Hardly used when I got it.  This is the Imperial.  This was the first series (I believe) to have multiple models (Superba, Imperial, Custom.)

This one is in the laundry room off the kitchen and used as a backup to the KDS-17 in the kitchen.

I have this Superba and it's one of my all-time favorite dishwashers.  I use it at least once or twice a week and can count on one hand how many times I've used the upper rack.

This load's for you Bob   We had a family reunion over the 4th, about 30 people.  These were the dishes and serving things I brought home that needed a proper washing.  Love this machine.

My KDI-14 makes that same "flutter" noise on fill.  Thought something was wrong with it, but perhaps not.  Otherwise works like a charm.  As Terry says - this puppy is done in short order and the dishes come out clean.  Greg says that the dishes scream to get out of there.

When I was a kid, 80 percent of the people we knew that owned dishwashers had the Superba from that series and they all seemed to last forever. The other 20 percent were divided between GE's and Hotpoints and they weren't as durable. I love that cast iron wash arm and those 3 colorful little square buttons.Was also curious for years why the control dial was ankle height and a little disturbed by how short the tub was compared to other machines. It didn't escape me that the insides of those machines were basically the same as the SS ones they used under the counters at all of NYC's Chock Full o' Nuts. Now that's a classic!

I've crammed some strange things into mine, I had a load of bird feeders (with bleach) a couple of weeks ago and lots of vacuum parts.  It does a beautiful job scrubbing older woven vacuum hoses if you flip them over half-way through the wash cycle.   Agitators, mini-baskets & filters - if it will fit inside and the door will close, KitchenAid will get it clean.

That's exactly how I use my Maytag TL portable in the basement! I take out the top racks and load it with grungy garbage cans, tools, hoses of all description (and I do exactly as you described), vintage agitators and activators and their respective be-crudded lint filters. A great household asset!

Well, there was no "or" in my parents' household.  It was Wards, Wards, Wards and I hated it.  Their house never saw a decent major appliance other than the '49 Westinghouse stove that out-lived every Wards appliance that came (and went quickly) through it.

So with regard to KitchenAid, the 15 series was when they introduced the Hydro-Sweep?  I think that's the model my friend down the street had.  Superba was in cursive at top right on the panel.

Yes, the 15 series was when the 4-way hydrosweet wash arm was introduced. 

for another machine for a  good tub! I use it so much that the porcelain has come to the ends of its life and now I have rust inside! I can't imagine losing that machine! Terry is right it cleans so well that when its running the dishes are screaming to be let out!

OOOH!  It's stainless - it would fit the apartment in the city perfectly....  If I even consider this, though, I am going to be looking for a new home...  SIGH!

1984 and on WP Power-Clean and KM Ultra-Wash standard tub DWs. These are the true king of the big dirty Bob loads. Always done in 30-60 minutes, heats the water at critical times if needed, cleans everything in both racks even if items in lower rack block water to top rack and absolutely no food left in the machine ever. Sears still has some of these machines in stock if you hurry at about $300.

Well, the load I have in my dishwasher right now, no KA befoe an 18 series could it deal with without me having to run two or three lloads HALF FULL at best.  From last night and tonight's meal prep.  Two 4 quart casseroles, one for ziti and the other for squash.  an 8 in. square pyrex dish.  several plates, cutting board, collander.  Top rack is an 8 quart stock pot, 4 quart sauce pan, 4 mixing bowls of various sizes from 3 qua3rt on down, a 2 quart plastic dish, cutting board, and small misc. stuff.  The pasta related stuff sat from last night and the squash was baked tonight.  I got it stuffed and I know everything will come clean, I dn't care how long it takes it's also very quiet.

I guess it is what you are used to.  My first owned dishwasher was a KDS-17.  If you have a couple of the pre 18 machines, and know how to load them, they definitely have their charms.  As far as style is concerned, those old pre-18 machines can't be beat.  Between the KDS-17 in the kitchen and the KDI-14 in the laundry room off the kitchen, I am in heaven!  We love running many dishwasher loads.  And check out the hostess!

Here is my KDS-17 in the kitchen.

Well, I thhnk it's stupid, especially for the kind of load I have in there right now, I'd be having to run at least two loads in either a 14, 16, or 17 because the bulky stuff wouldn't alow anything to be put in the top rack.  A 16s or 17 would require soadk & scrub.  My 6 gallons of water is much more efficiently used than 20 to 24 gallons for at least two loads out of a vintage 16 or 17.  I don't wash anything by hand and I don't believe in having part or all orf a rack empty and running the dishwasher because it's a 1-level wash wonder.  And y'all b*tch about modern machines not being efficient because of their 1.5 to 2 hour cycle lengths. I seem to rememberr in a 17 or 18 brochure, a soak & scrub cycle used between 1.3 and 1.6 kwhs per cycle.  I don't think my machine consumes that much because of the low wattage motor and heater even though it runs for a long time.

We are all entitled to our opinions without being called stupid.  Including you!

that 17 is beautiful! Never saw that wood graining before. Does that have two level wash?

The 17 was the last of the single wash arm systems.  Built like a tank.