Sunbeam Appliance Center knobs

[dalangdon]

I've had this Sunbeam Appliance Center for years, and I've recently taken an interest in the timed outlet feature, which works like a champ. However, as you can see, It's missing two knobs, which means that I have to use a pliers to set other controls, which can't be good for it. Anyone have a source for tiny little weird knobs?

 

[tomturbomatic]

Doesn't the one knob slide off the post that it is on? If so, you could push it onto the post on the left hand side to set that control. Once the clock time is set, you will not have to keep setting the time. I'm sorry I do not know where to suggest you look for knobs except everywhere like in bins at thrift stores and maybe check with old clock shops.

 

[dalangdon]

The remaining knob just doesn't want to budge off the post, and I'm afraid to force it. But really - the clock only has to be changed twice a year, and the cook time doesn't matter. I just have been using it for coffee in the morning, and two hours to brew and then keep warm is plenty (plus, it keeps me from forgetting to unplug the coffee pot so the house doesn't smell like burned coffee when I get home

It's just a matter of keeping up appearances.

 

[kenwashesmonday]

I wonder if those knobs are the same as those found on an old clock radio.

 

 

Product Listings | Renovated RadiosClock Knobs | Renovated Radios LLC II

 

[ea56]

Isn’t there a small slit in the stem that the knobs are pressed onto? If so, you could use a small flat bladed screwdriver to set the time. That doesn’t solve the problem of having a knob for that side to have it looking like it should. Ken’s suggestion for clock radio knobs is a good one.

Eddie

 

[bradfordwhite]

I would just do a search on ebay or google for 'appliance knobs' maybe add the word small.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[cspetros]

Ooo!

I just purchased one of these 6-outlet models on eBay today. Interesting to see a post about one the same day. This one is missing the knobs and the glass over the clock, so I’m in the same boat as you regarding knobs (but the price was right).

We have two other ones, 4-outlet, one with a clock and one without. They see their fair share of use.

They’re designed to be mounted within a wall with the face back edge flush with the wall (similar to a bathroom medicine cabinet). There was also a storage cabinet available that had one installed (see pics). When I installed mine, I didn’t want to cut into the rockboard wall (very messy) so I simply mounted them to the wall surface with bolts sunk into the wall studs. Not as clean looking as in-wall, though.

I’ll keep you I mind if I find any knobs that work!

 

[tomturbomatic]

Beautiful kitchen!

I think that these appliance centers were banking on small electrical appliances becoming much more of a thing than they did in actuality. While it is nice that they provided over counter lighting and extra outlets, a storage cabinet was probably de trope unless the kitchen was really lacking counter and storage space.

What were the electrical supply requirements for the two different sized Sunbeam appliance centers; the 4 and six outlet models?

Are the quilted fronts below your upper cabinets the Rubbermaid drawer storage systems made for mounting there and providing extra storage space?

 

[launderess]

Sunbeam, Westinghouse and perhaps some others offered these "appliance center" gadgets. They all also usually were makers of all sorts of small electric kitchen appliances so you can see where they were going with these offerings.

Well into 1970's housing was where you could find it and not all of it had kitchens with ample "house power" for all those electric gadgets (coffeemakers, mixers, toasters, blenders...). This especially say at breakfast time when one would likely be using a few such electrical appliances at once (toaster, griddle, coffeemaker, frying pan...).

These appliance centers in theory allowed one to expand electrical service to an area of kitchen counter space where outlets were few or nil. Certainly probably safer than having extension cords scattered about.

NOS Sunbeam kitchen appliance Automatic Control Panel + 4 other designs I've spotted - Retro Renovation

Just spotted for sale today on ebay: This Sunbeam Automatic Control Panel — New Old Stock. I see these in-wall appliance centers very rarely on ebay — this might be only the third in five years. These control panels were typically recessed into the kitchen backsplash — with multiple plugs for...

retrorenovation.com

 

[combo52]

Westinghouse and Sunbeam kitchen outlet centers

These were usually wired to a 30 amp 10 gauge circuit, the four outlet one may have used only 20 amps, you would run a 240 V circuit and split it normally.

They could use such a heavy circuit because there were individual circuit breakers above each outlet that saved a lot of wiring to the unit.

I’m sure the clock knobs are similar to a lot of stove top clock knobs we have boxes full of various ones. If you could get some detailed pictures of the shaft they go on and the back of the knob I’m sure I have knobs it will fit it.

John.

 

[cspetros]

Tom: Thanks! Yes they’re Rubbermaid drawers from the early 80s. We found a bunch of them NOS. They were originally a beige color but I painted the fronts silver. We have two others installed (not pictured) from the 60s or 70s that have the avocado green/harvest gold/wood color coordinating stickers. They’re plastic, but they add a heck of a lot of storage for smaller things that don’t get used so often. I will say that installing these is not as easy as the box claimed haha…

Laundress: Appreciate the link! I read that a while back and saved some of the pics. Ours never see that much use at once. I like using them for the countertop light. They definitely make an interesting conversational piece, though.

John: That’s exactly how I wired these in. I’ll grab some close ups of the knob and shaft in the morning. Thank you!

 

[cspetros]

Knob/Shaft pics

The knobs on the left and right are plastic push-on type with 1/8” diameter shafts, and look a lot like these from kenwashesmonday’s link: http://renovatedradios.com/product.php?product=385

The center clock knob is smaller than the other two, made of metal, and is screw-on type (1/16”). It’s very similar if not identical to these: http://renovatedradios.com/product.php?product=386