Older Kitchenaid Blenders

[fan-of-fans]

I always liked the KitchenAid blenders and also the hand mixers I recall seeing in the 90s. I think that is when they came out with the first ones, if I remember right. The white ones with the silver band. Were these good machines? The blender always looked pretty robust, I think it had electronic controls though for some reason.

 

[lordkenmore]

I have one of these blenders. Yes, they have (or at least mine has) electronic controls. I'm not sure that I like that--but I have the feeling that such controls are more often than not "something else that can break."

It's hard for me to judge how good this blender is. It has worked fine for me, but I don't really have tough blending jobs. It's mostly used for pureeing a soup. That may be the only thing I've ever used it for. I do get a sense it could do more than soups...but no idea how much more.

One thing I definitely like: the blender jar is GLASS. Not plastic that will probably age poorly, and possibly leech chemicals into my food.

I have noticed the jars somewhat regularly at Goodwill, which suggests that perhaps some people have worn out the motor unit. Then, again, the motor unit might have been sent to a different Goodwill...

 

[rp2813]

I have a KA

Mine is probably from 2000 - 2005, and stored away.  I think it's the style you're asking about.  It's black, and has the bubble type buttons that KA used some sort of easy-clean term to describe.

 

I got it for smoothies, but it still left some chunks of ice.   I wasn't thrilled with it, but I liked that the carafe disassembled for cleaning.  I also didn't care for the sequence of buttons required to start it, either.

 

Then one day a mid-to-late '60s Lady Kenmore (Osterizer clone) landed on my doorstep.  It has a beautiful metallic blue, silver and black scheme on the panel, horizontal sliding scale speed selector, heavy chromed metal case and collar, and deluxe glass carafe with black bakelite handle secured by chrome strip around the carafe top.  I bought a special ice crusher blade for it and it has turned out chunkless smoothies ever since.  It's also quiet, even though it has something like 750 or 800 watts of power.

 

I'm also sold on the versatility and easy cleaning of Osterizers and that narrow mouth mason jars can be used instead of a carafe for certain jobs, and that replacement parts and/or accessories are easy to find at hardware and home stores.  I bought a "Fusion" blade as well, which delivers a level of blending performance close to that of a much more expensive Breville.

 

If you're looking for a blender, unless the KA would coordinate best in your kitchen, keep an eye out for a vintage, heavy Osterizer.  As LK stated above, the carafes show up in thrift stores with decent frequency.  I've picked up a few glass spares over the past couple of years.

 

I'm just waiting for the right person to come along so I can pawn off the KA to them.

 

[tolivac]

KA should stick to MIXERS and forget blenders.Have a few KA blenders and they sit in the back of the cupboard.Vintage Oster,Blendtec,VitaMix,vintage Waring MUCH better than KA.

 

[lordkenmore]

>KA should stick to MIXERS and forget blenders.

I can't comment on this... But one thought hits me: it seems to me blenders probably came along long after the WP takeover. Thus, KA could be argued to not be the "real" KA that produced mixers, etc that people love and swear by...

As I commented before, I have limited experience. One thought hits: I think the KA blenders are probably better than super cheap junky blenders on today's market. But I would not be surprised if vintage blenders aren't considerably better.

 

[yogitunes]

I have several.....actually great performers, especially for blending heavy batches.....I needed it for baby food, and was the only one that could turn a heavy batch, and not bog down....

my daughter broke one of the glass containers, played hell trying to find one, even on Ebay, so when I see them in thrift stores, I grab spares.....

I have a pro series bar tender version as well, black, with the stainless steel container, serious ice crushing skills....

one thing I like about the Oster, if you start with crushed ice from the fridge, toss it in and set to the highest speed before it gets a chance to melt, instant snow cones!.....helps to chill the jar and blades before you start.....

 

[dermacie]

I sold these

As a poor college student in the late 1990s I worked in a Lazarus formerly Hornes department store in suburban Pittsburgh. These blenders like the mixers came in colors and were very expensive. I never bought one.

 

[rp2813]

I saw my above mentioned KA at Costco on a special promotion for final price of $50 so I bought it.  Everywhere else I had seen them they were priced at $75 and up.

 

Full disclosure:  The KA replaced a revival "beehive" Osterizer.  I had an old "waterfall" Waring and Dave was always giving me flack about it.  I compromised with the retro looking Osterizer, which was unacceptably loud and horrible at its job.  I think the round carafe had a lot to do with its poor blending and pathetic handling of ice.   After buying the KA, I gave the Osterizer to my mom, who was visually impaired, so the toggle switch was perfect for her.  I think she may have used it once, to make grasshoppers on St. Patrick's Day.

 

I still have the old Waring.  It's quiet and capable, and lives on the sink counter behind the patio bar. 

 

I wouldn't consider buying a brand new Osterizer again.  My recommendation above applies only to the heavy, high-powered ones from the '60s.

 

[tolivac]

I don't like the newer Oster blenders,either-noisey,just cheap feel and quality to them.Seek out older machines at yard sales or EBay for those that use that.

 

[fan-of-fans]

I like the look of the Oster blenders with the ribbed glass jar, especially the green ones.

I also like the avocado Hoovers. I saw an avocado blender at a sidewalk sale a while back, I should have stopped to have a look at what it was.

I happened to look and my 1997 Consumer Reports did a test on blenders. They ranked the KitchenAid last mostly because of the lack of a spout and said it did not blend smoothies well. It seems later they did add a spout to the jar, as most I've seen do have one.

 

[tolivac]

Oster blender ribbed jars-The "Ribs" helpted circulate the mix into the blades better than a smooth sided jar.They were very effective.

 

[rp2813]

Didn't Oster use the ribbed glass carafes for quite a while?  How old of a blender are we talking about?  A "beehive" style or a '60s - '70s model with a push button console?

 

[yogitunes]

an interesting one I have never seen before.....apparently set up for a bar blender....check out that blade setup....

http://cnj.craigslist.org/for/5701274266.html

 

[vacerator]

Derek,

I was very young, four or five, but I remember my parents taking us Christmas shopping at Gimbles, Hornes, and Kaufman's downtown Pittsburgh.

 

[vacerator]

Older blenders

seem to be better made period. Waring, Hoover, Hamilton Beach, or my old Osterizer made in the USA from the 80's.
My Philips stickerator thing does good though.

 

[kenwashesmonday]

Yogitunes wrote:
"check out that blade setup"

That's the optional milkshake blade.

 

[fan-of-fans]

The Osters I was referring to were the beehive style. They had a hunter green one in the 90s when hunter was a popular color and it seems they may still make one now which appears to be more of a pistachio color.

I have not seen many blenders around in thrifts or estate sales. I did see an Osterizer recently that appeared to be from the 90s at a recent estate sale. The others I tend to see are modern all plastic ones. Vintage coffee makers 20+ years old seem to be more common to find as well as mixers.

 

[yogitunes]

rare and odd to see the green tinted glass of this one.....

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/hsh/5676064271.html

 

[rp2813]

The '90s and later Oster reproduction versions of the original beehive design are not worth buying.  They're noisy and their round carafes are a bad design.

 

I've learned that the '60s type with push button consoles and metal cases are usually the most powerful and quiet operating ones.  I just picked up a '60s model 542 with an atomic symbol on the panel, and it has 800 watts of power. 

 

[tolivac]

I have an older Oster blender I bought at a yard sale-same with a 2500 Vita-Mix-same yard sale!Another thing I look for while driving by-those stainless steel VM "Monoliths"!-as well as vacuum cleaner wand or upright handles sticking up from the other stuff.No such luck yesterday morning-a small yard sale with nothing but old clothes and knick-knack dust catchers!Have the SS Oster bar blender-don't have the milkshake blades.Have two SS VM containers for the 5000 series VM machines-these are no longer made-too bad-excellent containers.One has the "dry" blade-other the "wet" blade.Fortunately if the blades wear out-can get new ones-don't think the SS containers will EVER wear out!Sort of wish Blendtec would make a SS container.Some jobs the SS jars work better.