Thread Number: 22858
Any Info on this Stand Mixer? 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 255689   11/9/2013 at 01:17 (3,814 days old) by BriGuy (Wichita, Kansas)        

briguy's profile picture
Does anyone happen to know anything about this mixer. I can't make out the brand name. Looks like possibly Canfield Mfg Co. It's for sale and I am contemplating whether it needs to find a home in my collection.

Post# 255696 , Reply# 1   11/9/2013 at 05:08 (3,814 days old) by danemodsandy ()        
Dormeyer-Built!

 Camfield was a brand built by the Dormeyer Corporation of Chicago. Dormeyer was Sunbeam's main competitor; they built a very good machine. Your Camfield dates from the mid-1950s; it has a stand design that Dormeyer got away from by the later part of the decade.

Yours has the optional stainless bowls and chrome-plated turntable. That turntable in rust-free condition is somewhat rare. I wish I could find one in that shape!

I have a Dormeyer Princess stand mixer from 1957, and a Dormeyer Dormey hand mixer from the same year, both in chrome. They are very, very solid machines.

Dormeyer exited the home appliance business in the early 1970s. The company still exists as a maker of electrical parts, but they're absolutely not interested in talking to anyone about the good old appliance days, so don't bother - ask me how I know.

Dormeyer also made "house brands" for many department stores.

Post# 255699 , Reply# 2   11/9/2013 at 05:53 (3,814 days old) by danemodsandy ()        
Forgot to Mention....

 ....Dormeyer was famous for three things:

1) They had more models than Sunbeam. Sunbeam did not offer anything but the Mixmaster and Mixmaster, Jr. for a long, long time. They did eventually come up with the Vista series as a second-tier offering. Dormeyer had at least three model series at any one time.

2) They were a little more expensive than Sunbeam, but you got a lot for the money. Dormeyer usually gave a meat grinder attachment or a juicer with the machine; Mixmasters did not come with any attachments.

3) Dormeyers used a power take-off design that allowed attachments to be inserted directly into the machine, instead of using an adapter like Sunbeam did. This made attachments more powerful and also simpler to use.

Sunbeam was the big sales leader, no doubt about it - can you think of a more perfect name for a mixer than Mixmaster? But Dormeyer had a lot of fans and they did very well for a long time.

Several things killed Dormeyer. One, their "house brand" activity cheapened the brand name in many consumers' eyes. Two, Sunbeam had the Mixfinder Dial, which was much more intuitive than Dormeyer's lever control and had more "eye candy" appeal in stores. Three, Dormeyer styling could be a little weird. In some instances, make that a LOT weird. Four, in the later 1960s, women were entering the workforce in huge numbers; many were far less interested in homemaking than before, diminishing the market for small electrics.

But they made a damn solid machine, and lots of Dormeyers are still happily running today. I grew up with a Dormeyer Mixwell, the same as my current Princess, but in white enamel instead of chrome. Here's a shot of my Princess:

Post# 255701 , Reply# 3   11/9/2013 at 06:33 (3,814 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

Would LOVE to run into a Dormeyer--learned about them from the Applianceville site and this one-indeed,they seem to be the best of the lot.I like the Sunbeam Mixmasters-grew up with those-My Mom had one,Grandmother,and Stepmom had Sunbeams.After seeing so many Dormeyers,would love to add a few of those to my appliance collection.The late Kelly outfitted me with Mixmasters-and found another at a yard sale.Wasn't the Kenmore mixers at the time of the fifties another solid,good machine as far as mixers went?

Post# 255718 , Reply# 4   11/9/2013 at 11:01 (3,814 days old) by Luxy1205 (Wilmington, IL)        
My Sunbeams and Dormeyer!

 luxy1205's profile picture
Hi, here are a few pics of my stand mixers. Starting on the left is a 1937 Sunbeam Mixmaster model 3b that I got online a year back. I name all of my stuff, her name is "Bernadine". I will be restoring her in the near future! Next is my Dormeyer Mixwell that I got online a few months back. I named him "Dormey". Lastly, is my baby, a 1950 Sunbeam Mixmaster model 10b. Her name is "Geraldine". I got her at our local antique store for $13.00! This mixer was beat up looking, originally white, no beaters, and no bowls. I bought all of her stuff online. My husband and I totally restored her and I wanted her pink, so he painted her for me! I use her all the time! I'm not too familiar with Dormeyers. I think they're awesome looking! I can't wait till I can use mine! All I know is that my 1950 Sunbeam Mixmaster was the first year to come out with the bowl adjuster on the base and that if you have a model with an "A", that means the mixer itself came in cream color all throughout and the bowls were jadite, but if you had a model with a "B" than the mixer was white with a black base and the bowls were white milkglass. I as well have 2 hand mixers, one is a General Electric from the 60's and the other one is a Sunbeam from the 60's or 70's that I got at our local thrift store for $3.00! Thought I would share, I love talking about my mixers! :)

Post# 255781 , Reply# 5   11/9/2013 at 17:38 (3,814 days old) by danemodsandy ()        
Michelle:

 You might be interested to know that Dormeyer's hand mixer - their competitor to the Mixmaster, Jr. - was actually NAMED "Dormey." Enameled Dormeys were Model 7500; the chrome version was Model 7600.

Your Model 5100 Mixwell is exactly like the one I grew up with; it's the same as my Model 5700 Princess, just enameled instead of chrome-plated.

Brian:

That Camfield appears to be based on the Dormeyer in the link below, with some detail and styling changes. The one in your photo is a very unusual machine, because it's not the top-of-the-line Silver Chef, but it's in the most expensive finish, chrome. I have never seen that before. This is also called a Mixwell; that was Dormeyer's name for its mid-line machines - not the cheapest, not the most expensive. The chrome finish puts that Camfield at 1955 or later; that was the year Dormeyer began offering chrome (as did Sunbeam). I don't think the Camfield is any later than 1957; my Princess dates from that year, and there was a Camfield version of that one, too. So - between '55 and '57, I'd say, as an educated guess.

Just for grins, here's an ad for the most beautiful Dormeyer EVER - the 1948 Model 4000 Power Chef. This machine made a Mixmaster look seriously out-of-date, styling-wise. It was only made for a couple of years; that "flop-over" feature to lift the beaters out of the bowl was not popular, and it also tended to chip the finish where the mixer rested on the stand. This one was never made in chrome - too early for that. Even Sunbeam was leery of chrome, because they weren't sure housewives would pay the price at first. When they released a test run of the Model 10 in chrome, they were stunned at how fast they flew off the shelves, with the result that Mixmasters were available in chrome ever after.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO danemodsandy's LINK on eBay


Post# 255804 , Reply# 6   11/9/2013 at 18:30 (3,814 days old) by Luxy1205 (Wilmington, IL)        
Thank you Danemodsandy!

 luxy1205's profile picture
Thanks for the info! I did know that Dormeyer's hand mixer was named "Dormey", I thought it was fitting due to everything I name has an "e, ie, ey, y" at the end! I collect and restore kitchen appliances, clock radios, electrolux canister vacuums, but most of all chainsaws! My husband and I have a collection of 101 chainsaws as of now, that changes just about daily! I love everything vintage! Anyways, do you know what year my Dormeyer is? I can't find any info on him anywhere! I love to research stuff that I'm interested in and working on! I've learned so much already! Any info you can share with me on my model would be greatly appreciated! I know mine has gray accents and I've seen mine with black accents and chrome as well. Was there any other combo color out there? I'm very curious about Dormeyer, I don't know anything about them really, besides they were competitors of Sunbeam. Back a few years ago when I wanted to get my first stand mixer, I knew I didn't want to just go to the store and purchase a brand new one, I wanted one that had character and a story behind it! That's when I went antiquing and found my beloved 1950 Sunbeam Mixmaster. I knew absolutely nothing about appliances, but I researched the heck out of Sunbeam, I was hooked! Now, awhile back I discovered the Dormeyer brand, and fell in love with them! Thanks again! Michelle

Post# 255808 , Reply# 7   11/9/2013 at 20:01 (3,814 days old) by danemodsandy ()        
Michelle:

 The best information I can come up with (vintage ads) indicates that your Mixwell and my Princess date from 1957 to 1960, a three-year production run. This is also the time frame when my mother acquired her Mixwell.

Sadly, there is no resource for Dormeyer like there is for Mixmasters. Vintage ads are pretty much it, and I have looked at hundreds of them to glean what I know.

Color and trim variations like you describe are very common with Dormeyers. Dormeyer frequently would put parts originally designed for one mixer onto another, to create a "different" model - the black and white machine you mention was created using the 5100 Mixwell body and the 5700 Princess trim. There are a gazillion variations, and no one I know has ever been able to figure out the reason for them all, much less catalogue them all. And that's just the machines branded Dormeyer - if you get into the Camfields and the store-brand machines, it's dizzying even to think about.

P.S.: I goofed in something I said about the Model 4000 Power Chef - it wasn't made for a couple of years, it was made for only one year, 1948. In '49, it was restyled, with that gorgeous control panel and selector wheel eliminated.



Post# 255815 , Reply# 8   11/9/2013 at 21:30 (3,814 days old) by kenkart ()        
Dormeyers

 Were VERY popular in my family, My Grandmother had a Dormey portale forever, and absolutely would not use the Dormeyer Mixwell my Mother and Aunt bought her in the 60s, two of my Aunts also had them, the only fault they had was you had to scrape the bowl fairly often and keep your hand on it so it didnt turn too fast, but as for the motor, it was as good as if not better than about anything else.

Post# 255816 , Reply# 9   11/9/2013 at 21:32 (3,814 days old) by kenkart ()        
Mixers..

 I will post a few pictures of some of mine, I have the Dormey in every color but yellow.

Post# 255817 , Reply# 10   11/9/2013 at 21:33 (3,814 days old) by kenkart ()        
And a few

 More.

Post# 255818 , Reply# 11   11/9/2013 at 21:33 (3,814 days old) by kenkart ()        
These

 Are old pictures at our other house,

Post# 255819 , Reply# 12   11/9/2013 at 21:34 (3,814 days old) by kenkart ()        
Oh yes

 I know im obsessed!

Post# 255820 , Reply# 13   11/9/2013 at 21:36 (3,814 days old) by kenkart ()        
A few

 In this house..

Post# 255821 , Reply# 14   11/9/2013 at 21:37 (3,814 days old) by kenkart ()        
And Some

 Portables..

Post# 255872 , Reply# 15   11/10/2013 at 08:32 (3,813 days old) by danemodsandy ()        
Hans:

 You have an uncommon Dormeyer up on that top shelf, next to your Mixwell. It's a Mix-Maid, which was the entry-level stand mixer. It was basically a Dormey on a stand.

That housing and handle design were also used on Dormeys, after the 7000 series you have represented in so many different colors.

Later, there were plastic-housed Dormeys, but I don't personally find those interesting.

P.S.: I lost a Model 4000 Power Chef in the vicinity of Mocksville. So if you find it, it's mine and you should return it to me. ;-)

Post# 255876 , Reply# 16   11/10/2013 at 08:42 (3,813 days old) by danemodsandy ()        
P.S., Hans:

 Only you would have a Guardian Service percolator in what appears to be NOS condition!



Post# 256013 , Reply# 17   11/10/2013 at 20:46 (3,813 days old) by kenkart ()        
LOL!

 I think im going to sell all my Guardian service,its pretty, but for some reason, its not user friendly, and I have a bunch of it.

Post# 256014 , Reply# 18   11/10/2013 at 20:57 (3,813 days old) by danemodsandy ()        
Hans:

 If you sell any Guardian Service, could you let me know?

It would not be for me, but I have a friend in St. Louis who is absolutely gaga about the stuff. He's especially looking for things like that perc, as well as larger pieces and any spare glass lids, I think.

Post# 256207 , Reply# 19   11/13/2013 at 10:03 (3,810 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)        
My favorite mixer isn't just a mixer.

 caligula's profile picture

It's an  Oster kitchen center.
Post# 256210 , Reply# 20   11/13/2013 at 10:10 (3,810 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)        
Oster kitchen center.

 caligula's profile picture

This is what sets it apart from all other mixers, and why I love using it.

 

With Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Eve fast approaching I do a lot of cooking and baking. When I was living in San Diego, this got a lot of use, then went into storage, now it's back on the counter and ready for use.

 

Alex Taber.

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