The other possible subtitle of this story is: I have some good news and some bad news. Which do you want to hear first?
My video about my Kitchenaid KDS-21 dishwasher, if you want to cut to the chase:
I am a glass-half-full kind of person, so I will start with the good news:
I have a new-to-me vintage Kitchenaid dishwasher installed in the kitchen! Woooooot! Needing a new dishwasher and disgusted by the short lifespans of current dishwashers, I turned to my tried-and-true method: Buy vintage.
To research this topic, the automaticwasher “Imperial” forum was my go-to place. There are several of models that seem popular among the experts, including old Kitchenaid dishwashers still made by Hobart or using Hobart technology. These are apparently a DREAM in terms of longevity. And automaticwasher.org is a DREAM in terms of expertise! So fun!
So I started regularly searching craigslist. Finally, I went for the pounce and recently, drove four hours roundtrip to buy this beautiful KDS-21 Kitchenaid Superba dishwasher. The dishwasher was in wonderful condition — the seller was remodeling. I also got two original booklets, a features-and-usage booklet and an installation guide. My plumber Paul — who also had installed my Dishmaster — came the same week I called and was a dream to work with in terms of getting the dishwasher into the space and all hooked up.
Okay, the bad news:
She won’t turn on. We are sure there is electricity coming out of the plug.
Before I try and find someone locally who can help get my darling Kitchenaid going, I will be reaching out to automaticwasher for help.
Midmorning update #1: The folks at automaticwasher responded immediately to my “Damsel in Dish-tress” post on their site. Within the hour, “toploader” asked me if a “white rubber pointy thing” was where it should be, providing more info.
Well golly, wouldn’t you know it, but indeed, a little white rubber pointy thing HAD popped off the dishwasher at some point early on, and we couldn’t figure out where it had come from. Fortunately, I had saved it. And even more fortunately, I put it somewhere where I found it.
So now I need to glue it back on. It’s some kind of sensor trigger or something — when you close the door, the white rubber pointy thingy presses a metal thingy. Maybe this means “the door is really closed”? I don’t know.
I also heard from another helpful automaticwasher-er where I could get a replacement if the glue does not hold.
Interestingly, I am not particularly annoyed by how this played out — update: is playing out. After all, around here we do things The Hard Way. And even sans suds, I give this project “three steps forward” because golly, my vintage Kitchenaid dishwasher is so pretty. So collectible. So substantial. And assuming I can get her working: A proven workhorse!
la573 says
Never was a dishwasher more the subject of legal wrangling than the KitchenAid KDS-21 (details here: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/612/1009/1576161/ ). Hobart wanted to exit the residential appliance market in 1984 by selling the KitchenAid division to Whirlpool, but several other companies sued to try to block the buyout on antitrust grounds – the combined WP/KA would dominate the dishwasher market. So a an 8-year sweetheart deal was arranged where a third company, Emerson (maker of the popular InSinkErator disposers) would take over building Hobart’s home products, including building the KDS-21 exclusively for Whirlpool using Kitchenaid branding, whilst Emerson could also sell earlier or different Hobart designs under their own Emerson name, or for other companies. They did sell some ISE dishwashers during that time, but they never bothered making any for third-party companies. After the 8 years lapsed, Whirlpool acquired the whole works from Emerson, and soon thereafter replaced the distinctive Hobart design with cheaper Whirlpool-derived dishwashers that lacked most of the features that made Hobart Kitchenaids special. Consumers quickly caught on, and started buying Bosch and other new high-end brands instead. Eventually Whirlpool realized they needed to make their Kitchenaid dishwashers more distinct from the cheaper Whirlpool models, and the current Kitchenaid models are again competitive, better in some ways than the old Hobart units and worse in others, but clearly something worth more than a basic Whirlpool dishwasher.
Pam Kueber says
Wow! Who knew! Now we all do! Thanks so much, la573! Fascinating!
Pam Kueber says
I scanned fast – seems like this led to an injunction on the deal! There must be even morrrrrre to the story!
Kevin Preston says
In our previous house, I did the entire kitchen renovation MYSELF! New cabinets, with tinted glass to show off my Franciscan Starburst pieces, O&M stove, GE retro fridge. I installed the then-porcelain interior unit (my understanding because of some wing nut’s complaint about the recyclability of said interior) Kitchen Aid dishwasher, brand new. Still had manual buttons. SO fantastic. The absolute best I have ever seen.
So, flash forward five years, we move to a larger home, and I decide to replace all the appliances with Kitchen Aid. Thousands of dollars wasted. The window came loose in the microwave (how can that even happen). The circuit board controlling the dishwasher went out FIVE TIMES. The inside racks disintegrated. The stainless steel constantly stained, although on the stove, with matching stainless, it did not! The fridge just self destructed, the ice maker constantly failed, all the bins and drawers inside broke. Within two years it was all trash and I replaced everything AGAIN.
I have now a super rare 6 burner American Crown stove which has never failed me, and the second to cheapest dishwasher that Home Depot sells, a basic Whirlpool, which has a wonderful 60 minute wash (try finding that even on expensive units) that the manual cautions “remember, it takes more energy and water!”. Duh, that is what cleans effectively!
So a $369 dishwasher is better than the $600-$900 models that I have burned through within a few years.
How’s that for a shock….
Leila says
I had that same KitchenAid Superba dishwasher in my home since the 1960s. I remember my Dad installing it all those years ago. Worked great until eventually it stopped draining – I tried to fix it before eventually giving up and buying a new one three years ago. I replaced it wth a new Bosch. The first thing I disliked (of a long list of things) about the new one was how far down I had to bend to get to the dishes. Because the old dishwasher had a split front panel with a shorter door, the dishes were about 9 ? inches above floor level with door open, while loading and unloading. Now, with the door open, it feels like the dishes are practically on the floor and it’s a l o n g way down to get to them. I miss my old dishwasher. Enjoy your new appliance!
Mark M. says
I LOVE my 1968 Kitchen Aide by Hobart, it works like a horse. I was so impressed with my find, I bought a 1973 back up Superba to have for when I redo my other kitchen. These are gems that will never be reproduced in our time. 🙂
Dan Dexter says
Hi Pam,
WRT your broken “white thingy”, I would recommend looking into a product called Akfix universal #705 adhesive. It’s a crazy glue of sorts but way better. It has an activator spray that creates an incredibleand instant bond. It has become my “goto” glue for just about anything. Good luck on congrats on your new vintage KDS-21!
beth says
I vote for keeping the white plastic. Looks Great! And I grew up with a Hobart Kitchen Aid dishwasher c. 1968 with a wonderful WOODEN front panel that matched our cabinets. Yours is very similar but I remember there was a dial on the lower panel that as a child I never understood what it was for! I see yours doesn’t have it so it must be a different model. At any rate – my mom LOVED KA and would constantly lament the inferior quality of the next ones she bought. (We moved from the 1st house and she kept trying to recreate the KA perfection of the first one)
Good luck with yours – you are such a go-getter you inspire me!
Jacki says
My parents later house, built in 1978, had s KitchenAid, that was the best! It was still in the home when it was sold in 2000. When I had to replace the dishwasher in my own home in 1999, I chose a KitchenAid for that very reason. What a disappoint it has been. If I ever get around to upgrading I think I will look for an older one. Now a days in their efforts to make everything safe for morons, nothing works as good. I still have the same washer and dryer I bought just before my son was born (he just turned 23). They still work, but are babied and nursed along. I was looking to replace s few months ago but was so discouraged by the new products and reviews out there, that I think I’ll just keep them until they finally die. We kids always imitated or made fun if our dad crabbing about how bad later models worked or were made. Now I have become my dad. If I’d had a trumpet, I would have played Taps when my electric rollers (a Christmas present in 1976) died 30 years later. ????
Carol says
Your last sentence almost made me fall off my chair. Thanks Jacki!
SusieQT says
Ironically the same can be said about trumpets. Brand new ones are junk- I tell all my students to find themselves older instruments that were made in the USA in the 80s or older! Haha
Jacki Anderson says
It’s so disappointing that it is EVERYWHERE!
S Fetzer says
Not sure when this was installed, but I have a KDS 20, The number 20 may refer to the color Black. I’ve been in this house for 11 years and the Hobart Kitchen Aid DW works great on all operations.
Bonnie says
I purchased a home in 1988 that had a 1970 Whirlpool dishwasher installed and I used it, at least, once a day until I sold the home in 2001. That dishwasher was still working. I left the original sales receipt and booklet with the new owners. I often wonder if it’s still running today.
Richard Douglassd says
I also have a vintage dishwasher that still works great. Manufactured in the 1940s, we call it the Richard model. While it can be cranky at times, it works great if provided with coffee before trying to turn it on.
Joanne says
So weird to see you with my dishwasher lol. I’m in the house that I inherited from my grandparents and it came with one of these. Still working, and I still use it a couple of times a week. Never thought of it as vintage because I grew up with it hahaha.