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…

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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.

Readers, feel free to join in this new ‘intervention’ , and to get us started, and in the spirit of the vintage Crosley advertisement — here goes:

• A black and white checked ‘diner’ floor? Dana asks. Well, I have to admit that while I put one into the first house I ever owned, I am actually no longer a fan of the look. I think because I have been so exposed to vintage designs and honestly, can’t ever recall seeing the black-and-white check in a real kitchen. For that reason, Dana, I would suggest you consider Armstrong Imperial Excelon or…as your kitchen definitely has the ’sweet and streamlined’ look going on, what with all those round edges, I think I actually like lineoleum for you – from Armstrong or Marmoleum. And how about a nice strong green – inspired by our advertisement? Really, any color would be fine, your choice. But note, with those black countertops, I think that you want and need nice strong complementary colors, rather than, say, faded pastels.
• For appliances — I also never recommend this, but because your cabinets have an aged ivory color, I would in fact think stainless steel appliances would work best in this kitchen. The whites of today, are offensive when put next to those cabinets, to my eye. How about the Sears Kenmore dual-fuel (or all-electric or all-gas) 40″ range in stainless steel? It’s a nice one. And a Jenn-Aire cabinet depth french door fridge, also in stainless? The stainless steel would pick up the chrome on your cabinets….and also bring the kitchen forward to the modern day a bit. Hey, your girlfriends would approve, too, I bet! As an alternative, you could also try and hunt down a vintage stove and fridge – but again, be very very careful regarding the whites.
• Also, honey, you may not want to hear this, but you need a new sink cabinet (and other, additional cabinets, perhaps?) to match your existing cabinets! Start the hunt, Dana — and know that once you put your retro renovator vibe out there, your extra cabinets will find you!
• I do want to note, regarding the sink cabinet, that you could also go with a restaurant-style freestanding stainless steel setup. Hmmmm….. I think that this will tip your kitchen even further into the ‘industrial’ feel not just retro. It would work, though; it’s really your style choice.
• Finally — if you think you can get away without my recommending wallpaper, then you haven’t been reading this blog for very long, or religiously like you should! How about this very classic look, a pattern from Hannah’s Treasures? Of course – there are many many choices, just remember the advice of putting some “strength” in your accents. Good luck, Dana, we are so proud of your retro reno courage to bring this kitchen back to life! Keep us up to date — we want to see! You know, this kitchen has the potential to be so great — we’ll get it in a magazine just like mine was!!!
  
  

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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.

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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.

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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.

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!

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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!

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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.

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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.

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