Dishmaster
- Thread starter drmitch
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frontaloadotmy
Well-known member
Hi Don
I just snagged one of those from the local Habitat Restore.
It isn't anywhere near vintage (what used to be chromed metal,
is now just chromed plastic!) but I still thought it would be fun for $12. That must be an early incarnation ; I have never
seen them "rounded" like that. They are serious looking!!!
I just snagged one of those from the local Habitat Restore.
It isn't anywhere near vintage (what used to be chromed metal,
is now just chromed plastic!) but I still thought it would be fun for $12. That must be an early incarnation ; I have never
seen them "rounded" like that. They are serious looking!!!
danemodsandy
Well-known member
They're Still Around!
Dishmaster is still very much in business, and parts and service are still available. Here's a link:
Dishmaster is still very much in business, and parts and service are still available. Here's a link:
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Dick Van Dyke:
"A friend thought they saw one on a Dick Van Dyke or Bewitched episode."
It was The Dick Van Dyke Show; Laura Petrie had the Dishmaster Imperial in her kitchen. The run of the show coincided with the rise of automatic dishwashers in middle-class houses, but they weren't truly commonplace yet, even in houses we would consider upscale today. The Petrie kitchen (supposedly in an upscale part of New Rochelle, NY) was typical enough for the era. What put automatic dishwashers into so many houses was that builders found that they were a cheap way to increase the sales appeal of a new house. At the builder's cost, the dishwasher might have added $100-125 to his outlay. For the homeowner, it might have added another fifty cents to the monthly mortgage payment. So, it was a good deal all the way 'round. I well remember that time; every new house owned by one of my relatives had an automatic dishwasher, but none of the older ones (like ours, built in '49) did.
"A friend thought they saw one on a Dick Van Dyke or Bewitched episode."
It was The Dick Van Dyke Show; Laura Petrie had the Dishmaster Imperial in her kitchen. The run of the show coincided with the rise of automatic dishwashers in middle-class houses, but they weren't truly commonplace yet, even in houses we would consider upscale today. The Petrie kitchen (supposedly in an upscale part of New Rochelle, NY) was typical enough for the era. What put automatic dishwashers into so many houses was that builders found that they were a cheap way to increase the sales appeal of a new house. At the builder's cost, the dishwasher might have added $100-125 to his outlay. For the homeowner, it might have added another fifty cents to the monthly mortgage payment. So, it was a good deal all the way 'round. I well remember that time; every new house owned by one of my relatives had an automatic dishwasher, but none of the older ones (like ours, built in '49) did.
neptunebob
Well-known member
I also heard that dishwashers became popular when women started to work outside of the home. Could it be that a lot of dishwashers were actually bought by men?
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Neptune Bob:
The entry of women into the workplace had a lot to do with it- not only did men have to share some housework (though typically, it was the very least amount they could get away with), the woman couldn't devote 24/7 to the job, the way she had previously. Also, having a "maid" (middle-class parlance for a housemaid) became nearly impossible; there were better jobs available for the women who had formerly done that work, plus wages had risen. So, wives had much less time and help than formerly had been the case. A dishwasher was an enormous boon under the circumstances, as were automatic washers and dryers- these appliances were no longer luxuries, they were the difference between getting the job done, and not getting it done.
The entry of women into the workplace had a lot to do with it- not only did men have to share some housework (though typically, it was the very least amount they could get away with), the woman couldn't devote 24/7 to the job, the way she had previously. Also, having a "maid" (middle-class parlance for a housemaid) became nearly impossible; there were better jobs available for the women who had formerly done that work, plus wages had risen. So, wives had much less time and help than formerly had been the case. A dishwasher was an enormous boon under the circumstances, as were automatic washers and dryers- these appliances were no longer luxuries, they were the difference between getting the job done, and not getting it done.
I had my Dishmaster connected someplace in every house I've lived in for the past 20 years or so. A year or two ago, the spout froze in one position and could no longer be moved from side to side. It was at our laundry sink so when we got a new pair of machines and replaced the sink, the Dishmaster got tossed. If they didn't look so dated I'd have one in my kitchen. But even the current models would work well in any retro kitchen scene.
customline
Well-known member
Yes indeed.........
I have one from 1957. Just like the one in the first picture. It's getting hooked up this summer.
I have one from 1957. Just like the one in the first picture. It's getting hooked up this summer.
northwesty
Well-known member
We have one and it really works well in any vintage kitchen. Bought it at the local hardware store. A used one might need a few parts since they do wear out and these can be ordered. You may not use it all the time but they come in handy.
frontaloadotmy
Well-known member
Especially when you're having
a Toast-a-thon!!!
a Toast-a-thon!!!
Styling
For sure these fit right in to any retro kitchen scene. I wish they'd make one that looked more contemporary. I would then consider one for my kitchen. Almost all of our cookware (pots & pans) are the type that are not supposed to go in the dishwasher. They end up sitting in the sink until there's more handwashing to do, but if I had a Dishmaster again I could wash these items quickly as they are generated. The one I just recently tossed out had the optional scrubber brush attachment which worked quite well, but the styling currently simply doesn't work with modern kitchen design.
For sure these fit right in to any retro kitchen scene. I wish they'd make one that looked more contemporary. I would then consider one for my kitchen. Almost all of our cookware (pots & pans) are the type that are not supposed to go in the dishwasher. They end up sitting in the sink until there's more handwashing to do, but if I had a Dishmaster again I could wash these items quickly as they are generated. The one I just recently tossed out had the optional scrubber brush attachment which worked quite well, but the styling currently simply doesn't work with modern kitchen design.
veg-o-matic
Well-known member
Okay, gotta get me one of those. I like the Imperial. Anyone know where I can get one of the $39.95 models?
veg
veg
Another brand out there
about 6 months back, I picked up a vintage one but its made by another company. I don't recall what brand name it was. Its in storage right now. It also has a place to put a blender up to it as well. When I can get it out of storage, I'll take pictures of it and post it.
about 6 months back, I picked up a vintage one but its made by another company. I don't recall what brand name it was. Its in storage right now. It also has a place to put a blender up to it as well. When I can get it out of storage, I'll take pictures of it and post it.
laundromat
Well-known member
Dishmaster
My mother was one of those Lucy Ricardos like women who was one to fall for gimmics.We had a door to door salesman come in one day around 1962 who sold "Lightning Quick"garbage disposers claiming that if you purchased the disposer(which by the way was a damn batch feed)for $50,You'd get a free dishwasher to go with it!Sooooo,Mom took the guy up on the deal.When they came to our house with te two "gadgets"she was furious to find out the Dishmaster was nothing but a faucet that had a well to store the detergent,A brush ended wand and a red button to push to dispense the detergent.When she told him she didn't want it,he almost cried and took 25% off the cost to install it($20) This guy was good but not long after the unit was installed,we lost the cover for the disposer you needed to turn it on.I found the button it pushed and as I pushed it,A sharp bladed paring knife almost cut my finger off.It was dropped down into the disposer but too short to see it and there was no guard to keep you from puting your hand down there.I still have the scar.Mom called the company's main office and thretened to sue.They gave us a new strainer/switch and her money was fully refunded.It did work pretty well and the disposer was still there and working back in April of "05.however,the Dishmaster was long gone and replaced with a GE Triton I gave my Dad for Christmas'04
My mother was one of those Lucy Ricardos like women who was one to fall for gimmics.We had a door to door salesman come in one day around 1962 who sold "Lightning Quick"garbage disposers claiming that if you purchased the disposer(which by the way was a damn batch feed)for $50,You'd get a free dishwasher to go with it!Sooooo,Mom took the guy up on the deal.When they came to our house with te two "gadgets"she was furious to find out the Dishmaster was nothing but a faucet that had a well to store the detergent,A brush ended wand and a red button to push to dispense the detergent.When she told him she didn't want it,he almost cried and took 25% off the cost to install it($20) This guy was good but not long after the unit was installed,we lost the cover for the disposer you needed to turn it on.I found the button it pushed and as I pushed it,A sharp bladed paring knife almost cut my finger off.It was dropped down into the disposer but too short to see it and there was no guard to keep you from puting your hand down there.I still have the scar.Mom called the company's main office and thretened to sue.They gave us a new strainer/switch and her money was fully refunded.It did work pretty well and the disposer was still there and working back in April of "05.however,the Dishmaster was long gone and replaced with a GE Triton I gave my Dad for Christmas'04
I've seen the Dishmaster at Orchard Supply Hardware. At least it was there five years ago; haven't looked for it recently. At that time it was all metal, as I recall. I thought of getting one for the patio kitchen, which has a wall-mount faucet, but got a high arc standard faucet (with ceramic cartridge valves) instead. Works well for that location (easier to fill buckets and stuff).
Orchard Supply still carries them. I don't know what OSH's national retailing footprint looks like, and unfortunately OSH doesn't offer on line shopping for those who don't have a store within reasonable distance. I bought mine over 20 years ago at OSH for $75. I think they're more like $100 these days. The styling has changed a bit on the Imperial but these are still very stodgy looking units that would be sore thumbs in contemporary kitchens. I'm surprised these haven't shown up on some shopping channel where they are hyping them like they're a brand new product.
