brianl
Well-known member
I found this on Craigslist today and thought it was pretty cool. Only $49 dollars. Anyone ever see one like this. Seller says it still works!
What do you think of this coffee grinder?
- Thread starter brianl
- Start date
brianl
Well-known member
Here is another picture.
Excerpt from ad:
This is a really cool antique coffee grinder. It still works! Made by Hobart, probably dates to the 1930s?
The machine does show wear. Still a really cool look. Could use a good cleaning. It is coming directly out of an estate.
Measures : 33"h x 14-1/2"w x 10"d
Excerpt from ad:
This is a really cool antique coffee grinder. It still works! Made by Hobart, probably dates to the 1930s?
The machine does show wear. Still a really cool look. Could use a good cleaning. It is coming directly out of an estate.
Measures : 33"h x 14-1/2"w x 10"d
58limited
Well-known member
Very cool. Looks like the ones that old grocery stores used to have. If it works, $49 was a steal! I usually see them at antique stores for hundreds of dollars, sometimes over $1000.
iheartmaytag
Well-known member
Looks cool
except the hopper area looks like a funeral urn.
except the hopper area looks like a funeral urn.
brianl
Well-known member
Actually I think that funnel looks pretty awesome. I see your point though. I just contacted the seller, and he said it is still available. I am going for it!
Motor specs:
Motor specs:
brianl
Well-known member
Other specs:
brianl
Well-known member
Here is the dial:
iheartmaytag
Well-known member
go for it, It think it will be one of those great finds.
That's an interesting machine. The top part is awfully fancy, and the lower part looks like a mailbox. I've see a few of these; seems like I was in a Cracker Barrel that had one. Guess it could have been made anytime between the 30's and 50's.
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Go for it. I know I would! I too have seen them selling in the three-digit range at antique shows! As we would say when we're at Brimfield, that's a SNARF!!!
Chuck
Chuck
laundromat
Well-known member
The Great Atlantic and Pacific Company
In Baltimore,MD. They had similar models of these to grind 8 O' Clock, Bocar and Red Circle coffee beans.I loved that store and have many fond memories of the smell of their own fresh ground coffee. I truly miss it and can now order it on line.Tons better than Duncan Donuts and Folgers.I truly believe going their and smelling that great aroma hooked me on it!!!I drink about 7 cups of it a day.Anyone else who dares to drink it has to be pealed off the wall!!! LOL
In Baltimore,MD. They had similar models of these to grind 8 O' Clock, Bocar and Red Circle coffee beans.I loved that store and have many fond memories of the smell of their own fresh ground coffee. I truly miss it and can now order it on line.Tons better than Duncan Donuts and Folgers.I truly believe going their and smelling that great aroma hooked me on it!!!I drink about 7 cups of it a day.Anyone else who dares to drink it has to be pealed off the wall!!! LOL
laundromat
Well-known member
OOPS!!!
I forgot the "Tea" ,Oh Vanna! LOL
I forgot the "Tea" ,Oh Vanna! LOL
If You Get History Channel
I think there was a similar machine on "Pawn Stars" last season. Maybe you can "on demand" it, or find the episode on line. I'll check. The grinder was, I believe, made in Chicago and looked very much like the one on CL.
RUN and go get it! Restored these are worth up to a few thousand bucks I think.
I think there was a similar machine on "Pawn Stars" last season. Maybe you can "on demand" it, or find the episode on line. I'll check. The grinder was, I believe, made in Chicago and looked very much like the one on CL.
RUN and go get it! Restored these are worth up to a few thousand bucks I think.
sudsmaster
Well-known member
Anything Hobart is bound to be good.
For $50 I wouldn't even hesitate. Sure, the burrs may be shot but I bet with some scrounging one could locate new ones or find someone to (maybe) make new ones.
Then again the burrs might be in great shape. Only one way to find out: buy the darn thing and grind a brew or two!
And it looks like it would polish up (aluminum) and shine up (new red paint etc) just fine. A new power cord is a must, of course, just make sure it's a 14 gauge or larger (12 would do nicely). You can often just get an extension cord of suitable gauge and slice off the outlet part, use the rest as a power cord. Or get a retro look cloth-wrapped but modern vinyl insulation inside job.
Or just leave it as is, as a bit of history.
Congrats in advance.
For $50 I wouldn't even hesitate. Sure, the burrs may be shot but I bet with some scrounging one could locate new ones or find someone to (maybe) make new ones.
Then again the burrs might be in great shape. Only one way to find out: buy the darn thing and grind a brew or two!
And it looks like it would polish up (aluminum) and shine up (new red paint etc) just fine. A new power cord is a must, of course, just make sure it's a 14 gauge or larger (12 would do nicely). You can often just get an extension cord of suitable gauge and slice off the outlet part, use the rest as a power cord. Or get a retro look cloth-wrapped but modern vinyl insulation inside job.
Or just leave it as is, as a bit of history.
Congrats in advance.
whirlaway
New member
Age!
Looking closely at the motor,it could be from the late teens to the 1920s.What a find!!!!!!!!!!
Looking closely at the motor,it could be from the late teens to the 1920s.What a find!!!!!!!!!!
norgeway
Well-known member
BUY THAT SUCKER N O W !!!
I saw one not long ago beat to hell for 350.00!!
I saw one not long ago beat to hell for 350.00!!
"could be from the late teens to the 1920s"
Yes, that may be earlier than I thought. The Hobart website say the coffee mill was their first product.
Yes, that may be earlier than I thought. The Hobart website say the coffee mill was their first product.
Now THATS a coffee grinder-would like to have one like that even though I don't drink coffee.BUY IT NOW!!!!Sure beats the plastic fantastic ones sold today.
toggleswitch
Well-known member
oooh baby that sure is a BIG one!
OMG Brian. You do like your toys BIG!
Cars, refrigerators, juke-boxes, copiers, washers!
OMG Brian. You do like your toys BIG!
Cars, refrigerators, juke-boxes, copiers, washers!
Are you SURE its a coffee-grinder?
Sorry for the gross imagery, but human cremains are put through a grinder before going into the urn. This unit has a real funereal look and its motor seems unusually hefty for coffee beans. Where's the pour spout for the ground coffee? Are you SURE its original intent was to be a coffee grinder?
I suppose the "dial-a-grind" knob probably tells the tale.
... Was your late spouse PERKY or a DRIP?
Sorry for the gross imagery, but human cremains are put through a grinder before going into the urn. This unit has a real funereal look and its motor seems unusually hefty for coffee beans. Where's the pour spout for the ground coffee? Are you SURE its original intent was to be a coffee grinder?
I suppose the "dial-a-grind" knob probably tells the tale.
... Was your late spouse PERKY or a DRIP?
Eeek!
Possibly a post-cremation human remains grinder? I guess such things do exist, but I have no idea what they look like.
Why am I reminded of that episode of The Sopranos where two gangsters are grinding up a third gangster in a meat grinder at a butcher shop, and the one gangster says to the other, "It's going to be a long time before I eat anything from this butcher shop!"
Possibly a post-cremation human remains grinder? I guess such things do exist, but I have no idea what they look like.
Why am I reminded of that episode of The Sopranos where two gangsters are grinding up a third gangster in a meat grinder at a butcher shop, and the one gangster says to the other, "It's going to be a long time before I eat anything from this butcher shop!"
sudsmaster
Well-known member
Cremains grinder?
I guess, maybe.
Apparently my uncle was a big guy. I traveled to El Paso about 12 years ago to pick up his remains. I don't think they would have fit in that grinder receptacle.
Nevertheless, I probably wouldn't have a problem refurbishing that grinder for coffee. Why? Well, in the first place, cremains have been sterilized by fire. No chance of any pathogens lingering in the mechanism. In the second place, a good washing, scouring, sand blasting, and repainting would spiff up the unit real nice. Thirdly, I would replace the urn-like feeder tube with a more conventional looking funnel. No need to alarm the guests at a candlelight supper!
As for the little (well, big) drawer. I've seen antique hand operated grinders with little drawers to receive the ground coffee. So it might be part of the original coffee grinder design. All that might have changed is the urn part. And maybe the coarseness of the grinder burrs.
Oh, and can you guess I'm not particularly religious or sentimental or superstitious about the Dead - at least those I never knew. Must be my scientific training.
And if that really is a cremains grinder, it would have made a great prop for a sequence in "Theater of the Dead". You know, the one where Vincent Price cut up a gourmet drama critic's prize ankle biters and force fed them to him as a tasty stew?
And would the numbers on the "dial-a-grind" knob correspond to the seven levels of Hell? LOL!
I guess, maybe.
Apparently my uncle was a big guy. I traveled to El Paso about 12 years ago to pick up his remains. I don't think they would have fit in that grinder receptacle.
Nevertheless, I probably wouldn't have a problem refurbishing that grinder for coffee. Why? Well, in the first place, cremains have been sterilized by fire. No chance of any pathogens lingering in the mechanism. In the second place, a good washing, scouring, sand blasting, and repainting would spiff up the unit real nice. Thirdly, I would replace the urn-like feeder tube with a more conventional looking funnel. No need to alarm the guests at a candlelight supper!
As for the little (well, big) drawer. I've seen antique hand operated grinders with little drawers to receive the ground coffee. So it might be part of the original coffee grinder design. All that might have changed is the urn part. And maybe the coarseness of the grinder burrs.
Oh, and can you guess I'm not particularly religious or sentimental or superstitious about the Dead - at least those I never knew. Must be my scientific training.
And if that really is a cremains grinder, it would have made a great prop for a sequence in "Theater of the Dead". You know, the one where Vincent Price cut up a gourmet drama critic's prize ankle biters and force fed them to him as a tasty stew?
And would the numbers on the "dial-a-grind" knob correspond to the seven levels of Hell? LOL!
Awhile ago I looked up "cremation equipment' on the web-found some websites where you could order your own cremation retort-it uses almost 5million CuFt gas per hour-and the remains processor-it doesn't even resemble that coffee grinder-and the Cremation grinder may have a 1.5-2Hp motor so it has enough power to smash the burned bones-after the cremation process the bones can be as hard as concrete!The grinders also operate under some sort of air exhaust system-human ash can be a health hazard if breathed frequently-a problem "cremationists" face.And the remains may have to cool for an hour or more before run thru the processor-it almost looks like a very large kitchen food processor with a large stainless steel container and thick blade.Google "cremation equipment" and you will find the retorts(oven,furnace)Processors and even cremation containers.and yes there are even cremation pans for infants and small childrens bodies.
Oh yes-one time I was talking to a technician at the Vita Mix company after ordering some parts-one funeral home even tried to use a 3600 Vita Mix machine as a remains processor-the VM tech told me the container was badly dented and the blades bent up.
Oh yes-one time I was talking to a technician at the Vita Mix company after ordering some parts-one funeral home even tried to use a 3600 Vita Mix machine as a remains processor-the VM tech told me the container was badly dented and the blades bent up.
sudsmaster
Well-known member
Yeah, I wondered about how Uncle Mike looked (I took a peek inside the plastic box). He was very uniformly ground.
Still on the shelf in the workshop. One of these days I'll either have to add it to the garden or send it to a military base for internment. His sisters don't care.
Still on the shelf in the workshop. One of these days I'll either have to add it to the garden or send it to a military base for internment. His sisters don't care.
brianl
Well-known member
Yes I did get it
I have yet to plug it in though, cause where the plug met the wire, it just completely broke off. Not by me, but by the seller who was testing it just as I pulled up. He said to let him know if it is not working, and he will give me my money back. He said there was a big "poof" when the wire broke off and presumably the 2 contacts briefly met. I really hope it does work though. Pretty heavy as well. Did not notice if the remains were that of coffee though ;-)
I have yet to plug it in though, cause where the plug met the wire, it just completely broke off. Not by me, but by the seller who was testing it just as I pulled up. He said to let him know if it is not working, and he will give me my money back. He said there was a big "poof" when the wire broke off and presumably the 2 contacts briefly met. I really hope it does work though. Pretty heavy as well. Did not notice if the remains were that of coffee though ;-)
whirlaway
New member
Coffee Grinder
It is a coffee grinder!!!!!! The numbers on the knob are for courseness.Like different types of percolators.Its just an earlier version of the A&P Type found in all of their stores.Those machines were also Hobart.I ground many a pound of coffee in those,I worked for them in Jr High and High school.Thats basically known as a pediment style coffee urn feeder.Wonderful machine it may have had pinstriping on it at one time.Good Luck Bobby
It is a coffee grinder!!!!!! The numbers on the knob are for courseness.Like different types of percolators.Its just an earlier version of the A&P Type found in all of their stores.Those machines were also Hobart.I ground many a pound of coffee in those,I worked for them in Jr High and High school.Thats basically known as a pediment style coffee urn feeder.Wonderful machine it may have had pinstriping on it at one time.Good Luck Bobby
mistereric
Well-known member
I think its heavy, that's what I think. And really big. (laughs)
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