Modern Living: Part Two

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

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The Elexits are an interesting idea, but they must not have sold well. I didn't know of them until I saw them in a catalog on Building Technology Heritage Library a few days ago.

I like the kitchen in the Congoleum Sealex ad. The blue floor with border is really nice.

My friend Sam recently got an old kitchen table that looks a lot like the one in the ChromCraft ad. It has the gray cracked ice laminate top, and he bought new Richardson chairs in matching vinyl to go with it.

I wish Vitrolite or the similar Carrara Glass was still made - I've always liked the look it gives to a building.
 
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."

http://www.victoriansecrets.net/vitro7.html
 
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
 
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.
 
 

 

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.
 
Louie

My love for old magazines began in 1964 when we moved to the Northern California coast and I began the 8th grade at Fort Ross Elementary School, a little three room school house. One of the local sheep ranchers, whose family had settled there in the 1860’s and had gone to Fort Ross School donated her collection of National Geographic Magazines that went back to about 1887 and up thru the present.

Being a lover of all history I instantly fell in love with pouring over these magazines that covered all the 20th century up thru the the present date. From then on I was hooked on old magazines.

Then in the late 70’s and early 80’s there was a little used book store in Petaluma, Calif. where I lived and worked. The women that owned this store had scores of old magazines, of every type, from the 20’s thru the 50’s. I used to go there at least once a week and spend my tips on these treasures. I still have quite a few rat holed away in boxes.

I personally feel that the advertisements are the best part of old magazines. They are like an archaeological picture into what life was like for people down thru the decades, and a look at the evolution of progress. It’s wonderful to know that I’m not alone in my interest.

Now, with the internet its so much easier to find and view these vintage advertisements, and especially with you so kindly posting them for the enjoyment of us all.

Muchos Gracias Amigo!

Eduardo aka Eddie[this post was last edited: 9/22/2018-23:31]
 
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