Here’s a twist on the crockpot and fondue pot. Hamilton Beach’s Party Crock Cookset. This little pot would be great for entertaining. The 1.5 quart pot holds dips or side dishes on your buffet and can go from the refrigerator to the heating base to the table so you can prepare in advance and have fewer dishes to clean. The warming stand uses a tea candle so you don’t have to worry about guests tripping over the cord. It is available in red, blue, red heart shape, and orange pumpkin shape. It retails for $30-$35.
A Source for Antique Replica and Retro Style Kitchens
If you are planning your new kitchen or remodel and have your heart set on a 1950s or Victorian look, Elmira Stove Works will have you covered. They have two product lines, Antique and Northstar which include ovens, dishwashers, refrigerators and more.
Antique
The Elmira Antique line adds the warmth and beauty of an antique, traditional, or country style to any home. Choose one piece as an accent or the
full ensemble to complete a spectacular antique kitchen. Ranges and refrigerators are carefully handcrafted, offer professional state-of-the-art features, come in six colors, and have a multitude of options and trims. Ranges have self-cleaning ovens, eleven range tops to choose from including induction, and come in two different sizes for your convenience.
Northstar
The Elmira Northstar line is definitely a state-of-the-art retro trip! Nine cool colors and chrome accents allow the Northstar ranges, refrigerators, and range hoods to transform your kitchen into one of style and sophistication. The Northstar refrigerator is the coolest appliance you’ll ever own with its optional ice maker, Energy Star rating, 19 cu. ft. of storage, Visi-shelving, and adjustable door bins.
Northstar ranges offer full-sized, self-cleaning ovens (convection optional), high-speed radiant elements or high power sealed gas burners, delayed-start bake/clean, and much more. Complete the retro look with a dishwasher door panel and a professional-quality Northstar range hood, which offers four speeds, outside-vented fan, and dual halogen lights.
We have not yet reviewed these appliances, but they sure look fun, while still providing the conveniences we are accustomed to finding in our 21st century kitchens.
LG and GE to Share Patents
News from appliancemagazine.com a trade magazine, reports:
LG Electronics has entered into a cross licensing agreement with GE Consumer & Industrial that will allow LG and GE to use one another’s patents for refrigerators and cooking appliances without paying licensing fees.
“We believe that this licensing arrangement with GE will enhance our ability to deliver winning products and move us further toward our goal of becoming one of the top global brands in consumer electronics and home appliances,” said Young Ha Lee, president and CEO of LG Electronics Digital Appliance Company. “Our long history of working together with GE will help us take advantage of this agreement even more quickly.
“This agreement is part of a win-win strategy for both GE and LG,” said Lynn S. Pendergrass, president and CEO, GE Consumer and Industrial—Americas. “We expect the synergies resulting from the strong relationship between our two companies will contribute substantially to the success of both GE and LG.”
LG and GE have collaborated on cooking appliances since 1999, both in technologies and product development. The companies say the new agreement will help the companies strengthen their competitiveness worldwide. It will be especially helpful to LG, it said, in its push to expand its presence in digital appliances globally. The company currently sells its products through all three of the top retailers in North America: The Home Depot, Sears and Best Buy.
LG has previously entered into key partnerships with other top companies to build its technology and customer base. In 2000 the company partnered with Matsushita’s air-conditioning division and in 2001 LG allied itself with both Microsoft and Intel in the home networking sector.
A Jaunt for the Weekend- A Virtual Trip to the Washing Machine Museum
If you’re looking for a museum trip without the drive, just click here to visit the Washing Machine Museum. If you want to make the trip a real, not virtual experience, the museum is located in Eaton, Colorado with tours by appointment.
The virtual tour offers glimpses of the forgotten world of early hand, gas and electric powered washers. You can see the washers with wringers that advertise themselves with phrases like “Never Crush” and “Saves Women’s Lives”. Fingers were known to be not only crushed, but severed in wringers. There is also the Horton which claims “A Horton Washer will add many years to your life. It will save your health– keep the wrinkles out of your face–keep you youthful”.
The site includes an article about the invention of the washing machine, options to have your own antique appraised and of course, the virtual tour.
The tour is self guided and includes outdoor views of the rural museum, two buildings filled with vintage washers, a workshop and a barn with what appears to be washers awaiting restoration.
A fun afternoon’s visit, with some history and a great feeling for how much easier laundry is now.
Installing and Using Your Clothes Dryer Safely
Whether you are installing a new dryer, relocating an old one, or just looking to remind yourself of some basic household safety guidelines, you can clickon our link to The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers(AHAM) handbook on dryer care and safety.
You can read about:
- Proper installation materials and how to use them
- How to clean and maintain your dryer to get it working longer and at its best
- Items that should not be dried in a dryer
This is a short and easy to read brochure that will get you updated quickly.
Recall: Ensto Control Oy Toggle and Rotary Switches Due to Electric Shock Hazards
Name of Product: Toggle Switches and Rotary Switches
Units: About 19,000
Distributor/Importer: Disconnects of Florida Corp., of Tampa, Fla.
Manufacturer: Ensto Control Oy, of Finland
Hazard: When switched OFF, one electrical pole may remain energized, posing a risk of electrical shock hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Ensto Control Oy has received 13 reports of the switches not functioning properly. No injuries have been reported.
Description: The recalled toggle and rotary switches are manual motor controller switches or disconnect switches. The switches are typically used with HVAC units, electric distribution and control panels and industrial uses. Primarily the switches are used commercially, however they may also be found in residential applications. The switches were sold under the brand name Ensto Control Oy with a four digit manufacturing week date code stamped on the bottom of each switch. The code indicates the week and year of manufacture. Product codes ranging from 0107 through 5007 are included in the recall. The model numbers are located on labels attached on the upper part of the plastic switch housing. The following model numbers are included in the recall:
| KK17.3 KK17.963 KK17.980 KK19.3 KK19.963 KK19.980 KKCSU3.60JDR/U KSR3.100 |
KSR3.100/U KSR3.1001/U KSR31002/U KSR3.125/U KSR3.1251/U KSR3.63 KSR3.80 KSR3.80/U |
KSR3.801/U KSR3.802/U KST3.100U KST3.63 KST3.80 KST3.80/U |
Sold at: The recalled switches were sold through Ensto Control Oy to distributors, which in turn sold the switches to industrial OEMs. They were not sold in retail establishments or to consumers. The switches were sold for between $30 and $60.
Manufactured in: Finland
Remedy: Consumers who have installed switches can contact the firm for information on how to receive a free inspection and replacement switch. Consumers who have switches that are not installed can return them to Ensto Control Oy, c/o Kaltek Inc., 2310 Peachford Road, Atlanta, Georgia for a replacement switch.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Ensto Control Oy toll-free at (866) 800-0690 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday ET or visit the firm’s Web site at www.ensto.com
The Dishwasher of the Future – A Shape Shifter
Newscientist.com has found a great solution to that half-filled smelly dishwasher that you feel guilty running because it will waste water- The Shape Shifting Dishwasher –
A problem with conventional dishwashers is that to save water, energy and detergent, people wait until the machine is full before switching it on.
But if the dishwasher is in a single-person household, or one where people often eat out, it can take several days for the dishwasher to fill. This can lead to hygiene problems and offensive smells, and to food drying onto dishes, which is then harder to remove.
Now Paul Frigout from Coventry University has an answer in the form of a dishwasher with a movable partition. This changes the size of the washing compartment so it can accommodate small or large loads.
When the dishwasher is switched on, it washes only those dishes on one side of the partition. The other area could be used to store clean dishes, or can be used for an alternate cycle of washing while the first section is still drying.
The system is perfect for the person living alone, says Frigout.
Read the full shape-shifting dishwasher patent application
Has Stainless Peaked?
I’m enjoying my stainless steel appliances and plan to add to the look by replacing my range hood with a stainless version, but I’m sensing that stainless may have some serious competition on the horizon. I’m not alone with that thought, the Home and Garden people at nj.com, feel the same way:
“I think stainless has peaked,” says Mark Karas, vice president of the National Kitchen and Bath Association. That doesn’t mean stainless is going away, he says, just that it won’t get any more popular than it is now.
“If they’re replacing an appliance, they tend to stick with what they had before,” says Marc Blumenthal, vice president of B&B Appliance, with stores in Euclid and Middleburg Heights, Ohio. “If they’re remodeling, they look at it like a clean slate, a chance to do something new.”
Here are some other options:
“Integrated” is the big word in appliances these days. Refrigerators, dishwashers and warming drawers are being fitted with panels on their fronts that match the cabinetry, for a more seamless look.
Black is back. Karas says people with darker finishes on their cabinetry like black because it is not as strong a contrast as stainless or white would be. Don’t think black hides messes, Karas says. Black is reflective and shows more than you think.
White is a classic look for white or light-finish cabinets. Be careful with white, Karas says. Different manufacturers use different shades of white, and your appliances may not match.
You can go retro with vintage-look appliances. Elmira Stove Works offers refrigerators, stoves and range hoods in glorious ’50s shades and colors.
Looking for something new? Jenn-Air recently unveiled its oiled bronze finish. It’s a deep metallic brown. Reviews, Blumenthal says, have been mixed.
So, if you are about to start a remodel, or are planning to replace many of your appliances soon, your options still include the shine of stainless, but you have a wide variety of choices opening up too.
Recall: JCPenney Recalls Cooks Deep Fryers Due to Fire and Burn Hazards
Name of Product: Cooks Deep Fryers
Units: About 27,000
Importer: JCPenney, of Plano, Texas
Hazard: The deep fryer has a faulty heating element which can cause it to overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: JCPenney is aware of five incidents involving the deep fryers, including one report of a minor burn and three reports of damaged countertops.
Description: The Cooks deep fryer has a brushed stainless steel exterior, a wire mesh basket with a handle, a lid with a window and black handles. The deep fryer has a 1/3-gallon capacity. “Cooks” is stamped on the side of the deep fryer. Model number 22016 is printed on the bottom of the deep fryer.
Sold exlusively at: JCPenney’s stores nationwide, catalog and at www.jcp.com from August 2007 through January 2008 for about $50.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the deep fryer and return it to the nearest JCPenney store for a full refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact JCPenney toll-free at (888) 333-6063 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.jcp.com
Sears Unveils Kenmore Elite Oasis Washer and Dryer
Laundry Pair Combines High Efficiency with Deep Clean Functionality and SteamCare Technology
Kenmore Elite’s SteamCare technology, harnesses the power of steam by saturating dry clothing with a fine mist of water while simultaneously heating the interior of the appliance. The water and heat work together to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and odors, so consumers can avoid washing an article of clothing that may only need refreshing, saving both water and energy.
The new Oasis washer cleans better than any other model among leading brand top loaders, offering features like gentlewash technology to clean delicate items and Catalyst Cleaning Action to help ensure bright whites. The TimedOxi option, available in a top load model for the first time through Oasis, releases oxygen-based stain fighters at the precise time for powerful stain-fighting performance. Additionally, the washer is certified by the National Sanitization Foundation to eliminate 99.9 percent of certain bacteria found in clothes, sheets and towels.
Kenmore continues to deliver on high efficiency with this newest addition to the Oasis line up, as both models are more efficient than first generation Oasis HE models, surpassing ENERGY STAR standards. Adding to the efficiency, the Save Energy Plus feature conserves up to 20 percent more energy by extending wash times using cold water in cycles that may typically use hot water.
The Oasis washer’s Invizible Agitator sits low in its drum, allowing more space for clothing or bulky items like comforters and winter coats. Transparent, tinted glass doors on both the washer and dryer deliver a unique aesthetic, and consumers interested in second floor installation will be comforted to know that the Kenmore Elite Oasis creates the fewest vibrations in the industry.
The Oasis washer offers Kenmore Canyon Capacity — 4.6 cubic feet of cleaning space that efficiently cleans up to 24 bath towels in a single load. Also available in the Oasis dryer, the exclusive 7.4 cubic feet Canyon Capacity ensures that a full load from the washer will be effectively dried.
TurboDry technology in the Oasis dryer uses a 35 percent larger blower to increase airflow, drying a load of laundry more quickly than it takes to wash one. The Dual Action Drying system also contributes to faster dry times by simultaneously promoting airflow and tumbling. Gentleheat technology uses an advanced computer to measure air
temperature and moisture more accurately and calculate exactly how long a cycle should run, resetting the temperature as needed to improve fabric care.
The Oasis and Oasis pair will be available in white in March 2008 at for the regular retail price of $1,099. SteamCare and energy efficiency are also available in the HE Steam Laundry pair in white and the designer color, barolo. Prices range from $1,499 to $1,599 for washers and $1,199 to $1,299 for dryers depending on color. Base pedestals retail
for $259.99 each in color and $229.99 each in white.