Talking recently about vintage Sunbeam mixers, reader Gary suggested using caution with well-used estate sale mixers, warning:
Often use and age have diminished or worn away the laminents on the motor’s rotor assembly. Oil also often migrates to contact parts too. The result is a burning or oily smell when the item is powered up.
At the same time Gary offered up a beautiful alternative for a stand mixer made today in a rainbow of retro colors:
Yup, the Kitchen Artisan Series Mixers (affiliate link) are nice looking hunks o’ steel.
Lots of retro colors — surely one to match your retro kitchen style. The very firs image shown is Cobalt — a doppelganger for my 2012 Color of the Year, Bitossi Rimini Blu. Such a regal color. But oh my, all these colors — and there are more, you can see them all on Amazon — are gorgeous. Valentine’s Day, anyone?
natalie says
i didn’t see pink or aqua 🙁 but i do like pistachio and pear.
Katie says
I just replaced my very old white one with a red one. Love it!
Lynne says
We have a ho- hum white one. I wish these mixers had a clear glass mixing bowl, so I could see what’s going on. It never fails, just when I think everything is all well combined, I find UNmixed dry flour or cocoa when I pour the batter into the pans.
peggy says
Dear Lynne and readers, I found very early on,to always place my wet ingredients in the mixing bowl first. That way you don’t end up with un -mixed product sticking to the bottom or sides of your bowl after mixing. Just scrape w/ spatula and mix until completely done. Saves a lot of time.
gsciencechick says
DH bought one in Ice for Christmas. Full disclosure, he is also interested in using the meat grinder and sausage stuffer attachments, so it was really a gift for “us”. I’m not a huge baker such as for Christmas, but I made pizza dough, and it was awesome. We could not decide between Ice and the Cobalt, but we have a Big Chill in Beach Blue, so clearly we made the right decision here.
http://i336.photobucket.com/albums/n321/gsciencechick/kitchen%20remodel/6d3d918c-1.jpg
Pencils says
I got the ice cream maker years ago shortly after I got the mixer, and it was a disaster. So much easier to use a separate ice cream maker. I do kinda want to try the other attachments though! Also, I’m very jealous of your Beach blue Big Chill. I’ve wanted one for years.
75Heather says
I watched and watched and watched for a good sale price on a Kitchenaide the year before last and finally pounced when the aqua one went on sale on Amazon. I absolutely love it!!
Annie B. says
I’m on a tear for the “pear”!
Wouldn’t a mixer in pear look great in Suzann’s bungalow kitchen makeover?
teresa says
We studied the color options, and had favorites (pistachio! Tangerine!) but stuck with basic black as it matches the countertop and blends into the backsplash. On its first use, hubby and daughter made brownies from scratch and pink-tinted whipped cream for my birthday.
Vanessa says
I have the cobalt one, I got it in 1995 when they first reintroduced color mixers, I don’t remember their being very many choices, now I wish I had a softer or brighter color, but it’s fine, works wonderfully and has made many batches of bread, cakes and cookies over the years. 🙂
Pam, I hope you don’t mind me posting a link but there is an artist I ran across online that paints Kitchen Aid mixers and they are AMAZING!!!! (she actually works in the next town over from me, so I really want to see her studio!!!) http://www.un-amore.com/gallery.html Check out her gallery. Dreamy stuff there!!
Vanessa says
Yes, I am mortified that I used the wrong form of “there.”
pam kueber says
haha, I have to correct my posts all the time. Published “are” instead of “our” in one of my stories today. We all need editors… especially in today’s lightning speed-paced whirled (sic).
Melanie says
I lost one kitchen aide in a divorce and it took me over nine years to decide I wanted another one. I think you have to do a LOT of baking to justify spending that amount of money on a mixer. I’ve burned up 4 hand held mixers, and two sunbeams, all for a lot less money than I’ve spent on my kitchen aides.
That said, this summer, when I burnt up the new model sunbeam, I bit the bullet and bought a kitchen aid again. I an order for wedding cake coming up and didn’t want to deal with mixer issues anymore. This one is basic black. It goes with my vintage aluminum and black West Bend canisters.
Rita@thissortaoldlife says
Oh my gosh, this made me smile. The KitchenAid mixer was one of the most contentious items in my divorce. I thought we were crazy (well, we were…), but I just was not going to let it go! Glad you got yourself a new one. Things can carry so much symbolic weight.
Laura says
Also recently divorced here and know exactly what you mean! I bought a cobalt blue Kitchenaid about seven years ago with birthday money. I’m glad we were able to work out a “custody agreement” so it could stay in my kitchen! 🙂
Yasmine says
I have had my pink one for almost 10 years. I love it. It sits on my counter.