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.
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.
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.
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!
Photographer 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!
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.
This 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.
