Model years: start of calendar year?

I wish I could help you, but from a Kenmores and Whirlpool perspective, I can't offer much that won't further confuse the subject, especially with KM.

In a nutshell, these have debuted at many times, and their year models seem to indicate when they were designed, NOT necessarily the year for which they were introduced. Not only that, but many models have lasted in production for a number of years, while others for only a year or less.

Here's what helps me draw those conclusions (or lack thereof):

Probably the best example of model-year machines that I can point a finger at involves the complete and near total re-design of the 1976 Kenmore wet-face, "black panel" machines. This was a total re-vamp of almost the full line of machines, even the plastic top BOL machines got new models. The first of these were on the store sales floors in the fall of 1975. Some of the 1975s continued for a while, especially in catalog sales, but the complete new '76 line was out in force in the fall/winter of 1975. I had a 76 60-series machine early in my rebuilding days that was made in the 40th week or so of 1975. This would be just like typical automotive model years.

That said, many of the '76 models were done and replaced by '77s. There was a change in 1977 that Sears did as an advertising gimick to separate the Knit-Delicate cycle into two, though this was nothing more than a graphics change on the console. Every model that was affected by this though got a new 1977 model number as each machine gained a 'cycle' in advertising (a 4-cycle machine suddenly became a 5-cycle). BUT, the handful of 1976 models that weren't affected lasted in production into 1978. One example was a '76 60-series large cap. machine that had Normal, Perm Press, and Short wash (no delicate). That model was available for several years with it's original model number. If one of us ever gets one of those that was manufactured in fall 1977 for example, what is it, a '76 or a '77 model?

I have a machine that falls into that category now...in fact I probably have more than one, but it's a 1979 model 80-series, but it was made in the spring of 1980 and is currently my daily driver. I just refer to it as the 79/80. No idea how else to refer to it. I have three others of this machine though, one made in late 1978, one in 1979, and one made in 1981 - all the same model number.

Some more illustrious models that had this sort of history are the 1963 Lady Ks, which were made into 1965 (yes, after two other Lady K models were developed), the 1965 Kenmore 800, which was made as late as 1968, and much of the entire 1983 belt-drive line, which was made into the early fall of 1986.

Adding another twist, another full-line introduction which superceeded all the previoius was the 1983 line, which replaced a variety of 1981 and 1982 models, but it wasn't widely available until the second half of 1983. Some models came earlier than others, but most came out in fall 1983 (as '83 models) while the most popular remmant 1981 and 1982 models were still in the catalogs and still involved in sales promotions on sales floors. It would seem really that these machines should have been numbered as 1984 models.

To wrap all this up, at least from what I find in Kenmore history, model numbers genarally tell for what year the model was devised, but that model's introduction could have come at any time during the year, and it could have remained in production for quite some time. In my mind I just keep the model year and the production year separate.

I hope I didn't further confuse you!

Gordon


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Post# 437149 5/24/2010 at 11:47 (5,075 days old) by dnastrau (Lords Valley, PA)
Checkrate/Likes Greetings all: Does anyone know how the appliance manufacturers generally handled (and still handle) model years? Is it like a car where the new model year would often start officially in September? I am curious as my Maytag A700 was made in Novermber of '61 so I wonder if it is technically a '62 (?)

Post# 437174 , Reply# 1 5/24/2010 at 13:49 (5,075 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes I wish I could help you, but from a Kenmores and Whirlpool perspective, I can't offer much that won't further confuse the subject, especially with KM. In a nutshell, these have debuted at many times, and their year models seem to indicate when they were designed, NOT necessarily the year for which they were introduced. Not only that, but many models have lasted in production for a number of years, while others for only a year or less. Here's what helps me draw those conclusions (or lack thereof): Probably the best example of model-year machines that I can point a finger at involves the complete and near total re-design of the 1976 Kenmore wet-face, "black panel" machines. This was a total re-vamp of almost the full line of machines, even the plastic top BOL machines got new models. The first of these were on the store sales floors in the fall of 1975. Some of the 1975s continued for a while, especially in catalog sales, but the complete new '76 line was out in force in the fall/winter of 1975. I had a 76 60-series machine early in my rebuilding days that was made in the 40th week or so of 1975. This would be just like typical automotive model years. That said, many of the '76 models were done and replaced by '77s. There was a change in 1977 that Sears did as an advertising gimick to separate the Knit-Delicate cycle into two, though this was nothing more than a graphics change on the console. Every model that was affected by this though got a new 1977 model number as each machine gained a 'cycle' in advertising (a 4-cycle machine suddenly became a 5-cycle). BUT, the handful of 1976 models that weren't affected lasted in production into 1978. One example was a '76 60-series large cap. machine that had Normal, Perm Press, and Short wash (no delicate). That model was available for several years with it's original model number. If one of us ever gets one of those that was manufactured in fall 1977 for example, what is it, a '76 or a '77 model? I have a machine that falls into that category now...in fact I probably have more than one, but it's a 1979 model 80-series, but it was made in the spring of 1980 and is currently my daily driver. I just refer to it as the 79/80. No idea how else to refer to it. I have three others of this machine though, one made in late 1978, one in 1979, and one made in 1981 - all the same model number. Some more illustrious models that had this sort of history are the 1963 Lady Ks, which were made into 1965 (yes, after two other Lady K models were developed), the 1965 Kenmore 800, which was made as late as 1968, and much of the entire 1983 belt-drive line, which was made into the early fall of 1986. Adding another twist, another full-line introduction which superceeded all the previoius was the 1983 line, which replaced a variety of 1981 and 1982 models, but it wasn't widely available until the second half of 1983. Some models came earlier than others, but most came out in fall 1983 (as '83 models) while the most popular remmant 1981 and 1982 models were still in the catalogs and still involved in sales promotions on sales floors. It would seem really that these machines should have been numbered as 1984 models. To wrap all this up, at least from what I find in Kenmore history, model numbers genarally tell for what year the model was devised, but that model's introduction could have come at any time during the year, and it could have remained in production for quite some time. In my mind I just keep the model year and the production year separate. I hope I didn't further confuse you! Gordon

Post# 437177 , Reply# 2 5/24/2010 at 14:03 (5,075 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes *Something worth adding....* If you have seen the 1982 model 60 that I posted yesterday, this machine basically confirms what I was saying above. It is a 1982 model (model 110.82261100) and was made in mid-August 1982. The fall/winter 1982 catalog shows this machine and says "Do not order before August 15th, 1982". This was part of two 60-series machines in the same category with the same availability restriction. Mine must have been one of the first made. Also, there was two 70-series machines that replaced 1981 versions, and those were not to be ordered before June 15th. In the case of your machine, if it were me I'd want to find out if it was available earlier than November of 1961, and if so, how far earlier, or when exactly the model was introduced. That would help me to determine what year it was intended for and how to classify it in my mind. Gordon This post was last edited 05/24/2010 at 14:51

Post# 437184 , Reply# 3 5/24/2010 at 14:39 (5,075 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)
Checkrate/Likes Maytag - from a Maytag perspective, there were no model year cycles of new machines. Instead new models would come out at various times throughout the year. The most signifgant year in the Maytag line-up is January 1966, in which the new '06 series machines came out, completely changing over their entire Laundry line-up. Frigidaire - being a division of a car company, most Fridaire models do follow the typical auto industry theory of early fall introductions for the next model year line-up. For instance, the 1956 model year machines have literature dating back to August of 1955, in which this continues through up until about 1968 where you'll start to see some model year carry over. One major change for Frigidaire laundry was with the introduction of S line appliances for 1970, which came out late in 1969. I'm sure there are more holes and gaps which I didn't not close up, so hopefully someone else can pitch in. Ben

Post# 437192 , Reply# 4 5/24/2010 at 15:10 (5,075 days old) by yogitunes (New Jersey)
Checkrate/Likes Funny you guys mention this.....in Aug 1995 I bought a Electronic Limited Kenmore Washer and Dryer, Had to wait 4 weeks for delivery as the model was changing....but the first models off the line had glitches...from Sept to Dec of that year they exchanged 7 sets of machines till they delivered a set that would work as expected...each one adding new features and design changes...NO 2 sets matched exactly, finally ended up with a 3 speed washer, and super quiet pak, unlike the machine in the store that I looked at..just interesting I thought.....but glad the final set worked! the model I ended up with showed up in the showroom around May of 1996....could have been a bad year for them....who knows

Post# 437197 , Reply# 5 5/24/2010 at 15:46 (5,075 days old) by dnastrau (Lords Valley, PA)
Checkrate/Likes *Wow - thanks for the explanations!* I guess there are no simple answers to this one. I was thinking about this based on car model years. In particular, my parents first new car was a '65 VW received in late '64 after they had to order it. The next one was a '68 Plymouth Fury III purchased off the lot in November '67. As to my Maytag - I am not sure when the A700 was introduced, but I know it is very similar to models A142 and A702. That KM/WP situation makes my head spin. I know that the Kenmore "70 series" that my aunt and uncle got new in '65 was the same as the '63 Model 70 machines that a couple of people have here on the board.

Post# 437202 , Reply# 6 5/24/2010 at 16:46 (5,075 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes Martin - It is extraordinarily unusual to have Whirlpool / Kenmore machines fail like that due to design flaws, at least in established products like a DD washer! That must have been highly frustrating. I have a list of every U.S. Kenmore washer and dryer model number from the 1975 models to the 1992 models. When a Kenmore model is first introduced, it comes to market with a 00 in the engineering change portion of the model number. WP models have a single digit, which starts at 0. When something is revised in the model but not great enough to cause a whole new marketing model, the revision field shifts to 10 or 1. For example, a 1981 70-series machine started out as 110.82174100. When the machine had the part number changed for the timer, it became a 110.82174110. Later, when the tub-mounted lint filter and standard pump changed in favor of the new under-basket filter with high-volume pump, the model changed to a 110.82174120. These were changes to the machine's parts list, but nothing that a consumer would see from an outward inspection, especially the timer. Other than the 1965 Kenmore 800 which was in production for 4 years and a 1977 low-end 400 series machine that was also available for four years, I have never seen a machine get past the third revision before it was replaced - not in nearly 20 years of models. BUT, there was a couple of the 1978 / 1982 electronic models that were revised to 70, or seven replacements after the original. This meant that in a year or two that machine was offered in 8 configurations, and I think three of the differences were in the control boards. This was one of my first realizations that electronics weren't necessary in appliances, LOL. I don't know if your machine was continually being modified with new parts and new model numbers or if there were simply problems with parts from suppliers, etc. but what you describe sounds like a 3-Stooges episode and I'd have told Sears to 'go away' at the very least long before you did. There was certainly a model change somewhere along the line if you didn't plan to have a 3-speed motor in the first ones... I would be fascinated to know what happened to all th machines you sent back, but I suspect they met their doom. Andrew - the 1963 model 70 was one of those long-lived models, and I am pretty sure I've seen 1965 produced examples also. I think one or both of Kevin's were made in '65, but I don't remmeber. Some folks have suggested that Sears kept certain "obsolete" models in production when others have supposedly taken their places (like having three Lady Ks in production at once, the 63, 64 and 65) in order to allow owners who bought one machine to match a set later on. But, the cost of that must have been high, so when the match-all consoles came out, they never looked back because these solved all those arguments and kept production complexities lower. Gordon

Post# 437220 , Reply# 7 5/24/2010 at 18:27 (5,075 days old) by yogitunes (New Jersey)
Checkrate/Likes *Had to have it -- Couldn't live another day with out it* I was so excited to get this set, couldn't stand the 4 week wait, but then the issues, so many I couldn't believe it, either the washers wouldn't come "on", or would come on by itself in the middle of the night, or shut down mid cycle, same for the dryers, come on and shut off by itself, sometimes heat, others not, on and on, the 6th set came, sealed boxes and so badly scratched the drivers would even leave them, the 7th and final set was out of the boxes and apparently tested before I got them, a little odd, but they worked flawless from day one, at 9 years the boards went, and then I switched to Neptunes..... I was getting upset with Sears, every time they brought a NEW set they took $100.00 off the price---times 7---so this $1400.00 set only cost me 1/2 by the time they were done, so I realy couldn't complain at the end, but what a hassle but yeah the machine in the store was a 2 speed, i got a 3 speed with a few more touch pads, and the dual action agitator went from the standard to the tilted spiral to the triple plus with the up and down action...the dryer seemed about the same each time, just the last one was awfuly quiet, and fast the bad part was the warranty started from the day I purchased these, not the day I took delivery, so I lost about 5 months....and there was an offer for free delivery and a years supply of TIDE, which they tried to cheat me out of, but luckily I took their poster off the display machine the day I bought them, just in case, you can't always trust them! I just wished the set lasted me longer, it was only me and my mother, how much laundry do you think we did to make it wear out so fast, her GE V12 lasted 20 years thru 7 children...go figure Thanks for your input otherwise...great info

Post# 437224 , Reply# 8 5/24/2010 at 18:53 (5,075 days old) by dnastrau (Lords Valley, PA)
Checkrate/Likes *Seven sets?* You have the patience of a saint!