One possible way to get your old appliances fixed is to find local suppliers — old time repair shops — that could help you out. But, readers also chimed in with some great comments. Here’s another idea: a list of online resources suggested by reader Patrick Coffey. He seems to have pulled together a great list of both companies and community forums that can help you connect with parts, service and instructions to help get your vintage appliances and stoves back in tip-top shape if you are unable to find local repair shops that can do the work for you. Patrick writes:
The companies below may be able to help you — note, we do not do these services — click the bold blue text — those are hotlinks:
There are a host places to go on the net that can definitely help you with vintage appliances….both major AND small.
- Repairing vintage washers, dryers, dishwashers and other major appliances — For advice and help on repairing vintage major appliances…try asking for advice at my favorite website — Automatic Washer — believe it or not there are a A LOT of people (some of which frequent this site) who post on that site that have actually restored vintage major appliances from the likes fo early automatic washer and dryers to dishwasher, stoves and fridges. People at the site are always willing to give advice on where to find parts and even tell you how they fixed problems like ones you might be having. Also you can see pics and videos of some of the awesome restored appliances.
- Repairing vintage stoves — Also there are sources like The Old Appliance Club that can help you find parts.
- Repairing vintage stoves and refrigerators — There is a growing number of companies that specialize in restoring vintage stoves — see our list here.
- Repairing vintage toasters and waffle irons — Now for small appliances like toasters and waffle irons there is Micheal Sheaffe in New York who runs Toaster Central. He restores and sells old toasters, waffle irons, and Sunbeam Slow Cookers.
- Repairing Sunbeam toasters — If you have a Sunbeam Self lowering Radiant Control Toaster that needs a adjustment take a look at this web site Automatic Beyond Belief. This web site is dedicated to the self lowering toasters that Sunbeam made from 1949 to 1997.
- Repairing vintage electric mixers and coffee grinders — For vintage mixers and Kitchen Aid Coffee Grinders there is Deco Dan.
- Repairing vintage vacuum cleaners — For advice about vintage vacuums there is Vacuumland.org, which is the website for the Vacuum Cleaner Collectors Club. This is actually a sister site to Automaticwasher.org, and you will find as many knowledgeable vintage vacuum folk here as you will find anywhere.
- Repairing vintage ceiling fans — Last but not least if you have a vintage fan that needs a hand (sorry couldn’t resist getting cute) go to FanCollectors.org, home of the Antique Fan Collectors Association.
- As for me I am lucky I have a tv guy, a radio guy, and a small appliance repair shop all with in a half hour of my pad that will fix my vintage stuff……..
Last but not least some important reminders:
- I do not have personal experience with these resources, so I am not endorsing them.
- Please make sure that you do your own research to verify that you are working with safe, experienced, licensed professionals.
- While some of these sites may include information focused on Do It Yourself projects, Retro Renovation.com is not a DIY site. So please –>
- –> Do your own research — consult with licensed professionals — regarding the environmental and safety issues related to using or repairing vintage appliances — there can be vintage nastiness like lead and asbestos in vintage materials including appliances — and then of course there are the wiring issues and lord knows what else. For more info see our Be Safe / Renovate Safe page.
And, as Lara Jane commented in the original story:
To follow up on Pam’s post, I know a lot of people on other home improvement sites were scammed by a guy restoring vintage stoves (some they’d sent to him, some were advertised on his site). Be careful who you give your money to, and if possible, use a credit card with buyer protection!
Many thanks to Patrick for this great contribution to the blog, and to Julie, Lara Jane, and all the others who provided additional ideas on the original post. Keep ’em coming!
Kristi Osborn says
In the Berkeley area for stoves there is Reliance Appliance. They do complete restorations and are nice folks: http://www.relianceappliance.com/contact.html. For stove repair on the SF Peninsula Low Cost Appliance Repair Service
(650) 366-3572
I need a refrigerator door seal fora 50’s model Frigidaire-and someone in the SF Bay Area tat will paint and rechrome my little darling. Any ideas?
Kristi Osborn says
I should have added that Low Cost also does restorations and Reliance also has stoves for sale.
Thanks for any help on the refrigerator and I also need some SF Bay help with a 1930’s radio and record player. Thanks Pam!
Pam Zullinger says
I broke the glass door to my beloved countertop Maxim oven. I think this stove is from the 70’s. Do you have any idea where I can buy a replacement?
Thank You
pam kueber says
Check the links featured, Pam. Good luck.
Erin says
Hello!
Just have a silly vintage stove question and thought someone might have an answer. We bought a house and it came with it’s orignial 1955 Westinghouse electric stove. The ‘front left’ knob has a red lightning bolt on it. What does that mean? Can’t find anything on Google about it. Thanks!
Heart says
[edited] have your electrician look at it?
Lindsay says
If you are in the San Diego area, I highly recommend RMR company for vintage stove repair: http://www.rmrcompany.net/Vintage_Stove_Restorations/RMR_Company,_Inc..html
I have a 1953 O’Keefe & Merrit and the owner, Mike, has been extremely helpful and priced reasonably in getting my beloved stove up and running. They are extremely professional and knowledgeable.
Ken says
Thanks, Lindsay! I will contact RMR about the Westinghouse Terrace-Top repair. Perhaps Mike may even know of someone he could recommend in the Palm Springs area to do a minor knob fix like the one we need.
Ken Johnston says
Does anyone happen to know of a ‘vintage’ appliance/stove repairman or company in the Palm Springs area? Surely as many mid-century homes as are there, there’s a repair service that has capitalized on the desire that must be there amongst many home owners!
My reason for asking is that I have a very good friend there who has a wonderful Westinghouse electric Terrace-top stove (circa probably around 1962, when the house was built). His brother did not realize that you had to push down oven knob in order to turn it on… He just kept trying to turn it, and broke it off the knob’s metal stem. Now the oven cannot be turned on. I know that this can’t be a difficult repair for someone with some old-stove savvy, tools, parts. I’m afraid my friend, who is impatient with repair quandries like this, will just pull out the stove and replace it with a new one (which will also require some kitchen remodel to fit a new stove in the space). The vintage kitchen and its stove are so perfect for each other. I know if my friend knew who to contact, there in the area, he’d give the repair a chance.
Any suggestions from folks in the area? Thanks in advance!!!
Ken
Karen McCauley says
The thermostat in my 1951 Tappan Range has been dead for over a year, and I can’t find anyone in the Twin Cities (MN) who will work on it. I don’t want to get a new stove (I looked, and I find them all to be atrocious), but baking season is again upon us.
Is there a database of repair people?
pam kueber says
Karen – check the links provided. Good luck.
Max! says
Hello! These websites are just swell! I was wondering if you knew any good vintage television and radio repair? I’ve lots of them, and I sure would like to get them all back to working order, you know? Thanks if you do.
julie steenburgh says
I wanted to thank you for posting this the other day. Believe it or not, the day after you ran this, the baking element in my gorgeous 50’s GE electric range burned out. I tried every local place to no avail. Then I contacted the old appliance club and they are hand making me another one! Plus, I found it’ll only take about a week, plus a little extra time for shipping. I figured I’d be lucky to have a working oven before Thanksgiving, but it’ll be on line much sooner. I could not believe my luck. Pam, you are a life (and old stove) saver!
pam kueber says
yay!
Thomas Smith says
After retiring from 30 years in field service for the gas company I continue to work on vintage stoves part time. The best parts and rebuilding company I have ever dealt with is http://www.theoldappliancelclub.net. Appliance companies, like myself, send their work in to them yet you as a consumer can do the same. They can make new elements for old electric stoves, rebuild gas thermostats, gas safety valves, old stove regulators – you name it. What I like about them is that if it’s not quite an antique they will still run a courtesy search for you to find your part. All you do is send a photo of the part and the number on it. No matter how busy they are they always try and help find an answer for you. Their e-mail is: toac@sbcglobal.net.
pam kueber says
Thank you for sharing your experience, Thomas!
Jan says
Hi Pam,
The link you have to Deco Dan doesn’t work. But on the flip-side, for quite some time, when you go to his website, he states that he is “not taking any new work at this time.”
Jan