Westy Mixer and Sunbeam coffee/tea pot

[petek]

I've been going out of my way to NOT bring anymore stray appliances home since I watched an episode of hoarders a month or so back, well not exactly but that helped. However this past weekend Davey came for a visit and brought me this lovely Westinghouse mixer which I did want because I had no Westy mixer in the collection just bowls and this one needed bowls. It's in pretty good shape too except for the decal and runs very very smooth.
The style is sort of Beluga like I think

 

[petek]

While I was rummagin thru all my stuff and remembering the recent percolator thread I spotted this little Sunbeam I've had for awhile still in need of a cleanup to remove the gummy label. It's a Sunbeam INSTANT coffee and tea? just a kettle for boiling water in a percolater shape. There is no perc basket etc on the interior. It's about half the size of a standard perk so I put the pepsi can in the pic

 

[circlew]

Interesting and unusual machine

The control dial on that mixer matches the knobs on my '53 Westinghouse range.

 

[petek]

re the knob

Dave and I were commenting on how that knob, although the original, looks a little out of place on the machine doesn't it. Like and afterthought. Maybe they figured on cutting costs by using a standard knob from their stove?

 

[gansky1]

I don't think I've ever seen that Sunbeam pot before - love the handle. It must have been TOL with the stamped emblem then? How cool.

That Westy mixer has a very beautiful bowl, the ridges just make the whole machine elegant looking. And then, there's that knob ;-)

 

[westingman123]

jealous much!

As comes as no surprise to anyone, that Westy would look lovely on my counter top! LOL Martin found me a portable that I've got in pieces right now, needed a cord and some deep cleaning. Do love those bowls! Let's not get into the hoarder issue, thank you very much. Between vacuums, washers and smalls I'm overrun!

 

[aeoliandave]

In a determined effort to get organized so I don't end up as poster bear for 'Hoarders' I built appliance towers in the Kitchen and culled the 'collection' down to the best examples. With this setup I can easily get at them and use them in rotation.
Thus did Pete get the Westy Whale when I needed spaces for the two Hamilton-Beaches I recently found.
The problem is finding a Westy 'Beluga' in decent shape - the factory enamel used tends to dry out and powder on the surface, yellows and comes off too easily with overly vigorous Magic Erasering. The decals Westinghouse used also come off too easily and can shift their position. I do not know why. The one Pete has is the whitest one I've found, where the others are always a creamier colour.

 

[aeoliandave]

There are subtle differences between the Canadian model FC-2 or USA FM-81 made Westinghouses. Canadian ones are assembled with square-head bolts & screws where the USA ones use slot heads. Also the USA has a different shaped speed dial and the decal is applied across the front rather than on one side.

As clumsy a design choice the dial seems to be it is intentional, as shown by the lower casting lip to keep batter out of the dial shaft.

The mixer tilts back and lifts out without a catch release - that's convenient.

The juicer bowl and screen are larger than the Sunbeam's and do a better juicing job as you don't get as much clogging with pulp and can juice a dozen oranges or 6 grapefruit before the screen must be cleaned out. The design of the juicer bowl on a high post precludes it from directing juice into the bowls and I suspect this also was intentional to direct juice directly into the breakfast tumblers - the bowl & spigot have two positions 90 degrees to each other, dictated by a keyway in the post mount.

 

[rp2813]

My grandmother's Westy mixer was like the one on the right in the picture above, having the dial with the pointer rather than the one that looks like it came off a stove.

I've read here that these mixers are real power-house machines, and the infinite speed control is a nice feature too.

 

[vacbear58]

English Electric

In the UK English Electric manufactured mixers to this design, although I have only seen them with the smaller knob and always in cream. There was also an Australian version which has bowls in the most beautiful shade of blue.

I do have to say though, that when tested by the Consumers Association in 1959 it did not do a well as the Mixmaster Model 12 - that button on the bottom of the beater will always win out. That said, yes I do have one in my collection
Al