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!
Andrew Cunningham says
Antique refrigerator restoration sales and service. Give us a look!
Andy’s Antique Refrigerators
http://www.andysantiquerefrigerators.com
We specialize in vintage fridges 1920’s -1950’s
Jon says
Trying to find a model number for a 1960 GE double built in oven so we can try to find parts. If anyone has any model numbers from that date, please share, as I am sure the internal parts are the same. Thanks so much!
Kathryn JB says
I wish I could find a book that shows how to repair vintage fans (not ceiling fans) and things like toasters and radios. There simply isn’t anyone who can do this around me.
Linda Morris says
I have an older GE Toast-R-Oven (A5T50) and cannot for the life of me find a manual online for it. The connector tabs attached to the door mechanism aren’t touching the way they should. Any ideas?
pam kueber says
You could try The Old Appliance Club — and GE!
Mark says
My early 50s Caloric is missing 4 (silver colored) pilot jets from the underside of the top burners… can you help?
pam kueber says
Mark, contact the places we write about — I think that in particular, readers find help from The Old Appliance Club. Good luck.
Mary brown says
I have a 1950’s General Electric custom kitchen center. The oven still works but needs new clock and timers as it makes a loud buzzing noise. I live in ocean city nj.
Janice R says
Looking for 4 valve stem knobs for a 1970 Sears Classic gas range. Sears does not have them. Sent wrong replacement knobs that do not fit. HELP! 🙂
pam kueber says
Janice, contact the sources listed in the story
Pat Gober says
Any idea where I can find replacement slides for my 60-70’s Era Satin Glide vanity? I’ve already rewired it and p I’ll is he’d the chrome.
Cheryl G says
I have been looking in vain for burner assemblies for 6-burner 1949 Roper stove. (A disgruntled squater stole those parts so I could not use the stove when he was evicted for failure to pay his rent for over 2 years.) If anyone has any ideas I would be very grateful!
pam kueber says
Cheryl, contact the resources profiled in this story…
Joe Felice says
I think it’s great whenever anyone can repair and restore appliances–small & large. Today, everything is “throw-away”–we’re expected to throw things away and buy new ones. Most of the time, they’re not even recyclable. How sad! There used to be a place in Denver–Western Repair–where you could get ANY small appliance, machine or device repaired–irons, coffee makers, griddles, toasters, clock-radios, even lawn mowers and lawn tools. Sadly, this business fell into disfavor with the throw-away generation.
And did anyone else notice how many of these vintage appliances are still working? Or how easily they can be repaired? Definitely not made to be thrown away. And people back then did keep things longer and did perform repairs themselves, or found a handy-person who could do that, usually in exchange for something. Part of the thriftiness that was in mode at a simpler time.
Have you noticed today how, whenever something quits working, it’s usually a “circuit board?” And then you’re told it can’t be repaired. Circuit boards can be repaired. It’s just that nobody has learned how to do that. Like instrument clusters on cars. No place to get them fixed, so you just have to buy an entirely-new one. Just more frustration.
pam kueber says
I have recently been told of several examples of newer products that broke after a few years and the replacement part was no longer available. Now here is something Congress should pass legislation on !