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Thread Number: 44856
RUSTED 1950'S KENMORE WASHER - PRESCOTT |
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| Post# 658019 2/4/2013 at 10:32 (4,098 days old) by agitatorboogie (Denver) | ||
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| Post# 658075 , Reply# 1 2/4/2013 at 16:18 (4,097 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA) | ||
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| Post# 658078 , Reply# 2 2/4/2013 at 16:28 (4,097 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
We Had One....
That's the second washer I remember from when I was a kid. We started out with a rubber-tub Bendix, which my mother termed "hateful," and when it gave trouble, my dad rustled up one of these Kenmores. Later, the matching dryer turned up. They served us for quite a long time.
One of our members here has a beautifully restored pair that makes me sigh for the good old days.... The ad's copy makes me snicker: "Old kenmore washing machine un sure if it works haven't messed with it" 1) If you'll think about it, you have excellent reason to suspect it doesn't work. 2) If leaving it outdoors for several decades is not "messing with it," I don't know what is. | ||
Post# 658079 , Reply# 3 2/4/2013 at 16:35 (4,097 days old) by Ultramatic  (New York City) |
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That picture sure looks familiar... | ||
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Post# 658089 , Reply# 4 2/4/2013 at 17:58 (4,097 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions) |
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Post# 658120 , Reply# 5 2/4/2013 at 20:57 (4,097 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land) |
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It should be worth the asking price. | ||
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Post# 658131 , Reply# 7 2/5/2013 at 00:08 (4,097 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc) |
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Another barn or shed find.Again,poor thing.If the seller wanted to sell it-why not store it in a more suitable place?Lets see-do YOU pay the $35 or does the "seller" pay it to you to take it? | ||
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Post# 658173 , Reply# 9 2/5/2013 at 07:48 (4,097 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Old Kenmore Washer It probably has some good parts, the trim on many of these older appliances was like the trim on older cars, it is polished SS and it will basically never deteriorate in many lifetimes. From the look of the picture their may be some other good stuff around.
And yes I agree Travis all this whining about prices, $35 is not much above scrap price, it makes this group look very unprofessional. If you think that a price is too high either keep it to yourself or contact the seller and make an offer, whining about it does no one any good. | ||
| Post# 658190 , Reply# 10 2/5/2013 at 11:03 (4,097 days old) by recyclewasher () | ||
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HEY COMBO52.. I sent you an email sometime last week concerning your offer for the connector for the Lady K electronic circuit board, did you get it? also updated the profile, my email works too.. David | ||
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Post# 658200 , Reply# 11 2/5/2013 at 12:13 (4,097 days old) by countryford (Austin, MN) |
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It is located 70 miles north of me. As much as I would like to go get it for myself to eventually restore, I find that I have way too many projects on the to do list and not enough time or money. Plus I think I would get shot if I were to bring it home. If anyone is interested in it, I will go pick it up for them. I would just ask for the price of fuel. Hopefully someone can save it or at least get it for parts to save another machine.
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Post# 658300 , Reply# 13 2/5/2013 at 18:18 (4,096 days old) by d-jones (Western Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh Area)) |
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David - Porcelain is essentially glass and isn't subject to fading or normal rust the way paint is, so the fact that the cabinet is rusted this way leads me to believe it's painted. When rust forms on a porcelain coated surface it forms under the porcelain, causing it to crack and flake off. The rust generally begins to form at a point were the cabinet was damaged or dented, or it can form on the backside of the metal and work its way through. So I'd be really surprised if someone familiar with this model were to say it was coated in porcelain.
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Post# 658306 , Reply# 14 2/5/2013 at 18:41 (4,096 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay) |
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| Post# 658312 , Reply# 15 2/5/2013 at 18:51 (4,096 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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Porcelain/Paint
First, let me say that our '51 Kenmore pair was painted. I specifically remember that because our washer's top got into some rust problems, which were "corrected" with a bit of sanding and some spray paint applied by my Mom.
But it should also be noted that for some years, porcelain finishes were available on Kenmore laundry appliances, meaning top and cabinet, like Frigidaire did. I have no idea if that applied during the time this washer was produced, though. | ||
| Post# 658333 , Reply# 17 2/5/2013 at 20:36 (4,096 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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The Scoop!
All bright trim on these babies was plated pot-metal, as I recall. Including the knobs and the dial escutcheons. What grade of pot metal was involved, I do not know. I seem to remember some blistering on the washer's "Kenmore" badge on the front, where top and cabinet came together. However, these were Georgia machines, in a basement, which means the humidity level was slightly higher than you'd find at the bottom of the ocean. Machines in a drier climate (which would not be hard to find) would hopefully have fared better.
They were not bolt-down machines; they had a suspension. Whether it was the type you mention is for others to answer; I'm telling you what I remember about machines we got rid of in 1965. And yes, I was a mere child at the time. ;-) | ||
| Post# 658342 , Reply# 18 2/5/2013 at 21:05 (4,096 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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And Oh, Yeah - Paging Northwesty!
The SOURCE on these machines would be Brian, a.k.a. Northwesty, who has a beautifully restored pair that I understand he uses as drivers - they're not collection queens.
If Brian comes forward, I'm sure he can answer most any question you have. Using the Searchalator will turn up some of his posts, and there are pictures to die for in some of them. Until Brian surfaces, here's a May, 2012 thread about these washers, and one of the posts is from Brian, showing his impeccably restored set. Reply #24 is the one you are dying to see: CLICK HERE TO GO TO danemodsandy's LINK | ||
| Post# 658372 , Reply# 19 2/5/2013 at 22:17 (4,096 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea)) | ||
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Post# 658378 , Reply# 20 2/5/2013 at 23:52 (4,096 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay) |
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| Post# 658464 , Reply# 21 2/6/2013 at 13:47 (4,096 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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P.S.:
The thread I linked to in Reply # 18 has a Sears Christmas catalog page from 1952, showing the washer brand new.
The finishes are described as "Porcelain enameled tub and basket. White Durabond finish protects metal parts." In other words, painted top and cabinet, true to its Whirlpool roots; they were already doing painted tops and cabinets, even then, on their own machines. No porcelain cabinet option is listed. List price, $219.95, equal to a little over $1800 today. Suds-Saver option was $20 extra. 
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| Post# 658470 , Reply# 22 2/6/2013 at 14:14 (4,096 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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And Just For Grits 'n Giggles.... | ||
| Post# 658477 , Reply# 23 2/6/2013 at 14:36 (4,096 days old) by firedome (Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT) | ||
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Post# 658575 , Reply# 24 2/6/2013 at 19:42 (4,095 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Early 1950s KM Washer The bright metal trim on this washer is not pot metal, the band around the machine is polished SS as is the name plate emblem in front. The knobs are pot metal but the larger skirts are stamped SS.
What is all this nonsense about WP not using porcelain tops on their washers and dryers. Maytag did not have porcelain tops on their washer and dryer during this time period either.
WP & KM started using PTs on their W&Ds around 1953 and when the first LKM came out in 1957 it had an all porcelain cabinet, top and control panel cover was standard and this continued through 1962 on the LKMs at no additional cost, and KM and WP continued to offer this upgrade till the early 1970s for a mosdest $10 extra charge. MT never had an all porcelain cabinet or control panel cover on ANY washer and dryer they EVER sold. YES it was an excellent feature that MT washers and dryers had porcelain tops Right to the end, but keep in mind that WP is still making selling washers and dryers with porcelain tops today and even great companies like SQ are NOT. | ||
| Post# 658578 , Reply# 25 2/6/2013 at 19:56 (4,095 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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John:
My description of a pot-metal emblem was based on memories nearly half a century old; forgive me the inaccuracy.
The combination of a porcelain top and a painted cabinet was standard with most manufacturers for a long, long time. As you point out, there was a time it wasn't standard yet, and we're now in a time when it isn't necessarily standard any more. But for a while there, porcelain tops were the expectation. | ||
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Post# 658591 , Reply# 26 2/6/2013 at 20:15 (4,095 days old) by washerlover (The Big Island, Hawai’i) |
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Post# 658675 , Reply# 27 2/7/2013 at 08:51 (4,095 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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Maytag did not have porcelain tops
The top of the original AMP was porcelain, where both halves the lid was painted. Later AMP's had a painted top half and the bottom half of the lid was porcelain, which followed suit through till the end of AMP transmission production in '57.
Maytag dryers did not receive a porcelain top until the SuperMatic 601 dryer in '54. The original 60W dryer in '53 was all paint. Back to the original thread - for the price, the Kenmore is worth picking up for the parts alone. If someone wants to tackle the 'body work', then more power to ya! Ben | ||
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Post# 658684 , Reply# 28 2/7/2013 at 09:36 (4,095 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Orignal MT AMP Washer | ||
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Post# 658691 , Reply# 29 2/7/2013 at 10:10 (4,095 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC) |
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Painted tops/panels - 1960s, 1970s, and on
There was a period in the late 1970s and early 1980s where Kenmore offered certain MOL models with painted tops, often combined with a porcelain lid. I never respected these models much as here on the east coast, these often rust, and badly, before the machine is worn out. They seem to have much more longevity due to the lack of humidity in the west.
I used to attach "blame" for that on the bean counters who were counting every penny, but I have come to find out that these were more the result of promotional models that Sears wanted to sell lots of at really low prices, thus we were seeing a lot of them in the 1990s entering the replacements population. The rest of the model lines usually remained with full porcelain tops and lids. Certain 1977 and 1979 models were very common without them and they seemed to be everywhere for a while. I was of the understanding that all previous Kenmores, especially those from the 1960s, were always porcelain coated on the tops and lids, at least. John is certainly correct as well, that KM offered a full porcelain cabinet on some models, but they seem to be somewhat rare. They are noticeably heavier than their painted cabinet counterparts. Since joining AW.org, I have learned, much to my surprise, that certain KM and WP models always had painted lids and tops, even in the porcelain rich days of the 1960s. Kenmore 400, 500, and even some 60/600s were painted with baked or acrylic enamel. For the 1961 models for example, the first model to have the porcelain top and lid as standard was the 70 series. The 60 had a porcelain lid but painted top. The 500 had both lid and top painted, with blue one-coat tub. These are features usually reserved for total BOL units, and the 500 and 600 are not BOL or low-volume units. This really surprised me. I've studied ads and catalogs closely, and Sears always mentions how much of the machine is porcelanized in the 'Construction' section. I was really surprised to see this, but it may explain why we seem to have a few of these older models in our collections, but usually the better models - the BOLs may have all rusted out long ago. Same applies to WP, though I think they were more liberal with their porcelain. One member here I am certain has a painted top 1962 model. Gordon | ||
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Post# 658692 , Reply# 30 2/7/2013 at 10:35 (4,095 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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Post# 658744 , Reply# 31 2/7/2013 at 13:32 (4,095 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC) |
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Porcelain cabinet models were a $10 option with Sears in the 1960s, which John already mentioned. I have no idea how Whirlpool priced it, but I would expect it was in the same ball-park. There are great in moist enviroments like northeastern basements --- no rusty cabinets. You got a better deal when buying a model that wasn't full porcelain on the top and lid in the regular model, as it would have both these in the porcelain cabinet version for no extra money.
Sears seemed to spec the painted parts much more liberally than WP did in the 1970s and early 80s, though I never really understood the need to have a porcelain lid but a painted top. Eventually on these the lid looked nearly new in a rusted lid well (dumb). When the powder coated tops and lids debuted in early 1983, this made a big improvement in durability over the painted tops, and suddenly many of WP's models were getting them along with most Kenmores under the 80 series. The powder coating is a much more environmentally friendly process, as porcelanizing requires chemical etchers (Hydrochloric Acid) and uses a lot of heat (therefore energy) as well. Not only is it cheaper and more environmental, powder coating can be applied more quickly. Long term now that these first models are 25-30 years old, the powder coating seems to last much longer than the painted parts, without significant rust exposure, but they seem to get dull and scratched just like the painted parts. Gordon This post was last edited 02/07/2013 at 16:11 | ||
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Post# 658790 , Reply# 32 2/7/2013 at 18:17 (4,094 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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John - that's the first I've heard, but I'll certainly take your word for it! Of all the AMP's I've seen, they all had porcelain tops.
I also would have swore I read some Maytag brochure or manual somewhere talking about it, but this is pretty cool to hear! Ben This post was last edited 02/07/2013 at 20:36 | ||
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