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Thread Number: 86547
/ Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
Estate Sale Find! A 1974 Lady Kenmore Washer/Dryer Set! |
[Down to Last] |  |
| Post# 1111328 3/14/2021 at 11:02 (1,135 days old) by drh4683 (Chicago western suburbs) | ||
I came across this nice pair of clean low hour 1974 Lady Kenmores in Coppertone at an estate sale a couple weeks ago. I wasn't expecting to find these, nor were they initially offered for sale when I spotted them. They were in a very nice all original upscale home built in 1958 in River Forest, IL (west suburb of Chicago where I live).
I asked the people running the sale if they'd consider selling them, to which they said they didn't think anyone would want them, so no thought was really put into it. They called up the family of the estate as I waited and they said someone wants the old washer/dryer set and if they can sell them. The owners said if someone wants them, then why not! They said make us an offer and I said how about $100? They snapped it right up with a SOLD! We also looked around and found all the original paperwork and manuals from when these were bought in April, 1974. Upon close inspection, its as thought these machines were rarely ever used. No signs of wear or rust anywhere. Like they were just uncrated. The labels on back are all crisp and bright still. If you look at the original paperwork, it says to "bring the old set into the garage". I wonder what those were. Probably some 1958/59 Kenmores..? One wonders how a washer/dryer set never gets used. There's always a story to these low hour finds. Fortunately I was given the story by the family. The original owners of this home were born in 1910, and their son moved into his parents home after they died in the early 90's. He just left things the way they were, taking good care of his parents home until he passed away recently. The family owned and operated one of the largest cleaner companies in Chicago; "Toll Bros. Cleaners" which was started by the original owners parents in the 1910's (they're now out of business as of about 2011). They had accounts with some of the largest hotels in Chicago and had plenty of money. Their stunning original 1958 home was proof of that. Apparently Mr. & Mrs. Toll had their laundry taken care of by their cleaning business, hence these machines were never really used. Interestingly, a newer bottle of "ALL" is on the shelf as seen in one of the photos, so perhaps they were recently used after their company closed down. | ||
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Post# 1111332 , Reply# 1 3/14/2021 at 11:20 (1,135 days old) by appnut  (TX) |
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Post# 1111338 , Reply# 2 3/14/2021 at 11:37 (1,135 days old) by Jetaction (Minneapolis) |
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What a great story! | ||
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Post# 1111339 , Reply# 3 3/14/2021 at 11:40 (1,135 days old) by peteski50 (New York) |
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Kenmore! | ||
| Post# 1111344 , Reply# 4 3/14/2021 at 12:01 (1,135 days old) by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas) | ||
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| Post# 1111346 , Reply# 5 3/14/2021 at 12:05 (1,135 days old) by washmeup (scottsdale) | ||
Awesome | ||
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Post# 1111347 , Reply# 6 3/14/2021 at 12:07 (1,135 days old) by pulltostart (Mobile, AL) |
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Post# 1111352 , Reply# 7 3/14/2021 at 12:23 (1,135 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.) |
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WOW | ||
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Post# 1111357 , Reply# 8 3/14/2021 at 13:25 (1,135 days old) by RP2813 (Sannazay) |
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 Doug, that is a beautiful set that I would have jumped on too. I would learn to love coppertone in this case.
The paperwork and laundry guide are identical to that of my mom's '74 Kenmore and brought back memories.
If there was a "find of the month" category here, this pair would certainly be a nominee and a top contender. | ||
| Post# 1111365 , Reply# 9 3/14/2021 at 14:05 (1,135 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
KM/WP belt drives always were the best! | ||
| Post# 1111379 , Reply# 10 3/14/2021 at 17:05 (1,135 days old) by sprog (Boston) | ||
Nicely Done! | ||
| Post# 1111381 , Reply# 11 3/14/2021 at 17:24 (1,135 days old) by qsd-dan (West) | ||
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Post# 1111382 , Reply# 12 3/14/2021 at 17:47 (1,135 days old) by akronman (Akron/Cleveland Ohio) |
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wow | ||
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Post# 1111384 , Reply# 13 3/14/2021 at 18:04 (1,135 days old) by Lorainfurniture (Cleveland ) |
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Nice set Condition looks amazing. I couldn’t make out the receipt clearly but it looks like the washer was $559, the dryer 563? Pre tax that’s over $7,000 in today’s money for that set. | ||
| Post# 1111385 , Reply# 14 3/14/2021 at 18:19 (1,135 days old) by qsd-dan (West) | ||
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Post# 1111389 , Reply# 15 3/14/2021 at 18:34 (1,135 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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 Another fabulous find shared with the community! Videos pleeeeze! 1974 Spring-Summer catalog lists the washer at $314.95. Dryer $244.95 electric, $274.95 gas. 1974 Fall-Winter catalog, washer $344.95. Dryer $259.95 electric, 289.95 gas. 1975 Spring-Summer, washer $364.95. Dryer $289.95 electric, $319.95 gas. 1975 Fall-Winter doesn't list a Lady Kenmore pair, has a lower model as "Sears Best." 1976 Spring-Summer goes to the center-dial, black-panel "wet look" design. Also introduces the Dual-Action agitator exclusive to the LK model, and offers it for $29.95 as an upgrade to any large-capacity model orginally with a Penta-Vane or Penta-Swirl. | ||
| Post# 1111391 , Reply# 16 3/14/2021 at 19:25 (1,135 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas) | ||
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Post# 1111397 , Reply# 17 3/14/2021 at 20:48 (1,135 days old) by CircleW (NE Cincinnati OH area) |
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Extra, extra nice! I'd say you hit the jackpot with those. I remember a set like that in Avocado on display in the local Sears catalog store owned by my mom's friend Faye. | ||
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Post# 1111404 , Reply# 18 3/14/2021 at 21:31 (1,135 days old) by gizmo (Victoria, Australia) |
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Wow! Those are lovely. What a find! | ||
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Post# 1111436 , Reply# 20 3/14/2021 at 23:20 (1,135 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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| Post# 1111439 , Reply# 21 3/15/2021 at 01:40 (1,135 days old) by 70series ( Connecticut.) | ||
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Congratulations on this wonderful find. I hope you get years of enjoyment out of them. Have a good one, James | ||
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Post# 1111443 , Reply# 22 3/15/2021 at 02:38 (1,135 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA) |
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Beautiful!
Really awesome set! I love mine!
View Full Size
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| Post# 1111444 , Reply# 23 3/15/2021 at 02:58 (1,135 days old) by Spinmon (st. charles mo ) | ||
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Coppertone would not ring my bell. Um,except in this case,OMG,those machines are beautiful! The wood garage doors look good with the coppertone. Hope they operate well and you enjoy the "brown" out of them!! Wash on. | ||
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Post# 1111458 , Reply# 24 3/15/2021 at 08:28 (1,134 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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Top 5 find of 2021, so far, with receipts!
Congrats, Doug! It's amazing what you've been able to find in Chicago, and this set is of no exception. They look minty fresh, just off the delivery dock of the local Sears warehouse. I hope they require little to get back into tip top shape.
Is it just me, or does the laundry room of the Toll house look oddly similar to the laundry room of another set you found in the last few years? Maybe the solid tub Frigidaire set? Ben | ||
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Post# 1111473 , Reply# 25 3/15/2021 at 09:54 (1,134 days old) by Chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK) |
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Kenmore 
Hi Doug , wow , didn't you hit the jackpot, what a fantastic pair to find, glad you took time to ask the question where they for sale .
For me the story of how they came to be is as important as the washer finds themselves , Thanks for sharing and like others here am looking forward to seeing more pics and videos . Cheers, Mike | ||
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Post# 1111490 , Reply# 26 3/15/2021 at 11:37 (1,134 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI) |
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Well you really scored big—Sears being based in Chicago those machines didn’t have to travel far...
And even the laundry room they’re in says vintage... And I think the Copper tone that they’re in is just the perfect color for them, as is the mint condition you’re lucky to get them in, getting me ready to root for them being ready to use... — Dave | ||
| Post# 1111501 , Reply# 27 3/15/2021 at 12:39 (1,134 days old) by felix (Săo Paulo - Brazil) | ||
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Post# 1111529 , Reply# 28 3/15/2021 at 16:18 (1,134 days old) by Washerlover (The Big Island, Hawai’i) |
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| Post# 1111535 , Reply# 29 3/15/2021 at 16:29 (1,134 days old) by Mayken4now (Panama City, Florida) | ||
FAINT | ||
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Post# 1111541 , Reply# 30 3/15/2021 at 16:51 (1,134 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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Beautiful! | ||
| Post# 1111596 , Reply# 31 3/15/2021 at 22:07 (1,134 days old) by Stainfighter (Columbia, SC) | ||
Wow😍 | ||
| Post# 1111601 , Reply# 32 3/15/2021 at 22:40 (1,134 days old) by Good-Shepherd (New Jersey) | ||
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Awesome score! Found more than my share of deals at Estate sales. Although at times they can be depressing because often someone died or went into a nursing home and strangers come in and rummage through all their belongings. | ||
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Post# 1111602 , Reply# 33 3/15/2021 at 22:43 (1,134 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!) |
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Post# 1111703 , Reply# 34 3/16/2021 at 17:09 (1,133 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut) |
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Aferim! | ||
| Post# 1111717 , Reply# 35 3/16/2021 at 19:07 (1,133 days old) by mtn1584 (USA) | ||
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A true time capsule.... Excellent condition for a 47 year old set!!! Looks like you time traveled back to 1974 and bought them from Sears Roebuck and Co. yourself! Remember “Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back!” Best of luck they are beautiful. Mike | ||
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Post# 1112039 , Reply# 36 3/19/2021 at 10:08 (1,130 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie) |
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