Speaking of Faberware . . .

[rp2813]

Is anyone familiar with the Faberware electric skillet line? My partner's mom has one of the rectangular type (the style with no long handle but two grips on either side) that I'm lusting after. The top lid can be inverted and used as a large serving dish if desired. This skillet is more versatile than my 70's Presto. I presume her Faberware is of similar vintage. Does anyone use one of these on a regular basis? How do you like it?

 

[veg-o-matic]

I've never seen a square Farberware skillet. Is it new?
I love my Presto Cook-N-Serv.

veg

 

[tomturbomatic]

If it's Farberware and not round, it is very new. The original group of Farberware electrics included 10" and 12" round skillets, available with regular covers or the high dome cover. The 12" skillet was available with a long handle and a helper handle and 4 Bakelite feet or raised on a circular stand with two buffet handles and the high dome cover. The 5 qt. Dutch Oven had the 10" high dome cover. The 3 Quart saucepan and the oval cast aluminum griddle completed the group. S.W. Farber worked with Presto to develop the detachable heat control in the 1950s. I use the 3 qt pan to make perfect popcorn and the 4 legs allow it to be placed on a desk or table without having to use a pad or trivet under it.

Farberware also made the large and small open hearth broilers with or without the rotisserie. A 6 skewer kabob attachment was available for the large size.

S.W. Farber, formerly located in Brooklyn, is another old American company that has been sold to a conglomerate. Production has been moved out of the country so that rectangular electric skillet is probably sold under several brand names.

 

[rp2813]

I Think I Was Mistaken

It's not new. Probably at least 20-30 years old. But you know what? I think I messed up by saying it's a Faberware product. Now that the replies above have jogged my memory, I'm pretty sure it's a West Bend.

Maybe I should ask Robert to delete this thread and start over since the subject line is misleading.

 

[danemodsandy]

Ralph:

If your partner's mom's skillet isn't a Farberware one, trust me, it may be a great skillet, but unless it's a 1960s Presto, it's not as good as the Farberware skillet. Even the vintage Presto has the cleaning/appearance problems associated with cast aluminium.

The Farberware electric skillet is stainless with an aluminium-clad bottom; it's very even heating and cleans up like a dream. It has been available in several variations over the years, as has been noted. The one I have sports Farberware's high-dome lid, meaning it can hold bulky foods like roasts and chickens.

My sister had the Farberware for years, and praised it to the skies. Since I had a Sunbeam that I felt worked okay, I chalked her praise up to not knowing much about electric skillets- she's not a kitchen person and is easily impressed when one of her purchases works out well. But then I got a Farberware unit of my own, and I saw what she was talking about. It really is better.

 

[rp2813]

My Presto is very Partridge Family 70's looking. Bright golden yellow with orange-red swirly accents. It looks like new. I don't think my mom used it much. I will take a closer look at my partner's mom's skillet next time we pay his folks a visit. I can't say I have much call to use the skillet anyway but I'm hung up on the versatility of his mom's.

 

[toggleswitch]

Farberware had a location in Da Bronx, NYC. Pass it all the time. Parent's neighbor worked for them.
Poor guy expired not long after losing his job (with all the others) that went to to that far eastern location........

I received as a gift grom GadgetBoy a big round one (shut-up!) It was in his attic forever, a tag-sale find for something like $5.
Then another one "came to him" for $2.

 

[gadgetgary]

Small Farberware Skillet

Found in great shape at Goodwill

 

[gadgetgary]

Large

High-domed skillet..found at a army barracks Tag Sale for $2.00

 

[gadgetgary]

JC Penney Skillet

Found at Goodwill.
Needed some Easy Off to clean the grease, but came out perfect.

 

[gadgetgary]

Picked this one up for Toggles

At the same Goodwill. I think this size is rare!

 

[toggleswitch]

3 Quarts / 3L

Rare size is code for "It's a small one...."


It works ok, but still smells of moth-balls. (Guys take a washcloth with a little soap and water...... Taint nothin' to it!)

Anyhoo. Works ok but too much heat. Can I cut the voltage with a massive specialty "dimmer" which will end up reducing the wattage? (i.e. the resistance stays the same)

 

[danemodsandy]

GadgetGary & MANUAL:

The large size you show, with the high-dome lid, is the one I have. Wouldn't take nothin' fer it.

Does ANYONE have a manual for that skillet they'd be willing to scan and email or post? As minty-fresh as mine is, it didn't have the manual, and I like to have manuals for my vintage finds- makes them that much more enjoyable.

 

[gansky1]

I've used my 12", high-domed skillet a couple of times now since finding it two weeks ago. It works beautifully and is very easy to clean being all stainless. Someone asked for the manual scan, I've not had time to do this - Robert distracted me with dishwasher patents ;-) but let me know who it was and I can try for some spare time this weekend after the auto show with my son.

 

[danemodsandy]

Yoo Hoo! Here I Am!

"Someone asked for the manual scan, I've not had time to do this - Robert distracted me with dishwasher patents ;-) but let me know who it was and I can try for some spare time this weekend after the auto show with my son."

Greg:

That was me- I figured you were very busy. Thanks for remembering, and when you get time, I'd be absolutely thrilled to have a copy.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Toggle, I have often thought that there should be a way of dropping the wattage from 875 watts down to maybe 100 when the thermostat is set to simmer. The instructions for most of these appliances say to turn the heat control down to where the light goes out while it is bubbling so that it will cycle close to 212. Since it is one heating element already on 110, I think a dual heating element with a switch over to the lower wattage below simmer would be a solution, but that's too expensive and things like this are no longer in demand since all you need is a freezer and a microwave for times when the phone service is out and you can't call for pizza and don't feel like driving your lazy Hugh Jass to a restaurant so that you can inflict your children's horrible behavior on innocent victims.

 

[gadgetgary]

And speaking of Farberware

Does anyone remember these 'perks'????

 

[stevet]

Thanks for the memories!

Those Plastic Percolators..We had many of them, that looked identical to this Farberware unit. Ours were called "Poly-Perks" and were made by Regal and available in many different colors. My Mom worked for Stanley Home Products and the PolyPerks were a Sales Premium for a hostess who sold a specific amount of products at her "Stanley Party."
Everyone in our family had one or more of them and they really made great coffee.

Regarding the Stainless wares that Farberware is famous for, I don't know if anyone realizes, but they all had a lifetime guarantee on them and I cannot tell you how many times I sent old, tarnished or dulled pots to them in the Bronx to be polished up and they did it free of charge.
They would fix the broken top knob studs , regrind the aluminum baseplates to like new and send them right back free of charge.

Just recently, I sent to them a 1 quart and 3 quart saucepans which got passed down to me from my mom's original late 1950's collection to be repaired as the aluminum on the bottom was starting to fall apart and they also were not very flat anymore so they would not work well on the glasstop of the range.
About a week later, I received 2 BRAND NEW, current style saucepans at no charge. Talk about backing up your reputation!

So if you guys have any older units that would look better refurbished by them, check out their site on the web and send your pots and pans to them for repair.

 

[gadgetgary]

So Steve

According to the Farberware site, did you mail your cookware to the site in California since it is no longer in NY???

Thanks for those interesting tips on cookware repair/replacement.