Steel kitchen cabinets.

[crevicetool]

I'm not ready yet - hope to be in about three years - but, how hard is it to find old steel kitchen cabinets? They don't have to be in good shape, I'll refinish them. The only name I know of is Youngstown. They don't even have to be that brand, and I won't need a lot of them. I've seen pictures on here of some of you guys's (is that a word?) on here from time to time - and it made me curious. I would like to use them in a new addition when it comes about.

Are there sources out there?

Thanks for any help,

Rick

 

[tomturbomatic]

If you have any places like Habitat for Humanity or Community Forklift-type thrift stores that resell stuff people pull out of renovation or remodeling projects and donate, those are good places to look as are Craig's List ads. GE, Homart and St. Charles are other brands of steel kitchen cabinets; GE and St. Charles having higher styling, IMHO.

 

[launderess]

You And Many Others!

Vintage steel cabinets by Youngstown and St. Charles are in high demand by those doing "retro" kitchens and such. The later is now owned by Viking, but IIRC Youngstown is no longer in business.

From reading various forums one finds persons either having the good luck of someone (decorator, contractor, or some such), ripping out a kitchen and posting what they have either on eBay or local/online advert. Or, either the home owner or whomever merely rips the things out and chucks them to the curb. This will lead to rush to get at them before the roving bands of "recycle men" grab them for scrap.

You might try various "retro" forums and see what there is, have posted a link to one below.

Remember reading about how one lady who was doing her kitchen totally retro nabbed a wonderful set of aqua Youngstown cabinets, an entire lot from nuns who run a school literally right down the avenue from us. Apparently the stuff came from a classroom used for "home ec" at one point in the past, and was being redone.

 

[circlew]

Retrorenovation has a whole section about steel kitchens. Other brands include Republic Steel (like GE),Lyon, American Kitchens, Crosley, Hotpoint, Jamestown and a bunch of others. Jamestown is still in business making mainly steel lab cabinets.

Retro Renovation - Remodel & Decorate in Mid Century Style

The New York Times called Retro Renovation “… the go-to destination for enthusiasts who want to restore houses built during the post-World War II boom."

www.retrorenovation.com

 

[jerrod6]

I think Sears made or sold  them as well.  When I moved into my house  I found that the previous owners had removed the wooden kitchen cabinets and installed them in the basement and garage and replaced wood with steel in the kitchen.  In 2006 I removed the steel and installed wood..never thinking the steel would be in demand again. I am still using the previous wooden cabinets for storage in the garage and basement.  I think my steel cabinets had the sears name inside of  them so perhaps do a search for them as well.

 

[mattl]

I know of a small set going up from auction in Chicago, if anyone is interested let me know.

 

[norgeway]

WELL!!!

You KNOW what I think of metal cabinets!!! They are so much better than wood there is no comparison!!!

 

[crevicetool]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I didn't want this thread to get away without saying something.

Those are all great ideas. Hopefully there will be a couple left when I need them!

Rick

 

[toggleswitch]

Hi Rick!

Oh Hans who would have thought it? I'd have sworn you'd be "big" fan of wood.

 

[westingman123]

**groan**

Toggles strikes again! Very Punny. LMAO

 

[toggleswitch]

I just had to post to Rick's thread.

Having met him in CT, at a nice dinner and gathering, I'd say we must make him feel very welcome at AW!

 

[goatfarmer]

Coppes-Nappanee also made steel cabinets at one time.

 

[countryford]

Olympia was another brand. When we redid our kitchen we were unfortuneatly on a time schedule. I searched for the cabinets at the time,but couldn't find anything. Once we got our kitchen all compltete is when I started coming across them quite a bit on craigslist. Oh well. Might have to find some and save them for when I get a chance to remodel the kitchen again. I just don't want to do all that tile work again. ugg. lol

 

[launderess]

If You See Them... Nab Them

Thing about metal cabinets is you can pass by a set, say on the curb or a thrift type store and decide you aren't in the market at the moment. Then comes the "moment' and you are out of luck! *LOL*

In closing, can anyone guess which famous (deceased) person's home this kitchen is in?

 

[crevicetool]

No, but can't wait to find out. No hints??? The place looks great!

 

[launderess]

Hint

1 - It is located in New York City

 

[gadgetgary]

Hmmmm

Julia Child?

 

[launderess]

Nope

Guess Again,

Hint #2, the person is (or was)male when alive.

Hint #3, "One more time"...

 

[maytagbear]

Julia never lived in New York after she started to cook

Julia Child lived in New York after she graduated from Smith, but her permanent homes after her cooking life started were all in Cambridge, MA, Plascassier, France, and Santa Barbara, CA.

I like good quality metal cabinets, and would prefer them to the extremely dark laminate ones here.

Lawrence/Maytagbear