Estate Finds 7-15-07

[sudsmaster]

I was walking to the end of the block to investigate the source of loud music this morning, when I noticed a lot of strange people in the corner house, looking at china, etc. As it happened, the very nice elderly Japanese-American lady who lived there had passed away, and there was a complete estate liquidation sale going on. I expressed my regrets but it didn't seem that any family were there. I will miss her - she was one classy lady.

I quickly passed by the various furniture, clothes, and china, and found the garage where I spied a couple of items I thought worth buying.

First, a little GE travel steam iron, in near-mint condition. It came complete with the steam bottle, unfrayed cloth covered power cord, power adapters, owner's manual, registration card, travel bag, and original box. Price: $1.

Second, an old Sunbeam Mixmaster, complete with juicing attachment and porcelain bowls. Price: $15.

Needless to say, I scooped up both and they are now here. I particularly like the Mixmaster juicing attachment... it makes a lot of sense. The Mixmaster needs some gentle cleaning, but it seems to work just fine. As for the travel iron, I don't care if it works or not, it's just so cool.

 

[frontaloadotmy]

Nice Finds


Sorry about your classy neighbor lady. She had probably
lived there for a long time.

Imagine that travel iron only being a buck!

 

[sudsmaster]

Yes, I thought the $15 for the mixer was quite reasonable, but the $1 for the iron was a steal. I would imagine that there are not many of them around, at least not in as good condition as this one. It is, however, missing the little red knob on the voltage selector; I can probably make a replacement - even could engrave it with "110/220". Just have to find red plastic.

I would also imagine that Mixmasters with intact milk glass bowls, esp. with an intact milk glass juicer set, is something of a rarity. In any case it will look right at home in the retro patio kitchen. Plus it actually fits under the cabinets there, which the 6 qt KA doesn't.

 

[red_october]

That Iron!

That iron is still sitting in my mother's basement; it's been a backup iron for years. Still in that exact box, still with its little water bottle. Hers has the blue rubberized cord, though. Someplace she has my great-grandmother's iron that outlived the good lady by some thiry years; it still works and she has considered mentioning it in letters to iron manufacturers she contemplates writing whenever her more modern irons fail her. That iron has a cloth-covered cord.

 

[goprog]

it still works ... whenever her more modern irons fail her.

Consume, toss, consume, toss, just have to keep society going.
I remember reading a science fiction story where it was illegal
to use things more than once (or some such). Had to toss them
out and buy new to keep the economy going (or the CEOs' salaries
high.)

 

[sudsmaster]

Yes, but if people didn't replace old stuff with new stuff there wouldn't be any old stuff freed up for us to collect ;-)

 

[sudsmaster]

Oh, and the entire computer software industry is completely dependent upon planned obsolescence. To a lesser extent, computer hardware and then consumer electronics, and most other manufactured products. Sure, planned obsolescence has been around for decades, but the computer industry has taken it to its logical extreme.

Progress.

 

[sudsmaster]

Here's an eBay listing for the vintage GE travel iron...

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[gansky1]

You'll have a lot of fun with the Mixmaster - a good cleaning and regular lube-jobs and the "Cakes Men Like" will be churning away in no time.

I have seen lots of travel-irons but have never used one...

 

[sudsmaster]

Thanks, Greg. I did a little restoration on the Mixmaster. Took the turntable off and noticed it was turning rough. A few squirts of Tri-Flo into the bearings, upper and lower, fixed that up - now it turns very smoothly. The control dial needs a good gentle brushing with an old toothbrush to clean up the lettering. The turntable could use paint removal and a respray. The base just needs cleaning.

Question: only one of the mixer blades has a little plastic button for turning the bowl. Should both of them have buttons? Or just one?

 

[scott55405]

No, just the one beater has the plastic button. This was the first model to have that feature. Always put that beater in the slot closest to the edge of the bowl when you use it. On the later models, the ones with the bigger beaters, each beater is actually a different shape, the one with the button is more rounded to fit the contour of the bowl.

 

[sudsmaster]

Thanks, Scott. I did a little more research and also discovered (by looking at the underside of the base and confirming it with on-line photos) that this is a Model 9, a pre-war design.

 

[hoover1060]

model 9

was I think 1948-1950? I know the 1950 is right, we need Kelly(Mixfinder) to help us out with the intro date.
This design was first introduced in 1939 with model 5.
Looks like its in very good shape!
Happy baking!

 

[waterstreet]

Vintage Mixmaster Web Site

This may be a site you have already visited, if not, it has very good information. I recently found a 7B at a thrift shop and am delighted with it.

David

http://www.angelfire.com/home/flexibleshaft/SunbeamFoyer.html

 

[sudsmaster]

Yes, the "Flexible Shaft" site was one of the ones I visited. Thanks for the correction as to the era of the Model 9.

Do I need to lube the motor bearings or gears on this model?

 

[waterstreet]

Mixmaster Lubrication

This is for the 7 but the 9 is almost the same. I ordered food grade grease for the gears from Instawares Restaurant Supply Superstore.

David

http://www.instawares.com

 

[sudsmaster]

David,

Thanks so much for that page from the manual. It's a great help. I happen to have some food-grade grease already, so I'll probably repack the gearcase no matter what. I have some excellent light oil - and will use that on the oiling ports.

 

[bpetersxx]

How can u tell which ge iron is which

Ebay has 6 different ge travel irons actions now

 

[sudsmaster]

How can u tell which ge iron is which

Well, the box on mine says "Catalog Number F49", and the nameplate on the iron says "HIF 49".

Does that help?