by pam kueber on February 1, 2008
Scathing Jane seems to have caught the steel kitchen cabinet bug even more than me. She recently sent this TREMENDOUS find my way — English Rose cabinets. Same as in America, England had surplus metals available after the war. In this case: Aluminium. These English Roses are iconic – and now highly collectible.
Here’s a clip from an article about these cabinets: “The first English Rose kitchen was made in Warwickshire in 1948…by CSA Industries, an engineering firm that originally made nose cones for Spitfires. After the war ended, CSA used stock-piles of aircraft-grade aluminium by diversifying into up-market kitchens.”
Interestingly, the drawer design of these cabinets closely resembles our “American” brand, pictured below. Even see how they both have “trolley carts”… hmmm, maybe the companies shared some tooling? Nonethess, the English Roses’ recessed stainless steel handles really distinguish them.
1953 American brand steel kitchen
Thanks, SJ, keep your cabinet finds coming!
by Pam Kueber on January 22, 2008
I feel like a giddy archeologist every time a new brand of metal kitchen cabinets surfaces.
I did some cleanup and additions to the Forum this long holiday weekend. Updated count: 45 distinct brands of steel kitchen cabinets from the 1930s through the 1980s! Admiral brand is the latest, with a lone cabinet just listed in the San Francisco area.
Lots of action on the forum in the past 24 hours. Be sure to check every day in the View Today’s Posts section if this topic interests you — going to this spot daily makes it easiest to see the very latest posts with one easy click.
And be sure to let our St. Charles hunters know if you have the odds and ends they are looking for. What goes around comes around.
by Pam Kueber on January 16, 2008
Some new steel kitchen cabinet action on the Postwar Steel Forum. Be sure to see the new St. Charles kitchen over in Cape Cod — great photos of a fantastic original 50s kitchen, I’ll do a full post soon. And, to welcome another new St. Charles owner Esti. If you want to check daily for what’s new – just go the area I’ve circled in brown, click there. You can also subscribe to your Forums of interest, look for the little subscribe button when you enter that forum.
7:45 a.m. update: See the 25 new Youngstowns that just showed up on ebay this morning. They are in the Forum. Auction thru Jan. 20.
It also appears to me that some of the individuals with cabinets-wanted ads, may be dealer-businesses who are collecting, refinishing (?) then flipping the cabinets. Or – just collecting and flipping, as these cabinets continue to increase in desirability. What do you think? I’m not saying this is a bad thing, I am the world’s #1 capitalist, but it may be that the market for these is finally moving into the retail sphere, just as it has done with vintage stoves. 
by Pam Kueber on January 12, 2008
Any St. Charles cabinet doors for Darius in Chicago area? He only needs a few!
Also, correction to post on Scathing Jane: She’s in Atlanta (not Chicago) and is on the hunt for some additional St. Charles’ there. She will come get ‘em basically anywhere along the east coast – she has a big kitchen to re-do. She sent me an email with some really cool photos – stay tuned for an update on this new, intrepid retro renovator!
by Pam Kueber on January 8, 2008
Scathing Jane in Atlanta is looking for some more St. Charles metal cabinets to build out her set. She’ll send her sons to get them as far as Chicago or anywhere along the east cost, she has a big kitchen to fill. Please take a look at her post on the Postwar Steel Forum, and let her know if you can help.
Let’s turn Jane’s frown, upside down.
Also see, eight Youngstown cabinets listed in Los Angeles. And, a sink base in Boston.
by Pam Kueber on January 2, 2008
Whoa. What a blast from the past. These vintage Sears — harvest gold — steel kitchen cabinets now are on the Forum.
Also: If you’ve tried to log on to the Forum recently, but were told you couldn’t — my fault. I fixed the issue, and you should now be able to log right in. Sorry to force passwords – you wouldn’t believe how much spam would get in if we didn’t have this.
This is a big set available in St. Louis; also posted last night are big sets in Detroit and Albuquerque, and corrected from last week – a set in Washington state (not Maine).
by Pam Kueber on December 24, 2007
During World War II, Americans were encouraged to buy war bonds to fund the war effort. At the same time, amid the deprivation of war time restrictions, the country was dreaming of better times to come. And at that front of that list: A shiny new kitchen!
Happy holidays, everyone. I dropped out of the blogosphere for a day and a half, as my family flew down to Florida for a sunny break. I expect to keep posting daily, but no ebay until after the holidays. Please continue to send your emails and comments!
Here’s a clip from an article about these cabinets: “The first English Rose kitchen was made in Warwickshire in 1948…by CSA Industries, an engineering firm that originally made nose cones for Spitfires. After the war ended, CSA used stock-piles of aircraft-grade aluminium by diversifying into up-market kitchens.”
