Up for sale is aclassic decoLanders Frary & Clark \"Universal\" waffle ironmodel 4502circa 1924-31. It has been completly disassembled cleaned, inspected and tested. Itheats upperfectly, the heating elements come on full power and actually looked new...I had them completly out of the unit so I could soak the plates. It has also been rewired with modern 18AWG shielded wire ratedfor 1000 degrees F.
I did not attempt to make any waffleswith it. This was made long before teflon of any other non-stick surface so while I am sure if youspray enough cooking spary on the plates it would work I did not want to mess it up. I did allow it to heat up for about 15 minutes and then took temperature readings across the cooking surface. Temeratures were quite consistant at around 410 degees leading me to believe that it would work great...not sure about the sticking.
The elegance of these early appliances belies the fact that America at this time was in the throes of the great depression. The $17.50 price for this Model adjusted for inflation is equal to $120.00 today. By 1933 when the economy hit bottom, few families could afford these fancy models making them scarce collectables today.
Theblue handles and feetare made ofan early plasic know as Casain. Casein plastics were developed at the very end of the 19th century. Casein - milk protein - was ground into powder, then mixed into a paste which was then hardened by prolonged immersion in formaldehyde. Thick slabs could take nearly a year.The new material was hard and took a good polish, and like celluloid, could readilybe colored to imitate natural materials such as horn, ivory and tortoiseshell. Not sure in this case..Lapis maybe? For various reasons, casein\'s popularity was much greater and longer-lasting in Europe than in America. American maufactuers used casein only sporadically, and not at all after the general adoption of celluloid in the 1920s so much more rare then Bakelite.
This like many appliances of the time has no on off switch. I have paired this up with a period new old stock \"Switch Plug\". These plugs themselves are quite interesting and made of Bakelite.
I work to restore these US madeappliances to their original condition and purpose. These are very old and even if brand new wouldnot mean they are as safe as units made today since safety standards were different. I am not a certifiedelectrition however I do pay particular attention to electical safety. I do reccomend that you plugany toaster into a fault protectedoutlet if available (one with the little reset button). Also keep in mind that older small appliances were not cool to the touch when in operation and can sometimes get very hot.
Posted with Mobile
