Yet another interesting find in Knoxville........

There were three 80-series models in the 1983 lineup with this outward configuration. The first (the 23801 model) was the most common and in the top three or four best sellers for Kenmore from 1983-1986.

The next notch up (the 23821) had the white Lady Kenmore basket, and sold for $10 more with a "two fire white" basket. I have only seen one or two of those.

Next up from that had timed dispensers (the 23831). I have never seen one of those.

I have used a 23801, affectionately known since 1995 as Robo-Washer, for about 1,000 or more loads of laundry, alongside my other Kenmores. I like the porcelain top of the 80-series, and the infinite water level. I occasionally have used the bleach dispenser, but the water level for me is the most useful up-market feature on this washer. Not sure the white basket of the next model is necessary, but they sure are pretty when they aren't beaten-up or worn. I have little or no use for the automatic water temperature feature, and I always had it set on the manual selections.

As to the dryer, that is a 1980 80-series model. This and a companion 70-series dryer were fairly common in the 1979 and 1980 lines. This dryer boasted a full-width door and an electronic sensor over the 70-series thermostatic Fabric Master dryer. The original versions of these did not have the gold surround/ring around the temp/cycle selections. Sears engineers must have felt it necessary to accentuate the setting that did not have heat... I brought one of those dryers out of oblivion from the Arizona junk yard that Kevin and I visited in 2009.

Cool stuff - makes we want to get Robo Washer out of slumber for more use!

Gordon


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Post# 477644 11/26/2010 at 09:44 (4,892 days old) by randycmaynard ()
Checkrate/Likes Late 70s/early 80s (mid 80s?) Kenmore pair. CLICK HERE TO GO TO randycmaynard's LINK on Knoxville Craigslist

Post# 477715 , Reply# 1 11/26/2010 at 15:54 (4,892 days old) by appnut (TX)
Checkrate/Likes That's a high-end Model 80 belt-drive washer--has the variable water level. I've not seen that dryer very often, kind of rare, because of the temperature knob with more tha "two" fabric settings, but still probably only high & low heat, no medium heat setting.

Post# 477726 , Reply# 2 11/26/2010 at 18:11 (4,892 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes *Right you are about the washer Bob* There were three 80-series models in the 1983 lineup with this outward configuration. The first (the 23801 model) was the most common and in the top three or four best sellers for Kenmore from 1983-1986. The next notch up (the 23821) had the white Lady Kenmore basket, and sold for $10 more with a "two fire white" basket. I have only seen one or two of those. Next up from that had timed dispensers (the 23831). I have never seen one of those. I have used a 23801, affectionately known since 1995 as Robo-Washer, for about 1,000 or more loads of laundry, alongside my other Kenmores. I like the porcelain top of the 80-series, and the infinite water level. I occasionally have used the bleach dispenser, but the water level for me is the most useful up-market feature on this washer. Not sure the white basket of the next model is necessary, but they sure are pretty when they aren't beaten-up or worn. I have little or no use for the automatic water temperature feature, and I always had it set on the manual selections. As to the dryer, that is a 1980 80-series model. This and a companion 70-series dryer were fairly common in the 1979 and 1980 lines. This dryer boasted a full-width door and an electronic sensor over the 70-series thermostatic Fabric Master dryer. The original versions of these did not have the gold surround/ring around the temp/cycle selections. Sears engineers must have felt it necessary to accentuate the setting that did not have heat... I brought one of those dryers out of oblivion from the Arizona junk yard that Kevin and I visited in 2009. Cool stuff - makes we want to get Robo Washer out of slumber for more use! Gordon