A new guy trying to learn about a Kenmore.


Forum Topics & Rules Manuals & Literature	New users Click-here to sign-up

Thread Number: 7289
A new guy trying to learn about a Kenmore.

[Down to Last]

Post# 143610 7/19/2006 at 17:07 (6,483 days old) by volvoguy87 (Cincinnati, OH)
Checkrate/Likes I'm new to posting, but have been reading the discussions here for about 2 years. Does anyone know the vintage of the Kenmore washing machine in the link below, or where it was in the model line up at the time? I remember my great-grandmother having one and am curious, although I cannot get this one. Is it a belt drive? I am in the field of historic preservation, and I am so glad to see people taking an interest in appliances, a subject usually ignored in historic preservation. Perhaps if manufacturers paid attention to the history of their products, they could concentrate on bettering their offerings, rather than cheapening them. Perhaps, if vintage appliances are used for inspiration, it can reduce the need for expensive research & devwelopment. Keep washing & restoring, Dave CLICK HERE TO GO TO volvoguy87's LINK on eBay

Post# 143611 , Reply# 1 7/19/2006 at 17:13 (6,483 days old) by westytoploader ()
Checkrate/Likes This is a BOL 24" belt-drive Kenmore, probably late-70's. Looks like it's in nice shape and it's not too terribly far from me; I might get it as I have never seen the straight-vane in action!

Post# 143612 , Reply# 2 7/19/2006 at 17:14 (6,483 days old) by westytoploader ()
Checkrate/Likes Actually, I can't believe I didn't read the model number! It's a 1981 model.

Post# 143622 , Reply# 3 7/19/2006 at 17:53 (6,483 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)
Checkrate/Likes I still see them in my travels on occasions. kennyGF

Post# 143690 , Reply# 4 7/19/2006 at 22:27 (6,483 days old) by mayken4now (Panama City, Florida)
Checkrate/Likes Austin, get the damn machine. Those are cool, BOL or not. You will faint at the turnover. Steve

Post# 143758 , Reply# 5 7/20/2006 at 08:11 (6,482 days old) by appliguy (Oakton Va.)
Checkrate/Likes *Austin* I was told they stopped doing the model # as the first 2 digits after about 1972 can someone either confirm or deny this once and for all? PATRICK COFFEY

Post# 143777 , Reply# 6 7/20/2006 at 09:29 (6,482 days old) by bobofhollywood ()
Checkrate/Likes *skinny* That's a narrow one, too...which may or may not be a good thing. It's good if you want space, but bad when it spins - not horrible, just not as nice as it's wider version. Also, being narrow, it'd fit more easily into my Mazda!~ I think you should get that too, Austin. It is a classic, based on a design that used the same belt for over 35 years (on a lot of washers). Also, being simple of design, it may be less prone to failure. The porcelain on the outer tubs was getting pretty thin by this point in the production, however, and there were plenty of woes surrounding the center post seal, as well as the tub lid seal lip rusting away and letting go of the clips. So - if you go to buy it, lift up the top and have a look to see if all the clips are in place first. I think it's an '81 also...which is the year I graduated high school~! Holla from Hollywood Bob

Post# 143823 , Reply# 7 7/20/2006 at 11:54 (6,482 days old) by westytoploader ()
Checkrate/Likes Hi Bob, So this machine was made the same year you graduated...neat! While I don't really care for that style of control panel (especially since they transferred it over to the early BOL direct-drive machines), the machine is in way too good of shape to pass up. I can vouch for the outer tub porcelain failure, but I've seen many examples of inner tub porcelain failure on later BD Kenmores as well if you can believe that! The Frankenmore has some slight porcelain loss in the wash basket, but only in a few small spots at the bottom that you can hardly see to begin with. In case it does get worse, I saved the near-perfect inner tub of the '75 Kenmore if I need to replace it. As for that "donut seal", that was a horrible design and those things SUCK...not that the raised area in the center of the outer tub doesn't either as that was a horrible design as well in my opinion. The 3 Kenmores I pulled the inner tubs on had these nearly eaten away. In addition to the tub seal lip, I've seen the clips themselves rusted away before! Yes, lifting the top is definitely an order with any future BD Kenmores coming here! Although it's still hard to tell even by doing that; to see how many problems there REALLY are, you practically have to pull the inner tub every time! ;-) Patrick, by this time, you could determine the model year of a Kenmore by looking at the first and third digits of the model number, not the first two as before. --Austin

Post# 143879 , Reply# 8 7/20/2006 at 16:25 (6,482 days old) by appliguy (Oakton Va.)
Checkrate/Likes *Thanks for clearing that up for me Austin* Can you still do that on todays models or ahve they stopped that as well? PATRICK COFFEY

Post# 143899 , Reply# 9 7/20/2006 at 18:47 (6,482 days old) by westytoploader ()
Checkrate/Likes Hi Patrick, I really don't know about the post-2000 models...will definitely have to check next time I stop in Sears. I could still determine the date with the first & third digits with the '98 direct-drive Kenmore I used to have. And here's yet another 24" BD Kenmore I spotted on eBay, a sister model of the Texas machine from the same era. This one's up north in Michigan. Definitely the BOL-est of the BOL here! One speed, one water level, one cycle, 2 temperature combinations...can't get any simpler than this! --Austin CLICK HERE TO GO TO westytoploader's LINK on eBay

Post# 144062 , Reply# 10 7/21/2006 at 11:32 (6,481 days old) by jasonl (Cookeville, TN)
Checkrate/Likes Those had kind of an oddball tub ring if I remember correctly. It's good ol' Kenmore all the way, just very basic. I wonder if it has a recirculating filter.

Forum Index:

Other Forums:

Comes to the Rescue!

The Discuss-o-Mat has stopped, buzzer is sounding!!!
If you would like to reply to this thread please log-in...
Discuss-O-MAT Log-In

New Members Click Here To Sign Up.

automaticwasher.org home
Discuss-o-Mat Forums
Vintage Brochures, Service and Owners Manuals
Fun Vintage Washer Ephemera
See It Wash!
Video Downloads
Audio Downloads
Picture of the Day
Patent of the Day
Photos of our Collections
The Old Aberdeen Farm
Vintage Service Manuals Vintage washer/dryer/dishwasher to sell?
Technical/service questions?
Looking for Parts?
Website related questions?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy
Our Privacy Policy