Sunbeam Mixer

[Mr_D.]

Found this at the flea market today for $8.00

It works great. the cord is a little beat up and taped in a few places. So I will get it replaced.

After doing some searching online to date it, here is what I found about it.

And then came Model 12, in October 1957.

Sunbeam Mixmaster History

Ok, I took it apart to clean it and found about 20 dead roaches inside, (yuck). I regressed all the parts inside. I am considering pulling the motor out and sanding it down and repainting it (original white of course). What does everyone think? Should I restore it or leave it as is with the few scratches and show of use and wear?

 

[PoohBang]

make sure you use the food grade grease... If you're going to paint it, you might as well do a cool retro color....

 

[Mr_D.]

make sure you use the food grade grease... If you're going to paint it, you might as well do a cool retro color....

Well, if I repaint it, I will restore it to it's natural look. White.

 

[tonyb]

If it were mine, I'd just clean it up and call it good. I'd fear the loss of the original markings (the Sunbeam decal -- or is it paint? -- for instance) should the casing be repainted.

That's a great find, Enoch. I've been on the lookout for a quality old mixer myself for, oh, ever. I use a bought-at-Target piece o' junk, which does the job well enough for my purposes, I suppose, although I wonder what new purposes I might discover had I a better machine. But I ain't about to hand over 300 bucks or more for a new KitchenAid. Something like the one you found, or that old Hamilton Beach that PoohBang recently scored, is out there somewhere.

 

[Mr_D.]

If it were mine, I'd just clean it up and call it good. I'd fear the loss of the original markings (the Sunbeam decal -- or is it paint? -- for instance) should the casing be repainted.

That's a great find, Enoch. I've been on the lookout for a quality old mixer myself for, oh, ever. I use a bought-at-Target piece o' junk, which does the job well enough for my purposes, I suppose, although I wonder what new purposes I might discover had I a better machine. But I ain't about to hand over 300 bucks or more for a new KitchenAid. Something like the one you found, or that old Hamilton Beach that PoohBang recently scored, is out there somewhere.

The logo and "mixmaster" feel like they are painted on or decal. I was going to see if I could have a decal made *IF* I restore it. But I am starting to feel the same as you. just clean it up and call it done. leave the "well used" feel to it.

As for you getting one. I searched today on ebay, they have them with the bowls for around $25.00 plus shipping. Much better then the $300 for a bran new one that's prob made of plastic.




Also wanted to add this unite separates from the base to become a hand mixer. Also so that it can be used with some of the attachments that came for it, such as the ice cream mixer.

 

[tonyb]

Thanks for the tip. I may just treat myself to one via eBay, should it come to that. I suspect the shipping and packaging would cost a bit as well, considering the weight of those old babes and the amount of padding, etc., I would hope a seller would see fit to use.

How difficult is it to reproduce old decals? I'm thinking that this modern digital stuff makes that sort of thing a lot more feasible than it once was. I recall talking with my brother a few years back, my brother who has since passed beyond this mortal veil, about just such a feasibility. Among the stuff he had acquired over the years was a '62 Vespa GS (his widow still owns it) which he bought circa 1972. We had considered restoring the sheet metal on it, seeing how we'd already done just about everything else, but hesitated because it still wore the decals that were affixed to it but when it was sold new, through some dealership in Italy. Now that it's nearly 50 years old, and seeing how it, as much as anything else of this material world, is reflective of him, it might be a project worth tackling now. He used to joke with his wife that if he were to croak, she should mix his ashes with some paint and apply him to the Vespa. It might then be all the more reflective of him, eh? (Yeah, bad joke, I know, but he'd appreciate it.)

I admit that part of what appeals to me about those new KitchenAids is their look. I wouldn't mind leaving one out on the countertop, you know? But your old Sunbeam looks cooler, I think. And it being the genuine article makes it all the better.

 

[Mr_D.]

Thanks for the tip. I may just treat myself to one via eBay, should it come to that. I suspect the shipping and packaging would cost a bit as well, considering the weight of those old babes and the amount of padding, etc., I would hope a seller would see fit to use.

Here are some 1950 model 11 mixers going for around $25- $30.
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_tr...0+sunbeam+mixmaster&_sacat=See-All-Categories

After looking more I found one of the 1957 model 12's like I got going for $200

How difficult is it to reproduce old decals? I'm thinking that this modern digital stuff makes that sort of thing a lot more feasible than it once was. I recall talking with my brother a few years back, my brother who has since passed beyond this mortal veil, about just such a feasibility. Among the stuff he had acquired over the years was a '62 Vespa GS (his widow still owns it) which he bought circa 1972. We had considered restoring the sheet metal on it, seeing how we'd already done just about everything else, but hesitated because it still wore the decals that were affixed to it but when it was sold new, through some dealership in Italy. Now that it's nearly 50 years old, and seeing how it, as much as anything else of this material world, is reflective of him, it might be a project worth tackling now. He used to joke with his wife that if he were to croak, she should mix his ashes with some paint and apply him to the Vespa. It might then be all the more reflective of him, eh? (Yeah, bad joke, I know, but he'd appreciate it.)

I don't know how hard it would be to remake the decal. Maybe some transfer paper or something.

Side note. it is written in my will that when I pass I am to be cremated and a small amount of my ashes are to be mixed with a gallon of gasoline and run through my car. So that's not a bad joke in my opinion

I admit that part of what appeals to me about those new KitchenAids is their look. I wouldn't mind leaving one out on the countertop, you know? But your old Sunbeam looks cooler, I think. And it being the genuine article makes it all the better.

My mom has an old KitchenAid mixer that she has had for about 35 years. I love the look of it, but it is HEAVY. This Mixmaster is not light but compared to the KitchenAid, it's a feather.

I found on that site they came in White, Yellow, Pink, Green and Chrome, so repainting mine a retro color is not out of the realm. But I am really thinking of just leaving it. It has a "I have been used and loved" feel to it. I wonder how many cakes it has made.

 

[CharlieB]

I have to say "thanks" for posting this. My mother had one exactly like it, but replaced it in the 1970's with a newer Sunbeam.

Brings back memories of making Christmas cookies!

 

[Wire9Vintage]

I have the previous model 9, and love it dearly. Mine is missing it's "turn table" and original bowl, but I use it as a hand mixer (good for working the arm muscles!). The babies are absolute work horses. Amazing...you buy a mixer for twice what one of these costs, and it lasts a couple of years. Buy a good old 60-year old mixer, and it works like a charm. And there you have it!

Enjoy the sweetheart!

 

[Mr_D.]

Decided to restore it to it's former beauty.

Sanded it down to bare metal, primed and painted it, 3-4 coats. Found the logos online and some decal paper to print them on. Will have a new cord put on it next week and she will be good as new.

 

[LondOfHoney]

For those who where wondering about the quality of the Kitchen Aid stand mixer they are not plastic junk. They are 100% metal (except for one gear that is designed to strip before the motor breaks in case of a jam) and made in the US. I have seen them put together and they are all almost completely hand made. It really is a stunning process. They also weigh a ton. Rather then wrestle mine up and down I just leave it on the counter. Mine is a very vintage tangerine orange, and I think is just a flashy as the Sunbeam. (I named mine Carmen Miranda).

My mother owns an original 50's(ish) sunbeam mixer as well and I have used that extensively. The sunbeam is a perfectly adequate mixer. It is still going strong after all these years. It is great for things like whipping cream, making frosting, cake batter ect. But for anyone who plans to use a mixer more then once a weak or for anything more then a loose batter a KitchenAid is the way to go. It just has so much more horsepower then the Sunbeam. For breads, cookie dough etc the Sunbeam sounds like it is dying (and will in short order) while the KitchenAid just chugs through it. There also is a lot of versatility to a KitchenAid stand mixer. Unlike the sunbeam which only mixes (I believe some had attachments but ours did not) my KitchenAid makes icecream, shreds vegetables, grinds meat, juices fruit, stuffs sausages, rolls pasta, mills grain and a good deal of other functions, and every attachment ever made for it from the time they started still fits. They have never changed the attachment drive. In my small kitchen a does it all appliance really saves on space.

The Sunbeam is a great mixer and totally worth it. I really like them and have never had issues with it. My KitchenAid is just a whole 'nother breed of appliance. Both are great products just designed for different types of use. If you really need a high end mixer then the KitchenAid is a great product and worth the 300 bucks. If you just need to whip some cream every few months the Sunbeam is a much better bet.

Honda I love that you restored yours. It looks like a million bucks!

 

[Mr_D.]

@LondOfHoney I agree 100%. I would kill for my mothers KitchenAid. It actually was supposed to be mine when she passes, but my sister talked her into giving it to her instead. My mother got her KitchenAid because she used to do a cake business and needed the strong long lasting machine. But the Sunbeam will be fine for home cakes and mixing that the average person would do, and it obviously is made to last. 54 years later and it still running just as strong as the day it was built.

BTW here are a few things the Sunbeam mixmaster can do for you.

These were the attachments available for any Mixmaster owner, with the Mixmaster models hosting their premieres in parentheses:

• meat grinder/food chopper (M4C)
• coffee grinder (Model M4H)
• can opener (M4H)
• knife sharpener (M4H)
• polishing wheel (M4H)
• slicer/shredder (M4J/K)
• fruit and vegetable peeler (M4J/K)
• drink mixer (M4J/K)
• ice cream freezer motor (M4J/K)
• butter churn (K)
• and pea sheller (K).
  There were even attachments for the attachments: a Mixmaster owner could buy a far larger reamer for the juicer attachment in order to squeeze fresh grapefruit juice; and, a horn-shaped sausage stuffer which fit onto the reception end of the meat grinder.
  
  There are MANY more attachments too. Just check out THIS site for more Sunbeam history.

Thanks for the great bit of information LondOfHoney, and welcome to the lounge.

 

[BoPeep]

Ask and ye shall find . . . a thread about Sunbeam mixers!! Had to bring this back to show off my collection of two. A 1940 Model 7 (I believe) and a later 1950s model. These reside in my pantry while the KitchenAid has been put in the basement for heavy duty jobs (grinding venison and making pickle relish). More pics here http://willowhomestead.blogspot.com/

 

[Forgotten Man]

Sunbeams are out there, they made MANY of them! Popular and easy to find part sets if needed... Also, the bowls turn up now and again if one should break.

This is not a Sunbeam but, a mixer nevertheless... Figured I'd share this little guy here... I picked this up at an antique shop in Tucson AZ... It's a 1934 Hamilton Beach model B.

Not too common, one of their earliest counter top mixers. It works well and I'm trying to decide if I should repaint it. The ebonized wood handle is in good shape, but the paint on the body is chipped as you can see in the photos.

What do you guys think?

 

[Deco_Green]

Hmm...that's a tough call. Personally, I'm against refinishing or repainting anything unless absolutely necessary. Considering its age and all the use it's probably gotten over the years, it's in pretty good shape. But, since it's something used in food preparation, it might be a little more appetizing if painted. Maybe you could just do a few touch ups instead of repainting all of it?

 

[Forgotten Man]

I'm kinda the same way, I don't like to repaint things or refinish antiques if I don't really have to... It's only original once ya know. However, it's seen a lot of years, there are one or two white specks on the base, I think this machine sat in a garage for many years. But, it's chipped pretty good. It operates well, no problems there! I think when I have some free time, I may repaint just the cream color... not sure though. Darn, what to do.

-=R

 

[tonyb]

That makes three of us. I'm also inclined to leave things "original," but then, it would look much better if it were given a proper restoration, meaning taken apart and stripped to bare metal and repainted with the right paint in the right color(s) with the right equipment by the right person. And it is, after all, just an old mixer, which is way cool and all, but if it ever becomes truly valuable, well, we'll all be long gone at that point, so what the heck, right?

 

[Professor]

1936 Mixmaster

Seems to me there was another thread related to Mixmasters, but just the same here's my '36 model...

There were, just as with KitchenAid, all the various attachments available, but all too often they become lost. Not too long ago I actually found a box with some for this one, but haven't delved into them yet. Matter of fact, I've not used the mixer itself much in recent years and it's past due for refurbishment. There is a tendency to bog down in heavy dough, and the motor is worn out. As for paint, it has been a concern expressed to me that chips may fall into the mix.

 

[airgrabber666]

Nice Mixmasters, everyone. I actually admin a Facebook group called "Fans of the Classic Sunbeam Mixmaster" which is open to enthusiasts and fans alike.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/home.php?sk=group_116001601747070&ap=1

I will have to get a picture of my 1956 Model 11 to post up. My favorites really are the soft-green Mixmasters from the 1930s with the matching jadeite bowls and juicer.

 

[bil_maxx]

These mixers are bulletproof. My mom still uses the one she got for her bridal shower in 1967 every day. Incredible. It doesn't show any signs of wear at all.