Thread Number: 69270
/ Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
Just found a 1968 Sears Lady Kenmore washer/dryer set! |
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Post# 920927   2/12/2017 at 10:59 (2,601 days old) by drh4683 (Chicago western suburbs)   |   | |
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It was another good weekend of estate sales and I stumbled upon another matched washer/dryer set that was calling my name to be saved: A 1968 Sears Lady Kenmore set in Avocado!
When I went to unhook them, I needed a set of pliers to release the corbin clamps on the discharge and suds saver hoses. I think this was the very first time I've ever been to a sale where I couldn't find a basic set of pliers or anything that could be used as such in the entire house. Someone already bought all of the hand tools and there was nothing left. I ended up having to run back home to get my corbin pliers so I could unhook the thing! Then getting them out of the basement they were in was the next challenge and fortunately there were two people working at the sale who helped in the move. I usually move this stuff by myself, but this was a situation that needed more than one person without risking machine damage. We had to remove doors and the railings to the basement, then to make matters more interesting, there of course had to be that dreaded 90 degree turn in the stairs and almost no landing at the top of the stairs where another 90 degree turn was necessary to get out the door. It was one of those stair arrangements you hope you never have to deal with when you have to move something large. But regardless, they got down there without damage 49 years ago. We planned it carefully and got them out without getting two-blocked and without a scratch. The washing machine was like moving a block of concrete... The machines appear to have had normal usage over the years, but still well cared for. There was actually a load of towels left behind inside the dryer. I tested the dryer out (it's an electric dryer) before I disconnected and it worked just fine. I will assume I will need to service the washer. I didn't bother testing it with water as it was dry inside and appeared to have not been used in a very long time as there were cobwebs inside the washer drum. Electrically, however, the washer seems fine as the motor works and the agitator operates smoothly. So perhaps it too is working just fine. The piano keys all work, but they seem quite fragile as there is a lot of tension on the plastic buttons from the torsion return springs. I guess its amazing these machines are still around as that design seems to be a potential problem area on these, especially as the plastic ages. I gave them a simple cleaning when I got home and pulled the control panels just to inspect for date codes and blew the dust out. The control panel for the dryer has a date stamp of November 28, 1967 and the washer has a date stamp inside the control panel of July 18, 1967. So far, the only thing the washer needed was a new 26" florescent bulb and starter which I picked up at the hardware store. The original owners, Mr. & Mrs. Norman have both passed away. He was a mechanical engineer at Whiting Corp. in Chicago who makes large industrial warehouse cranes and hoists. I also saved many of his engineering books and manuals from the 60's. They didn't appear to have any children, but the two of them enjoyed many road trips together from all the photo albums left behind which I show a picture of here. The picture of the machines in the basement is how they looked as I found them. |
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Post# 920928 , Reply# 1   2/12/2017 at 11:01 (2,601 days old) by drh4683 (Chicago western suburbs)   |   | |
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Here are some additional photos showing the insides of the control panels and also some "night shots" of the consoles all lit up...
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Post# 920929 , Reply# 2   2/12/2017 at 11:05 (2,601 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod)   |   | |
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Post# 920932 , Reply# 3   2/12/2017 at 11:34 (2,601 days old) by super32 (Blackstone Massachusetts)   |   | |
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Post# 920933 , Reply# 4   2/12/2017 at 11:36 (2,601 days old) by turquoisedude (.)   |   | |
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Post# 920934 , Reply# 5   2/12/2017 at 11:48 (2,601 days old) by appnut (TX)   |   | |
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Doug, I was going to say the same thing as Paul--you're on a roll. What does the button under Heavy Duty say? Since this has the spankalator agitator, the washer probably shifts to gentle agitation during the middle of the wash cycle on normal and probably perm press. Heavy Duty probably eliminates the speed shift. When you can, please take a photo of the cycle chart on the underside of the lid. Thank you. |
Post# 920935 , Reply# 6   2/12/2017 at 11:54 (2,601 days old) by peteski50 (New York)   |   | |
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Post# 920936 , Reply# 7   2/12/2017 at 11:56 (2,601 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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Post# 920938 , Reply# 8   2/12/2017 at 12:00 (2,601 days old) by stricklybojack (South Hams Devon UK)   |   | |
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Post# 920944 , Reply# 9   2/12/2017 at 13:05 (2,601 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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That's the Special Care button which shifts the agitation to the third, or extra-low speed. You can press it and watch the agitator slow down. The agitator is the much-loved Roto-flex whose fins are flexible, and while this type is a real current maker it is nevertheless gentle, although some say it can catch the buttons. There is no automatic tripping down of agitation speeds except during Cooldown.
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Post# 920945 , Reply# 10   2/12/2017 at 13:13 (2,601 days old) by appnut (TX)   |   | |
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Post# 920947 , Reply# 11   2/12/2017 at 13:23 (2,601 days old) by Gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA)   |   | |
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A fine pair! That's the way to do it. Persistence pays off! |
Post# 920954 , Reply# 12   2/12/2017 at 14:49 (2,601 days old) by larryswingel (coosbayoregon)   |   | |
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hi there, does some one know the name of the vacuum cleaner site , thank you |
Post# 920959 , Reply# 13   2/12/2017 at 15:11 (2,601 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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Post# 920962 , Reply# 14   2/12/2017 at 15:45 (2,601 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod)   |   | |
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Post# 920968 , Reply# 15   2/12/2017 at 16:09 (2,601 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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Post# 920994 , Reply# 16   2/12/2017 at 18:50 (2,601 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)   |   | |
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Post# 920996 , Reply# 17   2/12/2017 at 19:04 (2,601 days old) by rickr (.)   |   | |
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Post# 921001 , Reply# 18   2/12/2017 at 19:23 (2,601 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)   |   | |
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Post# 921005 , Reply# 19   2/12/2017 at 19:43 (2,601 days old) by potatochips ( )   |   | |
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Nice find and congratulations! Theyre wonderful looking machines. Thanks for the share! |
Post# 921008 , Reply# 20   2/12/2017 at 20:05 (2,601 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut)   |   | |
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I have the exact same washer and I love it. Mine needs some work on the timer and the inlet solenoids. I'd love to find the matching dryer as well. What is remarkable about these machines is that, unless I'm wrong, they were the only machines made in 1968 where you could load up all the dispensers and use any cycle the machine provided and not have to return to the washer until it was finished. Of all the bells and whistles offered back then I think that had to be the most useful.
Thank you for all the pictures, especially the ones inside the control panels. I haven't gone there yet but you've provided a good road map. |
Post# 921024 , Reply# 21   2/12/2017 at 21:36 (2,601 days old) by Washerlover (The Big Island, Hawai’i)   |   | |
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Post# 921035 , Reply# 22   2/12/2017 at 23:47 (2,601 days old) by Appnut (TX)   |   | |
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Post# 921037 , Reply# 23   2/13/2017 at 00:10 (2,601 days old) by 70series ( Connecticut.)   |   | |
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Outstanding set of Kenmores you've found. Congratulations, and may they bring you years of joy. |
Post# 921154 , Reply# 24   2/13/2017 at 15:50 (2,600 days old) by newvista58 (Northern NJ)   |   | |
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Post# 921155 , Reply# 25   2/13/2017 at 16:01 (2,600 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
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Post# 921176 , Reply# 26   2/13/2017 at 18:37 (2,600 days old) by CircleW (NE Cincinnati OH area)   |   | |
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That is my favorite Kenmore control panel style. My friend Glenna D. got a very similar set when she and her husband Larry married in '66, except in Coppertone. |
Post# 921178 , Reply# 27   2/13/2017 at 18:48 (2,600 days old) by akronman (Akron/Cleveland Ohio)   |   | |
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Post# 921487 , Reply# 28   2/15/2017 at 07:24 (2,599 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)   |   | |
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Post# 921510 , Reply# 29   2/15/2017 at 10:40 (2,598 days old) by kd12 (Arkansas)   |   | |
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Picture 13 of the first set. Is that a scent bottle under the dryer lint screen lid like the early 60s models had? |
Post# 921746 , Reply# 30   2/16/2017 at 09:27 (2,597 days old) by mayken4now (Panama City, Florida)   |   | |
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Post# 921775 , Reply# 31   2/16/2017 at 12:09 (2,597 days old) by Ultramatic (New York City)   |   | |
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Post# 925903 , Reply# 32   3/9/2017 at 20:43 (2,576 days old) by TrainGuy (Key West, FL)   |   | |
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Post# 926256 , Reply# 33   3/11/2017 at 16:23 (2,574 days old) by TrainGuy (Key West, FL)   |   | |
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Post# 926380 , Reply# 34   3/12/2017 at 12:58 (2,573 days old) by Tygerlondon (Saint Joseph)   |   | |
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Post# 928702 , Reply# 35   3/24/2017 at 19:29 (2,561 days old) by electronicontrl (Grand Rapids, MI)   |   | |
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You have the best finds!! I have that dryer is Coppertone.
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