Today: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About “Cabinettes” But Were Afraid To Ask.” Over on the Retro Renovation Forum (no longer online), cabinet-hunter pja2trees wasn’t afraid to ask, “Could you please explain what a ‘cabinette’ is?” 52PostnBeam, aka Helen, who is the mega-expert, responded:
A ‘cabinette’ is a small cabinet with sliding glass doors, popularized by General Electric. It’s usually mounted under the upper cabinets, or less frequently they’d be mounted atop the backsplash, with the base cabinets slightly extended from the wall to accommodate. They’re often seen in conjunction with the GE Wonder Kitchen and the GE wall mounted fridge — products both marketed in the mid 50s.
You can see the taller Cabinettes in Chris’s GE Wonder Kitchen. Yes: That’s a “Wonder Kitchen”: One long piece of stainless steel countertop incorporating a sink and cooktop, with oven to the right, cabinets including dishwasher underneath. We see these occasionally, they are quite the marvel.
Helen continues:
The unique spelling “cabinette” is from GE’s marketing materials. The sizes came in 21″, 30″, 51″, 54″, 64″ … and possibly 12″, 18″ and others.
Often undercabinettes were fitted beneath the GE wall mount fridge. The refrigerator is 64″ wide. Underneath: Two, 30″ cabinettes with a spacer between them.
GE cabinettes have a light mounted at the top, and inside the cabinet there’s an outlet. A hole in the back makes it possible to run electric all the way though each cabinet.
GE glass was sometimes called “waterfall glass” because of how light looks passing through it.
The vast majority of these type cabinets were made by GE, but Geneva made a version with thicker reeded glass. St. Charles and Lyon also had their own versions. Special corner unit made to fit undercabinettes together.
There were also corner Cabinettes.
Thank you, 52PostnBeam.
Now: Why didn’t these under Cabinettes remain popular and continue into today? I am going to speculate:
- These cabinettes did not leave enough counter space for the growing list of kitchen appliances women wanted to leave out on the counter.
- Another thought: Wood cabinets came to dominate anyway… and the cost to make units like this in wood was prohibitive — although we certainly did see the rough concept continue with corner appliance garages.
- And last, I think that GE was out of the steel kitchen cabinet business sooner than others.
Aren’t vintage steel kitchen cabinets fascinating? Continue work on your Retro Renovation undergraduate, graduate or ph.D. degree by reading more here:
- My “short history” of vintage metal kitchen cabinets
- My complete Steel Kitchen cabinets story archive!
When they left the market, so did cabinettes. What do you think, Helen? Readers?
victor H says
can anyone tell me what type of faucet was included in a possibly 1963 genelral electric Kitchen with stainless steel top –
I have one of these with everything except the stove – still have the truetone hood – and the dishwasher. . .
looking for front loaded kitchen faucet replacement .?
thanks
SP
pam kueber says
victor H – we don’t send emails. please subscribe to the comments to see if anyone knows and answers….
pam kueber says
victor — plus, see my category Kitchens/Faucets, there are several wall-hung faucets identified there: https://retrorenovation.com/category/kitchen/faucets/
Amy says
Hi! I happen to come across this forum while i was doing some research on this vintage appliances. The company that I work for is selling Upper Fridge Cabinettes, Stove top & Oven. The link below is the ad on craigslist. We are in Lawndale, CA area if any of you are interested!
pam kueber says
Hi Amy — the link you had in your Comment did not work. Can you try again? Use the “published” url (not your dashboard). Thanks!
guest says
If anyone is interested, I saw on ebay today a post for $99.00 for either a pink or pastel geen one –
rick marriner says
I have the am radio that is supposed to go with this kitchen. it is i great shape and it works
Patti Reason says
Hello,
A friend of mine (age 94) has a General Electric cabinet-style (as in over-the counter, looks like kitchen cabinets) refrigerator freezer. Do you know of anyone who services or has parts for this?
Thanks!
DerbyLotz says
So this is what was in my 1957 kitchen!
I have such a GE Wonder Kitchen for sale. Unfortunately, the metal cabinets could not be salvaged during demotion, but the stainless steel counter, sink, faucet, stove and oven are still good. Oven is bright yellow. Located in Central Florida.
Anybody know the value?
pam kueber says
DerbyLotz, we have a post on this — see Kitchens/Steel Kitchens category, or head over the the Forum
ChoirGirlKT says
Aaaahhh! A Wonderkitchen! That’s exactly what I need for my kitchen redo!! I’m in a 50’s ranch with a dreadfully unfortunate 80’s “update.”
Jeff says
Now I have to get my hands on a turquoise GE set of cabinettes!! That’s my fridge (or one just like it) in the photo (the turquoise one) and I have the space to put some under mine. Geez, I’m always spending money!
Of course, I need to spend money on getting the fridge fixed first!
Greta says
I love those! We have steel cabinets that we have kept and are so glad we did. But I would love to have that extra display space that came with the GE model.
Here’s a post about our metal cabinets and the rest of our own vintage restoration of our 1952 kitchen:
http://picnicsinthepark.blogspot.com/2011/03/learning-to-love-my-50s-metal-kitchen.html
This site has been so helpful and inspirational to us as we work on our kitchen and our whole house. Thanks for all you offer!
Greta
CindyD says
Greta, I LOVE your red floor! And your cabinets are beautiful and so tidy!
Greta says
Thanks Cindy. There is just something about a red kitchen floor that makes me really happy.
Greta
Pja2trees says
Imagine my surprise as I saw my posting name in Sunday’s blog post!! In my busy-ness, I never did look back to find an answer to my question about the cabinettes. Funny, this is one item I was always drawn to when I would browse through Pam’s albums of kitchens, and thought they were a pretty awesome addition to the cabinets….
I must share with you my first experience of “metal cabinet hyperventilation” over the weekend–I went to a moving sale of a woman who lived in her home for 65 years. I had an inkling that there would be some treasures. I walked into the kitchen and there were almost 18 feet of Youngstown metal cabinets, unfortunately painted a gaggy green, but with a huge base cabinet with the sink on one side and the built-in top dishwasher on the right side!!!! The lady that was “sitting” for the sale got quite perturbed with me as I opened the cabinet underneath that dishwasher to peek in. I went upstairs to find the most awesome poodle wallpaper in one room and just rubbed my hand over it in admiration…and longing. When I came downstairs to once again look at the cabinets, I asked the new owner what they were doing with the cabinets…”Oh, ripping those old things out for a new kitchen!” So….if anyone near Northwestern PA is interested, I know where there might be some cabinets sitting out on a sidewalk very soon…
pam kueber says
… “I went upstairs to find the most awesome poodle wallpaper in one room and just rubbed my hand over it in admiration…and longing.”
52PostnBeam says
… it’s not the first time this blog and forum have treaded dangerously close to becoming a vintage decorator fantasy novella!
Marsha says
I think there might be a market for this kind of literature. A romance novel, where a lover of all things in vintage decor meets the man of her dreams: a carpenter/electrician/plumber with dreams of concocting his own 1940’s era love nest-if only he could find a suitable mate who appreciates Chambers stoves!