This just in — thanks to reader Ana, who spotted this fantastic turquoise vintage GE Partio cart listed for sale by Ebay seller ibuynsellstuff07. We don’t see too many of these out in the wild — and this one, with the umbrella! According to the seller, this particular Partio Cart has had minimal use and was in storage most of the time, making it an excellent specimen with very little wear. We LOVE being able to show all these photos of the mystical magical GE Partio Cart!
VINTAGE LATE 1950’s GE PARTIO CART WITH TILTING UMBRELLA. IT IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION WITH A COMBINATION OF 220 VOLTS ELECTRIC OPERATED STOVES, OVEN AND A CHARCOAL GRILL. THE 2 ELECTRIC STOVES, HOT PLATE AND OVEN WERE NOT USED. THE GRILL WAS USED ONLY 2 TIMES AS I WAS TOLD WHEN I BOUGHT IT AT AN ESTATE AUCTION.
THIS UNIT WAS STORED MOST OF THE TIME. IT IS ABOUT 29″ WIDE X 50″ TALL X 52″ LONG. THERE ARE 10″ WIDE CANTILEVERED SERVING METAL CANOPY STANDS ON BOTH SIDES WHICH MAKES IT ABOUT 49″ WIDE TOTAL. THE CHARCOAL GRILL CAN BE ELEVATED USING THE 2 REVOLVING HANDLES. THERE ARE NO METAL SKEWERS INCLUDED. IT HAS 2~10″ DIAMETER FIXED WHEELS AND 2 SMALLER ONES THAT ROTATES 360 DEGREES. THIS OUTDOOR KITCHEN CART WAS ENDORSED BY THE PRESIDENT.
We’ve seen only a handful of Partio Carts over the past few years. This model looks to be slightly different than last year’s Partio Cart. It was last year’s Partio Cart than helped us understand it’s not “Patio” cart, but yes: Partio Cart.
Hey, I found this glamour shot of the Partio Cart in the 1960 GE Annual Report — transport me into this photo NOW!
Mega thanks to ebay seller ibuynsellstuff07 for allowing us to feature the photos of this amazing GE Partio Cart. Now, who is going to snatch it up??? [long gone]
Mary Lee says
I have my Aunts Partio Wagon in mint condition with umbrella. After reading the posts here i went to the basement and found all the paperwork including some store advertising material.
So glad it was so well taken care of i remember being impressed with it when i went to visit.
Jason says
These are just so cool, I mean who wouldn’t want one? I wonder which if any GE range that stove portion matches – if the Partio stove portion is another range chasis similar to one offered for indoors at that time.
Kevin Moody says
So Cool! Reminds me of those old school stoves at antique stove heaven.
Tammy says
I was lucky to snag one of the Partio Carts this summer, from Craig’s List here in Seattle. The original umbrella and cover were long gone, but I purchased a similar umbrella and had a cover made. The cover is just meant for wet summer days; as of yesterday my Partio Cart is in the garage until our Pac NW winter is over.
pam kueber says
WOAH. My dream!
Dan says
Here in Seattle, it’s not that uncommon to see outdoor electric ranges, especially in mid-century homes, thanks to aggressive marketing by our municipal electric utility back in the day. I once saw a beautiful Hotpoint Hallmark (which was sort of Hotpoint’s answer to the Frigidaire Flair) built into a beautiful brick barbeque, with a sort of cedar overhang over the whole thing. I wish I’d had the presence of mind to photograph it.
Scott says
This is just so out there crazy, how could you not love it. Having an electric o-u-t-d-o-o-r oven would have automatically made you the hostess with mostess in 1960.
Fast forwarding to today I don’t know if I could stand to expose such a lovely piece to the elements even on a perfect sunny day so I think the only possible answer would be to make an outdoor-themed kitchen for the indoors… brick floors, patio lights, turquoise and white folding lawn chairs. Too bad my piggybank is no match for my imagination. 🙂
Mary Elizabeth says
This is most stunning! I have never seen one in my life, although I’ve seen some pretty fancy barbeque/outdoor kitchen ensembles. Maybe it only works in a part of the country where the weather is mild. Because it’s on wheels, Scott, you could build a little shed for it where you could wheel it in to keep it out of the elements. In our old condo, we had a shed attached to our garage to house bicycles, trash cans, potting gear, etc. We really loved our barbeque grill and didn’t want it walking off with someone, so we wheeled it into the shed. This Partio cart would need more than a shed–something between a shrine and a gazebo, I’m thinking. Except this baby is so huge you would need all of Eisenhower’s cabinet to help put it to bed at the end of the party.
blair kooistra says
It would be great if there was a “Drinky-Oh!” offered as well! Refrigerator, beer taps, place to do a little bartenderin’
Ann says
And here’s the description from the auction:
https://www.lamodern.com/auctions-2013/auctions/?auctionID=38&view=AuctionLotProfile&inventoryID=2699
Ann says
That’s a steal. I recall when one was up for auction in Dec. 2011. Apparently the NYT thought it was interesting too:
Dwight D. Eisenhower apparently barbecued at his Palm Springs, Calif., backyard on a Partio, a General Electric wheeled stove. On Dec. 11 [2011] Los Angeles Modern Auctions offered his 1950s aqua appliance with a $7,000 high estimate. The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich., paid $20,000, partly because of the machine’s superb condition; it came with its original foldout maple cutting boards and owner’s manual. It relates to numerous other objects at the museum, including antique kitchen equipment and Eisenhower’s 1950s Lincoln-Mercury limo. The institution plans to display the Partio soon after its delivery in a few weeks and, in a few years, incorporate it into an exhibition about design for daily life. “It speaks to many different people in many different ways,” said the museum’s chief curator, Marc Greuther.
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/30/arts/design/intriguing-items-from-a-year-of-auctions.html?_r=0
pam kueber says
wow, $20,000 — that one has real provenance, though: from the estate of Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower! YUM!
pam kueber says
For the record, we (52pbnj) first spotted and archived one of these Jan. 22, 2011 — https://retrorenovation.com/2011/01/22/vintage-1950s-ge-patio-cart-barbecue-range-oven-on-whee/
nutella says
I can confirm it is on display at the Ford museum as of August 2013.
Ann says
And there is another one for auction soon (at the same place) estimating $5K to $7K (eep!).
https://www.lamodern.com/auctions-2013/auctions/?auctionID=43&view=AuctionLotProfile&inventoryID=8188
pam kueber says
woah. insane.
Ann says
Well, it went for $8,500. It was essentially NOS, had all the pieces, and appeared to be unused. A guy who was present at the auction and who said he knew the owner related that it was found in the basement of a department store in Minnesota.
pam kueber says
woah
Robin, NV says
This is so cool, I’m almost lost for words. I can just imagine having this in the backyard with friends queueing up for hot dogs and hamburgers.
Pam – totally off topic but I took some pictures of the pink ladies’ bathroom at the Officer’s Club here at the base. Pretty darn cute. I’ll post them on my blog tonight. atomictraveller.blogspot.com