brought out from John L in Maryland. They found these on one of their mightnight appliance shopping trips and rescued them from further abuse and crushing. Unfortunately, they had been tossed out of the truck on their left sides so they have some porcelain chippage, but as long as I've waited to get these machines, we'll make them beautiful again. (I got rid of a pair just like these 8 years ago and have been looking for them again ever since)

Post# 61616 , Reply# 3   3/29/2005 at 15:58 (6,938 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
Here is Steve watching the 1955 Kelvinator I've been working on. We got it all back together and gave it a test run in the garage while Steve was here. It was freezing that day and our hands were like ice, but we got wet playing in the Magic Minute anyway!

Post# 61617 , Reply# 4   3/29/2005 at 15:59 (6,938 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        
1955 Magic Minute

gansky1's profile picture
Look at those SWOOSHES!!

The Kelvi is running very nicely, I have a few adjustments to make to the suspension/damper assembly and then can move it downstairs.


Post# 61618 , Reply# 5   3/29/2005 at 16:05 (6,938 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        
How did I miss this??

gansky1's profile picture
Look what came in my 1960 General Electric automatic washer!

I have this washer pulled out of it's spot to replace the lower tranny seal, which I did Saturday. What a greasy mess under her skirt! The lower seal leaked oil onto the pulley which flung it all over the underside of the machine, dribbled down the skirt (or apron as GE calls it) and onto the floor. I'm glad I found this Tide to wash all those nasty rags!


Post# 61619 , Reply# 6   3/29/2005 at 16:11 (6,938 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        
1968 GE combo

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Steve and I also moved the GE combo (from craiglist-chicago) downstairs and hooked it up. It worked right out of the shipping box with only a minor belt adjustment so we moved it downstairs after Steve did a beautiful job detailing it. It still needs some adjustment to the pulleys - I have pulley rattle in one of them, but all in all, a great find!

Post# 61621 , Reply# 7   3/29/2005 at 16:47 (6,938 days old) by geoffdelp (SAUK RAPIDS)        

Greg ...

They are all BEAUTIFUL! Congratulations!!

Geoff


Post# 61623 , Reply# 8   3/29/2005 at 16:48 (6,938 days old) by westytoploader ()        

YAY!!! Great pics Greg! Congratulations on the GE Combo...Steve you did a great job cleaning it up!

--Austin


Post# 61643 , Reply# 9   3/29/2005 at 18:57 (6,938 days old) by fnelson487 (Palm Springs, CA)        
Beautiful KDC-14!!

fnelson487's profile picture
Greg - That KDC-14 is a beauty. How about some inside shots? Having installed it in the kitchen, I assume you will be using it as a daily driver. I use my KDI-14 as an overflow machine. The top rack comes out completely with no problem and you can put all kinds of large items in it. Can't wait to see all those machines in person! Thanks again for all your help with my KitchenAid 14.

Fred


Post# 61644 , Reply# 10   3/29/2005 at 19:49 (6,938 days old) by rickr (.)        
The Newbies

rickr's profile picture
Greg those are all wonderful classic machines. My favorites are the Maytags. It is too bad that someone shoved them off a truck like that,however I am certain you will bring them back to life. Do you have,or can you get the console glass lens? They are a really nice set!

Congrats,
Rick


Post# 61652 , Reply# 11   3/29/2005 at 20:35 (6,938 days old) by peteski50 (New York)        
Steve-Gyrofoam Visits The Mighty Plains

peteski50's profile picture
Wow Greg what a weekend. I see you guys had a real great time. I love to see so many great appliances being enjoyed.
Best Wishes
Peter



Post# 61656 , Reply# 12   3/29/2005 at 21:24 (6,938 days old) by veg-o-matic (Baltimore, Hon!)        

veg-o-matic's profile picture
Oh, great. Now I want a GE combo! Man, I have GOT to stop looking at these pictures!

Congrats--they all look swell!

veg


Post# 61658 , Reply# 13   3/29/2005 at 21:39 (6,938 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture
Just as you described all to me!! (Including the food)

Post# 61669 , Reply# 14   3/29/2005 at 22:26 (6,938 days old) by Gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA)        

WOW! What a trip! I had the best of times washing in the many beautiful machines in Greg's basement! I remembered Kelvinator's from my childhood but I did not remember their nearly silent operation! Oh, and the Unimatics, and the '53 Duomatic,the '64 Hotpoint, and I even broke down and used the Duets! The Maytag 906 washer (on steroids) was most unusual--- that thing was baaaaad! I was so glad I could help Greg get that awful Whirly ("Tall-Tub" dishwasher) out of there and get that awesome KAid in! That dishwasher has MUCH class! I really enjoyed the challenge of trying to cook on an electric range-----it was a gorgeous vintage Frigidaire, but alas---I am used to the gassy type! Greg and his son were the most gracious hosts so the week flew by and I had to head home. BUT---I'll be back in June!!!!!! I am looking forward to meeting everyone and ya'll save up that laundry------you are in for a treat!!!!! -Steve

Post# 61672 , Reply# 15   3/29/2005 at 22:40 (6,938 days old) by scott55405 ()        

Well, you sure are brave visiting all those northern places at this time of year, but glad to hear you had a great time!

Post# 61674 , Reply# 16   3/29/2005 at 23:12 (6,938 days old) by kenmore1978 ()        
Tall Tub

I keep reading about "tall tub" dishwashers, what's different about them? How can they be any taller if they still have to fit under a standard counter?

Post# 61676 , Reply# 17   3/29/2005 at 23:29 (6,938 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

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The motor and pump are turned sideways so the bottom of the tub is lower.

Post# 61677 , Reply# 18   3/29/2005 at 23:52 (6,938 days old) by golittlesport (California)        

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Sounds like and looks like so much fun!!! Beautiful Kelvinator. Where on earth are you going to put all these new appliances???? You must have run plumbing into the "guest bedroom" downstairs. Thanks for sharing your pictures and making me hungry.

Post# 61683 , Reply# 19   3/30/2005 at 05:07 (6,938 days old) by mikepaquette ()        
KD 14---- KD11

HI I have a KD11 in the kitchen as a second machine & use it every second day, QUESTION what is the difference in timer cycles ?? Is there any difference in the racks? Does it still have the big blue wash arm or the X wash arm. I also notice the thumb switch in the handle instead of the push down switch. Very nice machine, all of your finds, Very nice. Michael

Post# 61686 , Reply# 20   3/30/2005 at 06:24 (6,938 days old) by bethann (Indianapolis)        
WOW!

What a fun time! And all those presents at one time! It will be such a delight to see this stuff in person in June!

Post# 61689 , Reply# 21   3/30/2005 at 07:11 (6,938 days old) by retromom ()        
Wow...all this and great food too!

Greg and Steve:

Fantastic, Fantastic, Fantastic!! It looks like Spring Break was great fun for you. All I can say is "C'mon Omaha!!"

Steve: Glad to see you enjoyed cooking on Greg's range. We all expect you to turn out some delicious treats in June! :-D

Venus


Post# 61694 , Reply# 22   3/30/2005 at 08:39 (6,938 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

unimatic1140's profile picture
Hi Greg, wonderful pictures. Looks like the Kelvinator is running beautifully now, can't wait to see it. I've never seen the blue dasher cap before, its very rare!

Congrats on the dishwasher too, should I get the "Acme Modern Appliance Launcher" ready for that silly Whirlpool tall tub dishwasher?


Post# 61715 , Reply# 23   3/30/2005 at 12:41 (6,938 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        

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Oh my oh my, what a wonderful things you got! I hope there is still room for people in your house in June!!!

Post# 61719 , Reply# 24   3/30/2005 at 15:23 (6,938 days old) by Brent-Aucoin ()        
Wow! You guys had fun!

Greg,
Thanks for sharing all of the great pictures!
I can't get over how fantastic the GE Combo looks. I also did not know that you were the one to get it. It is beautiful! Man, now you have just about every combo except the Lady Kenmore. Steve is great at detailing the machines. He is so precise on getting them showroom clean!
Give us a run-down sometimes from a consumers point of view of the washing ablility of your combo's.
You are one lucky guy!
Glad you both had such a good time.
Thanks again for the pictures of your visit!
Brent


Post# 61737 , Reply# 25   3/30/2005 at 16:54 (6,937 days old) by PeterH770 (Marietta, GA)        

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I do not put it past Greg to come up with a Norge combo by convention time!

Post# 61805 , Reply# 26   3/31/2005 at 00:20 (6,937 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
Thanks for all the great comments and congrats - yes, we do have a bit of a space issue, which is nothing new, but I removed a wall in the basement between the south room and the "middle room" which is where the GE combo and several dishwashers will go. Not only space for a few more appliances, but LOTS more room for our conventioneers!

The Maytags will need a considerable amount of work, but fortunately, I have quite a few of the parts I'll need for cosmetic restoration - panel glass, new top, etc. that came with them and I have a very good source for the other parts I might need locally as well. Now to find the time! I'm just so excited to have them "back" again, the restoration work will be a piece of (chocolate fudge pound) cake!

Here is a pic of the KDC-14 interior - just MINT! I've been running it nearly every day and have yet to find anything not perfectly clean. Since this was a gravity drain machine, I wired a pump from a Whirly "World" portable washer in series with the motor. Since the motor and new pump are running through the whole washing/rinsing cycle, we get the added benefit of the pump carrying away any water that may run out the overflow tube - in left front corner of tub. The power of the circulation pump is incredible and the sounds of the water blasting the dishes sends chills down your back - these cast iron wash arm machines were the most powerful dishwashers Hobart-KitchenAid made. I was skeptical of the short wash cycle, 6 3/4 minutes, but so far everything has been spotless.


Post# 61818 , Reply# 27   3/31/2005 at 06:24 (6,937 days old) by kenmore1978 ()        
gravity drain

"Since this was a gravity drain machine, I wired a pump from a Whirly "World" portable washer in series with the motor. Since the motor and new pump are running through the whole washing/rinsing cycle, we get the added benefit of the pump carrying away any water that may run out the overflow tube - in left front corner of tub."

So is there a solenoid that opens when it's time to drain? Of course, in a normal situation the water would drain into a pipe that went through the floor under the machine, so how do you have it set up? Does it drain into a pan of some type that the WP pump then sucks the water out of?


Post# 61819 , Reply# 28   3/31/2005 at 06:26 (6,937 days old) by kenmore1978 ()        
wall removal

"I removed a wall in the basement between the south room and the "middle room"

Hopefully it wasn't a "load bearing" wall, that could be a big pain to comopensate for :-)


Post# 61830 , Reply# 29   3/31/2005 at 07:09 (6,937 days old) by Brent-Aucoin ()        
Love that Kitchenaid

Greg,
I was able to see your dishwasher when Steve first found it.
I could not get over how great the shape of it was for it's age. Interesting to think it traveled so far, and now it is in your kitchen, back to life. I bet he is happy.
Brent


Post# 61836 , Reply# 30   3/31/2005 at 07:51 (6,937 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        
Added pump to KDC14

gansky1's profile picture
The drain valve solenoid energizes closing the valve during wash and rinses to hold the water in the machine, otherwise the valve is open allowing water to drain. Since the pump is wired in with the motor and the motor runs through the entire cycle, the pump is constantly running. It's connected right to the drain valve outlet where the 1 1/2" drain pipe would normally be. I was afraid that I would be able to hear the pump humming away while running but it's really not noticeable. We mounted the pump on a hard foam pad so it won't make noise. There is a little sucking noise (like a solid basket washer) at the end of the pump out phases, but that's a very short time and kind of a cool sound for a vintage machine.

Post# 61837 , Reply# 31   3/31/2005 at 07:53 (6,937 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        
Load bearing wall...

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Not a load bearing wall at all, in fact, it was in the house when I bought it separating the orginal laundry room from the other areas of the basement. When I decided to remove it for more space two weeks ago, I found it wasn't even secured to floor - only the ceiling and side-wall so it really came down easily. It's nice to have it gone, more open space and much more dramatic when you come down the basement stairs!

Post# 61843 , Reply# 32   3/31/2005 at 08:31 (6,937 days old) by westytoploader ()        
The excitement is building...

Can't wait to see these beauties in person at the convention!!

3 more months...3 more months...


Post# 61872 , Reply# 33   3/31/2005 at 19:50 (6,936 days old) by kenmore1978 ()        
constantly running pump

That's different, wiring the pump to run with the motor. I probably would've wired it to run only when the drain solenoid is activated. Do you think the pump can deal with running "dry" most of the time? I know the seals in some pumps don't tolerate that well.

Post# 61881 , Reply# 34   3/31/2005 at 21:45 (6,936 days old) by repair-man (Pittsburgh PA)        

You can't wire the pump to the drain solenoid. It would only pump when the machine was supposed to wash/rinse. In other words- the solenoid CLOSES when energized.

Ed


Post# 61885 , Reply# 35   3/31/2005 at 21:50 (6,936 days old) by kenmore1978 ()        
solenoid

Oh, OK, got it. Would only work if the solenoid OPENED the drain when energized. But there's still the issue of the pump running "dry", and there's no way to know if it can deal with that until failure. So this will be a sort of "test" of the pump's longevity under these conditions.

Post# 61904 , Reply# 36   4/1/2005 at 07:26 (6,936 days old) by customline (pennsylvania)        
55 Kelvy

I love the Kelvy and the KA dishwasher. Hope you have many years of enjoyment with them.

Post# 61920 , Reply# 37   4/1/2005 at 14:19 (6,936 days old) by fnelson487 (Palm Springs, CA)        
KDC-14

fnelson487's profile picture
As Jon said - "My what nice racks you have!" That machine looks mint. It is interesting that it retains many of the features of the KD-12 series, but picks up new ones. The machine doesn't have the side rails of the KD-12 with the start switch and operating light, has the racks of the KD-14 series, but retains the cycle dial and cycles of the KD-12. Plus, of course, the fabulous chrome handle of the "Classic" KitchenAid. You have a winner!

Fred


Post# 62118 , Reply# 38   4/3/2005 at 21:41 (6,933 days old) by Jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
GEorgeous machines Greg!

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I was skeptical of the 6 3/4 wash too but the only things that have not come out clean from my KDS-14 have been light cups and bowls that were BLOWN over by the wash spray and so held water.
I LOVE let me repeat I LOVE that half hour cycle!

And I LOVE Your Root Beer Combo! DREWL DREWL...........



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