Today's STEAL! Immac. Sunbeam CG-1 waffle iron

[funktionalart]

Had it in the back of my mind to grab a decent vintage waffle iron if one ever showed up. I'd been restoring my grandmother's 1940 Manning Bowman "Twinover"....and it proved to have too many internal problems to continue messing with it. Today, I went out quickly for some bread--and what sits in the shop window next door?? THIS! For $5 I didn't even bother to plug it in--handed my cash over and ran home.

Looks to have had MAYBE one or two uses at most. Does have a light amount of oil residue on the plates, so that's really all I have to clean off. The chrome work and handles/feet are GLEAMING. And look at the interior heating coils. Seriously as close to new as you could want. I LIVE for dirt cheap finds like this. It'll outlive me, I'm sure.

Cannot wait to cook up some waffles...finally!

 

[mattl]

Nice!  Enjoy!

 

I still have the one I grew up with, learned how to adjust the thermostat thanks to Robert's service manual posted in ephemera.  Over the years it got to the point I had to set the control all the way to 5 to get it to turn out golden waffles.  We always used to set it to 3 1/2  maybe 4.

 

I have not used it in a while since I do not need 4 waffles, it needs re seasoning, and I like frying my pancakes on my old Frigidaire griddle.  I have the grill plates and the glass drip bowl tucked away somewhere...

 

[retropia]

I have one of those also; it is a lovely design. However, I haven't had much luck getting waffles to not stick. I've tried not using a spray oil per the instructions, and then when that didn't work, I tried using a spray oil. The waffles stuck either way.

Maybe someone else has a suggestion?

 

[rp2813]

I have this same waffle baker in nearly the same condition, including grill plates.  They really do turn out nice waffles.  I didn't quite get as good a deal -- mine was $10.  I seem to get the best results with the dial set to 4.

 

Doug, I had the same problem with sticking waffles.  I went through an involved cleaning and re-seasoning process after I got my Sunbeam and the waffles stuck.  Nate had the same model and was going to unload it, so I took it off his hands because he said he never had a problem with waffles sticking.  Sure enough, when I tried it using the irons from his Sunbeam, the waffles lifted off nicely.

 

I brought the other baker to Kevin's wash-in with my re-seasoned irons in it as a give-away item.  Kelly gave it a whirl one morning and true to form, his waffles lifted right out.  I asked him the reason why mine stuck to those same irons and he said it could be that my batter didn't have enough oil. 

 

Whatever the cause may have been, I've not had any trouble with the switched-out irons and I've been very careful not to over-clean them and ruin a good thing.

 

 

 

[ea56]

I have a Sunbeam just like this. I bought it at a thrift store several years ago. When I got it home I cleaned the old gummy oil of the grids and re-seasoned it by heating it up on high, then brushed the grids with Crisco. I then let it heat up again until the ready light went back on, unplugged it and let it cool down. When I use it I heat it up and brush the grids with Crisco again before each batch of waffles, they never stick. This is the way my Mom always made waffles, so its how I learned to do it too.

 

[hooverwheelaway]

We have one (mabye two) of those waffle irons. I found one of them when I was living in NC - at a thrift store - for a song. The cord was still wrapped from the factory and it had only been used a few times. They do make amazing waffles; the owners manual is posted on Ephemera; I usually make the Sunbeam Waffle recipe if I'm going to go through the trouble of making waffles from scratch. They are always delicious. And any left-over waffles, you can put in the freezer and reheat with your Sunbeam Radient Control toaster (it even says so in the owners manual!)

I love the styling of this waffle baker - so elegant, it really is a beautiful appliance. You will often see this waffle baker sitting on the counter of Samantha's kitchen in "Bewitched".

 

[artcurus]

Yup, used mine this morning and using my Sunbeam 1950's cooker for stew later today.

On these.

1. The light oil residue is seasoning, be careful about removing it.
2. The BEST way to clean them is to buy a cheap waffle mix that uses water, add 2 tbs oil, and cook several batches of waffles. It will take 4-5 times, but by the time you're done, the grids should be clean and ready to go.

3.ea56 is also correct.

 

[polkanut]

<span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I have my grandmother's Dominion brand waffle iron, Model 1225-C that was also in like new condition when I took possession of it.  It has performed flawlessly for me since I brought it home earlier this summer.</span>

 

[turquoisedude]

Just beautiful, Allen!  Congratulations!!   May it provide brunch for many years to come... LOL

 

[artcurus]

Oh and one more thing, start looking for the grill plates, these are flat pieces that snap in. You'd be amazed at what you can cook on these.

 

[danemodsandy]

Teflon Fan Here:

I'm not a huge Teflon booster; I use it only sparingly.

But waffle irons are one place it does a super job. The texture of the finished waffle is not quiiiiiite so crunchy on the outside, but the difference is very, very small, and the total freedom from sticking is a huge help.

My waffle iron is a round Toastmaster; I like a round waffle because it fits neatly on a plate.

 

[roto204]

I say never be thwarted by geometry, when it comes to waffles.

 

[bendix5]

I have the same waffle iron. I have used it for years with out fail. Do not ever use spray on it. It gets sticky. Don't use canola oil in your waffle batter. For some reason it gets sticky. Go ahead and clean in mild dish detergent. It doesn't need to be spotless. Preheat griddle at the 3 mark. Melt some Crisco oil and with a brush oil up the griddle close it and let it bake for awhile. Keep a eye on it and if it smokes turn down the heat some. This will season the grill. when it cools wipe down with paper towel and you should be ready to go. When making your batter use a little more oil than called for. I test with small waffle in the center. I usually cook between temps 3 and 4 and set kitchen timer for 3 to 3.5 minutes. Depends who is around. Grandson loves his crunchy waffles with fruit and whipped cream..He said I am the only one who makes them right. Have fun and enjoy. Sunbeam make great waffles.

 

[bendix5]

I meant Crisco Shortening

 

[rp2813]

So is it better to set a timer than to rely on the heating element indicator lamp?

 

[artcurus]

@rp2813,

No, rely on the timer. You'll have one hell of a mess to clean up if you open too soon. The timer on these is usually highly accurate but it does take some practice.
Also Sunbeam warns that it's imperative that you leave the iron open as the grids cool after you've finished using it.

The light behind the number/tempature plate is the timer. It's a good idea to let the iron run through two cycles so it's heated evenly before putting the batter in. Depending on where it's set, the light will stay off immediately after placing batter into the iron. The light usually comes on about 30 seconds after the grids are closed and remain on through the cooking cycle, when the light goes out, the waffle is ready.

Again, before you cook for a crowd/family, practice with cheap waffle mix (with about 2 tbs oil added) to get a feel for the iron.

 

[fisherpaykel]

waffles

roto204 you made me laugh, rp2813 I use the no steam emanating from the edges to indicate done, that is what mom said. Of course it has been too long since I last made them.

 

[roto204]

LOL

;-)  Walter, I aim for chuckles, always.

 

So, Arcturus, do Sunbeams have an actual timer that governs the indicator lamp?  I always wondered.  The Sunbeam Ralph inherited was foolproof for me if I followed the lamp.  Our Toastmaster, which I adore, has an element pass-through window, but it's notoriously untrustworthy.  For that unit, I wait, as Walter said, for the steam to stop.  Otherwise, there's a lot of pissed-off plate pickin' going on.

 

Usually, I do the "tug" test, to see if I'm being BS-ed by the indicator, or whether the waffles are truly ready to release.

 

I'll have to try the Crisco seasoning and oil substitution method.  I agree, canola and other oils make a sticky film.

 

[artcurus]

@roto,

Yes they have an extremely heavy duty bimetallic timer which in turn, controls the light. This timer consist of two strips of metal with a "button" that makes contact (when the strips close) when the call for the heating element to come on. Sunbeam recommends not messing too much with these, overzealous cleaning of the button with sandpaper or other abrasive can change the temp set point.

We also have a Sears Avocado green one from the mid 70's. It also has the viewfinder for the filament. It's a guessing game when the waffle is done on that one. This Sunbeam most definitely stomps all over it, the finished waffle is so much better.

and yes, Walter is correct, the steam is a great indicator.