Thread Number: 27567
Kenmore Series?
[Down to Last]

automaticwasher.org's exclusive eBay Watch:
scroll >>> for more items --- [As an eBay Partner, eBay may compensate automaticwasher.org if you make a purchase using any link to eBay on this page]
Post# 422973   3/16/2010 at 14:05 (5,125 days old) by drewz (Alexandria, Virginia)        

drewz's profile picture
How is this determined?

Why and when does Sears switch them?

400, 600, 70, LK,
70, 80, 90, etc...

What year did this start?





Post# 422987 , Reply# 1   3/16/2010 at 15:38 (5,125 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)        

kenmoreguy64's profile picture
As best I can tell, the Kenmore series hierarchy goes back to the very early days. Kenmore has had varying marketing efforts with their series throughout the years, but they were always there in the belt-drive model numbers, regardless of how much the marketing department used the series to sell to the masses. Here are three model numbers I guessed at:

110.6504400 - 1965 400 series.

110.7204630 - 1972 60 series, third in line

110.82382100 - 1983 80 series, second in line

Kenmore model numbers gained a digit in 1974 to allow for more information to be gleaned from the model number, and to account for paint color, which was causing detergent dispenser lids, dryer door handles, control panels, etc. to have different part numbers based on the unit's color.

The first two numbers are pre-1974 numbers and the series is indicated by the digit third from the right. The last number is a 1983 model, and it's series digit is fifth from the right.

As to what fits in each series is a giant mystery to me and the other Kenmore fans on this site - probably to everyone but Kenmore marketing managers of the time. There are a great many examples of this, but for years, throughout the 60s really, various series were generally stable. A 400 series was functionally the same in 1963 as 1969, and the same all the years in between (one cycle, one speed, 6-vane agitator, one water level, blue tub, and separate temp selection knob). The cosmetic appearance though changed almost annually. The 500 was similar but a 2-cycle, 3-speed. 600 and 70 series were more or less equivalent year to year as well with a small variation here and there, but the 600 was always a couple features under the 70 - features that make little difference but nonetheless marketable as such.

All that went to heck in the early 1970s as 60-series machines gained pre-washes and pre-soaks, full-width dryer doors, dispensers in some cases, off-balance switches, infinite water levels, yada yada...then the 70 series were packed even more, leaving the TOL machines offering not much more than than a pricier sticker price and complicated operations.

This came to a neck-snapping end in 1976 when the black panel machines came out and the caste lines came back. A 1975 Kenmore 60 series machine had two speeds, five cycles including pre-wash and pre-soak, infinite water levels, 5 temp combinations, two dispensers, and an off-balance relay. It was basically all most people needed. The 1976 Kenmore 60 would not live up to most people's expectations on the other hand. It had no delicate, was only a 1-speed machine with Normal, Perm Press and Short wash, had a manual filter, three levels, three temps, no relay, and no dispensers. A MAJOR series shift. To get all of 1975's goodies one would have to buy an 80 series in 1976, but this was back to as it was in the 60s, series-wise.

There have been varying emphasis on the series of a machine. These were heavily relied upon in marketing and nomenclature in the 60s, then during the early to mid 70s, the series appeared nowhere on the consoles of most Kenmores. They were back in the 1976-1980 machines, then gone again on the 81 and 82 models, then back yet again in 1983 and thereafter, at least on the 60-series and higher.

I hope all this gibberish offers you some sort of explanation. Does it answer your question?

Gordon



Post# 422998 , Reply# 2   3/16/2010 at 16:08 (5,125 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)        
Furthering that a bit....

kenmoreguy64's profile picture
Adding to my confusion as to what fits a series for Kenmores:

1979 was a huge model year for Sears, both in sales and in the fullness of the line. There were about 12 large cap. models, and at least 7 standard cap models, in one model year!! This doesn't include 1977 and 1978 models that continued in production.

Some of these machines continued into 1980, others did not. There were two that in '79 were 90 series machines, but in 1980, seemingly exact duplicates were marketed as 80 series. These both required all-new model numbers. I don't know what would de-throne a 90 series to an 80, as nothing took the 90's place, but the whole 1980 line was streamlined. Maybe it was to leave the electronic models in a series by themselves, I don't know for sure.

Gordon


Post# 423210 , Reply# 3   3/17/2010 at 14:56 (5,124 days old) by drewz (Alexandria, Virginia)        

drewz's profile picture
Gordon

Thanks for the information it can be very confusing but maybe Sears wants it that way? I guess all this will end when TL's are no longer being sold at Sears.



Post# 423387 , Reply# 4   3/18/2010 at 11:08 (5,123 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        

revvinkevin's profile picture

ALL VERY good info! Thank you very much Gordon for explaining this!!!

Kevin



Forum Index:       Other Forums:                      



Comes to the Rescue!

The Discuss-o-Mat has stopped, buzzer is sounding!!!
If you would like to reply to this thread please log-in...

Discuss-O-MAT Log-In



New Members
Click Here To Sign Up.



                     


automaticwasher.org home
Discuss-o-Mat Forums
Vintage Brochures, Service and Owners Manuals
Fun Vintage Washer Ephemera
See It Wash!
Video Downloads
Audio Downloads
Picture of the Day
Patent of the Day
Photos of our Collections
The Old Aberdeen Farm
Vintage Service Manuals
Vintage washer/dryer/dishwasher to sell?
Technical/service questions?
Looking for Parts?
Website related questions?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy
Our Privacy Policy