Your oldest piece of equipment?

[Anonymous]

For me it's got be my Kenwood Major mixer, I got it back in the early 70's and still use it today! The machine is brilliant, it can liquidize, mince, fill sausages, open cans, slice beans and 101 other things!

I don't see any point in buying the latest gadgets when my old one still does the job What's your oldest piece of equipment?

 

[lanco]

Our oldest appliance is an 11 year old refrigerator. The appliance that has the shortest life span is a toaster. We just recently got a new one.

 

[Kendall]

Oldest Appliance

My mom still has things around the kitchen that have been around since I was born. I recognized them in the home movies.

One appliance she kept was a toster. I can't recall the brand but I bought her a new one about eight years ago when the one she had kept burning the toast.

 

[kitchenelf]

Does a husband count as an appliance? "It" still chops, dices, slices, cleans, makes toast rather nicely - some of "it's" features are showing a little wear but is still enjoyable to look at. This is a rather versatile appliance as it can sweep, walk the dog and rub feet!! Technically, this is my oldest appliance and I will have to stick with it!!!!

 

[Carol7368]

I think I know somebody who isn't about to trade in that old appliance - sounds like it has been honed to perfection and the warranty is still good! They just don't build them like that anymore. LOL, Carol

 

[Rudy2]

Well...this isn't a appliance, but does a cooking item count

I still use a green antique glass measuring cup my mom had. I believe she got it from my Grandma. I keep looking at Anchor Hocking measuring cups, but just can't bring myself to buy one. I actually have quite a few 'antique' dishes that I use all the time that were passed down from other generations. They look really nice in a china cabinet, but seems like I am 'closer' to my family that has 'passed on' when I actually use them all the time. Any one else do this too? Use antique items on a daily living basis?

 

[kitchenelf]

Hi Rudy2

It's me in disguise - vj!! LOL Thanks for posting R2 - and it was good to hear from you.

After my dad passed away I used his coffee cup every day. One morning as I was rinsing it out at work I dropped it. I NEVER cry when I break things 'cause I'd rather break them using them than dusting them - BUT, this time was different. I didn't actually think I could sob like that!! Well, the next morning when I came into work there was a paper bag on my desk. It had written on it - heard you broke my cup - here's another one for you, and it was signed "dad". The man I was working for was also a long-time very good friend and he bought me another one. I thought that was soooo sweet of him to do that.

I also like to use my mother's silverware that she used, and I'll have a cup of tea in her china cups. I have her things sitting out so I can see and use them. When it's just my husband and I for dinner I will use her plates, etc. A lot of them got broken during an earthquake so I don't have a full set.

I still use my mom's measuring cup. It's just an old glass Pyrex with the numbers almost gone - I suppose it's not dishwasher safe LOL!!! And my son still likes to use one of her quilts - not one she made but just one she had. It is totally falling apart and he loves it so much I just can't stop making him use it. Like I said - I'd rather they break or fall apart using them!!!!

 

[Norma]

I married into a long line of packrats! I've got a Sunbeam stand up mixer, complete with most of the blades, and all the various bowls that came with it, circa 1940's, a '60's electric knife, still in the original box, a 70's blender, a double decker Wear-Ever roaster that was OLD when my 56 year old husband was a little boy! A wooden hand carved/painted crumb tray and "brush" made by my grandfathers grandmother more than a 100 years ago. I also have some canning jars with porcilin inserts...ages old! The "oldest" antique canning jar holds my supply of Emeril's Essense, the larger ones hold sugar, flour, etc...The crumb tray and brush are hanging on the wall...the rest of the stuff I use all the time, and they still work great, especially the mixer. My electric range is from the late '40's ....and is in excellent conditon, best range I've ever used. I don't have much from MY family, because my active 92 year old granny is still using it all!

 

[kitchenelf]

LOL norma - if anything breaks you get to see how poorly things are made these days!!!! Thanks for posting (this is vjbme in disguise!!! LOL)

Sounds like you have some really neat stuff. We moved too much to be packrats.

Go Granny!!!!!! Keep on keepin' on!

 

[Norma]

LOL vj!
We've been through THREE coffee makers in 7 months, and they were NOT the cheap ones! I am thinking of looking for an old time stove top percolater

 

[kitchenelf]

Norma!!! My ex-husband finally said I could have mine back (it's only been 12 years!!!!!) I'll send it to you!!!!! And it can't be broken - there's nothing to break on it!

 

[Forney]

My gas range is original to when my house was built in 1948. Still works great!! The appliance I have the hardest time with are electric mixers. I go through 2 - 3 of them a year....

 

[Rudy2]

I still have one of the old glass coffeepots like

my mom used to use all the time. I did have hers and used it all the time, but one day I had made coffee in it..turned my back to do something else in the kitchen and heard this big 'crack' and then water pouring. Yep..it just cracked in half and boy did I have a mess to clean! I had tried to contact the original company but they were out of business. I got VERY lucky and ran across one at a garage sale a couple years ago and got it for only a couple of bucks!! Needless to say, it stays in my china cabinet now though as I know how tough it would be to replace. It sure made terrific coffee though..MUCH better I think than the new one I have now.

 

[cookies140]

I'm the oldest piece of equipment in the kitchen

Since I'm now 69 years old, I guess that qualifies me as the oldest piece of equipment in the kitchen. I do have a few little odds and ends from when I was a young woman but have tended to get the latest stuff when I see it because I am so tough on my appliances. I've gone through several coffee makers, toasters, mixers, etc. I just wish my things would last!

 

[kitchenelf]

OK Rudy2, it's lecture time - Now, if that coffee pot made the best coffee and you are NOT using it - what good did it do to buy it!!!!!!!! You've got to USE it to benefit from it!!! Ok, I'm done!

Carol - LOL on you being the oldest piece of kitchen equipment. They just don't make things like they used to. I bought a new washer and dryer and the washer shakes and walks like you wouldn't believe. I called about it and they say it does this because they are making them so much lighter now and that's just what they do. That's one thing I was looking forward to with a new one - no more finding my washing machine in a different place with every load of laundry!!!

 

[cookies140]

Kitchen equipment

I even had to smile at this myself being the oldest piece of kitchen equipment. (I am Cookies140). That is not surprising about the washer and dryer because things just don't last anymore. The biggest example of this I can see is computers and operating systems. This Forum has to be one of the best I've ever seen!!!

 

[Norma]

Cookie, I know what you're talking about on the washer/dryer! WE got lucky! We bought the "used" (sort of) set that belonged to an attorney and his wife, who were remodeling ( ?????? ) their laundry room, and wanted a different color! 10 years old and TOTALLY spotless..even the vents! I think they must have had their towels and sheets done at the dry cleaners too! As for mixers, my inheritied 50 year old Sunbeam out performs ANY of the MANY expensive new ones I've had in the past. On coffee pots, I remember my grandmother using her old stove top model, adding a pinch of salt, plus egg shells into the basket...THEN pouring the brewed coffee into the pretty ELECTRIC one she'd been given for Xmas...to keep the coffee warm!

 

[kitchenelf]

I had forgotten about the salt and the eggshells Norma. My, how soon we forgot.............it's only been lkadmvmoe years since I've used one - oh, did I make a typing mistake??? I don't think so :p

 

[cookies140]

Kitchen Equipment

I had forgotten about the egg shells too...my father always used to put them in with a tiny bit of salt and the coffee sure tasted better than mine does

Isn't this the neatest Forum? I absolutely love it!

 

[kitchenelf]

You like that big cheesey grin as much as I do!! :p