Red jewel lens needed for hot dog electrocuter!

[perc-o-prince]

I finally dug out and cleaned up the hot dog electrocuter we bought years ago! Now all I need to find is the red lens for the power on indicator. The hole it goes in is just a hair shy of 1 3/8" in diameter. I'm attaching a pic of ours, then two pics from the net; one of the same machine and another of a similar machine to show the lens. Any ideas?

Chuck

 

[perc-o-prince]

[No message]

 

[perc-o-prince]

[No message]

 

[perc-o-prince]

I didn't notice until I posted these pix that the bottom edging in the web pic is polished. The edging on ours looked like it may have been lead, so I didn't try. Back to the Mother's and buffing rags!

 

[d-jones]

Other than the trim ring, that lens looks a lot like this one on eBay. It seems to be about the same size too.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[toploader55]

We had one of these

I remember someone gave my Mom one of these Presto Hot Dog cookers.

Same principal. Electrocution. Scary.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[jamiel]

Wow, that is scary. I get the Presto units..they are pretty well protected against mischief, but this...yowzer!

 

[polkanut]

My parents have the Presto hot dog electrocutor also.  They received for Christmas 1968 from my aunt & uncle.

 

[perc-o-prince]

Thank you, David- I just ordered one! I searched eBay but only came up with the ones that were for guitar amps.

Chuck

 

[twintubdexter]

What a very fun appliance that is! The label that says "electrocuted" is priceless. As a kid I had a science project book (not from school) that showed how to make one of these hot dog cookers using a block of wood, 2 big nails and an electrical cord. Since my mom already had one of those Presto models I never constructed it but it did look very easy.

 

[jeffg]

Beautiful piece imo. From eBay and elsewhere they don't seem to be that rare, so you could always use the missing lens as an excuse to buy another one

I've never seen or used one but reviews claim they leave the centers of hot dogs lukewarm. It would make sense, conductivity will drop as water is heated out of the food. Still very cool imo. From what I've read, those holders were specially developed to not leave any metallic taste or residue in hot dogs.

 

[rp2813]

I had one of these for years.  It was a little more flashy, with cracked ice Formica backing and red front pedestal, but said nothing about electrocution.   More like, "Get 'em hot! Cooked in the bag!"  I even had the red & yellow motif bags the dogs were supposed to be cooked in (with bun) and then served. 

 

I gave the whole thing to a fellow member, who I'm pretty sure has been using it just as kitchen decor like I did.

 

I tried doing hot dogs on it once.  It cooked them fine, but where the prongs pierce through the meat it left a very unpleasant metallic taste, which is why it became a prop instead of a useful appliance.

 

[norgeway]

Cant you just see!

Some dummy trying to get the hotdogs off without turning it off..ZZZZZAPPP!!!LOL

 

[whirlcool]

I don't know, somehow I find the use of the word "electrocuted" not synonymous with having an appetite. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm just too much of a traditionalist.

 

[liamy1]

Gotta admit...

I find it a little scary, I have never heard of one of these.

Are they safe to use? What would happen if someone did forget to turn it off?

 

[jeffg]

"I don't know, somehow I find the use of the word "electrocuted" not synonymous with having an appetite. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm just too much of a traditionalist."

If you use a microwave oven, electrocution is nothing compared to irradiation.

 

[jeffg]

"Are they safe to use? What would happen if someone did forget to turn it off?"

As mentioned, conductivity drops with the water content of the food. Eventually it will be something very close to zero.

 

[jetcone]

the idea

of "electrocuted" food is a little disturbing. I'd need a few scotches...and a group of people too.

 

 

[rp2813]

Maybe these machines are intended for use with psychotic hot dogs only.