Estate Sale Washer Spotting

Yes indeed there was a 1966 Lady Kenmore-esque 900 washer with a Vari-Flex, oddly enough I just came across a parts list for one yesterday when I was organizing paperwork that I didn't even know I had.

A couple years ago James and I did a lot of research on the long lineage of the 1966 Lady K and the many "side models" or shall we say "cousin" or "sister" models that were spawned from it. This was sparked in part by the Avocado 66-like set that I have that are 900s but not Lady Ks.

What we found was that there are four 1966 numbered models in the 900 lineup that all look identical to the Lady K, save for the Lady K name plate vs. the Kenmore 900 plate that the other three received. I will give you a little summary of them:

Model 110.6604900 - This is the real and original 1966 Lady K

Model 110.6604910 - This is the first sub-model, and is the one I have. It has a two speed motor instead of the LK's 3-speed. It says "Kenmore 900" on the name tag.

Model 110.6604920 - This is the version of the 900 with the Vari-Flex

Model 110.6604930 - This model actually uses a Roto-Swirl. I was surprised to find that one!

Note that the final digit in each number above ends in my example in zero (0). Numbers higher than zero here are simple engineering revisions to something in the machine that does not affect its features. Often a change in timer part number will result in an engineering revision of the model, as well as other changes, but the basic machine stays the same.

These sub-models were created to allow Sears to nearly always have some sort of high-end washer on sale, so they could advertise accordingly. One week model 26900 would be on sale, next week model 26910 would be on sale, and this way they get around retail law that would otherwise require the list price to be lowered if the model was almost always on sale.

Because model 6604920 LOOKS exactly like a '66 Lady doesn't necessarily mean it was out and available in 1966. I say that for three reasons. This being the first version of this model, it should have 1966 features if it was a '66 machine, but looking closely at the parts diagram, you can see it has the later plastic detergent dispenser lid - the color coded one to match the cabinet, with the chromed plastic bezel.

You can also note that the part number of the Vari-Flex agitator is 362010, that is a later part number not yet issued in that range in 1966. For comparison, the part number of the 1968 gold Straight Vane agitator is 360646 (this is the first gold version that replaced the bakelite 6-vane agitator).

Finally, nearly every Kenmore parts list carries a date on it either on the front page or the last page, which indicates when the drawings were created for that model. The 6604920 says 2-69, so Feb. 1969. Parts lists are always created before a model goes into production and sale. That is consistent with the plastic detergent dispenser cover, etc.

I really don't think the Vari-Flex and the so-equipped '66 900 were available in 1966 as it would otherwise appear.

Gordon


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Post# 610239 7/14/2012 at 17:07 (4,296 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)
Checkrate/Likes Saw a couple of cool washers at the sales this week, the pickins are getting slim out there, most all washers are newer Maytags and DD WP products now and the old washers get hauled away with delivery. The first was at a sale I stopped at on my way downtown yesterday. $7 Maytag - nothing too special all in all: (no money shot, just a standard blue tub and turquoise powerfin.

Post# 610242 , Reply# 1 7/14/2012 at 17:09 (4,296 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)
Checkrate/Likes Today, a rather strange Kenmore. Had never seen this panel before -

Post# 610243 , Reply# 2 7/14/2012 at 17:09 (4,296 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)
Checkrate/Likes controls

Post# 610244 , Reply# 3 7/14/2012 at 17:10 (4,296 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)
Checkrate/Likes Money Shot

Post# 610265 , Reply# 4 7/14/2012 at 19:39 (4,296 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)
Checkrate/Likes *Love Me...* some Vari-Flex! Malcolm

Post# 610267 , Reply# 5 7/14/2012 at 19:54 (4,296 days old) by DADoES (TX,�U.S. of A.)
Checkrate/Likes � That is an odd bird.� Maybe a lower-end 900 with incandescent timer light instead of a full-console fluorescent light.� Be interesting what Gordon/KenmoreGuy64 has to say about this one!

Post# 610312 , Reply# 6 7/15/2012 at 02:49 (4,296 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes 2 *That's really an interesting Kenmore* This may be the last of the 1966 Lady K inspired 900/800 models, which lasted into 1971. Kevin has a 1970 800, which I had here in Charlotte before we shipped it to L.A. While that machine was here, I did a lot of research on this style control panel, which debuted with the '66 Lady K and subsequently morphed into several 1966 900 models, all which lacked some specific feature or another from the Lady. My 900 is most similar, lacking only the third low speed. Some had Roto-Swirls instead of Roto-Flexes, etc. Later on they gained the Vari-Flex when it replaced the Roto-Flex. When the garage-door Ladies debuted, this then previous Lady style was relegated to 800 status. Many don't say their series anywhere on the panel, as was the convention in the early 70s, but the digit in the model number gives it away. The last model to use this console that I could find was a '71 800, but I didn't notice the chopped top, that IS really interesting. Glenn is right - this model is probably 'low enough' in the line to have an incandescent light. The gray speckled tub in lieu of the typical white is another oddity too, though this could have been swapped at a repair shop in the last 40 years. The flat plastic detergent dispener cover is a give-away that this model hails from the early 70s. This model might even have survived long enough to get 1972's notched lid handle, which everything still in production on 1/1/72 got. Looks like this washer has been well-used, but cared for. Very cool. Gordon

Post# 610313 , Reply# 7 7/15/2012 at 02:52 (4,296 days old) by aldspinboy (Philadelphia, Pa)
Checkrate/Likes Wooooooo another one I have not seen ... The Kenmore design group haves a party with control panels, baskets, etc. Like the Metal on the end cap, with a light for the dial. Must be a upper middle line model. With a Slight gray Speackled tub and a Vari-Flex Agi.. a white one would look good in there as well. Funny how the rare machines follows the piper. What a eye thanks Greg. GorDon ! Darren k

Post# 610314 , Reply# 8 7/15/2012 at 03:13 (4,296 days old) by alr2903 (TN)
Checkrate/Likes I have a carbon copy of the $7. Maytag downstairs. Its a very good washer for $50 at an estate sale a few years ago. Does the Kenmores dial stop/lock at the right spot like an alphabet washer? alr

Post# 610520 , Reply# 12 7/16/2012 at 08:49 (4,295 days old) by JETCONE (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)
Checkrate/Likes *WHAT IS IT* with the Busy Bodys!! They are in houses, basements, kitchens, STORE SALESMEN even! , even JUNK YARDS and all are hovering to protect the local laundry device!! YET NO ONE EVER CLAIMS TO BE A COLLECTOR!!!!

Post# 610351 , Reply# 9 7/15/2012 at 10:46 (4,296 days old) by appliguy (Oakton Va.)
Checkrate/Likes *Er...instead of a Kenmore......* could this machine be a Kenadianmore? To bad no one thought to look at the data tag and see if it said Sears Roebuck Or Simpson Sears...I just have a feeling this model may be from the land of the Maple Leaf..........PAT COFFEY

Post# 610354 , Reply# 10 7/15/2012 at 11:23 (4,296 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)
Checkrate/Likes 2 *Oh, we thought...* It was a Sears Roebuck. I should have taken more pics but one of the busy-body relatives was hovering after exclaiming more than once that the washer is not for sale and must stay with the house. Uh huh. Until the new owner gets the keys and hand truck... The washer was paired with a newer GE dryer - you can see the edge of the panel in the first picture. The kitchen appliances were roughly from the same time as the dryer so it was a bit strange the washer was still there when everything else was so new. The busy-body told me that her sister had lived in the house since it was built and took excellent care of everything, which could be seen. Only a few blocks away from us, it was a beautiful example of mid-century ranch homes in this area.

Post# 610439 , Reply# 11 7/15/2012 at 21:01 (4,295 days old) by 70series ( Connecticut.)
Checkrate/Likes Very interesting Kenmore indeed, nothing like I've seen before either. This at latest would be a 1970 version, as it does not appear to have the plunger switch in the lid well, which debuted in 1971. Initially I thought that the "chopped top" was just that, that somewhere along the way in this washer's history, it met with some misfortune that broke off part of the bonnet. From what has been said, and the closeup shot, it was a design element. It is strange that Sears would do this, but not entirely out of character. The speckled basket is intriguing. I am in agreement with Gordon, that somewhere along the way this may have been a replacement, but than again, as Gordon might say, this could be a decontented model 900 or 800. Have a good one, James

Post# 611486 , Reply# 13 7/21/2012 at 20:11 (4,289 days old) by chaskelljr2 (Washington, D. C.)
Checkrate/Likes *The "Oddball" Looking #2 Kenmore (Model 800)* @ Gordon: Thanks for that thorough assessment of this interesting #2 Kenmore that you gave in Reply # 610312. Even this is one I didn't even know anything about. Given the variations of this model from 1966 on to probably 1972, most of those models seemed to have the White Tubs as opposed to the speckled one that I am seeing in THIS model, and almost all of them had Full-Width Fluorescent Lights (except this one), and some of them had 3-Speed Motors like the Lady K's of the same era, and lastly, some of them had the Vari-Flex Agitators in them, I am like you and the rest of the others here on this thread, this has to be a lower-end entry-level #2 Kenmore model. But to nitpick ONE LITTLE THING, the Vari-Flex Agitator debuted in this model back in 1966 as well. Steve 1-18's Kenmore Model 900 had a Vari-Flex Agitator inside of it. It was actually introduced into this model before it debuted in the 1968 Tall-Paneled "Jane Wyatt" Inspired Lady K two years later. While the 1966-67 Lady K had a Roto-Flex Agitator during the same time. Now.... talking about something odd.... --Charles--

Post# 611540 , Reply# 14 7/22/2012 at 06:48 (4,289 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes *I've got to disagree with you Charles...* Yes indeed there was a 1966 Lady Kenmore-esque 900 washer with a Vari-Flex, oddly enough I just came across a parts list for one yesterday when I was organizing paperwork that I didn't even know I had. A couple years ago James and I did a lot of research on the long lineage of the 1966 Lady K and the many "side models" or shall we say "cousin" or "sister" models that were spawned from it. This was sparked in part by the Avocado 66-like set that I have that are 900s but not Lady Ks. What we found was that there are four 1966 numbered models in the 900 lineup that all look identical to the Lady K, save for the Lady K name plate vs. the Kenmore 900 plate that the other three received. I will give you a little summary of them: Model 110.6604900 - This is the real and original 1966 Lady K Model 110.6604910 - This is the first sub-model, and is the one I have. It has a two speed motor instead of the LK's 3-speed. It says "Kenmore 900" on the name tag. Model 110.6604920 - This is the version of the 900 with the Vari-Flex Model 110.6604930 - This model actually uses a Roto-Swirl. I was surprised to find that one! Note that the final digit in each number above ends in my example in zero (0). Numbers higher than zero here are simple engineering revisions to something in the machine that does not affect its features. Often a change in timer part number will result in an engineering revision of the model, as well as other changes, but the basic machine stays the same. These sub-models were created to allow Sears to nearly always have some sort of high-end washer on sale, so they could advertise accordingly. One week model 26900 would be on sale, next week model 26910 would be on sale, and this way they get around retail law that would otherwise require the list price to be lowered if the model was almost always on sale. Because model 6604920 LOOKS exactly like a '66 Lady doesn't necessarily mean it was out and available in 1966. I say that for three reasons. This being the first version of this model, it should have 1966 features if it was a '66 machine, but looking closely at the parts diagram, you can see it has the later plastic detergent dispenser lid - the color coded one to match the cabinet, with the chromed plastic bezel. You can also note that the part number of the Vari-Flex agitator is 362010, that is a later part number not yet issued in that range in 1966. For comparison, the part number of the 1968 gold Straight Vane agitator is 360646 (this is the first gold version that replaced the bakelite 6-vane agitator). Finally, nearly every Kenmore parts list carries a date on it either on the front page or the last page, which indicates when the drawings were created for that model. The 6604920 says 2-69, so Feb. 1969. Parts lists are always created before a model goes into production and sale. That is consistent with the plastic detergent dispenser cover, etc. I really don't think the Vari-Flex and the so-equipped '66 900 were available in 1966 as it would otherwise appear. Gordon