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A very early set of steel kitchen cabinets, from the 40s, in New Jersey

Posted by: • September 20, 2008

Wow, these are very early steel kitchen cabinets – the ebay listing says that they are from a New Jersey estate, installed in the 40s, and I believe it. Capitol is the name of a N.J. company that was started pretty early…other names from the period are Dieterich and Elgin — you can see photos from 1933-34 for these two companies over on the Forum under All About Steel Kitchen Cabinets — where some 60+ brands are being chronicled.  Looking at these NJ estate cabinets – they certainly look like they could be Dieterichs or Elgins.

Any East coast readers with a 30s or 40s home who want a wonderful historical steel kitchen? This appears to be a very desirable set, indeed.

Click on through…9 photos in all… Heck yeah there is more →

Ideas for Dana and her 1953 Crosley kitchen

Posted by: • March 29, 2008

dana’s vintage 1953 crosley metal kitchen cabinets

dana’s vintage 1953 crosley metal kitchen cabinets

We found the provenance of Dana’s kitchen cabinets yesterday — 1953 Crosley’s just like the ad! Yummy! Now, she’d like some ideas for appliance, flooring. Heck yeah there is more →

Pair of cubbies for metal kitchen cabinets – today’s ebay pick

Posted by: • March 29, 2008

Pair of cubbies for metal kitchen cabinets

These are a great find for anyone working on their kitchen, and who needs corner cubbies. For me to re-make mine in glass cost, like, $650 plus labor.

Big set of pink Beauty Queen metal cabinets now on the Postwar Steel Forum

Posted by: • March 27, 2008

beauty queen metal kitchen cabinetsbeauty queen metal kitchen cabinetsbeauty queen metal kitchen cabinets

OMG gorgeous – look at all these pink Beauty Queen metal kitchen cabinets! In Missouri, now on the Postwar Steel Forum – top nav bar. Also see the great Hoffman’s – new brand! – from Toronto.

Pink kitchen alert! Courtesy reader Erica

Posted by: • March 24, 2008

vintage 50s 60s pink kitchenvintage 50s 60s pink kitchen

Erica writes:

Pam, I found these and my dial up is too slow to look on the site to see if they are already on the Forum. The price is high but it’s an amazing set! Not sure what make they are either.

vintage pink 50s 60s kitchenvintage range hood

Thanks, Erica! Hmmm, these indeed looked familiar, and I can see they were posted on the Forum in early January. Appliances are apparently Frigidaire, the cabinets, I’m guessing, are GE (by the handles). Las Vegas flamboyance, of course! Let’s find a buyer!

vintage range hood

50s metal kitchen – “Wowzers!” says Superstar Sarah – today’s ebay pick

Posted by: • March 12, 2008

metal kitchen cabinets from Levittown

metal kitchen cabinets from Levittownmetal kitchen cabinets from LevittownPhotographer Sarah Superstar has an eagle eye (of course!) and spotted today’s ebay pick — a very pretty, light pink set of metal kitchen cabinets. Bonus 1: From a real Levittown subdivision, Levittown, PA! Bonus 2: Groovy countertops. Bonus 3: A built-in blender set-up. And bonus 4: A new brand for our Forum – United Metal Cabinet Corp. of Pottsville, PA – just over the way from my mom’s hometown, Shenandoah. THANK YOU, Sarah!

metal kitchen cabinets from Levittown

Youngstown Kitchen – 1957 marketing material and a priceless video

Posted by: • March 9, 2008

1957 Youngstown Kitchen1957 Youngstown Kitchen1957 Youngstown Kitchen

Youngstown Kitchens were the #1 brand of steel kitchen cabinets across America in the postwar period. As a result, we see lots of these “fitted kitchen” sets come available for sales – with lots of choices of cabinets pieces.

While I am still in the early stages of gathering the history of these cabinets, I do know that the company seems to have been originally called Youngstown Pressed Steel Kitchens, and was a division of Mullins Manufacturing Corp., of Warren, Ohio. Ultimately, Youngstown Kitchens (at least) was purchased by American Standard, which also had metal kitchen cabinets. Presumably, this was part of consolidation that ultimately occurs in any industry.

Here are some great reference pieces from 1957 – the year that I consider the absolute peak of the postwar consumer frenzy — when EVERYTHING was available.

And, BE SURE to watch this incredible, bouncing-ball sing-along, 1953 video of the “Mullinaires” singing about Youngstown Kitchen, presumably for a dealer convention. Thanks to reader Jackie for finding this.

50s kitchen — American Kitchen brand coppertone and wood combo

Posted by: • February 29, 2008

1956 American kitchen metal kitchen

1956 American kitchen metal kitchenThis is the “trend-setting new ‘PIONEER’ by American Kitchen” – 1956. I find it so fascinating. It was right about this time that steel kitchen cabinets started to lose their battle against wood. But it was a slow death. And along the way they decided they’d rather switch than fight. That is, these cabinets have wooden doors…steel drawers – in a coppertone finish… and all steel bodies. Kind of, the best of both worlds. Other makers, like St. Charles and Youngstown show an alternative approach — all wood on the base cabinets, all steel on the walls. I think that one of the main issues they may have been addressing was dented doors. Little Billy on his trike and all.

Great kitchen also in its streaky brown floors, cool roller shades, and simple breakfast bar. And I even love the chartreuse walls / reddish coppertone / light birch color scheme. Hey, look beyond to the dining room — it’s those birch-bark-paneled walls, which we saw last week in the scary kitchen photo. I saw them in another magazine the other day. I’m on the lookout for real now! Oh, and be sure and open the thumbnail, to get the best look hubby on the indoor bbq.