Those of us of (ahem) a certain age probably have fond memories of our mom making cakes, cookies, and cupcakes with her Sunbeam Mixmaster mixer. Those who are a little younger may remember their grandmother having one. In the days before processed foods, packaged cookies, and frozen Sara Lee poundcakes, moms across America used a machine like this to make sweet treats and desserts on a regular basis.
Back then, countertop appliances were relatively expensive, and were considered an investment. They were made in the US, of metal and bakelite plastic, and were designed to be serviced and built to last. With each Mixmaster model, Sunbeam released a service manual, so repair shops around the country could maintain the machines to their factory specs- and I've been lucky enough to get my hands on one!
Having now stripped down and rebuilt many of these machines, I can definitely say they were built to last! Virtually every part is removeable and serviceable. There's no plastic in there, except for nylon gears, used to ensure a quiet run and dependable performance. (Nylon was probably more expensive than metal in the 1950's!) Unfortunately, now that the Sunbeam company doesn't exist as an entity, parts are no longer made and distributed. Which leads me to my next subject: why are Auntie Nen's vintage Sunbeam Mixers so expensive?
My answer: because they are worth it! The mixers among Auntie Nen's Stuff have been completely dissasembled, with each part being completely cleaned and tested. The gearcases are completely cleaned and repacked with food-safe grease. All electrical connections are checked to ensure circuits are intact and insulated from the housing. Broken and missing parts are replaced wherever possible. The mixers I deliver are fully operable and ready to serve for many more years. While Sunbeam mixers were made from the 1930's all the way into the 1990's, the earliest mixers are mostly of interest to collectors- they really aren't practical for modern use. I focus on the mixers made between 1950 and 1980, which can be restored to useable condition. While they certainly aren't prepared to serve in a production bakery environment (they were never designed for that) they should certainly be ready serve an occassional home baker.
If you're thinking "but I see them on eBay for $36" I'll ask you: where do you think I get my raw materials? Trust me, I buy them all the time, and they aren't really worth $36. First of all they always arrive filthy- with 75 years worth of flour and cake mix caked onto the inside and outside of the machine.
There are usually parts missing. Sometimes they are seized up, or will only run on one speed. They are never something you'de be proud to have sitting on your kitchen counter- why the heck do you think someone is getting rid of it on eBay? So I start with a $36 mixer, but often, I have to buy 2-3 more in order to get all of the parts to make one quality unit. Sometimes I have to buy beaters and bowls. Usually, I have to buy a new power cord to replace the one with cracking insulation. By the time I gather everything I need to make a workable machine, I'm lucky to make a few bucks for my time and expertise! I'm not complaining- I love returning well-made things to usefulness! I just want my customers to understand that they are not taking on a project- they are buying a machine that they can take out of the box and start using today!
