On Tue 28 Mar 2006 11:57:17p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Dee
Randall?
>
> "Wayne Boatwright" <wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Regarding vintage appliances, I once owned an Oster 10-speed blender
>> that I
>> purchased in 1966 and I really loved the way it performed. It had a
>> heavy chromed steel base and an 800 watt motor. On a lark,
> Oh, I love it, Wayne. How lucky did you get! Did talking about your
> vintage appliances here on rfc get your blood going to bidding on this,
> or did you order it before you posted your pictures here.
Actually, the reverse. I originally went on eBay looking for another
pitcher for the blender, as it's nice to have more than one at times.
That's one reason why I was so surprised to find the blender itself.
> We are all so different -- In December this year I gave to the
> Salvation Army an Oster mixer, but I'm sure it was about a 75 model --
> but I never could get it to do anything. I'm sure the '66 model was
> more-better. I've had my Vitamix for about 10 years or more now. DH
> likes it more than I do. I forget about having it. Leaving appliances
> out on my counter doesn't give me enough incentive to use one. I use
> all of my appliances often, but so irregularly, same as pots and pans
> and cookbooks.
It could be that my Vita-Mix was defective. The motor always smelled like
it was burning when I used it, and it even smoked once. The design of the
pitcher back then made it impossible to submerse the bottom of it in water,
not to mention that it could not be put in the dishwasher...a BIG minus in
my book, as I put everything in the dishwasher.
> I was on ebay again this week, too. I wrote to a woman who was selling a
> 'halogen' top. I read that the difference between halogen and the one I
> have - the only difference -- is that there is a red light to show you
> that it is on.
That is not the only difference. Conventional smoothtop elements are
either a wire-shaped coil or a flat ribbon shape, and both glow red when
turned on. Every flat top range I've had used one or the other of these,
but there was also a red light on the top surface to indicate when it was
on.
Halogen elements, OTOH, are actually strong halogen lamps underneath the
glass top. The major feature they offer is virtually an "instant on -
instant off" response compared to the gradual heating/cooling of the other
elements.
I would've bid on it, but I'm still going back and forth
> in my mind about our stove and another $150 would have made me think
> twice about getting rid of my stove because of the extra $275-$300
> investment in an old stove. Besides DH was not around to bicker with me
> about it and do the bidding. I get nervous if I want something and then
> someone sends in an automatic bid of a dollar over. Is the trick to pick
> something that no one else wants in order to not get nervous? Then, I
> suppose you would worry that you had overbid.
Well, IMHO, I think you've put enough money into your old stove. At least
by buying the cartridge you recently got, you have a sense of how a
smoothtop works, which should help you make a decision on a new stove.
> I know how excited you must be. Oh, I love getting things in the mail.
> Particularly things I've really planned to get and waited to get and
> they are prized little packages in my mind. I love the setting for your
> Oster -- I know I've seen your appliance -- I KNOW I've seen the book
> that goes with it. Your osterizer looks new and shiny to me -- just
> look at that base -- brand new and sparkley!!! You should've asked the
> lady for the price of the backdrop! Look at that stitching -- months if
> not years of work.
Yes, I am excited, and anxious for it to arrive. The seller did set up the
display nicely. The backdrop is actually a machine-made quilt. When I
worked as an interior designer back in the late 1960s - early 1970s, I
would sometimes order custom made quilts when I designed a bedroom. The
pattern is a variation on what is called "vermicelli" quilting. The
vermicelli pattern was used plain as in this display, but also used as a
"filler" pattern on fabrics with extremely large prints. Outline quilting
was done around the large pattern with the vermicelli filling in the
background.
> Today I was waiting for my package from DHL/Cooking.com I got a
> Cuisinart electric skillet to replace the other one that the legs fell
> off (this was an amazing thing to me -- shock and awe!) The Cuisinart
> looks so much sturdier.
I'm just glad you didn't have an accident with the legs on that frypan.
They might have come off when it was full of grease! The Cuisinart looks
beautiful (I looked at the picture you posted in the other thread). Is it
non-stick? I prefer electric skillets to be non-stick. I once bought a
Farberware electric skillet that had a stainless steel interior and
everything stuck to it. :-(
> And I don't know if you remember so looooong
> ago I was looking for a glass pitcher container that had a top that
> would not pick up smells from the frig. I think it was probably you
> that gave me the link to the Italian one. When I got it today I was
> even more pleased with the pitcher because the top when you twist it is
> like a little suction vacuum - not like the other Italian pitchers made
> by the same company. I don't know what made me take a chance on this one
> by the same maker, but I did and came up a winner on it.
> http://tinyurl.com/mwn43 I've never seen anything like it this top
> fitting in my life -- it's made in Italy, too -- oh, those Italians, I
> hope they never stop making their kitchen products.
Yes, I remember your quest for the pitcher. And, yes, I sent you a link,
but I can't remember if it was for this manufacturer. It does look
similar, though. I do recall that someone else also sent you a link.
> And I got the pie rings for the rolling pin. My next project -- good
> pie crust WITHOUT vegetable shortening, but with lard and/or butter. Do
> you think in pie crust recipes -- there must be trillions of fool-proof
> ones, but I've never found one yet -- that if the instructions seemed
> like one you could work with and that you could substitute lard for the
> shortening, use it; or should one find one specifically written for
> lard or lard and butter. Paula Deen likes to use shortening and butter.
I use exactly the same recipe, regardless of what fat I'm using. When I
use lard and/or butter, however, I put it in the freezer until quite cold,
then cut it into 1/2" dice. Using a pastry blender, I cut in half the fat
until the particles are about the size of chopped nuts. I cut in the
remainder until the particles are no smaller than a large green pea. I
find this contributes greatly to the flakiness.
> Again, you're the winner! I can just envision the camera set up for the
> sale of your item. So darned folksy, you just have to buy it because
> you know it's the genuine article.
This seller goes to a lot of trouble with her setups and they are all
attractive, but this was the only item I was interested in. I'm sure it
pays off, because everything looks so attractive.
I am always intrigued with older items that are listed as NOS (new old
stock - never used) or MIB (mint in box - mint condition in original
packaging). Several years ago I was adding to my collection of vacuum pot
coffee makers. I came across a seller who had bought an old
hardware/variety store that had been closed for over 30 years, with all the
original stock inside. I bought two brand new 1940s vintage vacuum pots,
both of which had all the original parts and packed in the original
cartons. That was quite a find! One is really beautiful, as the bowls
have a wide ruby glass pattered band around the middle bordered by thin
bands of 14k gold.
> Up all night tonight,
Poor you! I hate when that happens. :-( I awoke at 2:30am and discovered
by BG level had dropped to 46, so I ate a bowl of sliced bananas with a bit
of sugar and some fat-free cream while sitting here at the computer. I am
going off to bed now, as I have to get up at 5:00am to get ready for work.
Get some sleep!
--
Wayne Boatwright @¿@¬
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