Readers are constantly sending emails asking where to find cabinet pulls for vintage kitchen cabinets made by Youngstown, Geneva, and other makers. The answer: Not an easy one, I am afraid.
For example, the chevrons aka boomerangs above, on 2-3/4″ centers, are classic early Youngstowns. The Geneva’s that are most problematic are the kind with the recessed, plastic backplate.
The vintage Youngstowns CAN be found – but you are going to have to hunt and peck and search and wait. Watch ebay, try sites like historichouseparts.com (I helped a reader find some there just last year – they are still shown under “Jamestown” cabinets – a seller of Youngstowns, I believe), and maybe Liz’s Antique Hardware?
The Geneva backplate issue has been a difficult one for years, again as far as I know. I started hunting for my steel cabinets about 7 years ago. I constantly saw this question asked on forums. I know of no source for them.
Meanwhile: Be sure to see my Category called “Cabinet Hardware” for replacement choices.
Believe it or not, I found 2 sets of Pulls on Ebay for Sale, and You might want to keep Your Eye on Your Neighbor’s Trash at the Curb… You never know. See I found out that when Homeowners took the Metal Cabinets out of their Kitchens, and installed those Ugly Wood ones, the Metal ones would be put up in a Garage or down in the Basement for Tools or whatnot. The Woman in Philadelphia I bought My Metal Kitchen Cabinets from, had them just on top of each other in the back of Her House, because She re-did Her Kitchen. But trust Me… they are around both just the Pulls & the Complete Cabinets. P.S Craigslist is always a Great Tool to find them.
Hey Pam! A bit off subject, but I have some folks with a desperate need to NOT throw out turquoise bathroom fixtures: http://www.midcenturystyle.net/wordpress/?p=160
I know you’re all about “pink” – ha ha, but can you give them a plug? They’re near me here in Denver, but knowing your readers someone might be willing to drive!
Hi Pam,
I have just found your site and have been pouring over it for days! I am in the process of searching for my first home purchase and have always had a hankering for my grandmother’s metal cabinets that I remember from my youth – alas, they tore that house down when I was still too young to say, “Save those cabinets for me!” Imagine my delight when I found your website! Thank you for giving the past the respect it deserves. So many people automatically think old=bad and new=good. Sometimes yes, but more often the older products were right on target in form and function. Anyway, back on subject… These Chevron or Boomerang handles were a signature of Youngstown (or Jamestown) cabinets? If so, I now know what cabinets my grandmother had! I have been trying to figure it out and wondered where to find those exact handles! Do you have any idea of what year the Boomerangs were introduced? Thank you Pam, you are my new kitchen guru! By the way, I see you are in Kentucky this week. I live just outside Lexington and was delighted to find a full set of metal cabinets (with the double drainboard sink) at the Lexington Habitat for Humanity ReStore. They are sold (for $978) but are still there awaiting pickup. In need of TLC, but still amazingly gorgeous! I also found 4 pink bathroom sinks there! I hope you enjoy your time in the Bluegrass state and our crazy weather – 60 degrees one day and snow the next!
Welcome, Beth! There are some gorgeous vintage homes in the Lexington area – and you are close to Sumac Sue (aka Judi) who is one of our “original” readers. Have you seen these posts –
http://retrorenovation.com/2008/12/19/a-late-1950s-time-capsule-ranch-home-in-lexington-kentucky/
http://retrorenovation.com/2008/12/10/decorating-a-50s-pink-bathroom-with-timeless-character-beyond-retro/
http://retrorenovation.com/2008/12/01/retro-renovation-on-location-in-mid-century-louisville-and-lexington-kentucky-and-mitchell-indiana/
http://retrorenovation.com/2008/09/19/sleep-in-a-wigwam-femme1-vacations-at-wigwam-village-outside-mammoth-cave/
http://retrorenovation.com/2008/04/28/sumac-sue-and-her-gardenside-way-of-life/
Well, they’re not the rounded chevrons like those pictured above, but you guys MUST know about Rejuvenation’s new “Satellite Modern” website and the fact that they’ve reissued the angular chevron/boomerang pulls, right?
http://www.rejuvenation.com/fixshow100204/templates/selection.phtml
Happy almost spring to everyone!
Yes – Satellite has a new line. Readers, you can see ALL cabinet pull recommendations by looking at “Categories” in the right-hand sidebar and clicking “Cabinet Hardware”.
I picked up a large set (44 or 45) of the rounded boomerang pulls identical to the ones in the first picture on ebay last fall. I was trying to decide if I wanted to change out the original black and brass pulls in my kitchen. I don’t think I’m going to so now they are sitting with my growing collection, waiting for me to have some inspiration as to what to do with them. Glad to know that they were most likely on a set of Youngstown cabinets.
I’m going with new kitchen and bath knobs from Atlas Homewares.
They’re called Dap Round (small or large) and come in different finishes. I ordered the small (2″) in satin brass. They resemble the ones from Satellite, the concave style. I bought them from http://www.knobsandhardware.com for 7 bucks each.
Sablemable, that atlas website is extremely frustrating and Search does not work. Can you provide the direct link to the knobs that you purchased? Many thanks, Pam
Link is on it’s way, Pam.
hello every one! i have youngstown kitchen cabinets and i was wondering how to restore them.
hi amber, there are a number of posts on the site with readers sharing their experiences. This is the latest: http://retrorenovation.com/2009/05/13/garth-and-martha-have-pros-soda-blast-and-electrostatically-paint-their-vintage-crosley-steel-kitchen-cabinets/
If your interested in geneva kitchen cabinets come to fresh meadows apartments in queens new york. almost all the kitchens in the thousands of apartments have geneva kitchens that fresh meadows gets rid of after they re-do an apartment which they’ve recently begun doing.
Hi Pam,
I have a 1949 home. On the cusp between the 40′s and 50′s. We’ve lived her for 16 years, and the original white metal kitchen and cool white and burgundy backsplash were still intact. Someone installed a burgundy countertop and stainless sink along the way. It is a good size kitchen and I never had the $$ or the urge to update it. Now, I have $$, but still love my old kitchen. We have decided to just keep what we have, paint the cabinets and go retro with a new sink and countertops.
I have a 50′s table and chairs, and want to have the cabinets painted.
What do you suggest as a good place to start investigating to get them repainted?
I LOVE your site!
Hi Rusti, we have a whole category stories about vintage steel kitchen cabinets, including some where folks share their experiences getting them repainted. Go to the navigation bar – Browse by Category / by Room / Kitchen / Steel Kitchen Cabinets. I think that most folks have had luck with auto body paint shops that have the patience to deal with you and your cabinets, which are not an “everyday” thing that they see. I think there are other kinds of professional paint shops that can handle it, as well. It can be an ordeal to find the right vendor to work with you, but it’s crucial. Good luck.
Well, I had my metal cabinets spray painted, and am now searching for perfect pulls for them 2.75″ is what I need.
I am a woman on a mission. If I find them, I will share what I found!
And, my cabinets look yummy now! I painted them to match the backsplash all around my kitchen. White on top/burgundy on bottom. Which goes great with my backsplash/white with tiny little burgundy squares running through the top part. I love them!
My mother is moving into a home with a Youngstown Complete Kitchen (in great condition). She wants a remodel and while I think she’s crazy, I cannot take her cupboards. Where would I start if we wanted to sell them? Thanks in advance
Angel – see the FAQs and the Steel Kitchen Cabinets section under Find PRODUCTS/Kitchens/Steel Kitchen Cabinets
I found some great cabinet pulls at Liz’ Hardware in LA. They are the perfect size for my 1949 metal cabinet’s, and the holes that were standard at that time. They arrived perfect, still in a package from the WW2 era. They are chrome with a burgundy red button. Which is exactly what I was looking for. I needed 18, and they had 18. I really lucked out on this. They shipped, and arrived perfectly.
Ifound the source on this site! Thank you so much!
New floors were installed today, and the counters were installed a few days ago. It is looking so pretty, I could dance!
That’s great to hear, Rusti!!!
I have 37 youngstown cabinets pulls ready to sell. Just upgraded my kitchen. ready to make a deal.
Put ‘em on the Forum, Adam: http://retrorenovation.com/forum. No buying/selling on the main blog. Good luck.
I wonder if you happen to have the hinges for those cabenits. If you have them please either call 732-681-3079 or email me at: bhamid5557@aol.com
Bob, I have an FAQ on this. Short answer: No hinges. You need to jerryrig something. Good luck
Bob, I don’t know if you still need hinges, but my husband and I have Geneva cabinets and when the right hinge broke on our most used trash cabinet, we swapped the hinges on the right door of the cabinet under the sink and replaced it. We then removed the other door under the sink, leaving it without any doors. I made a coordinating tension rod curtain to cover the are and it looks just great and gives a lot of character and charm to our kitchen. Carm
I have the Geneva cabinets with the plastic insert. I ruined the inserts (too embarrassing to say how) and could find replacements. I had purchase numerous handles or backplates with the hope of getting a good… look. Found one that works so I thought I would share.
http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?productId=3047221&storeId=10151&langId=-1&catalogId=10051
I had a logo that was painted over too. I dropped it in boiling water and scratched off the paint with my fingernail. No damage!
Greetings -
Anyone ever find a source for the Geneva pull plates that have the plastic inserts mentioned on and off? Super gluing some of the broken plastic pieces just is not cutting it anymore! I guess the plastic gets brittle with age and use. A few replacement ones would totally “finish” off my recently repainted Geneva kitchen cabinet project!
Bob:)
nope, not available anywhere as far as I know… best advice I can think of: Salvage them from other cabinets…
Thanks Pam! If only I knew someone who did plastic injection molding … we could make some repros! In the meantime I’ll keep searching … (and continue carefully opening some of those cabinets with cracked handles!)
In our 1962 laundry room, we have the rounded boomerang or chevron cabinet pulls pictured at the top of this article. They need cleaning and polishing, and I have lots of experience with that (restored a dozen or so original brass door hinges – so much sturdier than modern door hinges! Plus, saved money.). However, these handles seem to have a gold finish – probably brass with a gold finish and lacquer over that? not much of the gold is left; mostly on the pulls used the least.
Does anyone know how these handles were finished? and/or how to re-do this finish? Otherwise, they’ll be brass, which is fine, but that old “gold” is pretty snazzy. thank you!! (and if only the pink sparkle formica was still available….) — Susan