Old Kenmore washer/dryer - should we discard?

You bet I can!!

Both these machines are exceptionally cool to me, and have a lot of meaning to me personally.

First, the washer is a 1979 80-series machine, or a 1980 70-series. The '79s had a Dual-Action agitator, and the 1980 had a Penta-Vane one piece agitator. Best way to tell is look at the "Kenmore" name on the bottom left corner of the console. It will tell the series there. This is a large capacity machine, which probably easily well-loaded if not overwhelmed the dryer with it's smallish drum. It's easy to tell the year of this particular machine due to the white "Energy Saver" notations above the water temp and water level switches, as this debuted in 1979 and were used until the '81 models came out with the revised graphics. The machine looks very nice and un-beaten up, which is a big plus to me. There were many of these machines, largely because they were very, very good machines and sold very well at Sears.

The dryer is also cool. It is indeed a 1961 Kenmore 70 series. My mother had this same model, until I broke it in 1972 (funny story I'll skip). Ours was a gas model, this one is electric. From what I can tell, it looks to be in nice shape. There aren't a ton of the early 60s dryers left.

If nothing else, I would be GLAD, no HAPPY to buy the machines and ship them from Seattle to our plant in Northern California. I could then get them to Charlotte eventually inexpensively. I would really like to match that dryer to my 1961 70-series washer.

For sure, I'll echo what everyone else said that these are definitely not worthy of the appliance haulers - they will probably just go to the crusher. As I said, I would be very interested if these aren't going to be kept!

Thanks for the cool picture.

Gordon


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Post# 540581 8/30/2011 at 10:25 (4,621 days old) by Seattleite ()
Checkrate/Likes Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum and wanted to ask about the very old washer and dryer we found in our new house. We are buying a new washer and dryer set, and were going to throw out the old washer and dryer, but it occurred to me after reading through this site that perhaps we should not. Below is a picture of the old washer/dryer. Both are Kenmore. The washer looks like it is from the 70s/80s and the dryer looks like it is from the 60s/early 70s. We have instruction manuals for both which are in great condition. Can anyone tell us whether these old machines are worth something and we should hold onto them, or are they not worth much and can we have the appliance installers cart them away? Thanks!

Post# 540598 , Reply# 1 8/30/2011 at 12:51 (4,620 days old) by Volvoguy87 (Cincinnati, OH)
Checkrate/Likes *No you should not discard.* Please post the model numbers of the washer and dryer and one of our members will explain what teh features are, model years, etc. We gotta have more info. They were both manufactured by Whirlpool, and the washer looks like a Belt Drive. The washer's model tag is on the front bottom left corner and the model number will start with 110. The dryer is older and I believe its model tag can be found when you open the door. Dave

Post# 540599 , Reply# 2 8/30/2011 at 12:52 (4,620 days old) by roto204 (Tucson, AZ)
Checkrate/Likes *1961 dryer* I don't have the eagle-eye for the black-panel washers--maybe Gordon can tell us :-) But that dryer is a 1961.

Post# 540600 , Reply# 3 8/30/2011 at 12:55 (4,620 days old) by BrianL (Saddle Brook, New Jersey)
Checkrate/Likes *Don't chuck 'em!* They are definitely worth something, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I have the matching dryer to that washer that has been running for over 20 years problem free. They are good reliable machines but may need some taking care of after all these years. If you decide you do not wish to keep them yourself, I am sure there are many members here would be interested in them. Either way, DO NOT LET THE INSTALLERS TAKE THEM! :-)

Post# 540601 , Reply# 4 8/30/2011 at 12:56 (4,620 days old) by pierreandreply4 (St-Bruno de montarville (province of quebec) canada)
Checkrate/Likes *must keep* i think you should keep those they last much longer than today washer dryer models that last only 10 years max

Post# 540650 , Reply# 5 8/30/2011 at 16:35 (4,620 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes *I don't have the eagle-eye for the black-panel washers--* You bet I can!! Both these machines are exceptionally cool to me, and have a lot of meaning to me personally. First, the washer is a 1979 80-series machine, or a 1980 70-series. The '79s had a Dual-Action agitator, and the 1980 had a Penta-Vane one piece agitator. Best way to tell is look at the "Kenmore" name on the bottom left corner of the console. It will tell the series there. This is a large capacity machine, which probably easily well-loaded if not overwhelmed the dryer with it's smallish drum. It's easy to tell the year of this particular machine due to the white "Energy Saver" notations above the water temp and water level switches, as this debuted in 1979 and were used until the '81 models came out with the revised graphics. The machine looks very nice and un-beaten up, which is a big plus to me. There were many of these machines, largely because they were very, very good machines and sold very well at Sears. The dryer is also cool. It is indeed a 1961 Kenmore 70 series. My mother had this same model, until I broke it in 1972 (funny story I'll skip). Ours was a gas model, this one is electric. From what I can tell, it looks to be in nice shape. There aren't a ton of the early 60s dryers left. If nothing else, I would be GLAD, no HAPPY to buy the machines and ship them from Seattle to our plant in Northern California. I could then get them to Charlotte eventually inexpensively. I would really like to match that dryer to my 1961 70-series washer. For sure, I'll echo what everyone else said that these are definitely not worthy of the appliance haulers - they will probably just go to the crusher. As I said, I would be very interested if these aren't going to be kept! Thanks for the cool picture. Gordon

Post# 540653 , Reply# 6 8/30/2011 at 16:45 (4,620 days old) by petek (Ontari ari ari O )
Checkrate/Likes Wow, that's my moms second washer she bought after her old 50's Kenmore frog eye died sometime in the early 80's after I'd moved out and that's her dryer as well I remember when we got it back in the early 60's. She had both up until about 8-10 years ago. I wasn't living here at the time. I know there was something wrong with the washer pump but not sure why she bought a new dryer.

Post# 540657 , Reply# 7 8/30/2011 at 16:55 (4,620 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes Really glad to see the pic of the dryer. I knew that one of the supplemental knobs to the left or right of the timer was un-used, but I didn't know which one. Now I know. I had only seen one of these dryers since my Mom's met an early demise. My rebuilder friend/mentor had one in 1991 that he refurbed when dryers were very scarce in supply, even from the Sears dump which we had full access to. He sold it with a 1972 washer to a young guy going into his first house. I kept ribbing Al for years for not showing me that dryer before it was sold. One thing neat about the dryer - there were a couple 'editions' of this model, which I found when doing extensive research on these a few years back, looking for these on Sears' website. One of the models had a "Seventy" nameplate tag in gray and chrome on the right front top, whereas this model (and the matching washer) didn't. Why Sears would do that is beyond me. So cool!

Post# 540658 , Reply# 8 8/30/2011 at 16:57 (4,620 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)
Checkrate/Likes Go get'em, Gordon!

Post# 542791 , Reply# 12 9/10/2011 at 15:26 (4,609 days old) by appnut (TX)
Checkrate/Likes Gordon I'm thrilled you're gonna have a matched set of 61s. Nothing like a matched pair of vintage washer & dryer. They are meant to be together. Now if that coppertone 1972 or 1973 washer & dryer can be reunited somewhere.

Post# 540931 , Reply# 9 8/31/2011 at 20:11 (4,619 days old) by Seattleite ()
Checkrate/Likes Thanks for your help, Gordon and others! Here is a picture of the dryer serial number.

Post# 540932 , Reply# 10 8/31/2011 at 20:14 (4,619 days old) by Seattleite ()
Checkrate/Likes And here is the washer serial number.

Post# 542789 , Reply# 11 9/10/2011 at 15:20 (4,609 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes *Remember these everybody?* I worked out a deal for the machines a while ago, then set out to find a shipper, which only took a few days on UShip. They are about to be picked up in Seattle anytime now, and will hopefully get to their destination in California on Monday. From there, I will have them trucked back to Charlotte at some point this fall when we have a truckload of product coming this way that isn't quite full. Cannot wait to have a matched pair of '61s!!! Gordon