Dishmaster was founded in 1948 – in the wake of World War II and during a period of massive American economic expansion. Before the war, most Americans lived on farms or in crowded cities. The country had suffered through nearly 20 years of deprivation, first from the Great Depression and then the war.
It’s hard to imagine today, but until 1946 the concept of a “fitted kitchen” full of matching cabinets and all the gizmo’s to go with them was a foreign – or at least unreachable – one to most Americans. During the war, technology rose to meet our fighting needs. After the war, we turned that know-how to building up our country. And that started first and foremost with new homes — and inside of them, with the American Dream Kitchen.
The Dishmaster is a very typical invention of the time. Automatic dishwashers were around – but were still quite rare in domestic environments. In many farm kitchens, you can imagine a Dishmaster being added to the new steel Youngstown sink base with its porcelain drainboard. In a new suburban kitchen, the atomic styling was mirrored in the headlights of the ’48 Ford – another famous ’48 model!
Dishmasters started in Pontiac, Mich. Gerity was a merchandising partner in the early years.
Today, the brand and tooling are owned by SilverStream LLC, which manufacturer the Dishmaster in Mitchell, Indiana, and offers it for sale online and at Amazon too:
Hey, this looks like something I might like. I don’t have a dishwasher, and don’t want to give up any storage space to put one in.
Hi Pam
My Dishmaster arrived today and I love it…it’s absolutely BEAUTIFUL! As soon as I attach it to my vintage 1948 sink with my new aqua boomerang countertop, I’ll send you a picture. Thank you so much…I couldn’t be happier with it!!
Tammy
Got mine a few weeks ago. Kind of a bummer that a $250 faucet is plastic. even the knobs.
Yes, I understand that it would be prohibitively expensive to do some of these parts in the old style in steel today. I still think it is super cool. Let me know, over time, how you feel about it from a functional level. If you remain dis-satisfied be sure to talk to the folks at Dishmaster. I have found them to be really wonderful.