the most BEAUTIFUL washer ever


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Thread Number: 1855
the most BEAUTIFUL washer ever

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Post# 63589 4/18/2005 at 20:24 (6,940 days old) by mrcleanjeans (milwaukee wi)
Checkrate/Likes In your opinions,what is the most beautiful washing machine ever made and why ?I love the 1958 Philco-Bendix Duomatic because its slick control panel looks like a lighted juke-box.

Post# 63603 , Reply# 1 4/18/2005 at 22:41 (6,940 days old) by rickr (.)
Checkrate/Likes *Favorites* Gosh,thats a hard question to answer! I think all of the machines from the fifties and sixties were pretty kewl. I have to agree that Philco pulled out all the stops for some of the TOL machine consoles. Maytags always had that "classic" look,even into the 1970's. And of course I can't forget the futuristic look of the Frigidaires. (don't want to be lynched at the convention,LOL) While Whirlpool/Kenmore are my personal favorites, I can't really think of one I don't like. What I would like to know is what is Robert Segers favorite,and will he share that information it with us? :)

Post# 63608 , Reply# 2 4/18/2005 at 22:47 (6,940 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)
Checkrate/Likes *I just don't know* Hi Rick, that's hard to say, in my collection if I only could keep on or two it would be my 1947 and 1958 Frigidaire Unimatics, but their not necessary the most beautiful. I would be very hard pressed to choose the most beautiful, probably the Frigidaire Imperial Control Tower Set, but the pink Lady Kenmore set is beautiful too, as well as so many others. I will have to think about that more.

Post# 63610 , Reply# 3 4/18/2005 at 23:03 (6,940 days old) by rickr (.)
Checkrate/Likes *Gotta love em all!!* Well Robert.... We will "let you off the hook" just because it's your birthday and all... :) It is a very hard question to answer! There are soooo many great ones. I don't have a large collection,but I could never go back to just one wsaher and dryer now.... BTW that pink Kenmore set is the BOMB!!

Post# 63626 , Reply# 4 4/19/2005 at 01:29 (6,940 days old) by SactoTeddyBear ()
Checkrate/Likes *Re: I Agree,* I agree about the "KEWL" Philco Console, with the different Colored Len's for the Push-Button Selection's, "BUT" I also think that the prior "POD" of the huge Cabinet 1958 or 1959 Whirlpool Combo and it's "Sister" the Kenmore {approx same year} were/are great looking Machines, besides the Mid-1960's Frigidaire and the 1965 and 1968 Lady Kenmore's. One of my Aunt's and Uncles had the Whirlpool and another had the Kenmore, but their's didn't have the Window, much to my surprise, later on seeing a Kenmore with the Window and it being just a smaller Retangle Window, instead of a neat Round Window like the Whirlpool's and the later on 1965 and 1967 Lady-K's... Peace and Happy Laundry "Daze", Steve SactoTeddyBear...

Post# 63647 , Reply# 5 4/19/2005 at 07:08 (6,939 days old) by Mayken4now (Panama City, Florida)
Checkrate/Likes *They are all nice in their on way* However, the 1966 Maytag "Push button" set with flourescent lighting consoles is the most stately in my opinion. Steve

Post# 63654 , Reply# 6 4/19/2005 at 08:03 (6,939 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)
Checkrate/Likes Everyone's opinion will differ of course, but I've always thought anything with lights is beautiful!!

Post# 63667 , Reply# 7 4/19/2005 at 09:10 (6,939 days old) by designgeek ()
Checkrate/Likes I agree, there's always been something vaguely cozy about the soft glow of fluorescent-lit panels on stoves and washers and above the kitchen sink at night. Reminds me of going to the kitchen for a late snack and the only light on is the fluorescent on the stove.

Post# 63671 , Reply# 8 4/19/2005 at 10:23 (6,939 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)
Checkrate/Likes "Big ups" to machines with florescent-lighted panels from me, as well! I loved going into our darkened laundry room and seeing the glowing control panels of the '60 Kenmores when I was a kid---with the scent of classic Tide in the air....... Designgeek--- The first night I was in my house (3 years ago, now) I turned the light on above the kitchen sink/window and was immediately transported back to the kitchen of my childhood---blonde cabinets and that light above the sink, reflecting off a south-facing window. Funny how those memories come flooding back.

Post# 63705 , Reply# 9 4/19/2005 at 20:19 (6,939 days old) by chaskelljr2 (Washington, D. C.)
Checkrate/Likes "mrcleanjeans": In my opinion, the MOST beautiful (vintage) washer(s) ever made were: (01). 1957 Frigidaire Tower Top (02). 1969-71 #2 Kenmore Keyboard Set (in Avacodo.... like the one I saw here last week) (03). 1963 Philco Miss America (I thought that was a VERY beautiful washer) But..... if there was one I would just ABSOLUTELY have to have, then it would be a: (01). 1957 Lady Kenmore Set (in Pink...... and in Porcelain) (02). 1960 Lady Kenmore Set (also.... in Pink and in Porcelain). --Charles--

Post# 63736 , Reply# 10 4/20/2005 at 00:29 (6,939 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)
Checkrate/Likes Charles, you are right about that 1960 Lady Kenmore set - what a show-stopper this one is. Probably my "dream Kenmore" pair too...

Post# 63760 , Reply# 11 4/20/2005 at 10:22 (6,938 days old) by rickr (.)
Checkrate/Likes *1960 Kenmore set* Greg those are really something! I think GregM in MA has the 1959 version of this set.

Post# 63762 , Reply# 12 4/20/2005 at 10:28 (6,938 days old) by rickr (.)
Checkrate/Likes *1965 Kenmores* Although these are not my favorite,here are my Kenmore set.Even my friends that say it is weird to collect vintage appliances love these.

Post# 63764 , Reply# 13 4/20/2005 at 10:44 (6,938 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)
Checkrate/Likes I always thought our 1960 Model 80 was handsome; however the Lady K from that year takes the checkered flag because of its cool toggle switches whereas the Model 80 only had the regular 'rocker' style cycle buttons. It's prettier in pink, too. Ours was white.

Post# 63765 , Reply# 14 4/20/2005 at 10:52 (6,938 days old) by FilterFlo (Chicago Area)
Checkrate/Likes Hi Rick, I LOVE that Kenmore set. Its simply stunning. I had that same set in white, for many many years in my other house in Cuyahoga Falls. Rebuilt the washer a couple of times and finally sold it when I went to a 1960 Kenmore Cycla Fabric washer and dryer. I loved those too, but not was much as your set. Your set is something to truly be proud of!

Post# 63767 , Reply# 15 4/20/2005 at 11:18 (6,938 days old) by rickr (.)
Checkrate/Likes *Panel close up* Thanks Jimmy, I know I did it right when I get a "thumbs up" from someone who has been doing this as long as some of you guys have! :) Here is a console close up "for old time sake".

Post# 63981 , Reply# 16 4/22/2005 at 09:44 (6,936 days old) by BWoods ()
Checkrate/Likes *Whirlpool Imperial Mark XII* This would be my vote for the most beautiful control panel. Does anyone remember this model? My parents had a matached Whirlpool set. I don't know if it was a 1960 or 1961 model of the Imperial Mark XII. It was back lite, but the neatest thing was the color coordinated timer dial. There were two rows of five pushbuttons each and a timer knob in between them. There was no writing at all on the timer, just four color coded sections of a circle surrounding the timer. Each set of buttons had an an ssociated color. For If you pushed button one, (which if I remember right was normal cycle with hot wash and warm rinse.) it was in the red zone. So you turned the time to the red zone. Actually, when you pushed a button the timer knob would automatically stop at the beginning of the corresponding color coded part of the circle when you turned it by hand. At night in a darkened basement when you light up the control panel the flourescent light would shine through the color coded bars on the control panel at night and it looked very impreseive and high tech. Even by today's standards. The washer also had a black "surgilator" agitator and a "magic mix" dispenser for detergent. The lid of the dispenser was chrome with a windo so you could watch the water and soap mix. When the top was pulled off there was a brush that caught lint and the water was recirculated. The water left the dispenser and flowed into the tub (somewhat like GE's did onto the filter-flo pan). I also remember the dryer had no timer knob at all. A row of five bottons on the side and a large push button to the right. You selected a cycle and pushed the giant start button (which was the size of a timer knob), and the electronic timer progressed automatically. It even had an ultraviolet lamp in the drum area to freshen the clothes with ozone. The dryer door was glass so you could see in. Anyone own one of these sets or have a picture? I was only five or six years old when we go the set but remember they were VERY impressive and almost every who saw them thought they were too.

Post# 63984 , Reply# 17 4/22/2005 at 11:17 (6,936 days old) by SRSwirl ()
Checkrate/Likes *Best Washer Ever* WOW Barry! You're almost describing my beloved grandmother's TOL Lady Kenmore from 196?!! I have never seen one since...not even here. It was a BEAUTIFUL machine with chrome everwhere, flourescent lit, backlit, a light in the white porcelain tub, black bakelite Super Roto-Swirl agitator. There were two rows of 5 black edged buttons (10 total) on the left of the control panel with letters for cycles and corresponding color code/letter descriptions with the chrome dial cycle selector on the right. The chrome dial was "pointy" on both ends...and the back of the dial was clear with color codes, cycle names, and letters all incorporated. When you pushed a cycle button, you then turned the cycle selector dial (pull to select, push to start)and it would stop automatically at the selected cycle. Cycle type and times, water temps, agitation/spin speed all automatically selected with the push of a button and the turn of a dial. It also had an automatic bleach and fabric softner dispenser on the left leading front edge under the lid (with the "stepped" chrome lid handle). The only thing you selected "manually" was the water level...via a "pointy" chrome slider under the buttons. It was way cool! I get so nostalgic about this machine as I've gotten older...it reminds me so much of growing up and of Mom-mom, a way cool and groovy lady (still alive at 94, but no longer alive mentally, unfortunately as Altzheimer's has taken her). For some strange reason, this machine, when running so smoothly with all its lights, had the ability to impart a feeling of security and comfort to me when I was so little...especially when running in the dark! :-) It was also an amazing cleaner...but eventually wore your clothes to an early demise. I now wonder if it really cleaned...or if the dirty fibers just got broken off and washed away as lint! HAHA! And, while I don't think I would ever replace my front load machine, if I could find a set of these KMs like Mom-mom had, I would enshrine them. My mother had the machine one level down with similar features, but a Roto-Swirl agitator (the Pregger or Pregnant Roto-Swirl as you guys call it). These are the machines that began my fascination with washing machines. Apparently, the only space for my crib (before my parents built their house) was beside the machine...which my mother tells me led to me having it on and running every morning as soon as I could crawl from my crib up to reach the dial. She tells me I was so regular at this that she would load the machine and put soap in it right after I went to sleep and she could count on my having it running when she got up! HAHA! Everyone always thought I was so loony...running around talking about agitators by name and asking everyone we met what kind of agitator they had! I began washing the family's laundry when I was 5...and have been doing laundry ever since. My other grandmother had a Frigidaire Jet Action machine! Way cool...but no lights. Such wonderful machines linked to such wonderful memories. Now why can't they make machines like that today?!!! :-)

Post# 64018 , Reply# 18 4/22/2005 at 22:03 (6,936 days old) by Jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)
Checkrate/Likes *Rickr* Those Kenmores are absolutly SWEET! They even look waxed! Really Nice Job!! Jetcone

Post# 64065 , Reply# 19 4/23/2005 at 10:10 (6,935 days old) by rickr (.)
Checkrate/Likes *Waxed they are,twice a year* Thanks Jetcone!!

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