If you are looking for antiques in the Berkshires… and want to find some great midcentury stuff… be sure to stop at Berkshire County Used Furniture on 4th Street in Pittsfield. My friend Ron — who helped me get the kitchen cabinets out of Gotham — runs this treasure trove. Ron empties out houses ’round the clock, it seems. He takes everything — so you never know what you will find at his store. I swear, if I were doing another kitchen, I would for sure buy up these avocado green GE appliances — they were in fantastic shape. Read on for 13 photos in all… including an 40s Kenmore washing machine… and a Witco tiki throne.
Click the photos twice to get to their largest size.
Barb says
I think that stove and fridge came from my parents house ! ;:)
At The Lounge With Les Baxter says
Pam, I almost forgot…you mentioned the tiki item…the Retro Cocktail Hour at Kansas City Radio is great streaming listening for anyone who wants to blare it from super fine computer audio during their retro cocktail party.
http://www.kpr.ku.edu/retro/listen.html
BTW, all the (FREE) Les Baxter you can handle:
http://www.baxmusic.com/
At The Lounge With Les Baxter says
OK, hate to be Fun Sheriff, but I have to warn anyone thinking of buying an older gas stove…you might have trouble finding someone to install it. They can be dangerous if they don’t have certain mechanisms. We learned this lesson the hard way. Bought a $200 stove, drove 11 hours total to get it here, no one would install it. Well, we DID find one guy, but he wanted us to sign a release form that didn’t hold him liable if anything…unsavory happened. Not a good sign. With our Spidey senses tingling we donated the stove and got serious: we bought a totally restored O’Keefe and Merritt 900 series from dreamstoves.com My husband agreed to buy me one, but I can tell you…I’m NEVER going to hear the end of it.
pam kueber says
At The Lounge, I had a similar experience with a vintage gas stove. Here is Mass. they cannot be installed unless they feature an “automatic safety pilot.” On vintage stoves, while I do show them for the aesthetics: Consult with a professional.
Femme1 says
Um…can I pipe up here and say that I actually USED a wringer washer when I was younger (much) and had kids in diapers? We were “back-to-the-landers” in wild W. Va. and had to fill the washer with cold water from our hand pump.
By the way, we had an outhouse, too.
Jenda says
The avocado GE fridge and stove are the exact color and models that I grew up with! I miss those a lot.
missvintagelove says
Oooh, I LOVE that Kenmore washing machine….do you remember how expensive it was? My husband would freak out if I brought one home too, but I may just do it one day!
pam kueber says
missvintagelove – $50, can you believe it?
missvintagelove says
Oh no, not the green!!
Haha, I think we had those exact appliances when I was growing up.
Cindy says
I grew up with avocado green appliances……….and I want them! Too bad my kitchen is done, too. But Pam, I’m going to call you to schedule a Pittsfield recon trip! I’m looking for abstract mid century artwork.
Kristin says
Look around for salvage stores and auctions, St. Christopher. Also, drive south into the smaller towns around the Ozarks if you ever get a chance! Tons of stuff around there for some odd reason…
St. Christopher says
Oooo…If I lived anywhere near there, I be in there every week! I’m looking for a set of 50’s washer and dryer in just about any color but white! This looks like the kinda place I just love. I bet they’re reasonably priced too! There’s probably some place like that here in St. Louis Mo. that I just haven’t found yet.
Chris.
pam kueber says
Yup, St. Christopher. Ron’s stuff is priced great. His goal is to keep it moving. I know that quite a few people come up from Hudson, NY ($$$$$ mcm shopping there) to pick from his stock.