What to feature in the uploader this weekend? Over one the Facebook page — almost 22,000 FB friends now! — Michelle suggested:
What about a picture share thread with everyone’s quirky vintage small appliances? What they are, how they work, where you discovered them… I have a couple fun ones!
Well, heck to the yeah, I have a couple fun ones myself, and am getting my camera out stat. Note: Small kitchen appliance only in this session– no hair dryers, alarm clocks, vintage stoves, etc. — we’ll do those another time. Above: feralhousewife.com gets props for a hilarious photo shoot. Read on for instructions — let’s see your small kitchen appliances! –>
Uploader closed — But thanks so much for playing everyone — this was a good one! Come back Fridays around noon, and see what we’ll be sharing this next weekend.
Tips to view slide show: Click on first image… it will enlarge and you can also read my captions… move forward or back via arrows below the photo… you can start or stop at any image:
Diane in CO says
FeralHousewife — you rock! You and Gumby…. heeheee!
Michelle says
I second that!!!
Anna S. Bannana says
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAH THIRD HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH OH I JUST BURNT THE CHICKEN PIE HAHAHAHAHAHAH YOU ROCK !!!
Theresa says
I use all my vintage appliances, but I don’t leave the roaster on if I’m not home.
Terry C says
I’m currently making roast beef in my Montgomery Ward Crockery Slow Cooker. It’s got a graphic of vegetables along the side and it’s almond and brown in color. Very 1970’s. I bought it at a thrift store a few months ago for $10! That leads me to a question for those who have posted photos of their small appliances: Are they mainly display pieces or do you actually use them? I don’t buy vintage appliances unless they work and I intend to use them.
hannah says
Terry, I buy mine to USE. Otherwise what’s the point? I want to BE back then, so yeah, they better work. Nothing better than making mashed potatoes with a mixer that has TWELVE SPEEDS instead of 3. 😉
Rickie in Texas says
Terry,
I use all of my vintage appliances. I think they were made to last a lifetime. When I’m working in the kitchen I almost feel like Donna Reed! I love them.
hannah says
And, forgot to say, YUM! About your roast beef. Take a plate shot and share it at the FB page!!!! Please???? 😀
pam kueber says
I did clean my bathrooms today. Like a maniac. But aside from that, all I did was watch these photos come in, haha.
hannah says
I ignored my bathroom today. But! I’m working on a continental meal right now (continental meaning eating late). Baked Haddock w/buttered crumbs, jasmine rice with baby spinach wilted into it, and my first attempt at fried green tomatoes (from our garden).
But no, no bathroom cleaning today. Shoulda. Well, I still have Sunday. 😀
Rickie in Texas says
What the heck? I’m doing retro salmon patties and macaroni and cheese. HAHAHA!!!!!
hannah says
And Rickie – pray tell, which cookbook did you use for your salmon patties?
Sounds like a fab dinner!
Rickie in Texas says
Girl, there is no cookbook for southern fried. It’s just passed down from generations. You can fry anything and you don’t need a cookbook. Instinct.
hannah says
Yup. Like braised steak in my family (who originally hails from Virginia). I hear ya. Wish me luck with my fried green tomatoes tonight!
And, I love that you said “Girl….” at me. 😀
Rickie in Texas says
Hannah,
You don’t need luck. All you need is Crisco and cornmeal or flour, which ever you prefer. Get the grease hot and only turn the tomatoes one time. I can tell you have that mojo from the south. Good luck!
Rickie
hannah says
I did it wrong!!! My cousin in Virginia said she just used flour and olive oil. So, that’s what I did (even though I did look up methods online). Crisco – ah takes me back. We need a can of that around.
Even though, they were very tasty. Just not as crispy as I’d have liked. But, experimentation in the kitchen is good for the soul. Yes? 😛
Jeanne says
Retro salmon patties and macaroni and cheese! Love! That was the standard Friday dinner in our Catholic household when I was growing up! My mom never used a recipe and I use her non-recipe recipe as well. 🙂
Michelle says
I buy them to use them, but I have to admit that some only get used once and that’s it. We made two meals in the Broil Quick, but it was a MAJOR pain in the neck to clean, so now it’s just in the kitchen looking pretty. I use my waffle irons – more for grilled cheese than waffles! – and of course my egg cooker!
I also have an obscenely large collection of vintage linens and table ware – my vintage goes from the kitchen to the dining room! But everything gets used, or why have it??
Diane in CO says
Fist-bump fellow dish and table linen fan…. and I use it all too, never met a vintage tablecloth/napkin I didn’t like and one can never have too many sets of vintage dishes — but it’s no good sitting in the cupboard. And guests love it – great conversation starter — and ironing IS good contemplative time, right???
hannah says
Diane – I am a FREAK for table settings (dishes, flatware, serving bowls, mixing bowls, place-mats and tablecloths). I use ALL of mine. I rotate my tablecloths (and place-mats) weekly (have about 12 now) and I use a plastic cover over them so they can be enjoyed but not ruined with potential stains (I buy clear plastic by the yard at Jo-Ann’s).
I have a full vintage melmac set, and a full vintage china (Knowles) set. The only challenge I find is making sure everything I’m cooking is timed right since you can’t reheat on either in the microwave. That’s where Pyrex comes in handy. 😉
Diane in CO says
What line of Melmac do u have? I love my speckled Holiday by Kenro of Fredonia WI but use it sparingly, like for a picnic and never put in the dishwasher. Also have tons of American Modern (chartreuse, seafoam and granite gray; some chutney) by Russel Wright and also great restaurantware (a personal side-passion) and a hard-won collection of Lu-Ray. It’s a joy to use it all.
hannah says
Diane, I replied but it has disappeared!
I have Oneida melmac (service for 8) in a daisy pattern. We use it every other weekend I’d say, as I switch between that and the Knowles “Festival”. Also depends on what I’m serving and which dish I think will accent my ‘plate shot’ best for what’s being served up on it. 🙂
Oneida pattern:
http://www.rubylane.com/item/95984-10022/Oneida-Delux78e-Melmac-Platter-Green
Knowles pattern (same seller I bought my set from – also service for 8):
http://www.etsy.com/listing/97390791/vintage-dinner-plates-set-of-4?ref=usr_faveitems
I’m going to have to google your sets to see what they look like and swoon over them. 😀
Diane in CO says
hannah, those are both fabulous! Both new to me. Thanks for the links. Mine will seem plain to you, being all solid-color ‘wares. The Kenro Holiday is faintly “speckled” and comes in 4 different colors so it’s more of a “Fiesta” style set. Really sturdy heavy melmac. My LuRay is a mix of 3 different colors as well.
Ima Pam says
hahaha, hello fellow dish and table setting, kitchenware freaks!…and isn’t this about the best uploader yet? I can hardly keep up with all the cool stuff. Hannah, I did finally get around to answering some questions for you on last week’s cookbook theme.
hannah says
Hi Ima Pam
I’ll have to go search for your reply!
Tom says
Usually, I buy an item simply because of its retro look and will fit in well with my kitchen decor. About 80% of the time these old time appliances still work! I’ve been really lucky when it comes to vintage radios. I have about 20 and 18 of them still work. I do unplug them in addition to turning them off when not is use though. That includes the small appliances as well.
Bluejay says
Terry,
We use all of our vintage appliances. We’ve currently got a blender, hand mixer, toaster, toaster oven (we got rid of our microwave a few years ago, as we didn’t use it), waffle iron/griddle, and percolator. All of these are used with some frequency and they are built so much better than anything today. The last patent for a toaster was filed in 1957, which means that the new ones made today are based off of a 50+ year design. I wish they still made new appliances to last. Most of what we own is at least 40 years old and they all work like they are new!
wendy says
i use all of mine. the coffeemaster every day, the rest as needed for the occasion. i must say that having more than one hand mixer is great. often a recipe calls for two or more things that need separate mixing. when you have multiple mixers, there are always clean beaters at the ready! it is so nice not to have to wash and dry the beaters between tasks, and as a bonus there is no more fighting over who gets to lick the beaters…. plenty for all! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Diane in CO says
What a feast for the eyes – all these swanky items! I love them all but have to say the solid copper canisters (sage green) are swell. I tend to agree about NOT stripping them! I wish I were home, and not at our summer place, to post my blender collection (cloverleaf, beehive, etc.) I recently discovered this site and am delighted being among kindred spirits who appreciate the vintage look and feel!
pam kueber says
Welcome, Diane in CO. We do have some fun here!!
hannah says
“Some fun’??? We have more fun here than people ought to be allowed, Pam! I *heart* Retro Renovation and all the peeps that hang here. Best community EVAH! (say that with a Maine accent).
And, welcome to our corner of retro heaven, Diane. 🙂
Michelle says
I’ve had them for about 12 years, every so often I want to get rid of the avocado, but I haven’t done it yet… so I doubt I ever will. Besides, if I did that, I’d have to polish them all the time! lol
hannah says
Why do I always forget to use the term “swanky”? *sigh* :/
Diane in CO says
haha…. my very first intro 20(?) yrs. ago to the wonderful vintage world of kitchenware was collecting Swanky Swigs! I was hooked and the rest is history…. Thanks for the welcome; I’ve been in hudee heaven, discovering this site.
Just renovated two 1935 bathrooms with wild art deco tile (saved that) in CO (turned out awesome) and currently doing away with (I do apologize) a PINK BATHROOM here at cottage in WI. We are saving (glazing) cast iron tub and the pink vanity but painting it white…. this incredible website has convinced me to NOT replace faucet in my 1959 knotty pine cottage kitchen however! (Cabinets and sea green formica countertops were never in jeopardy!) Love all the links and posts!!!
hannah says
Wow. SO many uploads, so little time. 😉
I LOVE all of it. There is no way really to single out any one thing that stands above the rest (for me, anyway).
You gotta give props though to the collection of mixers in all the purdy colors of the vintage rainbow. JEALOUS!
The little atomic heating pad/trivet looking thing – I was watching one just like that on Etsy for a spell. Is that where you got it?
Naturally, the toasters with the leaf painting – are beyond words. I’ve coveted once since I first laid eyes on one on eBay over a year ago now. But, I got my 4 slice Proctor Silex, and it’s been great.
The toaster with the swirls is wonderful too. One is up for sale on Etsy right now for $48 if anyone is interested.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/102749547/vintage-toaster-electric-toaster?ref=usr_faveitems
I love everything kitchen related, so this has been most fun and of course, ads to my ‘need to have list’.
Thanks everyone, for the uploads!
Rickie says
Until I found this Retro Renovation website I thought I was the only person obsessed with the mid century era. Now I think I’m in heaven and I check this site everyday.
I want one of every appliance posted.
Janet in CT says
Jennifer, you have my favorite vacuum! I had one for twenty years and it finally quit so I got one from Montgomery Ward that I still use. Not the same thing but I swear by those little hand held vacs and use them all the time. I am watching two MV’s right now on ebay. What do you do for bags? That is the biggest problem right now, finding those bags.
Jennifer says
Hi Janet, We picked up our MV in Illinois from a garage sale for $3 about 10 years ago. it is complete with all the tools, including the screw so you can hang it up on the wall! We still have the original cloth bag and it hasn’t ripped yet. I guess we should try and find a replacement for the future. I am always surprised to see things that I have and use on ebay for so much! I finally live in a 50’s ranch so all the things i have unwittingly collected all these years are happily at home! good luck.
Janet in CT says
Hmm. I wonder if earlier ones had the cloth bag instead of paper bags. I went through two of those little hand vacs but both had paper bags with them. Maybe it was an option if not standard on earlier ones. My best buddy was avocado; I can’t remember what the second one was but it didn’t last long as it was used when I got it. I have to have a hand-held vacuum when I do my spring and fall cleaning, for cobwebs and windows and edge cleaning. They are remarkable little vacs and I so need to get another one before the Montgomery-Ward one dies on me.
wendy says
this just keeps getting better! i want sooooo many of the items that are posted! that westinghouse toaster is fabulous! and BONNIE HOWARD – is that your countertop under the very cool hot plate?? *love*!!
Kimberly Lindbergs says
Hi Wendy. I’m glad you like my Westinghouse toaster. It was unused with its original tags when I bought it and I’ve been too afraid to use it because I worship the darn thing & don’t want to mess it up. And if you happen to be Wendy in St. Louis, I LOVE your kitchen!
wendy says
i am wendy in st. louis, but it is not my kitchen you love. (unless you just liked the mixer display and the one freestanding metal cabinet i have.) the rest of my kitchen is sadly boring. “the other wendy” has the pink kitchen, although i have only seen snippets of it in the photos above.
Kimberly Lindbergs says
I absolutely LOVE your mixer display! It’s the first thing I fell in love with while looking at the photos. 🙂
Anna S. Bannana says
To Jeff with the GE Rotisserie – I was hoping to see one of these ! Do you use it, and if so…can you give a review ? Also, the Roto-Broil, I have come close to purchasing both of these, but have hesitated, due to size. And…I’m wondering about ease or lack thereof, of cleaning. I have been hem-hawing over rotisseries, and just can’t decide.
Kimberly Lindbergs says
Love seeing everyone’s small appliance photos. I was particularly taken with Wendy’s collection of colorful irons. So much wonderful eye-candy on display!
Janet in CT says
Did I miss a photo of irons or did you mean the hand mixers? I was so happy to see the roasters on stands. When I was a kid, we had friends who did their Thanksgiving turkey in one of those roasters and I thought that was the neatest thing! Always wanted one but I don’t know where I would put it. Does someone do them in colors? Seems that I saw one once.
Kimberly Lindbergs says
It WAS the hand mixers! I’m getting my small appliances mixed up no doubt because I was doing some ironing myself this morning right before commenting. 🙂 I had not seen the turkey stands before. I really want one of those Hamilton Beach mixers though. Morgan’s is nifty.