On the hunt for a Mixmaster --- favorite sources?

[mattl]

I remember how much Kelly loved his mixmasters, and after seeing Chachp's photo of the yellow Mixmaster I've been looking for one.  We had a couple over the years when I was growing up, but just basic white, I know Kelly said for certain things they could not be beat.  I remember Kelly had posted a few items from the Goodwill site, checked there a few times and found a few, but not what I wanted.  I was really tempted by a few turquoise  machines on ebay, but ultimately I want a yellow Model 12.  Other than ebay and Goodwill does anyone have any other good websites to check out?

 

Really not a yard/garage/estate sale guy, so that is not a real option, besides odds are I'd buy more stuff that I really don’t need.  I know the hunt can last for months or years but that is part of the fun.

 

[chachp]

I've been collecting these for a while now.

My collection isn't as large as some others have but my goal was to have one of each of the Model 10, 11 and 12s. I wanted them all in new condition because I do trade them on an off the counter and I use them and frankly I just wanted them to look new.

This was my approach. Not all will agree with me but this is what I did. Find any working Sunbeam mixer in the model you want. The key is get the bowls in the colors you want and don't worry about the mixer itself. As long as it works. The bowls are the difficult piece in the varied colors you might want.

Then I took the mixers and sent them off to be refurbished. It's not cheap so I only do one maybe two a year but the finished product is a machine that has been completely redone. Paint stripped and painted in whatever color you want. I used to send them off to a man in the UK who did an amazing job but he has either retired or got sick. Not exactly sure but he did good work.

The last two I got were from a man in Florida. I sent my beat up pink mixer to him and it came back looking like new. Like it just came off the factory line. I bought it for the bowls and as they are hard to find in good shape.

The refurb will cost about $200 but for a 60 year old machine you'll get one back that will last another 60 years. You can check out his website and see what you think about what he does.

So start your search for the yellow bowls and find a mixer in any color. You can then send it off to him and you'll have a great machine on your hands. You just don't know what you'll get from eBay and so many people just don't know how to pack them. There is nothing more tragic that a hard to find set of bowls arriving in a million pieces. It has happened to me so I don't use eBay any more as a resource for these. If yellow is what you want I will keep an eye out for you.

I AM a garage sale and estate sale guy. E-Mail me with what you're willing to spend on bowls and I'll watch for you.

http://nelsonezy.com/main.sc

 

[chachp]

Pictures

Here are a couple of pics of the pink one he did for me so you can see the kind of work he does. The bowls look white in the pictures but they are pink and not that easy to find. He completely disassmebles the machine. Strips all the paint. Cleans everything and replaces what needs to be replaced. He then paints it whatever color you want with a food grade epoXy paint and then seals it somehow. He even put on the decals and redoes the white letters on the dial. I wish I had some before pictures to share but I don't know where I put them.

Again this approach isnt for everyone but I really wanted machines I could feel proud to display and could use without concern for how much longer they might last. If I had the technical skills I might do it myself but I don't.

I'm looking for turquoise now in a model 11 or 12. The ones I find on eBay are generally overpriced in my opinion, they weight so much the shipping is pricy and the fear of them arriving in pieces scares me away. I'll stumble on them someday at a sale. The other fun part for me is every machine and set of bowls has a story I can tell about how/where I found them.  The yellow one was redone by the man in the UK.

 

[xraytech]

I have 7 MixMasters. Five of them are the model 12 in all 5 colors offered. I had squired these at flea markets or eBay. In the past the chrome one is what I chose to keep on my counter. I've attached a pic of the model 12 lineup

I have recently inherited my grandmothers MixMasters. First is the model 10 she got as a newlywed in 1952. This is the model I keep in my counter, while not the most cosmetically appealing it's my favorite. I've attached a pic of it making cookie dough.
I also inherited her late. 70s 16 speed MixMaster Power Plus. I keep this in kitchen cupboard and bring it out occasionally. Attached is a pic of it making peanut butter frosting.

 

[mattl]

Nice collection!  I'd be happy with one!

 

Not sure if I'd want more than one, somehow I've got 5 yes 5 Sunbeam double bubble C30 coffeepots and use 2 regularly and one of those daily.  So I can see if I'm not careful ending up with a collection of mixmasters.  For some reason the yellow resonates with me, just seems like a "happy" color.  I'd hope to find one in decent condition, might have mixed feelings on having it redone, if there is only a nick or chip or two I'd rack that up to character and let it be, rougher shape if the cost was reasonable I'd have it redone.

 

thanks for the info, it's helpful...

 

[d-jones]

Ralph/chachp

You've raised an interesting point about the custom colored vintage Mixmaster's. Since the bodies can be repainted in any of the original colors, as you've pointed out the most important thing would be finding the bowls in the desired color. I've never seen a Mixmaster bowl in person, so what would one look for when checking out the local thrift stores. Are there any specific makers marks on them that would let people know they were Mixmaster bowls? And I suppose I should also ask if the bowls changed over the years or are they all more or less the same?

 

[chachp]

Bowls

The bowls and beaters were the same starting with the Model 10.  The bottoms will generally have the Sunbeam logo on the bottom if they are the OEM bowls. 

 

The Oster Food Center used the same bowls but I don't think they said Sunbeam on the bottom.   My Food Center has the Stainless bowls that were replaced after the fact so I don't know what the originals had on the bottom but I know there were interchangeable with the Sunbeam Model 10 and later.

 

There were also replacement bowls that did not have any markings on the bottom and those fit all these Sunbeam models and the Oster Food Center.

 

I tried to capture the sunbeam logo and I'm afraid it's hard to see but I think you can tell it says "for Sunbeam" in the bottom part of the logo.  Also, if you look at the bowl on the Model 12 it has more of a square appearance vs. the models before about the Model 10 which have more of a round appearance to them.  I took a picture of my Model 7 to show the shape of the bowls.  I don't have anything between the Model 7 and Model 10 to photograph.

 

[vintageguy65]

New Hertiage Series Sunbeam Mixmaster Very retro Styling

Hey Matt,

I do not know if you would be interested in a New Retro Looking Mixmaster?I Highly Recommend this New Sunbeam Hertiage Series Stand Mixer,I have owned this mixer now for about a year & no problems at all so far.This mixer is much more powerful & so quiet running than the vintage ones ( 350 watt motor ) Even though it is not US made (China) the mixer has very High Quailty similar to the original Sunbeams it is made out of die cast metal with some plastic parts.The mixer has head tilt lock which locks the head up or down,slow start I love this feature on it it truly does not splash ingredients all over the counter & stand of the mixer,I wish I early Mixmasters had this feature! The only thing that sucks about the mixer is they do not include the small bowl which I thought was stupid because all the vintage Mixmasters came with both bowls,you can purchase the small bowl separately through Sunbeam ( for about $20 ) but I sent them an email complaining about the small bowl not being included with the new one & that I have been owning Mixmasters for over 20 years now,they were always included with the older models but not for this one for it being Sunbeam's top of line mixer I was very disappointed in the company.Believe it or not they sent me the small bowl free of charge I have made so many cakes,cookies,bread,pizza doughs,etc.some recipes were double even triple size with my new Mixmaster,this machine just POWERED through everything without slowing or straining the motor that I mix in it,the machine does not even get Hot after prolonged use just slightly warm on the powerhead of it unlike the vintage ones I have owned in the past that were so Hot after use I had to let them cool off before wiping down to be put away.For High speed whipping & mixing this mixer is very outstanding it mixes & whips much faster than my Kitchenaid Ultra Power & I get perfect results eveytime.I could go on & on about it but it might be worth a look if you are looking for new updated one

Thanks so much,Dave

 

[vintageguy65]

The colours of the New Mixmasters

They come in White,Black,Pink,Silver,Sea Foam Green,Red,Blue & Orange

 

[chachp]

Sunbeam Power Plus

All this talk about mixers and the picture of Sam's Power Plus reminded that I have one put away that I haven't touched in probably a year.  I use my Kitchen Aid for big jobs.  I bought the Power Plus because I thought it was cool looking but the reality is I just have to thin out my collection a bit.  I may be buying a new house in the next few months and I have to de-clutter in order to put mine on the market.

 

Anyway I would like to gift mine to a good home here on AW.ORG.  All I'm looking for is the cost of shipping.  It's big and heavy.  It is in perfect working order.  Runs well and runs cool.  It includes a Slicer/Shredder attachment that has never been out of the box.  It also includes the Food Grinder attachment which I have never used but I can't remember if anyone else has or not.  I use my Kitchen Aid to make sausage so I really can't remember the history of the Food Grinder.  All of this to say I don't know how heavy the box will be but I'm guessing the shipping to be in the neighborhood of $40-$60 or so depending where it has to go.  

 

Here are the pictures.  E-Mail me on my personal E-Mail if you want it and we can work out the details.

 

[whirlaway]

I have acouple of White ones!

Matt if you just want an old mixmaster,Ihave a couple of white ones just sitting in the garage,with good cords and they run,one a 10 speed and the other a 12,fifties models.I dont need them! Would be glad to box them up and ship them to you! Good beaters too! I have the very first model to 1958 Bobby

 

[chachp]

Spoken for.

Someone grabbed it.  Thanks.

 

[d-jones]

Ralph/chachp

Thanks for posting those photos of the bowls and the accompanying explanation. That will prove very helpful at some point.

[this post was last edited: 6/10/2014-22:58]

 

[mikael3]

Off topic, but Sam, your sink and your floor really took me back. That floor is EXACTLY what my grandmother had in her kitchen. Her sink was one of those large, stand-alone Youngstown units. Wow.

 

[mattl]

whirlaway thanks for the offer!

Not sure what I want to do.  I really just started the hunt after seeing chachp's yellow model 12.  I know I want a model 12, I came across a white one moderately near me  for a very reasonable price.  Just don't think I'll have the cash to invest in getting one repainted, though it might be tempting to try to do it myself. 

 

In some ways I feel like a kid in a candy store.  I see white, pink, chrome and turquoise units on ebay and at goodwill - all are tempting.  So at the moment I think I'll stay on the hunt for yellow, but if your offer is open in the future I may revisit it --Thanks!

 

[danemodsandy]

CRAP!

That's what I get for sleeping in late today - I've been looking for a Power Plus forever.

Oh, well. Glad a member got it.

 

[tolivac]

I just can't see a "Mixmaster" built in China as a real Sunbeam Mixmaster!Think I will go with the orig machines-Glad I was able to get some from Kelly.Use them with pride!