Modern Living: Part Two

[launderess]

Pigmented structural glass - Vitrolite

Was very big in 1920's through maybe early 1940's. However use began to die out by 1950's and production ceased worldwide by 1960 IIRC.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigmented_structural_glass

However at least one business is attempting to keep "Vitrolite" alive.

https://newsok.com/article/5443259/...wo-keep-craft-of-vitrolite-installation-alive

Bringing this on home:

"Structural glass received a major boost in 1913 when architect Cass Gilbert clad the restrooms of the Woolworth Building, then the world's tallest structure, in Carrara Glass. But into the 1920s, Vitrolite and its sisters were promoted as utilitarian surfaces for bathrooms, laundries, and kitchens. Furniture makers recommended Sani-Onyx table tops doused with cool water for rolling pastry, while Maytag used Vitrolite-lined tubs as a selling point for its washers."

Our Vanishing Vitrolite

 

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Bell Telephone System 1958

 

 

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Gold Seal 1957

 

 

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Kroehler 1939

 

 

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Easy Set 1929

 

 

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Goodyear Airfoam 1958

 

 

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Armstrong 1937

 

 

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Sylvania 1960

 

 

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Kuehne 1951

 

 

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St. Charles 1959

 

 

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General Telephone & Electronics 1963

 

 

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Kroehler 1952

 

 

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Rubbermaid 1959

 

 

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Flexalum 1957

 

 

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Ekco 1973

 

 

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Sunbrite 1929

 

 

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Wear-Ever 1947

 

 

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[ea56]

Re: Reply #55

That Wearever Pressure Cooker is just like the one my Mom always used. And she used it all the time. I also used it, probably the first time whjen I was about 12. Once I attempted to make Fried Chicken in it according to the instructions inthe Wearever cookbook that came with it. It was not very good at all, way over cooked and not crispy. I never attempted that again, LOL.

But the design of the lid was genius. Almost impossible to have a PC blow up with it.

BTW, thanks Louie for all the work you put into posting these delightful vintage ads, I really enjoy them. I used to buy old magazines just for these wonderful bits of history, real windows into the past.

Eddie

 

[launderess]

Wearever later came out with "Chicken Bucket"

Which was supposedly a pressure cooker for "broasting" chicken.

Didn't last on market long IIRC out of safety concerns. Pressure frying should only be done in devices able to withstand the heat and other forces created by hot oil.

Being as all this may those vintage Chicken Buckets go for big money on fleaPay and elsewhere. Especially the later electric version.

https://www.hippressurecooking.com/wearever-chicken-bucket-low-pressure-fryer-and-pressure-cooker/

http://davescupboard.blogspot.com/2009/09/vintage-sunday-wearever-chicken-bucket.html

https://itkcalendar.com/illegal-fried-chicken/

What Wearever attempted to do was capitalize on various commercial restaurant fried chicken (such as Kentucky Fried) that use "broasting"/commercial pressure fryers to make their chicken.

Have a Wearever Chicken Bucket and after the one use put it away. It was Mom's and can see why she went back to her cast iron skillet.

For good deep frying oil/fat temp must not go below 350F, otherwise you risk getting greasy product instead of crispy. Problem is adding food to hot oil causes a temporary dip in temperature. Depending upon heat source the oil may rise back to range temps quickly or very slowly.

The other thing about pressure frying is just that; once you cover and seal down the lid it is not possible to check temp and or thus regulate heat. Oil could be 340F, 320F, 480F, or 500F for all you know what is going on in there.

 

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You're welcomed Eddie. I too buy vintage magazines for the ads. It all started when I was 11. My parents had purchased a house and the former owner left stacks and stacks of Life and Look magazines from the 1950's through the 1960's in the basement. Boy, I was HOOKED with the car, appliance and food ads.