WedgeWood Built ins

[Hometechdoc]

We went househunting today and ran across something I had never seen before. It was a Wedgewood gas cooktop with lots of chrome and a copper look metal. Overhead there was a beautiful three sided copper hood. There was a matching double wall oven again with lots of chrome and a colour lighter than coppertone. There was a KitchenAid Superba Dishwasher that looked to be early 60's, I assume a superba version of the classic my parents had in their first house built in 1961. There was a doubledoor Kelvinator refrigerator that was shorter than normal. In the laundry there was the original laundromat dryer and a highlander Maytag.

My question is has anyone seen wedgewood built ins?

The house was built in 1955 and the original owners are selling. It is in the Sherwood Forest neighborhood in Northridge, a tract of custom built homes from the mid 50's. Most of the homes are on half acre lots with circular drives and swimming pools of course. Very large lots to be in the city limits of LA. This neighborhood was popular with celebtaties in the 70's such as Penny Marshel and Rob Ryner and the comedian who burned himself whilf freebasing (his name escapres me). Those who wanted to escape the traps of Beverly Hills, but still wanted good acces to studios.

It is rare to find an orignial kitchen in these homes as they wre pretty much the epicenter of the 94 earthquake and the insurance companies came through and wrote large checks in the $100,000 so most people remodelded kitchens and baths.

 

[sudsmaster]

Suggestion: If you don't want to live there, buy the house, rip out all the vintage appliances, put them in storage, replace them with cheap contractor grade GE appliances, sell the house, then buy the house you really want and install the classics.

Or buy the house and enjoy the ambience.

To answer your original question, no, I've never seen Wedgewood built-ins. The company was actually based in the SF Bay Area. Union City, as I recall from my reading. It changed hands at least once or twice since the 50's, not always for the better IMHO. The older stuff is on a par, if not better, than old O'Keefe and Merrit ranges. Heavy, built like tanks. The usual stuff goes wrong with them over time: oven hinges, rangetop cover springs break, gas valves wear out. Clock motor bearings seize up. And then general abuse from years of renters. Sounds like the original owner Wedgewood kitchen is quite a find. It would be very cool if you could return to the house and take some photos of those built-in Wedgewoods and post them here. Hint hint.

 

[oldhouseman]

Any pictures

available?? Pictures, we need pictures....

 

[Hometechdoc]

pictures

My realtor would not allow me to take pics. I asked, even though all I had was a camera phone.