Thrifting finds - anyone familiar with these 2 ?

[ovrphil]

sorry, I started this by habit, in Shopper's Square...

Sometimes, I buy just because the items look interesting, are like new, or say, "well, maybe I'll find a need or interest later - LOL! ". Today I found a stock pot as I don't think we have one this size. I've never seen this brand....here's the bottom inscription on the pan:

" SUPER-CORE
Stainless Steel Ware
Made by the Vollrath Co.
3-ply 18-8 "

It's 9 3/8" wide and 5 3/8" deep...not a big pot, but would that be a 4 to 5 quart size? I know there are so many good SS pots & pans! My mom used a brand for her entire life, called Steelco. They were heavy, like this one - but I haven't any details on how they made those Steelco pans and 3-ply may be the standard today on most good pots? Since the handles appear to be Bakelite, I'm guessing - 1960s? Any ideas?

The other find, which was under $10, a few weeks ago was a ACME Supreme Juicerator - a division of Conair so it says on the label. Wile E. would approve of the name and the jet-like whine it makes starting up and winding down. It's a heavy, like new machine-looks like someone just used a few times, if at all. By the looks of the blade(came with one only), it looks like it's for vegetables only, not fruits; not sure on that.

Anyone familiar with this brand and how it's used (vegetables only?). I think I'll make some organic carrot juice for sure!

Thanks, either way, for looking.

Phil

 

[vacbear58]

Vollrath

Phil

I have not seen them in a domestic situation, but Vollrath is a manufacturer of catering pans, gastronorm containers and other hardware. That juicer looks like new, great finds

Al

 

[danemodsandy]

Vollrath = Commercial (Usually)

Vollrath is a maker of restaurant cookware and serving ware, mostly in stainless. Usually very durable quality, as it must be for the purpose.

However, that stockpot looks like it is intended for home use. You say it's heavy, so that part is okay, but that glass lid would not make it through a day in a restaurant kitchen, where stuff gets the Hell beaten out of it all day, every day.

Sounds like about four quarts. I'd pour water into it and then measure the water.

 

[maytagbear]

The Juicerator

can handle apples, pears, grapes as such as it is. A citrus attachment used to be available as an option, to the best of my memory.

It's a good machine.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[ovrphil]

Al, Sandy & Lawrence - thank you for the replies!

Lawrence - I found that citrus attachment, but I don't think I'll be paying this price anytime soon:

http://www.amazon.com/Acme-Citrus-A...9938988&sr=8-5&keywords=acme+juicerator+parts

Apple juice, pear juice and grapes - mmmm.

Sandy - YOU ARE SO RIGHT! I just threw that top on it - will find a steel one - sure would like to know what it looked like when sold new - and how old? The glass lid is strictly home-use - no one here opening up a restaurant in the near future.

I didn't clean any of these - that's how they looked when purchased, so I lucked-out, considering there are troves upon troves of shoppers going through the thrifts here, now.

[this post was last edited: 5/12/2014-18:59]

 

[circlew]

I've never seen a Vollrath stockpot with anything other than welded on handles. However, I do know they manufactured a line of residential cookware at some point in time; don't know if it was sold in stores, or door to door.

Sears used to sell the Vollrath stockpots in their catalog, but those were the larger institutional types, same as sold in restaurant supply places.

I have several Vollrath items, and they are all sturily made. You won't wear them out in home use.

 

[ovrphil]

CircleW-So you use the Vollrath's daily? Tom, you're right about never wearing them out. I'd like a few more decades, to try, though.

Sandy - I filled it up with water, just under the inch mark - 5 quarts.

Just before deciding on this stock pot, I had in hand, a Revere Ware stock pot. No comparison and I didn't want the copper to clean, anyways.

Note - a few minutes after I posted this, guess who has these in numbers: ebay of course. Now I have a lid identification for a future fit...and will just contact Vollrath to find out how old and where they were sold or how distributed.

Thanks again.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[petek]

I have the Acme Juicer as well.. They're really pricey new. I've actually had a few of them over the years. However they're a real pain in the butt to use because you have to chop all the stuff into tiny pices to feed it into the chute, then it clogs up pretty fast with the left over pulp and fiber.. You can buy paper filters that fit around the interior which make it a lot easier to clean it out. It works best on fruit only.

 

[ovrphil]

Petek - I think I read about those filters, thanks for mentioning. I'm sure I'll find out what you're talking about with the veggies. But without the fruit slicer attachement, I won't enjoy the said benefits of this. Juicing fruit is more what I had in mind - I read that the rpm requires careful hand and pressure control. It won't bother me, if true...plenty of hand strength yet.

You have owned more than a few of these? That says volumes about the product, you're not an easy one to please, I know. Thanks for your input!

 

[petek]

You'll find the ACME does a good job on fruits like oranges and apples etc.. but to make it work well you really have to peel them first for best results.. I just find it too much work and it takes a lot of fruit to make a decent glass of juice.

 

[chachp]

I have the juicer.

You want the filters! Makes it much easier to clean. I peel my citrus fruits but most of the others I do not. My favorite is carrot juice. Add an apple or two to make it a little sweeter.

But.........it takes a lot of carrots to get one glass. A few years ago I bought a Vitamix and since I've had that I no longer use the juicer. Seems with the juicer you end up throwing away much of the benefits of the fruit and veggies. With the Vitamix you drink it all because that thing turns everything into juice.

 

[packardmanken]

Loved my Acme Juicer

ovrphl: I use the same Acme juicer for several years before trading up to Breville (which I sell). Acme is a beautifully made machine and I bought it for 10$ at the flea market . I never did use the filters however. The pros were it all went in the dishwasher with no problem, the cons were I had to chop everything into small pieces and was too time consuming and also sometimes went off balance and walked across the counter! The Breville is stronger and takes whole fruits. The cons for Breville are the plastic parts are only top rack only in the dishwasher and thats always full at my house. I had the original book and love Peggy Cass's photo and recommendations for the machine. After watching "Fat, Sick, and nearly Dead" with Joe Cross (promoted by Breville and available on Net Flix) I became a lifetime juicer. I promptly lost 40 pounds using mine and eliminating sugar and flour from my diet. It has much greater benefits than the blender route. More vitamins condensed into a smaller amount of liquid. You cant kill the Acme. My neighbors are enjoying it now.

 

[tomturbomatic]

That construction with the raised center of the base is not high quality. It is not good for electric cooking and generally was seen in lower priced stainless steel pans with a carbon steel core. It seemed to me that it was a structural feature to give greater strentgh to a pan that might not have it without the indentation. Volrath made a lot of different lines of cookware. With plastic handles, that was not a commercial piece. It should be fine for boiling water on a gas stove or making soup which is similar.

It is a shame that a lot of peole got their first exposure to stainless steel in those cheaply constructed 3 ply sets. They would come into the housewares department wanting something good. They were initially against stainless steel because of their experience with sets like these. While the saucepans were adequate, the skillets were terrible. Imagine trying to fry something when all of the oil runs to the edges of the pan and the center is high and dry.

 

[ovrphil]

Petek - yes, my first guess was it required chopping into smaller pieces - that entry port is very small. I love apples and oranges, too - but will have to splurge for the juice attachment for oranges. I'll try some apples soon - don't have enough on hand today. I can see making some runs up to Blueridge, GA, to Mercier Orchards.

Chachp - I'll get the filters. You say it takes a lot of carrots to get one glass of juice. Is that the case with any other juicer or blender- i.e.; do you get more juice out of the Vitamix with the equivalent amount of carrots used in the ACME?

Packardmanken - Are you using the Breville Juice Fountain Elite SS unit? Breville makes some good appliances, we have their panini unit. Whick Breville do you recommend if cost is a consideration? Congratulations - 40lbs...I'd like to lose 30lbs, which I can do easily, without going to drastic diets. But I want the benefits of juicing and hope to graduate to something other than the ACME, now that I know I'm in for a lot of prep work.

I'll use the ACME beast, til I can afford a better unit. I really appreciate ALL of your feedback, guys.

Thanks a bunch.

 

[petek]

I have one of these, it works really well as you can see in the video. It also came with a corer and slicer... You can usually find them for around $10-$15 at places like Walmart etc.. well worth it if you plan on using a lot of apples.

 

[chachp]

I like big Smoothies in the morning.

I should clarify.  A small glass of juice would take a few carrots and an apple.  If I wanted a large glass of juice (which I like in the morning) it seems like I would have to use a lot of carrots and a couple of apples.  For some this might be too much juice for one sitting.  If I wanted a smoothie I would then have to take the juice and add it to whatever else I wanted and still get out the blender.

 

With the Vitamix I can make a smoothie using frozen fruit/veggies and/or ice along with some Soy Milk or Yogurt or whatever I am in the mood for all in one machine.

 

The difference between the juicer and the Vitamix is with the juicer I am discarding all the pulp which holds much of the fiber and nutrients.  With the Vitamix they are pulverized and are part of the drink.  If I were organized I could save the pulp from the juicer and use it in other things but it just doesn't fit into my lifestyle.  I ended up throwing it all out.

 

I think it really is a personal thing.  They both have their pros and cons and they are both very good machines.  For my lifestyle the Vitamix works better because it's faster.  For others it might not.  You got a great machine at a great price and I'm sure you will enjoy it.  Filters/no filters.  Another personal thing.  I think the filters made clean up a little easier.

 

The other advanatage to me with the Vitamix is I can use it to make hot soup which I do quite a bit.  Bottom line, the Vitamix was a better fit for my busy life.

 

[chachp]

That coring machine........

PETEK - Holy crap!  That looks like it works really well.  I have a Pampered Chef device that peels and slices but not nearly as fast as that one seems to work nor as smoothly.  I never use it because it seeems more trouble that it's worth but that one looks like it works very well.  Did you get that at Walmart?

 

[ovrphil]

Petek - that is a slick and quick apple peeler. I was thinking of finding an antique one, but maybe not...they take too much room here. Good video -thanks and I'll look around for one at Wally Mart.

Chach - I completely understand; I use the frozen fruit, coconut milk, O.J., and other ingredients for my smoothies that I make a big batch for a day or two use. Personal style and needs - I'm sure I won't know til I get busy making whatever I like to drink the most. Thank you.

 

[circlew]

Hey Phil, all my Vollrath items are the commercial sizes, so only use them when I'm having lots of guests, or making something to take to a potluck, church dinner, etc. I have steam table pans with lids, stockpot, Spoodles, and spoons.