Osterizer Help

[charles]

Hey everyone, I recently purchased this Osterizr blender at one of my local thrift shops and had a few questions about it. My first question is how old is it? also, I was looking online and saw that this blender looks similar to one called an Osteriser galaxy, what are the differences between these scenes and how does mine compare with newer blenders on the market today. My last questions more of a technical problem. when I use the blender it produces a mild smoke odor. Is this normal or do I need to have it serviced? What service do these machines typically need annually?

P.S. What color is this? It looks harvest gold in the picture but in reality, it is green but, too light to be avocado and too soft to be olive I had not seen this color before and it is one of the reasons that I picked this machine up.

 

[yogitunes]

most likely late 70's....plastic jar is clue of BOL units...

the color could have been part of a matched series of counter top appliances....softer pastels....with a coffee maker, toaster, can opener, etc....something you would find in a FingerHut catalog....

for the most part these didn't require annual maintenance....but if you smell smoke, could be why they got rid of it....

best bet for the moment is to polish it up and place it high on a shelf for display....start creating a collection of Osterizers...

 

[kenmoreguy89]

These plastic ones are late 80s I think.
Older models had a chrome longer base I suppose.
The older galaxies had a knob to lit it up.
The galaxie model was one of the many models offered by oster and yours might be a galaxie also but they just took off the model as they all became galaxy, you had them coming with a different speeds and differed from each other over the written speeds they had or the presence of a dual range of speeds to select with a button or other functions such as pulse buttons.
My galaxie is a older chrome galaxie dual range pulse matic 16.

 

[rp2813]

I think this style dates back to the late '60s, but Oster continued to use it into the '80s with a wide range of variations, color combinations, features and buttons and that did one thing or another. 

 

What's the wattage on it?  It's on the bottom cover and is often hard to read.  That's a good indicator of where your blender falls in the product line.

 

The TOL Osterizers usually had chrome bases and collars, and came with heavy glass containers.   One of the best Osterizer features since the beginning is that the blade assembly can be screwed onto a standard mason jar for small batches, grinding coffee beans, etc.  There are also some attachments, like a mini food processor. 

 

Oster has always used an all-metal direct-drive system for their blade assemblies.  Most other manufacturers switched to drive wheels of one sort or another that used rubber components.  I can't say whether one design is better than another, but with Oster there's never a need to match anything up.  Oster's blade assemblies are all alike no matter how old your blender may be.

 

You can find blade assemblies and/or components at ACE Hardware and similar retailers or on line, and there's never any question whether they'll fit -- they all do.  Various types of blades are available.  I have the "ice crusher" and "fusion" blades and both of them work really well.  The "fusion" blade is great for smoothies and thicker mixtures, and the "ice crusher" does exactly that.  Very rarely can a rogue chunk of ice elude it.

 

Do you actually see smoke, or does it just smell like it?  I've known blenders to produce a more electrical sort of smell, but it seemed to be more of a characteristic and didn't impact operation.  I'd say if you notice the motor slowing down, then you've got a problem, otherwise it might be normal, and could also be related to the wattage and how hard the motor has to work.

 

[charles]

Yeah

It's more of an Ozone smell. The plastic around the motor does not get hot and there is no smoke. I was just wondering if this smell is a problem that i should be worried about and if it is what I should do about it. The blender is a 120 volt and has 375 Watts.

 

[rp2813]

I think the ozone/electrical smell is typical.   I sort of recall my mom's late '60s "Cycla-trol 8" making that smell.   If it's not overwhelming, things are probably OK.

 

375 watts is definitely on the low side for an Osterizer of that vintage.  I think the TOL models were rated in the 650-750 watt range.

 

Older Osterizers still show up in thrift stores.  I've snagged some TOL models and good glass carafes that way.  You can also tell the top quality older ones because the carafes have cast aluminum threaded bases instead of black (or sometimes white, maybe) plastic ones.  It's easy to piece together a nice blender if you keep an eye out for the various components.

 

[charles]

Thanks

Should I be worried that it has such a low voltage? Will it be able to crush ice and chop vegetables? I bought this to use daily and I want to make sure that it is safe.

 

[rp2813]

It should be OK. 

 

If you don't have access to crushed ice from a fridge dispenser, you should consider the ice crusher blade for sure.  You'll probably have to purchase that one on line.  It will do a great job on cubes or crescents and can be used for everything else.  The standard blade is less than stellar with ice.  They're all interchangeable.  

 

With a good blade, if you aren't happy with the performance on chopping vegetables, etc. it may be associated with lack of power, but see how it goes.  I'm sure Oster claimed that your model could do everything their models with more power could.  If it seems like you need more power, keep an eye out for another base with higher wattage.

 

Also, always remove the blade assembly and clean all parts when you wash the carafe, and let everything dry before putting it back together.

 

[easy]

crushing ice

I've owned and used Oster blenders my whole life. I have to admit I have no experience with the ice crusher blade. I do own the Oster ice crusher attachment that sits on top of the blender in place of the jar. I shoots the crushed ice into a bowl while you feed the ice into the top. It's easy to use and does a fabulous job.

The are several on ebay now available for sale in various colors.

I can also highly recommend the mini food processor attachment unless you're cooking for a large crowd. Among other things, it's great for making bread crumbs.

There is also something called a mini blend jar. It's great for grinding coffee and nuts. Also has a screw on lid if you want to store your finished job in the fridge. They come in both glass and plastic - I think the glass is much better and much stronger than the plastic version.

Good luck with your new blender.

David

 

[charles]

New Motor

Thanks for all of the feedback. If I Wanted too could I replace this 375 watt motor with a much stronger one such as a 800 watt or a 1,000 watt? Would this help in the blenders crushing capability's?

 

[easy]

375 watt motor

My current Oster blender has a 375 watt motor and has done every task I've ever needed it to do without fail. This includes all the attachments I mentioned earlier.

 

[iheartmaytag]

It can.make a smell

Is the motor straining?
I recently had to replace my blades because the bearings were tight. New sharp b!ades, New bearings/ it's just like new again.
Amazon, $8 for two sets with rubber seals.

Other than a Vitamix, which I would love to have, my Oasterizer is one of the best. All parts are still available, makes quick work of any job.

 

[rp2813]

There you have it -- I say use your 375 watt rig.  I don't think it's worth the trouble to switch out for a stronger motor, and there may be some connections that don't match up.   Besides, it's probably easier to find an entire working vintage base than just a loose motor.   I don't think Osterizer motors ever hit the 1K watt mark, btw.

 

I'm pretty sure the question about crushing ice refers to making smoothies etc. in the blender as opposed to crushing ice that will end up in a cocktail glass.  I've seen those ice crusher attachments.  I'd have one if my fridge didn't dispense crushed ice for me.

 

Also, any jar with standard mason type threads will work on your blender -- just not the wide mouth type found on some quart and pint size mason jars. 

 

[petek]

I'd say mid to late 70s thru the 90s . Oster pumped out more variations on a theme than any other company by adding or subtracting a button here, a button there, a timer here, no timer there, auto cycle, no auto cycle, glass jar, plastic jar, more watts, less watts . They did have plastic bodied blenders in the mid 60s but were a different style. They also had a plastic bodied beehive model as well in the 60s, I've got one of those down in the dungeon.. I'll look thru some of my old catalogs to see if I can find it.

 

[circlew]

I may be wrong, but I'm thinking the Osterizer Galaxie series was a line sold by hardware and discount stores,as was Sunbeam's Vista series of appliances.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Smell from osterizer blenders I think it's due mostly to the brushes, when brand new or ending they can make some sparks and produce the typical ozone electric smell we also smell during storms with much electric activity.
Nothing to be worried of.
My vtg 60s GE electric knife produce a loud ozone smell and I can see lots of sparks inside since I got it but keeps going strong and I use 4 times a week since two years... guess I will need to replace brushes soon.

 

[easy]

One more thing

I also have my mother's 1960's top of the line Galaxie "cyclomatic" with timer. It has a 800 watt motor. I don't notice any difference in performance vs the 375 motor. In fact, it seems to be somewhat slower, but I've always attributed that to being almost 60 years old.

 

[rp2813]

I picked up a Cyclomatic a few years ago.  The timer wasn't working.  I disassembled it as far as I could and got it operational, but it got fussy again in short order.  I can hear the timer ticking, but the knob doesn't go into countdown rotation.  It hasn't been a high priority for me, so it's waiting on a shelf in the basement.

 

I really like the Cyclomatic system.  You can walk away and tend to other things while the blender continues pulsing for the desired period before transitioning into constant blending at the pre-selected speed.