Sunbeam 2379 Mixmaster

[maggie~hamilton]

Hello, does anyone have the new retro-looking "Heritage" Sunbeam Mixmaster? I am thinking about getting one. Love the look, just wonder how it stands up to Mama's good old Model 12. I see the motor is higher-wattage (300 vs 175) the older models; is the extra power really an advantage?

Thank yew,

http://www.amazon.com/Sunbeam-2379-Mixmaster-Stand-Chrome/dp/B0007Y3A9C

 

[frontaloadotmy]

CRL

Have you looked at one up close and personal? They probably
perform adequately, but they are definitely 21st century in
materials. Would you buy an Electrolux XXX with plastic skin?
I certainly hope not!

 

[mixfinder]

Not All Bad

The latest generation of Sunbeam have a few good performers in the line up and this is one. It is extremely quiet and more powerful than the vintage ones. The only downfall is an integral thermal fuse which blows if the mixer is over taxed. The blown fuse requires a factory service. You will get an exchange if its under warrantee and its about 50.oo including shipping if its over two years old. The handle is ornamental. If you try using it off the stand it is easy to break the handle in two.
That said if your mixing consists of cake mixes and an occasion batch of chocolate chip you'll be pleased.
Kelly

 

[maggie~hamilton]

hmmmmm...

I think I'll look for another vintage 11 then. I do love the Model 11 (and the 10, but the 10 - while prettier - is less powerful). I have an 11 in turquoise (my favorite) and one in chrome, and the motors in both of them started to fail, getting gradually weaker and weaker until now, all you get is a sort or "arrrrrrrrrnt" sound with no action.

So I guess I'll do some hunting for another 11 in that great trailer trash cyberspace flea market, Eeeee-Baye! I just missed one with a buy it now of $26 and $13 shipping. I was waiting to pick it up until I got some advice from y'all guys. Guess I shouldda just gotten it, hm.

Thx for the input.

 

[danemodsandy]

Yep, get a vintage one. Kelly (Mixfinder) is right; this is the 21st Century, so there HAS to be a little electronic gizmo in a new appliance, just waiting to blow. Never mind that we got along fine without 'em before...

There are people who service and restore vintage mixers, search on Google and you'll find them. Decodan is one, though he's not taking work right now, since he was in the Katrina area. There's also Phil at www.mixerfixer.com.

Vintage Sunbeams made many a light and scrumptious cake in Grandma's day- is there any reason to think a more powerful motor would do the job any better, LOL?

 

[58limited]

maggie~hamilton

For about the same price as the new mixer, you can have your old one mechanically overhauled. See the link below.

http://www.execulink.com/~philipreed/index.html

 

[mixfinder]

Whrrr

It sounds like your mixers need proper lubrication. The spindles and the rear bushing are often the culprit. Purchase an aeresol lubricant with the tiny red "straw" that will fit into the oil ports on your Sunbeams. I coundn't give a flying cuckoo what brand you use. No matter what I suggest ten people on this forum will tell me its an ignorant choice. If the lubricant uses Teflon or Silicone that's just fine. If its seized, WD40 might help to release the spindles. Turn the handle to the side and generously oil the juicer port running the lubricant around the inside. Then oil in the small opening over the other beater spindle whre the conical beater with the nylon button would go. There is an oil wick under neath. Move back a couple inches and oil in the first oil port which is just behind the gear box. Now move to the rear of the motor and fit the red oil straw down into the the tiny opening. There is an oil wick that surrounds the rear bushing and it needs to be saturated to free the bushing, so give it 5 bursts of the aerosol lubricant. Now turn the mixer on high and listen. It should pick up RPMs and then slow and speed a little. While its running ad another burst of oil in the front port. If the RPMs don't change, try the rear. When the motor is free wheeling and running proud, let it go for a minute or so. You may need to repeat the process a couple times in the beginning until things are in slick shape. Then, oil once a month under normal usage.
The only poor choice is to choose not to lubricate a vintage Sunbeam, especially if they are not used regularly. Sunbeam moved to a self lubricating motor after testing it for four years on the Sunbeam Vista V-14. The typical owner did not read the instructions or worry about oiling. 90% of the repairs were librication issues. The MM series which debutted in 67 and hit the stores in 68 ended that concern forever. While many lament this as the demise of the Mixmaster, the MM with a 200 watt motor is one of the most durable mixers every made.
Kelly
Now, let my critics assail.
Kelly

 

[maggie~hamilton]

Thanks guys for all the help

I wish I had the time and inclination to get my old mixers fixed, but I don't... What I may end up doing is finding both a nice old Model 11 and a new 2346 just to cover all the bases.

Keeping in mind that I am hardly a power user! I think I used my mixers twice last year - for Thanksgiving and Christmas! But when I do use them, I do need some brute force -- my two specialties are from-scratch pumpkin pies (made with fresh pumpkin - oy vey what work but so worth it!) and garlic whipped potatoes. Both are heavy entrees and require a good bit of "mixer muscle" especially with the pies since I generally make a half-dozen at a time.

As to my motor problems, knowing what I do (which granted is little) about vacuum cleaner motors, I suspect the problem is with the armatures and not just lubrication. With both of them, the longer they would run, the slower they would go. And when I would need any torque from them, they would really slow down and get very hot. This seems to me to indicate weak armatures, no?

 

[mixfinder]

Weak Armature

Once in a great while the field will fail and the mixer is DOA. Twice in my life I have seen a Sunbeam run until the brushes are simply used up and needed replacing to make it operate. Excessive heat is a definite sign of needing oiling. The mixer is struggling to turn the armature agaisnt dry bushings let alone what load you put under it. Oddly they do seize harder the longer they are run, espicially if its the spindle. The most your out is two minutes to oil it and se what happens. Armature failure in a Mixmaster is something I have never seen in 50+ years of playing with them.

 

[rickr]

Old Mixmasters need to be serviced!

Usually all you have to do is give these a good service, and they will run just fine again. The grease and oil get gummed up and cause the Mixmaster to bind and run hot.The old grease turns to a sort of putty in the gearbox. Tear it down, remove the old grease from the gearbox,pull the shafts and gears. Clean gunk from the shaft bushings, regrease (I use automotive wheel bearing grease) clean everything up, and use a good grade of machine oil (I use 3-In-One) on the bearings. I run the mixer for quite awhile while oiling it. Usually it will "burp" up some nasty looking brown shit out of the oil holes. Wipe it off, and give it a few more drops in every bearing, including the top of the shafts. The Mixmaster will start to run faster and stronger as you keep lubing it. Finish up, and give the sucker a nice coat of auto wax and your all done. Takes a few hours, but the mixer will be serviced as it should have been years ago. Now that you have done this service, the Mixmaster should only need a few drops of oil at the bearing holes, about once per year.

Here is a pix of a couple model 7's I restored last year.

It just happens, that I restored a model 9 the same way this afternoon. Just finished putting it back together just now. I have to get a new cord for it tomorrow, and repaint the black base, but the mixer is running like new again. I don't think the model 9 was ever lubricated. It would barely even run at all.

 

[tolivac]

Go with Mixfinders excellent service advice and fix the old Mixmaster-I looked at a Heritage machine at Penneys-Its built in China-and DOESN'T have a PTO for attachments-and no attachments for it like the older ones.

 

[kenwashesmonday]

I wouldn't buy a new Sunbeam mixer when there are so many nice old ones on eBay. Everything new is such junk! Same goes for blenders, percolators, and of course washing machines (the list goes on.....).

Ken

 

[tolivac]

On new machines can go along with Ken-newer ones are junky-however I did recently buy a Waring 700S blender that has the older SPLINE drive instead of the wagon wheel drive.It works great!.I will only buy VINTAGE TL washers from the swap shops here-no new ones for me-tried one-didn't like it-TRADED it for a vintage WP Imperial 90-like the WP machine MUCH better.

 

[washerboy]

kitichen Aid

If you want a stand mixer your a pertty serious cook. Although the vintage appliance is a great pice of work to have out on the counter....spend a little more and purchase a kitchen aid. I think the one I bought three years ago was on sale at Sears and I also got a coupon for a free attachment of my choice. The thing is a work horse...I've baked breads, cakes candy whatever it's unstoppable. It was really one of the best investments in kitchen appliances I ever made.

 

[petek]

The KA's are a bit of overkill though if it's only Duncan Hines you're gonna be beating. LOL

I like the look of those Sunbeam Heritage mixers alot. They were somewhat pricey when they first came out a few years ago then they must have not been selling well because I see them quite often at clearance sales and liquidations. Another nice mixer is the big Hamilton Beach Eclectics. It comes in two versions, an all plastic cased one sold at Walmart and such and an all metal version which costs a bit more and sold at better stores. It has the planetary action as well as costs less than a KA

 

[bobbins]

I have a mixer fetish...I am on my 3rd maybe 4th KA..this time 6 Qrt. I usually give them to my sisters when I buy a new one..bigger..more WATTS...etc... I was able to get one that was factory refurbished at JC Pennys for about $150..I call her Big Bertha!!! She is great girl! I do have 2 KA hand mixers..I use them all of the time...I work the hell out of them....my girls are great!

The vintage Sunbeams are great..the smell of the old motors are such a memory..my mom had Sunbeams for years and (being Italian...need I question about the usage...)

In home economics, my teacher was going to throw out whole bunch of vintage mixers (this was 25 years ago)..I rebuilt them..(they were GE's, Sunbeams) After I left home, my mom threw them out..now I am kicking myself..

I am trying to find a SS or Chrome KA that is 6 Qrt, with minimum 525 watts....

 

[petek]

When it comes to serious mixing, kneading actually, I have a Bosch Universal. Much more powerful than all the KA's and much easier to use, plus it's one heck of a lot quieter and lighter.

 

[bobbins]

May I ask how much? I saw a Viking mixer....looked really powerful and sexy!!!

For my kneading, I tend to use my vitage commercial bread kneader

 

[petek]

Who/what make is that machine, it looks very interesting?
The Viking mixer is made by Dehlongi who are the makers of the Kenwood Chef now after buying that company. The Sears Elite mixer at Sears in Canada is also a Delonghi/Kenwood/Viking mixer if you've seen them.