TBT this week is prompted by a high school friend's posting of her 46 year old Sunbeam electric skillet dying and bemoaning the fact next on her list is replacing her vintage 1960’s era Frigidaire Custom Imperial stove/oven combo. When I saw her photo and read about her loss it brought a twinge of sadness... Men might get attached to their cars / boats but for women it's more likely her washing machine/dryer/ a kitchen appliance which sustains the abuse of household demands and time...I personally grew up with a 1950's Monarch electric stove which still resides in my childhood home in Little Rock. It has a built in salt & pepper shaker and light which illuminates the stove top and serves as a great kitchen night light..
When I first visited the End of the Rainbow Valley in '05 I couldn't believe my eyes when upon walking into Natureman's kitchen there sat (and still sits) a vintage1950's Monarch; only this one was a combo wood burning electric stove. What are the chances? Some 40 years previously Natureman had inherited this gem from his closest neighbors down the road a 1/2 mile away. I wonder how in the world they ever lifted and transported it to the back of the End of the Rainbow Valley much less fit it through the small door opening...Actually, it was such a gem that the builder had an alternative plan for our new house for adding a lower level which would have the house bermed on one side with a walk-in lower level to a summer kitchen utilizing this stove for canning. But, practicality won out as it was more prudent to forego the lower level and keep all the living on one level considering we weren't getting any younger...
The Monarch remains in the old house 12' behind the new house. In the last 18 years there really hasn't been much need for the extra ovens nor burners as there's a double oven in the new abode. But the Monarch still works!
As the saying goes 'they don't make 'em like they used to...'
They Don't Make Them Like They Used to... (via YouTube)
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