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Thread Number: 44515
Converting KitchenAid Convertibles? |
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| Post# 653705 1/16/2013 at 10:42 (4,116 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
As fortunate as I've been lately with original literature for my KDS-55 dishwasher (15-series Superba convertible/portable); I've never even seen a set of instructions for converting a KA front-load portable to undercounter use.
Does anyone have a set, or know the drill? KitchenAid always touted the fact that their convertible/portables were unique in that they didn't need a kit to be converted. While I'm not presently planning to convert my machine, you never know. I don't see any reason why conversion instructions should be unique to one machine; the basic architecture of KA's stayed very similar for a long, long time. So, instructions for machines later than the 15-series ought to be pretty much applicable, I'm thinking. Any info would be helpful! | ||
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| Post# 653738 , Reply# 1 1/16/2013 at 13:32 (4,116 days old) by firedome (Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT) | ||
We had that exact model with SS front panel in 1965...
used as a portable for a year then installed under the counter. Dad was a Mechanical Engineer so, of course, did it himself. We were in high school then and acted as 1st assist. It has been a long time (almost 50 yrs.. yikes!). IIRC all we had to do was take off the wheeled undercariage, vertical and top panels, unicoupler, and plumb it in to the water supply and sink drain... don't beleive it was much more complicated than that.
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| Post# 653743 , Reply# 3 1/16/2013 at 14:03 (4,116 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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Firedome! | ||
Post# 653763 , Reply# 4 1/16/2013 at 15:51 (4,116 days old) by bajaespuma  (Connecticut) |
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Essentially the same thing as: what I did with my Maytag Jet Clean:
Electric Screwdriver and ordinary monkey wrench:
At this point, I had a Maytag built-in dishwasher that needed an electric rough-in (already there), a drain connection(already there), and I had to add a brass valve adapter to fit the dishwasher braided hose onto the solenoid which came with a garden-hose male thread. Nothing unusual and, of course, being a good hoarder I still have all the parts.
Now what I'd really like to figure out is how to convert a Maytag and/or a KitchenAid top loading portable into a permanent installation. | ||
| Post# 653769 , Reply# 5 1/16/2013 at 16:15 (4,116 days old) by firedome (Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT) | ||
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Yes Stainless Steel, absolutely ...
mainly for high end kitchens at that time. Ours was not partcularly high-end, but KA was sold by a Baltimore (Pikesville) dealer, Stuart Kitchens, who specialized chiefly in high end stuff, and that SS panel was a KA option, in addition to custom cabinet-matching wood fronts, which appealed mainly to upscale buyers. Around the early & mid '60s there was a small flurry/fad for stainless steel appliance fronts by makers like KA, Thermador, Chambers, and a few others, which died out fairly quickly when housewives rapidly discovered what a pita it was to keep the stainless steel finger-print free...nothing seemed to ever get them completely clean. True to form, my Mother grew to HATE that SS panel, because with 4 kids it ALWAYS looked messy. She even talked about getting rid of it. That point soon became moot when Dad was transferred by Bethlehem Steel from MD to NC before it was 2 yrs old, where it's pathetic successor in a brand new house was a lame builder-special GE MOL d/w in Avocado Green, with matching double wall oven, cooktop, and fridge. As a result, ever since, I've had no great love for either Avacado or SS appliances, however with all those other gorgeous 50s & 60s vintage colors out there... machts nichts!
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| Post# 653779 , Reply# 6 1/16/2013 at 16:53 (4,116 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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Thanks!
I just never knew that SS was an option on KDS-55 models, so that's good information.
I agree that stainless is for meticulous, childless owners with lots of time to clean. What made everyone decide it was a "must-have" recently is beyond me - one fingermark, and it looks filthy. There is nothing like white to look clean, to look good for a long time and to maximize appliance-buying dollars through matching future purchases. Now, if I could only find an Antique Gold control panel for my machine! Sigh. I have Ye Olde Fayke Woode Graine, which I think came later in the 15-series run. | ||
| Post# 653790 , Reply# 7 1/16/2013 at 18:14 (4,116 days old) by rockland1 () | ||
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I really don't think SS was an option for the KDS-55 It was an optional panel kit that was available for the built-in version. My Aunt had one. | ||
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Post# 653821 , Reply# 8 1/16/2013 at 20:39 (4,116 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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SS Panels for the Convertable KDS-55 | ||
| Post# 653828 , Reply# 9 1/16/2013 at 21:01 (4,116 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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John:
So, it sounds like this was something that a dealer could arrange for you, if that's what you wanted, rather than a regular production option. KitchenAid probably made that kind of thing relatively easy; their wealthy customer base tended to ask for all kinds of special stuff. I remember seeing a KDS-15 with a fabric panel on the front, to match cabinets with the same treatment, in a '60s decorating magazine. Very foofy, but if that was your thing, I guess KA was the go-to company.
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| Post# 653927 , Reply# 10 1/17/2013 at 13:16 (4,115 days old) by firedome (Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT) | ||
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What John said is probably what happened... | ||
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Post# 654560 , Reply# 11 1/19/2013 at 19:24 (4,113 days old) by fnelson487 (Palm Springs, CA) |
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Sandy | ||
| Post# 654565 , Reply# 12 1/19/2013 at 19:54 (4,113 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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Wowie! | ||
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