Small appliances

Did people in your family have lots of small appliances?

My mother was always rather conservative when it came to that kind of thing. She saw most of them as unnecessary clutter. When I was a kid she had only three small appliances - a Mr. Coffer programmable drip coffee maker with the dial timer, a harvest gold Waring stand mixer that was a wedding gift, and a Montgomery Ward microwave oven. She didn't get a toaster or can opener until 1992. My interest in fans and vacuums sometimes carried over into small appliances, especially blenders and food processors but she never wanted any. She was given a George Foreman and electric skillet at one point but she never used them. She did let me get a few egg beaters as a kid and battery powered mixers.

My grandparents were more liberal concerning them. One grandmother had quite a few. I know when I was really little she had an Amana Radarage (I can remember the red LED display) and a Farberware convection oven that were built into shelves. She told me she used to have a Dormeyer mixer and how the nylon gears in it wore out. She also had a Sunbeam waffle iron that she would make waffles for me on when I came to visit. She was also insistent on a percolator and not drip coffee, she always had a chrome one and went through a few. She also had a plastic travel size Betty Crocker one she kept packed away. In later years I think the got a little hand mixer and electric can opener from the dollar store.
She was insistent on a percolator all the way up until she passed.

My grandmother on the other side, now she is the small appliance queen! She was always into the latest gadget, and this carries into small appliances. She has a blender, a hand mixer, deep fryer, toaster, toaster oven, drip coffee maker, food processor, George Foreman, can opener, vacuum sealer, who knows what all. She also had some early microwave ovens too. She still buys gadgets, last I visited she showed me a mini chopper she got and I saw she got a new blender. Unfortunately she isn't really the type that sees value or uniqueness in vintage items so when things get old she replaces them with new.


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Post# 372857 5/29/2017 at 09:42 (2,521 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)
Checkrate/Likes Did people in your family have lots of small appliances? My mother was always rather conservative when it came to that kind of thing. She saw most of them as unnecessary clutter. When I was a kid she had only three small appliances - a Mr. Coffer programmable drip coffee maker with the dial timer, a harvest gold Waring stand mixer that was a wedding gift, and a Montgomery Ward microwave oven. She didn't get a toaster or can opener until 1992. My interest in fans and vacuums sometimes carried over into small appliances, especially blenders and food processors but she never wanted any. She was given a George Foreman and electric skillet at one point but she never used them. She did let me get a few egg beaters as a kid and battery powered mixers. My grandparents were more liberal concerning them. One grandmother had quite a few. I know when I was really little she had an Amana Radarage (I can remember the red LED display) and a Farberware convection oven that were built into shelves. She told me she used to have a Dormeyer mixer and how the nylon gears in it wore out. She also had a Sunbeam waffle iron that she would make waffles for me on when I came to visit. She was also insistent on a percolator and not drip coffee, she always had a chrome one and went through a few. She also had a plastic travel size Betty Crocker one she kept packed away. In later years I think the got a little hand mixer and electric can opener from the dollar store. She was insistent on a percolator all the way up until she passed. My grandmother on the other side, now she is the small appliance queen! She was always into the latest gadget, and this carries into small appliances. She has a blender, a hand mixer, deep fryer, toaster, toaster oven, drip coffee maker, food processor, George Foreman, can opener, vacuum sealer, who knows what all. She also had some early microwave ovens too. She still buys gadgets, last I visited she showed me a mini chopper she got and I saw she got a new blender. Unfortunately she isn't really the type that sees value or uniqueness in vintage items so when things get old she replaces them with new.

Post# 372891 , Reply# 1 5/30/2017 at 01:39 (2,520 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)
Checkrate/Likes Seems like vacuums and small machines go together-I have a collection of them-but not as intense as some others here.Space is a real limiting factor.Mostly in to blenders-Esp VitaMix and Blendtec.Have some Sunbeam mixers I got from the late Kelly.Love these machines--my Mom,Grandmother,and Stepmom had them.

Post# 372903 , Reply# 2 5/30/2017 at 10:01 (2,520 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)
Checkrate/Likes 1 My parents had quite a few small appliances and most of them were of good quality and lasted for decades. From this, I learned to appreciate quality and not to buy junk. I firmly believe that higher quality appliances, although they cost more on the front end, will ultimately have a lower total cost of ownership. When I was growing up, Mom used her Hamilton Beach electric fry pan as much, if not more than she did the stove and she still has the chrome Hamilton Beach mixer she got for a wedding gift in 1961. On the other hand, they were often late adopters for new innovations. They didn't get a microwave oven until 1981--a JCPenny branded GE that had been a floor sample in the store and was being discontinued. They used it for 15 or 20 years before replacing it with a Kenmore that they used for about 25 years until they moved into a retirement community last year.

Post# 372919 , Reply# 3 5/30/2017 at 15:16 (2,520 days old) by CajunVac (St. Martinville, LA)
Checkrate/Likes *Small Appliances* I can well relate to what is stated here: Paternal grand mother stuck to the bare necessities: only small appliances she had was a Sunbeam self lowering toaster and an Airway model 66 vacuum that her oldest son bought for her around 1950. Had an old iron, have no idea what make or model. Maternal grandmother: had a manual toaster, a yellow West Bend hand mixer, Wizard canister vacuum, GE classic steam/dry iron, all purchased by my grandfather. Both grandmothers had Singer treadle sewing machines. My dad's mother did sewing for others and made quilts for all her grandchildren. Both had Tappan gas stoves, 48" models. My mom: white Hamilton Beach model H mixer, Toastmaster toaster, 7 speed Proctor Silex blender, Dominion electric buffet skillet, Oskar food processor, GE EK 6 electric knife. GE swivel top canister vacuum cleaner. All of her small appliances with the exception of the vacuum were gifts. The vacuum cleaner was the only appliance she chose herself. Photos... < > Photo 1 of 4 View Full Size

Post# 373766 , Reply# 4 6/13/2017 at 07:45 (2,506 days old) by luxkid1980 (Richmond, Virginia)
Checkrate/Likes Growing up, we had a few small appliances that I can remember; a Mr. Coffee drip machine, a few difference hand mixers over the years, a Sunbeam frypan (aluminum square type that didn't get used much), an Amana Radarange microwave that was later replaced with possibly a Panasonic and a couple different electric can openers. My paternal grandmother had a few small appliances: Sears microwave (that she rarely used), Farberware fry pan (that I inherited and still use regularly), an electric can opener, an Electrolux L canister vacuum with matching power nozzle. When one appliance stopped working, they were never thrown away but instead placed in an outer building, in case they were needed at some point I guess. I think that came from growing up during the depression when most had few possessions. I, on the other hand, have collected quite a few small appliances: I have a couple Farberware percolators from the 70s (a 4 cup and 12 cup model); that 10" Farberware fry pan I inherited; a Sunbeam T-20 toaster, a Sunbeam Coffeemaster; a Sunbeam waffle baker; a Farberware open-hearth broiler with rotisserie attachment; a Sunbeam carousel rotisserie; and a Sunbeam mixmaster. My latest acquisitions include a Farberware electric wok #300 and a Sunbeam Vista can opener in off-white. I adore the small kitchen appliances of yesteryear and am often surprised that people take them to the thrift or goodwill stores, when it is hard to find replacements these days that even come close to the build quality of these older appliances. You can still find some, but they are usually pretty expensive. I like tinkering with them if they have a problem when I pick them up and enjoy cleaning them as well.

Post# 373888 , Reply# 5 6/14/2017 at 19:39 (2,504 days old) by Louvac (A)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Small Appliance Convention--Who's Interested?* Hey Guys! Like most of you, I also collect a variety of small appliances from Blenders to Toasters. Are there any here who would be interested in putting together an appliance convention similar to the vacuum cleaner conventions? This would be a blast! We could perk coffee, toast raisin bread and the like, use our mixers,...well, you get the picture! Well, Anyone?

Post# 373892 , Reply# 6 6/14/2017 at 20:43 (2,504 days old) by kenkart ()
Checkrate/Likes *Well* I have over 700 vacuums, probably 500 or more mixers, at least 200 blenders, and untold numbers of electric griddles, roasters, frypans and deep fryers...This would be a great place for a convention..but we aint havin it in Summer..Too hot here!!!LOL

Post# 373895 , Reply# 7 6/14/2017 at 20:53 (2,504 days old) by kenkart ()
Checkrate/Likes *Family Appliances..* My Mother and Dad were married in Dec 1950, in 1952 Mother went to Home Electric Co in Lenoir and bought a new General Electric 815 Swivel Top,which to her dying day She vowed was the BEST vacuum ever made,it was replaced by another GE in 1968 from the Green Stamp store which was no where near as good, it was replaced in 1969 by a 1140 Hoover DialAMatic when carpet replaced the braided rugs,it was replaced by a "DESPISABLE" Celebrity 2 Powermatic..in 78 that I BEGGED her NOT to buy, I wanted a Electrolux Super J...My Grandmother had a Model 30 Electrolux,which went away in 56 when my Parents moved in with my Grandparents,The only Toaster I remember was a early 60s Toastmaster,Soverign I believe was what it was called, we had a Kenmore electric frypan and a Dormey hand mixer as well as a Dormeyer Mixwell,