Wowee 1950's Lifetime SS Cookware is Boss

[firedome]

same with West Bend's TOL brands...

like Lustre Craft Waterless, now owned by Regal. I was furious when SWMBO bought a complete set from a door-to-door salesman, just prior to our marriage in 1971. It was priced at something like $350, a great deal of $$$ for still-in-college soon-to-be newlyweds in '71, and I was absolutely livid! 45 yrs on, I have to admit it was one of the best things we've ever bought. Over they years they've replaced several handles and knobs, and once a complete saucepan when it fell down the basement stairs and broke the spot welds on the handle mounting flange. You get what you pay for!

 

[iheartmaytag]

I sat through a Salad Master demonstration

At the Wichita Home show a few years ago.  I was quite impressed, but knew they were expensive just from the fact that the presenter refused to disclose the price until the end of the presentation.

 

When he finally passed around the "confidential price sheet" I just about died on the spot.  $7,995.  BTW--you had to sign a purchase agreement or decline before you were allowed to leave the area, and you had to give the "confidential price sheet" back to the presenter before you were allowed out of the roped area.

 

You know I am just so derned happy with my Calphalon Tri-ply.  But I do think I will eventually pick up a few pieces of All-Clad to complement my cookware.  I can add a lot of accessory items and still not spend almost eight grand.

 

[kb0nes]

I am TOTALLY on board with the "Buy the best and you only cry once" or that "The pain of poor quality long outlives the joy of low price". I am willing to pay $$$ to buy something once and have something quality that lasts. Look at the tools I buy or the electronic test gear I own...

BUT...

If that price Harley stated for a Saladmaster cookware set is even close to true, then we are dealing with an ALL FIRED massive RIP-OFF. It is totally clear why they won't disclose their price. Also why they feel the need to try to drum up fake awesomeness based on the idea there is Titanium in their product.

I'm not saying that their product isn't quality, or that service after the sale isn't exemplary. For that price I'd expect to get replacement parts for my life and have them make a house call to install and polish it!

High end All-Clad, Cuisinart or whatever isn't all that far behind anything else from a quality standpoint. And if it is available for 1/8th the price, it is the true bargain... There are costs that are justifiable and costs that aren't. There is simply no way that the Saladmaster product is that much better then the mundane stuff where they aren't afraid to disclose the pricing.

 

[iheartmaytag]

I did not exagerate.

And I'm not lying.  So I can assure you it was the "truth" at the time I was sitting there.

 

I was there.  Now you could have gotten the starter or "Personal"  set for $2,995.  I believe it was a six piece set.  The $7,995 set was the gourmet set. 

 

If you needed a payment plan, then you made your down payment there, and then made your monthly payments for 24-36 months.  They would ship your order to you after your payments were complete.

 

Here is the professional set on Ebay, at Ebay prices, they state the Retail is $4,600.   The Gourmet set also included the bakeware.   

 

At the home show you did get the food grinder, hand cranked food processor, for free if you ordered then.  You could also purchase the electric skillet for 1/2 price at the time of order.  

 

 

 

[this post was last edited: 1/14/2016-16:20]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-PROFESS...287624?hash=item25b4b0fbc8:g:RjQAAOSwoydWlaR6

 

[norgeway]

I have bought

Several of those electric skillets for 5 to 20 dollars at yard and estate sales...certainly not 400 dollars!!!!!

 

[circlew]

My Aunt Doris had Seal-O-Matic cookware for many years; My Uncle Joe bought it for her sometime around 1960. Since she went to assisted living, I think my cousin Melanie has it.

 

[foraloysius]

Hold on!!!

Somebody sneeked a new induction cooktop into this thread (I will not mention any names). Where is the dedicated thread about it....?

 

[toploader55]

Ah ha Louis.

Yes... Where is that thread ???

 

[gansky1]

Polyamourous Cookware Lovin

There are differences between the brand names of the D-T-D cookware.  Some are heavier weight than others, edge or lip of the pans, lids are different shapes and vented/non-vented, etc.  It's best to shop around at Goodwill, estate sales and the like to find pieces or entire sets and try them all on for size.  Different shapes, handles, weights all play into the cookware, each cook prefers something different for reasons all their own.  My mother bought a set of Wonder Ware (Regal) along with a set of Cutco knives when she married in '65 and still has them all.  Several warranty replacements of lid knobs and sharpening/replacements of knives is all that she's needed.  That said, she's likely to fight for her Revere 1-1/2 qt. saucepan and lid among a few other oddball pieces that she compliments the WonderWare with.  

 

I have various pieces of Queen (Amway) and Seal-O-Matic that I enjoy using right along side my All-Clad and Kirkland Signature 5 ply as well.   I don't think I'll ever let my 4 quart All-Clad saucepan or non-stick skillet get too far away and I'm growing to love my All-Clad 2  quart "everyday" pan just as much.

 

[norgeway]

Re Differences....

That's why I like my Aristo Craft best of all, it is squared off at the top and has a wonderful pouring lip all the way around the edge.