Vintage Waring vs. Oster

[bluejay]

I've read that there are some definite differences between the performance of vintage Waring and Oster blenders, but having both types, I haven't really noticed much of a difference (we also don't use our blenders much).  I tried to find the source that I had read this in, but was unable to find it again (if I remember correctly, I thought the difference was purely mechanical, but I could be wrong on that).  Just curious to see if anyone else knows what specifically is different between the two brands or what the general brand preference is.

 

Also, feel free to share pictures.  Here are mine: the left is a Waring Ambassador Futura and the right is an Oster Galaxie 14. 

 

[tolivac]

Vintage Waring and Oster--BOTH are good machines.Hard to say which would be better.Like Blendtec Vs Vita-Mix-like both.Waring esp if it uses the SPLINE instead of the "wagon wheel" drive.

 

[bluejay]

Agreed; performance has been great with both. I came across an article when researching the Waring that said the two owners competed pretty fiercely and that the designs were fairly different because each felt their design was far superior. I wish I had bookmarked it.

 

[bluejay]

I have one other blender...

This is one I found at the thrift store.  This Montgomery Wards blender was sold in June 1974 and has the paper card with the name and sales date enclosed.  I've never used it, but for $4 I couldn't pass it up.

 

[norgeway]

I have used both..

My pick is the Oster...but for the best blending, its a 50s Hamilton Beach!!!

 

[d-jones]

Here's my little Waring 702. Both it and the spare jar came from eBay. I don't really know how old it is, I just know that I love the way it looks. The term that comes to mind is functional art.

 

[bluejay]

That is an awesome blender! My money is it's from the 50s. I'm always surprised at how much these were when new. I found a similar model to the Oster in a catalog from 65 and it was priced at $59.99. That's a lot!

 

[d-jones]

You may be right about the date of manufacture, Jason. I just wish I could find something definitive, like an ad in a magazine or catalog, something with a date on it. The few times I've looked I've come up empty handed. It surprises me that there's so little information available about something so common. I just checked on eBay and there are currently more than a dozen 702's available.

 

[bluejay]

I just checked one of my catalogs (from '61) and there's a fairly similar model.

 

[foraloysius]

I had almost the same model Waring blender, mine had a timer. And I have three Osterizers. No doubt about it, the Osterizers win. The Waring was way too noisy for me. Besides that, most Osterizers have stronger motors. My 960 Watts Osterizer doesn't make as much noise as the Waring did, while that had around 350 Watts (?).

The end of the Waring came with using it for a smoothie. I still can't explain what happened but suddenly the smoothie came out of the bottom of the blender and ran into the motor. Sparks were coming from the motor together with a burning smell. That was the Waring.

What is the wattage of your blenders?

 

[bluejay]

Here's a scan from the '61 catalog. The chrome blendor in the picture retailed for $52.95!

 

[funktionalart]

Waring 702 is a FAB machine...

Functional Art says it best. I like that. Probably why it's my user name up here, too!

 

[bluejay]

Functional art is one of the primary reasons my Pyrex collection has taken over most of the kitchen.  It's nice to look at and they get use, although I think I need to stop accruing 2 1/2 qt. casserole dishes.  No one makes that many casseroles.  Ever.

 

 

 

[funktionalart]

Throw a Pyrex Party.

Give every guest a casserole dish and see who cooks up what. Sit down. Feast.
Nice day and collection serves intended purpose

 

[bluejay]

I exaggerate (mostly).  I'm holding out for a few select pieces, but I've stopped buying Pyrex for the most part, unless it's a steal.  

 

Allen, that's an awesome idea!  

 

[xraytech]

I have one Waring, 3 Osters, a Hoover, and a Lady Kenmore(oster in disguise)
I have to say I prefer the Osters

Also Jason, I'd love to see pics of your Pyrex collection

 

[tennblondie78]

Jason, it's okay... I have an incredible amount of Pyrex, Corning and Fire King, and pieces still manage to find their way home with me although i know I need it like I need a hole in my head. If that's what you enjoy, go for it! Does it matter that you have 75 2 1/2 qt casseroles? Nope.

 

[bluejay]

Sam, here you go.  I did the pictures by collection and/or colors.  The last two pictures are a couple I forgot.  The covered turquoise Pyrex bowl should be in with the Butterprint/blues & whites.

 

I also have some Glasbake, Maid of Honor, and Fire King pieces.  I just realized I also didn't include any of the Corelle.   I have quite a bit of Spring Blossom Corelle.  I also left out our Spring Blossom butter dish, so I included an older photo of our Spring Blossom collection.

 

 

 

[petek]

I have so many I don't even know how many. I'm partial to the Warings probably because that's what we had at home, the avocado green 7 speed with the timer. Not having a removable base (only the blades) was sort of a pain but they later changed that. That also makes them a bit of a bugger to get replacements unlike Oster who used the same base fitting for so long.

 

[bluejay]

Petek, that Waring commercial blender is stunning!

The one thing I definitely noticed is that the Waring seems to have a more powerful motor than the Oster. It likes to move on the counter.

 

[tolivac]

Waring picture #4 is the lab model-see this shown in the Fisher and other science and lab supply catalogs.It was emphasised the container can be steam sterilized.What sort of expriments were they doing?

 

[veg-o-matic]

Here's the Hamilton Beach at work

 

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[davey7]

That Waring looks like a cousin of my Waring egg-beater/mixer which I inherited from a former neighbor. About how old is it?

 

[danemodsandy]

The Waring....

Marked as selection "C" in the catalog shot Jason posted is one I'd love to find in good shape. I found one once, but the rubber covers on the jar supports were shot, and Waring customer service just laughed when I inquired about replacements.

 

[d-jones]

Sandy

Years ago when I purchased my 702, the pads you're referring to were totally shot. I ordered new ones at the web site found in the link below. They look just like the originals, but these are nice and pliable.

http://www.smallappliance.com/produ...34&gid=18957&prdCls=P&pfor=10323&shopBy=Brand

 

[danemodsandy]

David:

That inquiry of Waring was years and years ago, before I got Internet in '97, so I had no idea of other sources besides the OEM. The Blendor was re-donated, with regrets.

If I find another, though, now I'll know what to do. Thanks!

 

[philr]

Last year, Paul gave me a Waring 702 which needed new rubber pads. I ordered them from Waring directly (#21 on the parts list) and they fit perfectly. 

http://www.waringcommercialproducts.com/catalog.php?pcID=84_95&products_id=306

 

[rp2813]

At our wet bar I still have an old one-speed toggle-switched Waring 702 I found in the late '70s that's quiet and effective at blending smoothies.  That's what they were originally designed for. 

 

I have several different carafes for it, one with thicker glass than all others, a couple with black bakelite lids, one with a grey bakelite lid, a snap-on handle attachment, and one larger 40-ounce carafe with molded glass handle that takes the more modern, pliable, better sealing lid with removable center measuring cup.  I was really surprised when I came across that item in a thrift store and found it had the spline fitting instead of the wagon wheel.

 

While I like the fact that for decades Oster has featured a blending carafe that can be completely disassembled for cleaning, my Waring is quieter and performs better, and I like the look of the vintage Warings compared to the "beehive" Osters.

 

[mikael3]

I have to put in a word for my Osterizer.

I guess Waring is the winner on this site, but I love my Osterizer. This is the very appliance that first got me interested in vintage wares, after SEVERAL run-ins with useless modern blenders.

I can't really add much to the discussion here, because I don't have a Waring for comparison. But one thing that has kept me in the Osterizer camp is that all their modern replacement parts fit the old machines. The design of the base has apparently never changed. In fact, I use a modern caraffe on mine, since I don't want to chip the vintage caraffe--which I assure you I would do! And I recently got some replacement blades that made the machine work even better.

I feel obligated to point out that Osterizer was Julia Child's favorite brand, back in the day. While filming the black & white French Chef in the 1960s, she wanted "either Osterizer [first choice] or General Electric--NOT Waring". This quotation is in Dana Polan's book on The French Chef, p. 135. La Julie had apparently liked the Waring in earlier years, so she must have had some reason for changing her opinion. Her last blender, the one at the Smithsonian, is a modern Cuisinart.

 

[bluejay]

I recently picked up a Waring 700 for $2.50; it needed a thorough cleaning and new pads and gaskets, which I'm waiting on to arrive. I did fire it up and it seemed a lot quieter than the mid 60s Waring. It'll be interesting once I get the parts. I'm thinking a mixed drink blend off to test.