xpanam
Well-known member
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WESTINGHOUSE AUTOMATIC KITCHEN APPLIANCE CENTER NOS
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classiccaprice
Well-known member
The cords are located behind the lower door near the bottom. I went to an estate sale where the woman told me that there were two of these nos in the garage. Turns out that a scrap dealer had been by and taken them with some other scrap metal out there. I'd love to have it, but can't afford it this summer due to other commitments. Grr!
Back before houses were wired with today's level of service and outlets, this would be installed in the wall and hard wired to the house's electrical system to allow multiple small electrics to be run at the same time without blowing fuses. Most pre-war homes did not have as many circuits....a 1920's 11 room house I looked at had only 5 breakers..and the original Westinghouse breaker box!
You can search this topoc in the Super forum and find other discussions.
The ironic this is that after the early 60s, a lot of these counter top appliances fell out of favor and the cords on reels in these centers came to be almost useless except for coffee makers because the cooking appliances like electric skillets started coming with cords with the heat controls and a probe on the end. I think that people who might have had a rotissserie broiler or some other specialized appliance eventually got a new stove with that feature.
The ironic this is that after the early 60s, a lot of these counter top appliances fell out of favor and the cords on reels in these centers came to be almost useless except for coffee makers because the cooking appliances like electric skillets started coming with cords with the heat controls and a probe on the end. I think that people who might have had a rotissserie broiler or some other specialized appliance eventually got a new stove with that feature.
kenmoreguy89
Well-known member
I didn't really understand how this thing works...... or actually what it is meant for? The sense of this object....
Practically I didn't understand anything....
Can someone explain this to me?
Thanks
Practically I didn't understand anything....
Can someone explain this to me?
Thanks
I'll try. An electrician could run a single 30 or 50 amp 230 volt line (depending on the capacity of the particular appliance center) from an older home's fuse box up or over to the kitchen to a point over the counter. That line is wired into this box where it is split into multiple 15 or 20 amp 115 volt circuits for high amperage drawing countertop appliances like electric skillets, deep fryers, toasters, broilers, etc. In a building already built, running one line through a wall is easier and cheaper than running 5. One 230 volt circuit in an older fuse box takes up less space than 5 individual 15 or 20 amp circuits. Some of these centers had the capability to offer timer control for small appliances. Finally, these kitchen centers had the names of small appliance makers on them like Westinghouse and Sunbeam so that when it came time to boy a small appliance, they would have a brand name almost imprinted in their minds.
If you have further questions, please let us know what needs clarification.
If you have further questions, please let us know what needs clarification.
kenmoreguy89
Well-known member
Oh Okay thanks....now I understand, you know I had difficulties to realize it as to me the concept of having these kinds of fuse boxes or fuses for each circuit in homes is so unusual, not unknown but unusual......as of course the fact of having an higher voltage than the usual and only 240 volts (only voltage "normally delivered to homes over here).. I didn't understand that this was wired to 230 volt, now that is all clear and makes sense.
You know....
The concept and use of fuse boxes totally changes in USA where there're fuses for each circuit...... here this concept there is not....most houses does not have fuse boxes or stuff like that...they are just all wired to the power-meter and then safety general breaker called "salvavita-life saver" (that breaks general power) and that only breaks in case of short-circuit or overload (in case it is rated for lower absorbition) or stuff like that... you could actually wire a 6000-7000 watts appliance to an outlet without having fuses blown as long as your safety breaker and appurtenance general breaker are rated for that absorbition...probably wires inside walls if small would melt, but no fuses as there're not fuses to be blown except the one of the general and safety thing.
Thanks for explanation.
[this post was last edited: 6/24/2013-18:27]
You know....
The concept and use of fuse boxes totally changes in USA where there're fuses for each circuit...... here this concept there is not....most houses does not have fuse boxes or stuff like that...they are just all wired to the power-meter and then safety general breaker called "salvavita-life saver" (that breaks general power) and that only breaks in case of short-circuit or overload (in case it is rated for lower absorbition) or stuff like that... you could actually wire a 6000-7000 watts appliance to an outlet without having fuses blown as long as your safety breaker and appurtenance general breaker are rated for that absorbition...probably wires inside walls if small would melt, but no fuses as there're not fuses to be blown except the one of the general and safety thing.
Thanks for explanation.
[this post was last edited: 6/24/2013-18:27]
