Signature Mixer--disassembly

[mixguy]

I have a Signature mixer that is a clone of a Sunbeam Vista Model 14. I know how to remove the front plate and the screws that anchor the top & bottom together. I can't figure out how to enirely remove the plastic upper housing. I want to take it apart and give it a through cleaning and repaint the metal lower motor housing. The stand is enameled metal , unlike Sunbeam's V14 having a plastic stand

 

[scott55405]

I don't know how to take it apart, but I'm just curious if it's the same as mine.

 

[mixguy]

Signature Mixer

Yes it is. I have the Power unit (PTO) and grinder for it too.

 

[scott55405]

Oh how interesting! Where does the power unit attach? I noticed mine has an attachment setting, but I couldn't figure out where it would go.

 

[mixguy]

The power unit attaches much the same as other Mixmasters. It has a modified "foot" to fit over the turntable bearing.

 

[skip]

Mixguy

Hi I'm just down the road from You small world I live in Broussard

Skip...

by the way I collect mixers, vacuum cleaners, floor polishers,kitchen gadgets

 

[scott55405]

Interesting, thanks Mixguy!

 

[skip]

Scott

That looks like one interesting mixer I have yet to see one could You please take a side profile picture of it

Thanks Skip...

 

[mixfinder]

Signature/Sunbeam

As stated in the first posting, this is a rebadged Sunbeam, made for Montgomery Wards in the 60's. In the 70's Sunbeam dropped all pretense of a redesign and simply changed the escutcheon on the Vista to Signature and let it go, although the color was always a charcoal/brown on the lower mixer body and stand. It was a motor that never needed lubrication or maintanence. The beater shaft is an inch and half longer than most Sunbeams giving more clearance between the motor housing and the bowl, an advantage when mixing double batches, keeping gunk off the mixer when the bowl is full.
To dissamble a Vista you removed the escutcheon and the dial and then four screws were accesible that held the housing in place. The Signature has a different housing, very retro modern and the small screws in the rear should be accesible by simply turning the mixer over. It's been about 15 years since I actually saw one. To take it apart for painting makes sense. Many people believe the mixers needs to be cleaned and it will improve function. You have no idea how many Sunbeams I have put back together after a well meaning husband took it apart for "cleaning". The building up of flour and powdered sugar inside the mixer has no effect on it's performance. The fan blows the excess out the vents and the heat of the motor and switch burn away any internal residue as it's running.
I love the design of the Signature compared to the original, it looks very Jane Jetson.
Kelly

 

[skip]

Mixguy

I have that exact mixmaster myself but the one Scott has is totally shaped different then this one so I'm hopinbg he will post a side picture of it

Skip...

 

[mixguy]

Signature Disassembly

Thank you for your response Kelly and hope you are doing well.

Removing the front escutcheon plate and finding the two screws upper front I have found. Cannot locate where are the screws holding the rear part of the housing. I have a V 14 mixmaster as well but the rear part of the housing isn't the same. The upper housing encloses the speed control. There is a small plug for gaining access to adjust the low speed setting like you can on setting 1 thru the mixfinder dial. I don't have a digital camera to show you but I will either borrow one or buy one to take pictures to explain. I was wondering if there is some type locking tab or ridge joining the upper & lower housings together and if there was a technique to do this without damaging anything.

Fortunately, the mixer runs just fine. The junk accumulated under the mixer ruined the paint and is gummy. Degreasing cleaners I have tried, remove the paint. I was surprised to learn that the stand of the Signture mixer made of metal but otherwise identical to the Vista's plastic stand. Only difference is the bowl size selector slide. The Signature is wider and has the labels on each side while the Vista has the labels on the inset area on the stand and a smaller knob.

I have the juicer attachment for the V-14 as well and not likely to ever use it again, the juicer housing vibrates & wobbles during use. I have to steady it with one hand as I hold a piece of fruit against the reamer with the other.

 

[skip]

Sunbeam Mixers

Didn't Sunbeam make the mixers for Montgomery Wards, Sears and Penney under there names. As I have seen some kenmolre mixers that look exactly like the mixmaster

Skip...

 

[mixguy]

Catalog Brand Mixers

Yes Skip, during the 1950s Dormeyer made mixers for Montgomery Ward. Waring bought out Dormeyer during the 1960s and the brand died out shortly after. Sunbeam models mostly below the Deluxe Mixmaster were re-badged Signature, Penncrest and even Sears. Sears mixers were re-badged Westinghouse and Hamilton Beach mixers and for a short time they had Sunbeam models too. This made the V-14 have a longer manufacturing run than even the Model 12 mixmaster.

Kelly would know this better than I

 

[mixfinder]

Signature

It is occuring to me that the Signature, with it's elongated body was designed to stand on it's heel. The absence of a Mix-Finder dial should have created some dead space at the end of the mixer. Is there a rear, triangle shaped escutcheon that would pop off, giving you access to the screws that hold the plastic housing onto the motor assembly?
Kelly

 

[hoover1060]

front panel

Shouldn't the front panel just "pop" off that Signature mixer, such as it dows on the V-14?

 

[scott55405]

Actually Kelly, it does have a "Mixfinder" dial, it's just that it's encased in the plastic shell. If you look underneath, you can see it. It has that thumbswitch to provide for the movement, and you read the markings through the cutout. The speed names are identical to the Sunbeam. It was so interesting for me to learn that this unit did accommodate attachments. I knew it had a setting, but...

 

[scott55405]

Jeff, I never tried it before, but you're right, the front does come off, and there appears to be some screws up in there. Perhaps if those are removed, you can then remove the shell?

I also took a picture of the side view at Skips request, and the underside, so Kelly could see what the mixfinder looks like under there.

 

[scott55405]

side

xx

 

[scott55405]

underneath

xx