Updated (January 2019): What did a modern kitchen look like in the early 1940s? This 1941 catalog of steel kitchen cabinets from Montgomery Ward gives us a good idea: White cabinets, a big enamel-on-cast iron farmhouse drainboard sink, dark linoleum countertops edged in stainless steel, wallpapered walls and linoleum on the floor, too. You can see from this brochure, how much simpler kitchens were in the pre-war era. Of course, we were still in recovery from the Great Depression. Even a kitchen like this — which would seem so basic today — would have been immensely luxurious in 1941.
Here we see again, how an average housewife of the era may only have been able to afford and purchase the sink cabinet alone, with its porcelain-enamel-on-cast-iron drainboard sink-top…
While the catalog is presumably about the full range of cabinets, it is principally marketing the “Modern Cabinet Sink.” This would be the first piece a homemaker would buy — she would then integrate this into her farmhouse kitchen – which may have had homemade wood cabinets or not, or into her apartment kitchen to replace the old wall-hung kitchen sink.
She could buy the rest of the pieces later. What a move forward: Built-ins, made in a material, steel, that was “vermin-free.”
Oh, also notice the stainless steel drainboard sink on p. 4 — a look you can replicate with Elkay aluminum drainboard sinks today.
What a lovely set of images that help us understand the evolution of kitchen design in the 20th Century!
Angi Spooner says
We are cleaning up a home in Midland, TX and found a beauty! It is a single sink with drawers on both sides. There is also a 4 door upper cabinet. The color is red and absolutely stunning Would love to share a picture if I could figure out how to attach.:)
Josephine says
I am picking up a set of Montgomery Ward kitchen cabinets (in Pink) this weekend. They have the double drain board sink just like my husband’s grandmother did. Of course he wants to paint them any color but PINK. Ah silly men.
Kenneth Sloan says
The cabinets are nice looking, very clean lines, but enamel on steet cabinets are prone to denting, rust and yellow wish age. Also, dirt and food particles can get caught in the seems between the cabinets.
Kendric Holder says
I have a vintage Montgomery Ward steel kitchen cabinet. I have the model number and style number. I would like to find out if this piece had an original top (which it no longer has if it ever did). Can anyone help me with this situation because I can’t really find anything on the Internet.
Chelsey B says
I recently bought a house with these exact cabinets in the kitchen. Of course I’m thrilled and want to keep them. But.. the people who lived here before pulled some of the handles off then painted the other ones and made them awful. I just want to replace all the handles and paint the cabinets. But I have no idea where to find just the handles.
pam kueber says
I don’t know the answer to this one. May be a needle in a haystack. Restore the ones you have. Take careful measurements and then scan the internet to see if you can find a match — you can start by checking some of the various resources we’ve found in our Kitchen Help / Cabinet Hardware category/subcategory.
Also use your detailed measurments to watch ebay like a hawk.
Megan&Brian Chapman says
Our house was built in 1957 and so we have one VERY similar to these… we are trying to sell ours. We have the upper cabinets that match the lower cabinets with sink and there is only one scratch in the enamel. We are located in the midwest.
pam kueber says
Megan, please had to our buy/sell Forum: https://retrorenovation.com/forums/
Lorna Martinez-Garcia says
My Mom’s house is over 100 years old, she has owned it for about 60 of those years. She put the double sink-double drainboard model way back when. I have been looking to replace this unit, but can’t seem to find anything reasonable within 50 miles of where we live. Any suggestions?
San Bernardino, CA
Larry Schwarz says
I aquired a Montgomery Ward model 25 SMR 214 metal kitchen. It is 66 inches wide with a porcelin double sink top. It has 4 drawers on the right side, and a drawer & door on the left. Double doors under the sink. Does anyone know the year of this unit and it’s value? All drawers and the pull-out shelf work well. There are some chips on the porcelin, but no dents on the front.
pam kueber says
We have an faq on pricing, it’s also in the Kitchen/Steel Cabinets are. Also check the forum https://retrorenovation.com/forum/
Shamira says
We are looking at buying a house built in 1935. The kitchen has been updated with ugly wood cabinets (stained) and laminate butcher block countertops (blech!). We like everything about the house except the kitchen and bathroom (also updated badly). I want to replace the kitchen cabinets with metal cabinets and crackled ice countertops with metal edging. I also plan to purchase a table with the same crackled ice top and metal edging. I don’t have to have vintage cabinets. Can you advise me on where to buy new if I cannot find vintage available near me? I would be willing to drive up to 4 hours one way to pick up vintage cabinets in good condition. Also, I love the sink cabinet pictured above and know where I can buy the sink, but would need to find the correct size cabinet to put it in. Any help is appreciated.
pam kueber says
Shamira, check out our Forum for buying/selling vintage metal kitchen cabinets: https://retrorenovation.com/com. For new cabinets, check my Kitchens/Cabinets category.
Sarah says
Check this out: https://www.chairish.com/product/517298/vitro-vintage-cracked-ice-formica-chrome-dinette-table
rick says
I would like to locate a 2 hdle ,7″ kitchen faucet that sits on top of the old metal cabinet sink . can you suggest a site or manufacturer? (even reconditoned is ok)