Awhile back I posted some Modern Maid appliances from the end of their era. Now I have a few from I think the mid sixties!
Modern Maid!
- Thread starter peteski50
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Modern Maid
2nd!
2nd!
Modern Maid
3rd
3rd
Modern Maid
4th final
4th final
well that's interesting...
My stove is an Australian Modern Maid from the late 1980s.
As far as I know there is no connection to the US brand of the same name.
In the early 1980s Modern Maid in AU was going broke, the workers and their union injected funds into the factory to keep it going, changes the name to" Modern Maid and Staff" and released a new model using advanced design and top quality components, called the Ultima. It was a range of models from the basic Ultima 100 to the deluxe Ultima 500 (all 540mm wide) and Ultima 600 series, all 600 mm wide. Mine is the top model, the Ultima 650, it has automatic oven, touchpad controls above the splashback (all still working) even an actual temperature display for the oven. (press a button and the clock display changes to a readout of current oven temperature.)
It is a fantastic stove but sadly the Aussie market wasn't interested in paying extra for a premium model of a not very posh brand, and the company finally went bust in 1987. I bought my first one (an Ultima 300) when their leftover stock was sold off. I liked it so much, each time we moved house I tracked down a reconditioned one. My current one is the 650 - wider body and all the bells and whistles. I love it.
What caught my eye is the brand name and logo in the pics above - it is EXACTLY the same as the brand and logo on my Australian Modern Maid stove. It's hard to see in my picture, but at the lower left of the brown glass splashback there is the name and logo. (not at the top of the page, that is different. Look closely at the pic of the splashback, under the clock...)
My stove is an Australian Modern Maid from the late 1980s.
As far as I know there is no connection to the US brand of the same name.
In the early 1980s Modern Maid in AU was going broke, the workers and their union injected funds into the factory to keep it going, changes the name to" Modern Maid and Staff" and released a new model using advanced design and top quality components, called the Ultima. It was a range of models from the basic Ultima 100 to the deluxe Ultima 500 (all 540mm wide) and Ultima 600 series, all 600 mm wide. Mine is the top model, the Ultima 650, it has automatic oven, touchpad controls above the splashback (all still working) even an actual temperature display for the oven. (press a button and the clock display changes to a readout of current oven temperature.)
It is a fantastic stove but sadly the Aussie market wasn't interested in paying extra for a premium model of a not very posh brand, and the company finally went bust in 1987. I bought my first one (an Ultima 300) when their leftover stock was sold off. I liked it so much, each time we moved house I tracked down a reconditioned one. My current one is the 650 - wider body and all the bells and whistles. I love it.
What caught my eye is the brand name and logo in the pics above - it is EXACTLY the same as the brand and logo on my Australian Modern Maid stove. It's hard to see in my picture, but at the lower left of the brown glass splashback there is the name and logo. (not at the top of the page, that is different. Look closely at the pic of the splashback, under the clock...)
Not a very well known brand around here. I recollect my best friends mom having the all in one stove dishwasher combo and prior to us buying our first house I was eyeballing their Kenmore rebranded "Jenn Air" clone which I never got!!! Then I was promised a Jenn Air by my other half if I relented and agreed to move to our last place in the country.. Never got that either LOL
norgeway
Well-known member
Tons of!!!
Modern Maid and Enterprise stuff in my hometown, mostly used by builders, it was very good quality , but most people wanted a popular brand, it was always considered a " OFF" brand.
Modern Maid and Enterprise stuff in my hometown, mostly used by builders, it was very good quality , but most people wanted a popular brand, it was always considered a " OFF" brand.
MODERN MAID APPLIANCES
MM was owned by Raytheon the big defense contractor, they mainly made built-in cooking appliances that were sold exclusively through kitchen cabinet distributors. Thier appliances were nice looking and they offered some unique products, but overall they were pretty much crap. There gas stoves did not compare well to at least a half dozen other brands and thier electric ranges were even worse, they didn't begin to compare to GE, HP, Frigidare and even Westinghouse. MM had a few better cooking products in thier last ten years after Raytheon bough Caloric and some of their appliances were Caloric designs.
MM was owned by Raytheon the big defense contractor, they mainly made built-in cooking appliances that were sold exclusively through kitchen cabinet distributors. Thier appliances were nice looking and they offered some unique products, but overall they were pretty much crap. There gas stoves did not compare well to at least a half dozen other brands and thier electric ranges were even worse, they didn't begin to compare to GE, HP, Frigidare and even Westinghouse. MM had a few better cooking products in thier last ten years after Raytheon bough Caloric and some of their appliances were Caloric designs.
norgeway
Well-known member
Mostly...
What I saw was electric cooktops and wall ovens, to me they were ok, but I agree, not as good as some major brands, although my cousin had Enterprise stuff in her house, that wall oven baked great, I didnt like the cooktop.
What I saw was electric cooktops and wall ovens, to me they were ok, but I agree, not as good as some major brands, although my cousin had Enterprise stuff in her house, that wall oven baked great, I didnt like the cooktop.
sharid
New member
Copyright Date or Production Year?
I have the model shown on the top right, the ILE 303. As far as I know, this was installed when this ranch style house was built in 1950, but I don't have any other source to confirm it. (It is 7 years older than I am, if it was truly made in 1950!)
We bought this house in December of 1990, and we have used it ever since. The oven bake element was replaced in about 2000 or so, by a semi-retired appliance repairman I located by accident, who located what he claimed was the LAST bake element for my particular oven in and around all of Indianapolis! But it burned out again about 2 or 3 years ago, and searching for another replacement element has proved fruitless, so it seems he was telling the truth!
Unfortunately, in order to replace the unit completely, due to space constraints and lack of cabinet space, it's going to take a major remodel of the kitchen in order for it to be effective and efficient.
I was wondering, mostly for my own edification, if there is either a copyright date, a production model year, or similar information on this flyer/catalog I can use to date this stove reliably?
I have the model shown on the top right, the ILE 303. As far as I know, this was installed when this ranch style house was built in 1950, but I don't have any other source to confirm it. (It is 7 years older than I am, if it was truly made in 1950!)
We bought this house in December of 1990, and we have used it ever since. The oven bake element was replaced in about 2000 or so, by a semi-retired appliance repairman I located by accident, who located what he claimed was the LAST bake element for my particular oven in and around all of Indianapolis! But it burned out again about 2 or 3 years ago, and searching for another replacement element has proved fruitless, so it seems he was telling the truth!
Unfortunately, in order to replace the unit completely, due to space constraints and lack of cabinet space, it's going to take a major remodel of the kitchen in order for it to be effective and efficient.
I was wondering, mostly for my own edification, if there is either a copyright date, a production model year, or similar information on this flyer/catalog I can use to date this stove reliably?
Modern maid oven
Hi Sherry, which post are you talking about? Your model is pictured in?
All of the modern made appliances shown in this thread were made in the 60s for a little newer. They are not from 1950 and would not be original to your home.
That said a bake element should be able to be located. I have some ideas as to where you might get one a picture of the element Would help me tell you what type would fit.
John
Hi Sherry, which post are you talking about? Your model is pictured in?
All of the modern made appliances shown in this thread were made in the 60s for a little newer. They are not from 1950 and would not be original to your home.
That said a bake element should be able to be located. I have some ideas as to where you might get one a picture of the element Would help me tell you what type would fit.
John
John, model ILE 303 is in Reply #3, Post# 520711.
Don't see any gas cooktops, my uncle who lives in the Bay Area of California had one with a fifth burner, with a Westinghouse double oven both in copper...
Sadly the only MM product I can recall seeing and in the league with your bargain basement Tappan brands...
-- Dave
Sadly the only MM product I can recall seeing and in the league with your bargain basement Tappan brands...
-- Dave
