Friday, November 25, 2011

Ode to my Kitchenaid Stand Mixer.....




Yes! I do love my Kitchenaid Stand Mixer. It is a vintage model 4C. When Doug and I got married, I hoped to get one for a wedding gift. However, no rich relatives turned up! So, I settled for a handmixer. It did fine for a novice cook and lasted about the average 4 years.

Then I really began to commit the sin of covetousness. I wanted a Kitchenaid Stand Mixer with all my heart. However, with a small child, the usual doctor bills and necessary things like paying the morgage and household bills, this was an extravagance we could ill afford.

I am, among other things, a hardcore yardsale junkie. I love them. Any shape, size, place and name you choose to call them, I don't pass one by as a rule. One Saturday morning, Doug and I were cruising, that is what we call it when we are not really out there for yardsales but if we see one, we hit it) near our home. We saw a crudely lettered sign saying "Estate Sale". "Wanna follow it?" Doug asked. "Sure!" I replied and off we went.

The sign led us to a slightly run down 60's subdivision. These usually produce some good things so I was more than interested. As we approached the house with the matching sign on the mailbox, I spied a white item with a familiar shape sitting on the ground just outside the garage door. I quickly headed for it, all the while pretending to look at other items nearby. As I approached my heart began to race and as I stooped to get a better look at a cheap glass florist vase, I took a hard peek at the object of my excitement.

YES! It was! It was a Kitchenaid Stand Mixer! Not one I'd seen before in style, but it said Kitchenaid on the side. Dirty and greasy, but it said Kitchenaid on the side!

I leaned over and picked it up and turning to the man in charge I asked in a slightly uninterested tone of voice, "How much for this old mixer?". He glanced up and said, "Oh, that was my Mom's favorite thing in the kitchen. I'll take $10.00 for it." "Does it work?" I asked in that same...er....uninterested tone. "It did a few years ago, you can plug it up and see, over there." I strolled over to the drop cord he had pointed to and plugged it in. My heart soared as I turned the knob on top of the crome handle and heard that sweet sound of a working motor. I quickly paid the man and not finding anymore treasures, Doug and I headed for the car. I showed him my prize and that is when I realized that in my inital excitement I'd not noticed that there was no bowl or beater! I went back and asked for them but the man said that they'd been lost when they moved his mother's things.

Ebay to the rescue! As soon as I got home I began researching my new prize. It was a Model 4C I learned and was made during the early 1960's (1962 to be exact) and there were limited items out there to find to use with it. I needed a bowl. I needed a whisk (beater) and I needed them now! So, I began to shop ebay for the desired items and found that there were a lot of people doing exactly what I was doing. I was also very suprised to learn that even as old as my 4C is, it is quite desireable and valuable.

I found a lovely bowl and the same lady had a whisk as well! I made my purchase, total $12.00 and $5.00 shipping. Now my mixer was up to at least $27.00. Compared to a new one that is quite a difference.

While I waited for my bowl and whisk to arrive, I gave my new toy a good cleaning. It is quite lovely to me, sleek and modern looking for it's day. It reminds me of the cars of the day, with their angles and chrome everywhere. I love chrome....but that is another story!

The bowl and whisk arrived 5 days later. I tore into that box like a kid on Christmas morning. TaDa! I ran to my mixer and put the bowl and whisk on it, turned it on and aaaahhhhhhh.......such sweet music to my ears!

That day I made 2 cakes, 1 dozen muffins and a big old pone of cornbread! I was in heaven. To date it is the rare day that goes by that I don't use my Kitchenaid Stand Mixer. It can't make breads, no bread hook, it can't make stiff batters, the whisk is not a good tool for that but it can mix up some serious creamed potatoes, pies, cakes and muffins not to mention the southern staple, Cornbread.

I actually own 2 of the "vintage" Kitchenaid Stand Mixers'. The second one has a place of honor on top of my fridge. It is a Model 3B. circa: 1944-1953. See the photo at top left. It works, but not as well as my 4C. I found it at a flea market. I don't know why I bought it....... (grin) just couldn't resist I suppose.

As I type this, I am saddened by the fact that my beloved mixer is on it's last legs. It just doesn't seem to have the old pep it used to have. The motor smells hot sometimes and Doug tells me it is the "brushes" in the motor doing that. He also tells me that it isn't long for this world.

So, I am in the market for a "new" Kitchenaid Stand Mixer. I'd dearly love a brand new stainless steel one, but yes, well......

20 comments:

  1. what a wonderful story......l have just found your blog and will visit again, thankyou Carolyn

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  2. Ha! I just picked up a similar one at an antique store in town for $10, with the wisk and bowl (such a pretty, honey-comb glass thing!) and I know your joy. I actually have a newer model I bought about 15 years ago retail, but thought that one of my 5 kids in varying states of leaving the nest would like it. Motor sounds great. I was searching to find if it had a dough hook and I guess not, but it should still serve someone well for several or many years.

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  3. I too found my 4-C Kitchen Aid mixer at a yard sale! Twenty years ago I was an new bride and mom. We got my mixer for 50cents! That in its self is a great story... but my mother inlaw thought I was crazy.... She went on and on about the wisk not being the right kind for mash potatoes! Well I have raised 5 children on the mashed potatoes that mixer and soon to be a grandma in Feb and April of 2014! My big kids are trying to put their bids in for my mixer "when I'm done with it!" Well I got new for them.....I love my 50cent mixer and were very happy together!! Lisa Vail-Rebelsky Decatur,Il

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  4. Hi! I love your story. I stumbled across it doing research on the Kitchenaid model 4C since I have fallen in love with the vintage style. I went hunting of a new Kitchenaid mixer on ebay or a deal when I found this vintage machine. I'm purchasing it mainly to shred chicken since all my research says that the Kitchen aid stand mixer is the best option for this..probably with the paddle attachment. Do you know if the paddle attachment is made for model 4c?

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    1. Hi Toni! Thank you for your comment! I have searched and searched for a paddle as well. There just isn't one. The mixer isn't designed to work with heavy mixes or dough. That said, I have made our favorite pound cake recipe which is a thick, heavy batter and it does okay. You might find some of the older "new" models paddle will fit but remember that the motor is not designed for the heavy batters/dough and might not do well.
      Blessings and enjoy your KitchenAid 4C.

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  5. I was looking at a vintage Kitchenaid mixer 3B. I was wondering what I can do with it and if I can find parts for it, when I need to. I love the way it looks. Thanks

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    1. Hi! I also love the look of the Vintage KitchenAid Stand Mixers. The new ones are great but they just don't have the same look that appeals to us Vintage lovers. The 3B like the 4C is limited in the fact that it appears to have only been released with a whisk, no paddle attachment. It is great for mixes and looser batches of cookie batter but it will bog down with a thick batter. I have a 3B, it works but I use it for decoration up on top of my fridge along with some vintage bowls and pitchers. Parts will be difficult to find, KitchenAid doesn't offer any and I haven't seen any "little Mom & Pop" repair shops for years. :( Blessings~ Kat

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  6. Cleaning and changing the grease inside may just fix your mixer if its not working as well as it use too.

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    1. I did this for my 3B and it works much better now!

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  7. I also have a vintage 3B, but recently my daughter tried to mix some cream cheese for a cheesecake and didn't soften the cream cheese enough and the little ears on the whisk shaft sheared off. I wonder where I might find a replacement? Maybe I can weld a bead and hand file to fit and hold?

    Any suggestions are appreciated

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    Replies
    1. Hi! Try eBay. There usually are some there. Good luck!

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  8. Hi, I just purchased a 4C on eBay and can't wait to get baking! ...first a dumb question...how do I attach my meat grinder (and other attachments) to the 4C? I'm pretty sure I unscrew the little white screw to the right of the silver "circle" at the front of the machine ... and then what? How do I get the "circle" out so the attachment can go in? Any help you can provide this neophyte is much appreciated. Thank you!

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  9. I just purchased a 4C on eBay and can't wait to get baking! ...one dumb question first - how do I attach my meat grinder to the 4C? I'm pretty sure that I unscrew the little white screw to the right of the silver "circle" on the front of the machine ... and then what? How do I get the silver "circle" out of the way to insert the attachment? Any insight you could provide this neophyte is much appreciated. Thank you!

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  10. Hi Kay K! I honestly have never used the attachment port on my 4C, but on my new (2014) model you must sort of pop the center medallion out and insert the driver into that plug. My husband said he "pulled the medallion straight out". He is one of the guys that just have to see how something works and that is a huge help to me!
    Let me know how it goes!
    Blessings~ Kat

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  11. Hello! I inherited my KitchenAid mixer from my husband's grandmother about 15 years ago. It came with an attachment that I can't identify...it is wooden, about 3" long, 1.5" wide, and with the metal attachment stands about 3" tall. I found a picture on line "vintage wooden paddle attachment" but nothing to describe how to use it. Can you help?

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  12. I love your story! I just picked up a 4C mixer for display only, but the guy said that it works great! I have a brand new one that I use to make my cheesecakes, but this "new" one will be fun to display at vintage craft shows! I did pay $30 for it. Looks like I paid well over what everyone else has paid. Happy mixing!!

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  13. I love your story! I just picked up a 4C mixer for display only, but the guy said that it works great! I have a brand new one that I use to make my cheesecakes, but this "new" one will be fun to display at vintage craft shows! I did pay $30 for it. Looks like I paid well over what everyone else has paid. Happy mixing!!

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  14. I too am a confirmed 2nd hand looker/buyer. Just found a Kitchenaid 4-C at a Thrift store for $4.00. it had a bowl, but not the right one. (will fit my other, newer Kitchenaid mixer, so not a loss) It also came with the original beater. I am trying to find a manual and trying to repair the mixer.

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  15. Read where the brushes are a cheap easy fix... Just thought I'd throw that in there. Also, just picked up a 4c for 4$ as well. Now to keep eyes peeled for bowl n beater.

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  16. I am just seeing your blog. I have the same model in the color, Avocado. It was a wedding gift from my husband's Grandmother and still works. In two months, we will celebrate our 50th Anniversary. ❤ Keep on baking!

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