Some new finds

[Versatronic]

How's this?

Well, I didn't mean to denigrate any Presto fan's collection or anything. I've collected certain Presto items. I posted a picture of my Hot Dog Electrocuter here once, for instance, (and they certainly were visionary and light years ahead of their time in embracing plastic) and I have other presto stuff. In a side by side comparison of their stuff with their competitors of the same time period, it does seem that they tended to be more cost conscious, shall we say, making their products more affordable than their competitor's products, thus placing fine kitchen appliances within the reach of more American families. So, I salute Presto, a fine American company, for bringing appliances to the masses and improving our way of life and greatly contributing to our culture and iconography!

 

[launderess]

"There was a generation of GE Toaster Ovens BEFORE these. They were rounded in stylelike older toasters, and the bread went into a slot in top like a conventional toaster, but there was a little oven in the front"

And just what do you think one has on one's kitchen counter? Am really going to have to get a digital camera to document my collection. Until Santa Claus arrives, will get the old Minlota out and take a snap or two.

My GE "Oven/Toaster" was a MIB fleaBay find and like many 1950's appliances is built large, heavy and like a tank. It sees almost daily use in the morning as a toaster, then at lunch or tea for snacks like tuna melt sandwiches in the broiler section. Mind you there are a few things which "bug" me about this toaster. First it really does not "pop up" like modern toasters. Rather whatever one is toasting seems to slowly glide it's way up. Also if one is toasting something heavy or thick (like slices of home made bread), the unit will not pop them up at all. Rather then items will stay down until one manages some how to get them to come up. Since the heat will not cut off until the toast glides up to a certian level, if left down too long one not only risks burnt toast, but burning down the kitchen as well.

Another thing is even on "dark" toast does not come out dark enough to suit some, so the toast has to be sent down again for a second toasting.

The broiler tray has two levels, and yes, one is not supposed to broil meat; but things such as cake slices, open sandwiches, muffin or bagel slices and the like. Have used it to "warm" slices of pie and cobbler though.

Launderess

 

[veg-o-matic]

Crock Pot Mac & Cheese

From NOT Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook by Beth Hensperger
Cooker: Medium round
Setting: LOW 3.5-4 hours

1.5 cups skim or low fat milk
One 15-oz can evaporated skim milk
1 large egg, beaten
.25 teaspoon salt [Yeah. Right.]
Large pinch pepper
1.5 cups shredded medium or sharp cheddar cheese--Tillamook, Vermont Colby, Wisconson Longhorn, etc.
8 oz. elbow macaroni
2T Parmesan cheese.

Spray crock with cooking spray. Whisk liquids until smooth. Add cheese and macaroni, dump in crock. Mix gently. [Don't bruise those noodles.]
Cover and cook on LOW until the custard is set in the center and pasta is tender, about 3.5 to 4 hours. "Do not cook more than 4 hours, as the sides will dry out and burn."

Veg's comments: More salt. A LOT more. Burned edges are good--4 hours on low does it. The Parmesan didn't seem to add anything. Can easily double in a 5-quart Crock Pot. I think it would do better with a stir halfway through. Needs more seasoning--a good shot of powdered mustard ought to do the trick.

 

[JerseyMike]

Nice collection!

Thanks for sharing.

I remember reading a Consumer Reports report on mixers. Let's just say that they were underwhelmed with the Presto rocking mixer. (They did complain about it's potential to cause a mess.) I remember thinking that it was a very interesting design. I hadn't thought about it in years. How awesome that you were able to find one.

The original GE toaster ovens, were just that -- toasters that could also be used to bake in. Later versions were toaster oven broilers and could be used to cook meat. GE sold their small appliance division to Black and Decker. I have a Black and Decker toaster oven broiler and often use it to broil small cuts of meat.

Mike

 

[foraloysius]

Thanks Veg for the recipe. I sure am going to try it! Ofcourse I'll have to do a metric conversion first. Oy... LOL

 

[bethann]

Have you taken the Rockin Mix for a spin yet? ( Veg report needed!)Make some mashed potatoes or something, pictures included please! Look at all the treats Honey might just be getting!LOL

 

[retromom]

Veg, my small appliance collecting friend, how do you do it? These are terrific! How do you like the crockpot liners? Can you use them in those aluminum fryer/cookers? Don't you dare paint that crock pot! Avocado green is the bee's knees!

I've got that same knife. Don't you love the packaging? Can you imagine a Wal-Mart employee trying to stack those for display? Can you say "avalanche"? LOL

That mixer is one of the most bizarre things that I have ever seen! As they say in Texas, "that puts me in the mind of something". I can't place what it reminds me of, but I'm sure I will think of it. Does it make for a messy countertop? How is it at thoroughly blending your ingredients? It looks like much mixing fun!

As for the Veg-o-Matic....."it slices, it dices....." I love those things, and loved the commercials! I always wanted to make the french fries in one! Please show us your potato results!

Have fun....this is a real sensory overload!

Venus

 

[chachp]

Thank you!

Veg, thank you for the recipe. I will definitely give it a try.

 

[veg-o-matic]

Where to start?

Yes, the original GE Toaster oven was more of a pop-up toaster with a warming drawer at the bottom. They may have called it a "toaster oven" but it sure wasn't a Toast-R-Oven. That "R" makes a huge difference!

Chach, I definitely prefer mac & cheese made with real cheese. But I also appreciate the Velveeta kind. Sometimes, that artificial cheeze tang is a good thing! Oh, and by the way, that 1.5 cups of cheese in the recipe is just a starting point, you know. I'd have used the whole 2-cup bag, but Honey and I needed a snack...

(Man, I really love italics! And exclamation points!!)

I have never actually used the Rock N Mix. Haven't really had it long enough to. Still, I don't see it getting used too often, and here's why: I'm lazy. If something needs mixing, I have my nice chrome Mixmaster that operates with no intervention on my part. The Rock N Mix would require me to perform said rocking.

Vers, I forgive you for belittling Presto appliances. I'd love to get a Hot Dogger, but there's generally a silhouette of a weiner dog on it, and that makes me feel kind of uneasy...

As for Ronco "appliances", yep, they're cheap crap. Venus, I don't dare try to cut a potato with the Veg-O-Matic. It'd probably crumble under the force! The instructions, by the way, make a huge point of telling the operator to RAM the top down on the poor, unsuspecting vegetable.

But back to their cheapness. The interesting thing about Ronco stuff is that its total cheesiness actually transcends itself, becoming something both desirable and hilarious at the same time. I mean, come on--the Pocket Fisherman? Record Vacuum? In-the-shell Egg Scrambler? These are icons, my friends, icons. As a kid, I can remember commercials for pre-Ronco junk (when it was still Popeil Brothers.) One item was called "Steamset" which was a set of hair curlers that were heated up by sitting in a box-thing that boiled water in the bottom. Been trying to get one, but when one shows up on ebay, it goes for crazy money!
Here's the fun part: included with the Steamset was a "facial sauna" attachment to take advantage of all that steam. This "attachment" was just a sheet of plastic that one rolled into a tube and stuck one's face over!

Now that's marketing!

veg

 

[sikiguya]

Come on!!!!!!!!!!!!

You have to use the Veg-O-Matic. Even though it looks cheaply made, it works like a charm! And yes, sometimes you do have to RAM the top down on the potato. I usually pound the top of it to get it down since I don't have the sheer strength or weight to push down on it.
My Mom has hers from when she got married 30+ years ago and long outlasted my Dad. I have one (make that several) that I use weekly to make french fries for the kids (okay, me). I have the special citrus slicer that slices oranges like a charm. All my 30 something friends want one after they see how mine works.
It's one of the best vintage appliances (I know it's not electric but it is still an appliance) next to my electric popcorn popper from the 50's. I'd shoot a pic but it's packed getting ready for my move.

 

[veg-o-matic]

All righty then, I'll give the Veg-O-Matic a try at some 'taters. Guess I could make some oven fries, as I don't deep fry stuff (trying to keep my waistline under control, and it's not working.)

There's a great book about Ron Popeil called
But, wait! there's more! :
the irresistible appeal and spiel of Ronco and Popeil
by Tim Samuelson

veg

 

[chachp]

Where do you guys find these treasures?

I look through piles of filthy crap at the second hand stores (and yes wash my hands very well afterwards), go to Estate Sales and Garage Sales and am never lucky enough to find these great things.

I have a friend who has been collecting every model KitchenAid dishwasher ever made through about 1985 or so. I don't think he has paid for a single one. I think he said he's only missing a few to complete the set. He finds most of them in the back of appliance stores and on the curb waiting to go to the crusher. Also, he goes through open houses, notes the dishwasher and then goes to the new owner after the sale and asks them to contact him when they decide to replace it. He just got a real find that way. A lady called him not long ago after 2 years asking if he still wanted her working KDS16. She said if you want it you need to come and take it out. I suspect there were flames coming out of the back of his car heading to her house.

If the machine isn't in great shape he strips them for parts. He is looking for my KDS-15 for me. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[DADoES]

KA Cache

And why is this friend not participating on this board?

 

[petek]

I think the secret is go early, go late, go often. I do my circle tour almost everyday, thankfully the places are all close together and not out of my way. I could probably find even more if I hit some of the other quadrants in the city on a more regular basis but it's way too much driving. When it comes to flea markets you absolutely have to be there when the vendors are unpacking and setting up, like 6 a.m., because anything good is snagged by other vendors and early birds before it hits the table. It really is snooze you lose. The other thing to do is let the people at a thrift store know what you're looking for, some stuff may come in they think is junk and end up tossing it in their dumpster. Let the regular flea market vendors know what you're looking for as well, many of them are garage sale/estate sale/auction fanatics and will pick for you if you're genuinely sincere and not going to leave them holding something they might not have bought in the first place, if they get it for you buy it from them at a fair markup for their troubles even if it isn't exactly what you wanted,, something good may come later. I've gotten some stuff this way from the regulars, they know I want vacs, vintage smalls (a Sunbeam mixmaster is supposed to be coming this Sunday) and birdcages and more birdcages. LOL

 

[chachp]

DADoES - He is a member of the group but I don't think he ever contributes. I don't even know how often he reads the posts anymore. He has had this interest since he was a young child. He was rebuilding dishwashers when he was something like 10 years old. I think he has been doing it for so long that it isn't as big a part of his life as it once was.

He sure knows his dishwashers though!

 

[gregm]

so cool ..........

love the rock/mixer .......... my mom had a veg-o-matic and use to make scallop potatoes with it, I remember the loud, slamming noise when she would use it ...........