Vintage 1950's Vent A Hood

[a440]

Todd

You sounds like you found an amazing find as far as hoods go.

This is wild.

Please post pictures when you get a chance.

You sound excited! Fun!

Brent

 

[danemodsandy]

Word to the Wise:

For anyone who wants a Vent-A-Hood brand vintage hood, there is something you should know. They are absolutely excellent hoods, capable of clearing the smokiest kitchen in nothing flat. But their unique styling can be a problem for guys.

Basically, you have to be careful of the front corners when you're bending to look at something cooking on the stove. I've attached a reduced copy of Brent's pic to show you what I mean. The corners are not a problem for most women, since they're not tall enough for their heads to be that close to the corners. But I'm six-four, and the Vent-A-Hood I had in my St. Charles kitchen in Morningside got me more than once.

Most range hoods have angled corners (see inset pic) to take care of this problem. I once talked with the Vent-A-Hood rep in Atlanta about the situation, and he told me it was just getting to get their attention, since men were only recently (this was the '80s) starting to cook for themselves in any real numbers.

Again - absolutely fantastic hood, of the highest quality, very quiet, easy to clean and service. Just watch yaselfs, please!

 

[a440]

Oh my Gosh!

Thanks Sandy for the Heads Up! (couldn't resist)

I just went and looked at the corners! These edges are so sharp! I am not tall enough. I did notice that it could be just as bad if you came upward on a corner also.

Thanks again!
I must not cook drunk!
Brent

 

[austinado16]

The 36" Vent-A-Hood that I picked up looks just like yours Brent, except mine's painted a silver grey to look like stainless. In fact, it had a stainless back splash that had been added during the original install.....but was not part of the actual hood...and you almost couldn't tell them apart, color-wise.

My hood has 3 metal push buttons on the front, below the Vent-A-Hood script. The center one operates the single fluorescent light. The buttons to the left and right operate the left and right fan motors individually. It's probably from about 1969 or 1970. Still works perfectly.

My intent is to sell it, so if anyone's interested, get ahold of me. You can have it as-is and do the clean-up/restoration yourself, or I can do it. The hood is perfect and needs nothing, but the blower motor box and curved air shield will need cleaning and the shield may need to be repainted. Perfect time for a color change to white, via powder coating, or just repaint it yourself as I did with my big one.

Regarding the sharp corners. It's funny that Vent-A-Hood went to that design. If you take a look a my big white hood, it has large nickel plated corners that completely cover the hood's corners.

 

[danemodsandy]

Brent:

Glad you see the potential for the problem. And yes, some of my accidents with my Vent-A-Hood were due to the wine flowing a little too freely while I was cooking!

There's a reason I don't drink anymore, LOL.

 

[austinado16]

Here's what I found...

36" wide, 24" out from the wall, 14" tall, 12" deep where it goes under the upper cabinets, if installed like that. It's in perfect condition...

The "Debonaire" Model DA-200

The removable blower housing cover is not cleaning up, so I'm taking it and the air shield over to the powdercoaters in a few minutes.

It was installed in a "Rumpus Room" over a period Char-Broil Indoor gas grill, which I also saved (we had one!). The linoleum in the room was gold, like a gold tarazo floor, with shiny gold flecks like you'd find in a bowling ball from the 60's. Wild!!

Nice to keep these 2 from going into the land fill.

 

[a440]

Todd your find is a beauty! I love the shape!
Great find.
Show off your Char-Broil gas grill if you get a chance. I have not seen one of those in years.
Brent

 

[a440]

History of Vent-A-Hood

Very interesting short video.
Looks like a great USA company to work for.
Brent

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[austinado16]

Okay, I'll take a check.......

Looks like they followed through with my idea about doing a vintage line after all!! That's just amazing. I fully thought they were just blowing me off and I finally stopped calling. I think I was talking to Skip, who's in that video.

Saw a brochure for our own hood, and for this hood that I just brought home.

Very cool!

 

[austinado16]

Oh, the Char Broil is taken apart. It's the only way I could lift it out of the counter top. It must weight 200lbs when fully assembled.

 

[a440]

Wow about the big bad Char Broil! Had no idea they would weigh so much! Are you going to use it for parts? Or design it into your kitchen.

I had a friend growing up that had this system next to their bar that went out to their swimming pool and entertaining area. My being a young 13 year old or so thought this was the cat's meow! They did use it often.

Glad you rescued it!

Brent

 

[spankomatic]

Here is photo of a early 60's Nutone hood in a duplex that I lived in.

Jim

 

[58limited]

There is an atomic ranch house four houses down from me with two of those Nutone hoods. They have original 1960s GE appliances and a stainless 1960s salamander - forget the brand - that has been used very little. I'm watching that house, if it sells (the owner is 97) I'm waiting for the appliances to be set out by the road (most people around here remodel with new stuff, even if the old stuff works).

 

[leolady]

I need one of these Mixfinder!

To go with my Chambers 4C and my Crown American ranges! Both 40 inch models.

I know you will come through for me darling!

 

[112561]

ventless range hoods

I've seen ventless range hoods, at least from what I can tell, they're ventless, in the thrift stores and Habitat For Humanity. What is the point of such a thing?

 

[danemodsandy]

The Point of Ventless:

Is to distribute kitchen grease and fumes more evenly throughout the kitchen, instead of allowing them to concentrate solely on the wall and cabinets near the range.

Seriously, they're intended for installations where venting is impossible for some reason, but builders often install them to save themselves the cost of a vent run. They depend on very good maintenance to do any good at all, and they almost never get it.

If it were within my power to do so, I'd outlaw them. Once they're neglected for a while, they become grease-laden fire traps, and their inability to exhaust moisture (whether maintained or not) causes damage to houses.

 

[112561]

Thank you Sandy!

Makes perfect sense, and there was enough water damage to this place after three hurricanes, I won't add to it! I would rather have the vented model if I could afford it. I do so little cooking, neither would pay though.

 

[danemodsandy]

112561:

A basic Nutone/Broan vent hood in a painted finish is under $40, and the venting materials are about that much again. If you are handy, you can install one yourself, and it really adds to resale - a lot of bang for the buck.

The major consideration is wiring one in; there is often a line somewhere near where the hood is going to go that can be tapped for its power supply. Snaking the wiring is the biggest hassle once you've found something to tap off of.

None of which is to say it's a walk in the park - I've done it, and while the benefits were considerable, the job was not much fun at all. Still, I'd rather have a vent hood than not.

 

[112561]

Point well taken Sandy

I think I'd contract that out, there would have to be a vent pipe threaded through a cabinet, and the ceiling, and angled to the vent for the gas heater that is no longer here. And this attic is about a foot and a half if that over the kitchen.

 

[danemodsandy]

Can't Say...

...As I blame you for thinking it would be best to contract it out. As I've said, been there, done that, wasn't much fun.