Wendi Dunlap was researching historic kitchens to redesign her kitchen more authentically in her Arts & Crafts bungalow home. She shared her research of kitchen images from c. 1905 to 1925 so we can all benefit. You’ll love it. She also linked to another great historic kitchen image site, shorpy, with their funny post:
“Speaking as someone who needs to go lie down after microwaving a bag of broccoli, just looking at all this [1921] food preparation makes me dizzy with fatigue.“
Besides an eBay countdown for a vintage electric stove, the above video has a shortened history of electric cook stoves, or what people in the early 1900s would call “cooking with wire.”
The electric motor was invented in 1837, but it wasn’t until the late 1800s that the improved motor found its way into the kitchen.
Stoves
There was a patent awarded in 1859 for an electric cooking device, and there were a number of electric ovens invented in the 1890s, but none of these became commercially viable. In 1906 there were about 50 electric stoves produced in Australia, but they too weren’t a commercially success.
Electric hotplate, photo published in 1915.
Freestanding hotplates were the first electric stoves, slowly coming on the market circa 1906-1908; many advertisements appeared in 1911. Above is a picture of an early electric hotplate “stove” patented in 1914. One of the first electric ovens, modeled after the fireless cookers of the time, was invented in 1909 by Lloyd Copeman near Detroit. The ovens were slow in selling, so Copeman sold his company to Westinghouse between 1914-1917. Westinghouse is also said to have invented the toaster oven in 1910. Another early electric stove, circa 1910, had an oven with what looked like hotplates attached to the top surface.
Automatic oven controls were invented in 1915 and installed in most electric stoves in the 1920s. Before then the cook would shut the oven on and off to regulate oven temperature. In the mid-1920s a clock-timer was added to some electric stoves to automatically turn on and shut off the stove at specified times to cook meals while away from the stove.
Because not all homes were wired for electricity, electric stoves weren’t in common use until the 1930s. The microwave oven was invented in 1945, but it wasn’t until 1967 that the countertop version was available for the home. Self-cleaning electric ovens were first available in 1963, and the electric bread machine in 1992.
Toasting
The first electric toaster was invented in 1872, but its distribution was limited to England. The first commercially successful electric toaster was invented in 1909, and may have been one of the more popular electric kitchen gadgets. The pop-up toaster was invented in 1919 but waited until the Toastmaster 1926 to be introduced to the marketplace. The Marshmallow Toaster was invented in 1920.
Refrigerators
The first electric refrigerator was invented in 1872, but not for home use. The first electric refrigerator for the home was a plumbed unit perched on top of the old icebox, invented in 1913 and introduced in 1916. The electric refrigeration unit before 1925 was made to retrofit the existing icebox. The hermetically-sealed standalone refrigerator was invented in 1925, at the same time that refrigerators were being made of steel and porcelain cabinets. The first refrigerator that was widely used was the GE “Monitor-Top” released to the market in 1927, but the mass production of electric refrigerators didn’t really begin until 1945.
Coffee-making
By 1914 the electric percolator was proudly being used in wired homes, and the first automated electric percolator was introduced in 1952. It wasn’t until Mr. Coffee arrived in 1972 that the drip process was automated and there was a built-in automatic cut-off control.
Grinding, Mixing and Blending
The electric coffee grinder was one of the first electric appliances in the kitchen, being introduced in the 1890s. Although there was a patent for a food mixer in the 1885, the stand mixer was the first to be widely available for the home. The first stand mixer was invented c. 1920 for commercial soda fountains, and within a few years the stand mixer was available for the home, along with the electric blender which was invented in 1922.
Most of us have a great appreciation for many of the electric conveniences in the kitchen, particularly the electric dishwasher because it saves so much time. Blenders are a big help in creating quick, healthy, and refreshing drinks within seconds; and, for certain recipes we thank our lucky stars for the electric mixer! We take these for granted, but electric appliances and gadgets weren’t always here, and are now part of kitchen history.
See the updated list of vintage stove stores.
Resources:
Great Achievements
PartSelect
Idea Finder
Canada Science and Technology Museum
American Cookery article from 1920–
“If some fine day, all housewives awoke to the fact that most of the trouble in the world originates in the kitchen, there would shortly be a little more interest in kitchen problems and not so much distaste for and neglect of this important part of the house.
“Of course, women will cry out that we have never in our lives been so intent on just that one subject, kitchens, as we are today.
“I admit that there is a good deal of talk going on which might lead one to believe that vacuum cleaners and electric-washing machines, etc., are to bring about the millennium for housekeepers; and there is also a good work going forward to make of housework a real profession.
“But, until in the average home there comes the feeling that the kitchen—the room itself—is just as much an expression of the family life and aims and ideals as the living room or any other room, we shall be only beating about the bush in our endeavor to find a remedy for some of our perplexing troubles.
“Nowadays, women who are doing much work out in the big world—the so-called “enfranchised” women—are many of them proving that they find housework no detriment to their careers and some even admit that they enjoy it.
“But so far most of them have standardized their work and systematized it, with the mere idea of doing what they have to do “efficiently” and well, with the least expenditure of time and energy. And they have more than succeeded in proving the “drudgery” plea unfounded.
“Now, however, we need something more. We need to make housework attractive; in other words, to put charm in the kitchen.
“There is one very simple way of doing this, that is to make kitchens good to look at, and inviting as a place to stay and work.
“For the professional, scientifically inclined houseworker, the most beautiful kitchen may be the white porcelain one, with cold, snowy cleanliness suggesting sterilized utensils and carefully measured food calories.
“But to the woman whose cooking and dishwashing are just more or less pleasant incidents in a pleasant round of home and social duties, the kitchen must suggest another kind of beauty—not necessarily a beauty which harbors germs, nor makes the work less conveniently done, but a beauty of kindly associations with furniture and arrangements.
“Who could grow fond of a white-tiled floor or a porcelain sink as they exist in so many modern kitchens! And as for the bulgy and top-heavy cook stoves, badly proportioned refrigerators, and kitchen cabinets—well, we should have to like cooking very well indeed before we could feel any pleasure in the mere presence of these necessary but unnecessarily ugly accompaniments to our work.
We have come to think of cleanliness as not only next to godliness, but as something which takes the place of beauty—is beauty.
“This attitude is laziness on our part, for we need sacrifice nothing to utility and convenience, yet may still contrive our kitchen furniture so that it, also, pleases the senses. With a little conscientious reflection on the subject we may make kitchens which have all the charm of the old, combined with all the convenience of the new; and woman will have found a place to reconcile her old and new selves, the housewife and the suffragist, the mother-by-the-fireside and the participator in public affairs. The family will have found a new-old place of reunion—the kitchen!
“Granted then that our tiny house has a kitchen-with-charm, and an “other room,” the rest of the available space may be divided into the requisite number of bed and living rooms, according to the needs of the family.
“KITCHEN FOR THATCHED-STYLE COTTAGE
“There is only one other very important thing to look out for; that is the matter of closets. There is no rule for the number of closets which will make the tiny house livable, but I should say, the more the merrier. If there is ever question of sacrificing a small room and gaining a large closet, by all means do it, for absolute neatness is the saving grace of small quarters, and storage places are essential, if one does not wish to live in a vortex of yesterday’s and tomorrow’s affairs with no room to concentrate on the present.
“FIRST-FLOOR PLAN OF THATCHED COTTAGE
“Inside and outside the tiny house must conform to one law—elimination of non-essentials; and the person who has a clear idea of his individual needs and has also the strength of will to limit his needs to his circumstances, will find in his tiny house a satisfaction more than compensating for any sacrifices he may have made.”
Visit Jennifer McKendry’s website for pictures of toy miniature kitchens & dining-rooms from the 1880s to 1920s. They’re probably not just for children! Like
Mid-Century Modern Frost-Free Refrigerators
More 1950s refrigerator videos:
From the junk yard to the vintage appliances we love so much. See vintage stove dealers.
Setting up an antique hoosier cabinet: Hoosiers and other brand name antique kitchen cabinet furniture pieces can be transported easily as they separate into two sections. This vintage kitchen cabinet was missing the flour sifter. Replacement parts can be purchase online. The following video shows an installation of the flour sifter to the bin. Like
Julia Child’s Cambridge kitchen is at the Smithsonian Museum. See the kitchen and listen to Julia encourage you to make the kitchen a part of your family life. Navigate the link to find descriptions of the Cambridge kitchen items, and stories such as the designing of Julia and Paul Child’s 14 x 20 kitchen.
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Speaking of Wood Stove Coffee…
Fannie Farmer’s recipe for Boiled Coffee
Old-timers will never admit that filtered coffee has as fine a flavor as old-fashioned boiled coffee, made with an egg.
Read Fannie Farmer’s Coffee Recipe —>
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Excerpts from The Complete Home, 1906
The Kitchen
If any one room in the home was conceived solely for the relief of man’s estate, that room is the kitchen, and it has supplied the energy which has sent forth many a one to fight a winning battle with the world, the flesh, and the devil; …it is, alas, too true that it is the rock upon which many a domestic ship has gone to pieces…
The Dining Room and the Kitchen
Many families do no home baking, and where fruit and vegetables are preserved the basement is utilized. Compactness in the kitchen saves hundreds of steps in the course of a day, and though it is difficult for us to forget the spacious room thought necessary by our parents, we may well learn, for our own comfort, to profit by the modern reasoning that opposes waste space.
The Plan
Blessed indeed is the kitchen with opposite windows, which insure a perfect circulation of air.
Location and Finish
A combination of white woodwork with blue walls and ceiling is charming, particularly where the blue-enameled porcelain-lined cooking utensils are used.
The Floor
…the new “colonial” cotton-rag rugs, woven in harmony with the general color scheme, protect the floor and help to relieve the strain of much standing, and can he washed and dried as satisfactorily as any piece of cotton cloth…
The Windows
A dainty valance, or sash curtains of muslin, dimity, or other summer wash goods, give an attractive and homey touch to the room.
The Sink
The sink, unless it is porcelain-lined, should be kept well painted and enameled, white being preferable to any color.
The Pantry
There are usually four shelves, the top one being reserved for articles of infrequent use. On the others are arranged the kitchen dishes, pans, and all utensils which do not hang, together with jars and cans containing food.
The Refrigerator and Its Care
If one cares to invest in the higher-priced refrigerators, of course those lined with tile, porcelain, or enamel are very desirable, as they are easily kept clean and do not absorb odors.
The Stove
A rack behind the stove, on which to hang the spoons and forks used in cooking, is a great convenience and a saving to the table top.
The Table and Its Care
The table should stand on casters and be placed in a good light as far from the stove as may be. The latest product of the manufacturer’s genius in this line contains two drawers—one spaced off into compartments for the different knives, forks, and spoons for kitchen use—a molding board, and three zinc-lined bins, one large one for wheat flour, and two smaller one for graham flour, corn meal, etc.
Chairs
…A chair of this kind has a cane seat and high back and can be purchased for $1.25, the other chair to be of the regulation kitchen style at 55 cents….
The Kitchen Cabinets
…the kitchen cabinet, which not only relieves the congestion in the pantry, but adds in no small measure to the attractiveness of the kitchen. These cabinets come in the natural woods, and should, as nearly as possible, match the woodwork of the kitchen….
Kitchen Utensils
Kitchen crockery is being rapidly supplanted by the porcelain enamel dishes, which, though rather more expensive in the beginning, are unbreakable, and so cheaper in the long run. They are even invading the domain of the faithful yellow mixing bowl and becoming decidedly popular therein, being light in weight and more easily handled.
Design Sponge showcases lovely home designs along with the owner’s quick biography. Here is a vintage kitchen re-creation in West Fulton, New York.
American History Museum is hosting America’s Kitchens traveling exhibit from Historic New England on Friday, April 1 until October 31, 2011. The exhibit includes a 1759 kitchen, a southwest adobe kitchen and a bright blue 1957 kitchen, and more. Earlier, the exhibit was at the Long Island Museum. Historic New England also has an online exhibit, From Dairy to Doorstep. Like
Historic New England features their 36 historic house museums online. Many of the houses have kitchen photos, and here they are:
Question: Could you help C. Filson with this question about the design of an 1850s bakers rack?
Early kitchens had a work table where baking was prepared, and a large dresser to contain pots, pans, dishes, etc. By the 1890s the plain baker’s tables began to evolve into the later hoosier cabinets. The 1905 reproduction baker’s table in the photo below has a row of two bottom drawers containing flour bins, and directly under the work surface are two cutting boards which slide out for use. This baking table was replicated from a Montgomery Ward catalog and custom built for one of the authentic kitchens at the Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa.
Heritage Square Museum in Oneida New York has a photo of a mid-1800s kitchen with another baking cupboard pictured. Also pictured is a log-cabin kitchen.
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Kansas City, Missouri “Steamship Arabia Museum” is an 1856 time-capsule from a 171 ft x 29 ft sunken ship with a storehouse of new 1856 goods on their way to market for Western settlements. A must see, and a must-see-again museum! This kitchen display was one of the most dramatic kitchen exhibits we’ve seen in a museum to date — and all items from 1856. The exhibit of 1856 kitchen items was extensive: rows of tea kettles, pots, pans, dishes, elegant china, silver, utensils, serving trays, pickles, brandied cherries–all original, never used, and all on their way to market.
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1870s kitchen animation by Rena Goff. : )
Why renovate your kitchen every 10 years to keep up with the latest kitchen styles? With a period kitchen style you can avoid being unfashionably out-of-date by being intentionally out-of-date. Here is one place to purchase a period cooking stove. The introduction of the cooking fuels were invented in this order: first wood, then coal, then gas, and lastly electric stoves. Wood-burning stoves were more conveniently used in rural areas, where storing wood was not a problem. Coal stoves were often used in cities, or where storage was at a premium. Gas stoves ran cleaner in the home than coal, and electric stoves, the cleanest.
Also try:
The Pioneer kitchen at the museum in Watertown New York is the scene for hands-on pioneer kitchen work for children during the Pioneer Times program. On the other side of the room you can see over 50 years in the future to a Victorian kitchen — a good way to compare historic kitchens side-by-side! Like
Visit the 1950s kitchen at Lansing Michigan’s Historical Museum (PDF). A youtuber posted a casual view of the exhibit:
Genesee Country Village & Museum is conveniently located South of Rt 90 in Le Roy / Mumford, New York. Video by Rena Goff of Merrymeeting Archives LLC. They offer historic cooking and cheese-making classes.
You can help in the kitchen…
and make cheese…
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The Farmer’s Museum, also in upstate New York, holds workshops including A Morning at Lippitt Farmstead where you will collect eggs and other morning farm chores before helping to cook and then eat a farm breakfast of traditional foods such as sausage, eggs, Indian Cake, toast, and boiled coffee.
More Classes
Jourdan Bachman Pioneer Farm in Austin, Texas has a fun class catalog. And more often would be good! Like
Check out the first photo with at least 3 different kinds of turn-of-the-century stoves… The Paynesville Area Historical Museum is in Paynesville, Minnesota.
Climb down the stairs to the Evansville Historical Foundation’s pioneer root cellar in Evansville, Minnesota to see refrigeration before the electric refrigerator, and before the icebox!
Sisters cooking together made the work more fun…particularly with their loved-ones waiting for the results of their cooking! Note: Linoleum floor, packaged flour, low kitchen table being used as a work table. Like
Old country kitchens still exist in the rural areas throughout the United States. Notice the wood-burning Atlantic stove, made in Portland, Maine circa 1920 with the attached hot-water heater.
Hearth at the open-air museum, Rheinisches Freilichtmuseum in Kommern-Germany; photo by Willy Horsch
In Colonial America, the pioneers cooked over a fireplace in a corner of the cabin. The kitchen became a separate room only later. In the south, where the climate and sociological conditions differed, the kitchen was often relegated to an outhouse, separate from the mansion, for much of the same reasons as in the feudal kitchen in medieval Europe: the kitchen was operated by slaves, and their working place had to be separated from the living area of the masters by the social standards of the time. Separate “summer kitchens” were also common on large farms in the north. These were used to prepare meals for harvest workers and tasks such as canning.
