Do you use your vintage smalls?

[cadman]

If you do, you might like this little gadget I spotted the other day.

I only use vintage smalls in the kitchen and even the best "gone through" appliances occasionally make me nervous. Toasters are one of them, and prior to this little gadget I'd find myself driving to work wondering if I had unplugged the thing. Or, more often than not, I'd drop my bread in and wait on a cold toaster.

What it is, is a small digital timer for appliances. One press of the button gives you 5 minutes. Press again for more time. After the time has elapsed, it clicks right off. No more wondering about what you left plugged in, or wear-out of vintage plugs & cords.

 

[cadman]

It's marked Brinks, which is surely a rebadge. Cost is about $10 bucks, available locally at one of the box stores- Cory

 

[appliguy]

I use my vintage smalls all the time

My most favorite toaster is my 1950 Sunbeam Radiant Control Toaster. As for leaving it plugged in...I do (unless I need the outlet for the elkctric fry pan or the electric pressure cooker) I also leave the vintage Westinghouse Can Openr and the vintage Iona Blender plugged in too and I have never had any trouble. Of course just to be safe I replaced the orginal toaster cord with a new old stock cloth appliance cord from the 1960's and my kitchen outlets are all GFI protected but other than that I do not worry about it. From what I have read you have to be more careful with todays modern smalls than you do the vintage ones. The reason for that is because if modern ones catch fire they melt their plastic bodies and the fumes are very toxic. Also the melting plastic will spread and catch the whole counter on fire. My folks read about that in a magazine a few years abck and told me about it. If you ask me that is just another reason to use vintage......PAT COFFEY

 

[turquoisedude]

Neat idea!

That timer is a great solution to that "Oh smeg, did I leave the ........ plugged in" problem!!
I use vintage smalls all the time, but I do unplug them when not in use (especially in the kitchen down in Ogden, since we are away all week!). Don't laugh too hard, but in the old house I used a Tap-A-Line strip and just unplugged it as I left the house...
BTW, Cory, that Sunbeam toaster with the glass side panel is gorgeous! I have tried to snag one on eBay several times, but keep getting outbid... :-(

 

[norgeway]

Everything I Use!!!

Is vintage,but rarely do I leave anything plugged in, just habit to unplug,mainly because as a child lightning was prone to hit our neighbors house and I was always afraid of it ruining a good old appliance.

 

[petek]

I leave my daily use blender plugged in but pretty much always unplug the toaster and coffee maker.

 

[dj-gabriele]

My guess is that the electronic timer could be more a problem than the toaster left on
Same as ever: cheaply made in China versus good national craftmanship
be it American or European!

 

[hunter]

FUNNY...

but I was thinking 'smalls' referred to undergarments. And I thought 'vintage undergarments? that doesn't make sense!'

Personally I love 'vintage smalls.' I own a few of them...that I bought originally (LOL). My electric fry pan comes to mind, and toaster...bought in 1986. Shockingly enough (pun intended) that was 24 years ago!

 

[paulg]

Similar story

I use my vintage smalls all the time. And being an engineer I am extremely careful about checking their wiring, leakage, testing and retesting them etc. prior to putting them into service in my home.
However, I did buy a number of in-line switches very similar to Cad-Man's sample but it is a manual switch. It is rated for 15 amps I believe.
For stuff I use briefly like an iron, toaster and the like - I unplug it after every use. For those units that I hate unplugging like my 1955 VM phono, 1970 Magnavox column stereo, Predicta etc, I just flip the switch when I'm done and not worry about it.
My coffeemakers (Sunbeam, Westinghouse and GE-Universal) are on a hefty Intermatic timer that turns them on for morning coffee and then shuts them down just after I leave the house everyday.

 

[lordkenmore]

I also think one needs to be more careful with today's small appliances. I've heard that a cause of fires are modern switches that partly make contact when they should be off, over heat, then burn your house down.

Likewise, I don't think I'd trust a Chinese timer.

Back to the original question: I do use vintage small appliances, although most of what I have/use are things that are naturally unplugged. (Percolator, fry pan, etc.)

I don't have an old radio, TV, or other such item in use. But I'd probably check it for safety issues (cord wear, etc), and then leave it plugged in permanently.

 

[austinado16]

Use 'em daily...

....leave 'em plugged in. Haven't let the smoke out of any....or my house yet.

 

[cadman]

Paul's idea is excellent as well if you're the only one in the house using the device. In fact, my vintage tv and radio collection is controlled in a similar fashion, with separate high current pilot-lit switches at the room's doorway to not only ensure sets are disconnected when not in use, but to protect them from line surges and storms as well.

I use to leave a lot of smalls plugged in, but as the fellow that built this place with my own two hands, I just won't risk it here. Then again, why would anyone really? The timer may be Chinese, but as a EE, I appreciate that it's relay based. It's failure mode is no worse than the device being left plugged in directly.

On a whim tonight I opened that timer and was surprised to find all discrete components. No micro, thus no software. A mix of through-hole and SMD components, you could actually service the thing, and it goes together with philips screws!

Better than turning around 15 minutes from home to find you DID unplug that toaster? You betcha : )

 

[maytagbear]

I do not leave appliances with a heating element

plugged in, either vintage or new, with the exception of the Zojirushi hot water pot I got in February, but I unplug IT when I leave the house.

Yes, I do use vintage smalls!

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[whirlcool]

I have never heard the term "Vintage Smalls". What is the history of that term? I lived in the midwest and never even heard it there either.

 

[tomturbomatic]

For added protection

A special kind of cirsuit breaker gives added protection from fires caused by shorts. It is called an arc fault circuit interrupter and replaces regular circuit breakers. These can protect the entire circuit, including the wiring and electrical devices plugged into the outlets.

http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/afcifac8.PDF

 

[paulg]

On the lookout.

I'm on the lookout for Cadman's version of the switch. Discrete components? Count me in !!
Oh, I am so aware of the risks of cheap Chinese anything, including these switches that we're buying. Similarly to Cadman's, these do come apart as they are held together with Philips screws. I have not yet taken one apart to check the innards but now I will. Thanks for the idea.
However, with the high-current appliances being unplugged and the relatively low-current items being used on this 15A switch, the gains outrank the risk.
What is really nice is that I am AWARE of the quality and condition status of these vintage items - so much so that if I leave AC line applied, I'm still pretty comfortable about it. However, part of my world involves dealing with safety issues and so I am somewhat more a**l-retentive about safety than most. A bit of OCD is creeping in too as I am aging... although I have to admit I'm still lookin' pretty good LOL!!

 

[appliguy]

is an AFCI the wsame as a GFI??

of not what is the difference????PAT COFFEY

 

[mixfinder]

Does a Chicken Have Lips?

Do I use my smalls? Everyday of my life. I have about 50 "smalls" and I am happiest when they're running.

 

[jons1077]

Kelly,

Looks like you have the same Sunbeam T9 coffee pot that I have. Just had a fresh cup from it this morning with my mom and Tony. They LOVE my percolators.

Jon

 

[lordkenmore]

Does the Sunbeam T9 have aluminum inner parts (basket, stem, etc)? I picked up some other vintage Sunbeam, and was disappointed to find that this model uses aluminum inside. (I try to avoid aluminum, since coffee is said to react to it.) Although, I'm not sure I'm complaining much. I'd probably seldom use it, anyway, since it makes more than I usually need or want. (I find using a smaller pot at or near capacity works better than a big pot at severely reduced capacity.) And it certainly looks nice sitting on the percolator shelf--the nicest pot up there.

 

[appliguy]

Johns1077

That Sunbeam Percolator is not a T9 it is an AP10 (AP stands for Automatic Percolator). The AP10 did not come out unitl after the T9 (T for toaster) toaster was discontinued and superceded by the T20 Radiant Control Toaster in 1949. The coffee pot that corresponds to the T9 toaster is the C20 and early C30 series (C for Coffeemaster) Coffeemaster vacuum coffee pots. The AP10 makes groovy coffee though and I speak from having an AP10 myself...PAT COFFEY

 

[mixfinder]

AP 8

The Sunbeam 8 cup coffee maker has a steel stem and perc washer but the basket and lid are aluminum. It make fabulous coffee. I use a Sunbeam Stainless model AO-CE for the daily grind. It holds more and has a water level gauge.

 

[lordkenmore]

My Sunbeam is the AP8a. I'm guessing 8 cups, too, but stem (which appears to be integrated with basket--or at least is stuck on in my specimen--and basket are aluminum). I've never tried it for more than heating a bit of water to see if it heats. (It does.)

Kelly, does your AP8 have a real Sunbeam glass bulb? Mine has one of those generic aftermarket bulbs.

 

[mixfinder]

Strap On

The crystal knob on top is original and so far has no cracks and nibs that secure the knob to the lid are still there.

 

[mixfinder]

Toasting with Sunbeam

I never cease to be amazed at the love, generousity and thoughtfulness I have received from the membership. Paul was at an estate sale in Chicago where the deceadant worked for Sunbeam. Thinking of me, he bought these glasses and sent to me in Washington State.

 

[mixfinder]

Etched Crystal Stemware

Here they are displayed with a few of my daily Sunbeam smalls.

 

[appliguy]

Well I'll be

While I figured the AP meant automatic percolator it never dawned on me that the 10 might be the cup capacity of the percolator. That is why I love this site...I am always learning something new from you guys....PAT COFFEY

 

[circlew]

AFCI

Pat, an AFCI (Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter) is not the same as a GFCI (Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter), although units are available that incorporate both functions. An AFCI is a circuit breaker - that in addition to its usual function - detects arcing faults and shuts off the current. This is to reduce the chance of a fire starting. Arc-Faults can occur between circuit wires, across a break in one of the conductors, or between an ungrounded (hot) circuit wire and a grounded object. The NEC in article 210.12 requires these in all dwelling occupancies; they must be used on all 120 volt 15 & 20 amp circuits feeding outlets (receptacles and lighting fixtures) in basically all rooms except kitchens, bathrooms or outdoor areas (GFCI protection is required in those areas). The AFCI breaker fits in standard panelboards.

 

[paulg]

Thrilled to pieces

... That the glasses are with you. I just knew you'd enjoy them.
Love the pix. Sort of a "Sunbeam reunion" going on there.
Watch your doorstep, there's more to come.

 

[mixfinder]

The Only Thing Better

would be having you propping your feet up on the porch rail at my house while we enjoyed a sip of good wine and told collecting stories into the night. Thank you so much for the glasses and for thinking of me. I am touched.