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I have an old Sunbeam mixer that had been my mother's. The kind with the rotating black base and white milk glass bowls. I haven't plugged it in ever because the cord is very frayed.
The only mixer I have is a decent handheld one, because I don't need a mixer very often. I drool over those KitchenAids, but I can't justify the cost.
Would it be worth fixing the old Sunbeam, you think, for the occasional use I may have for it? It's at least 30 years old. It seemed to make cakes and such just fine for Mom. But I'm sure it's weak compared to modern appliances.
If it's just a $5 power cord, go ahead and fix it. If it's internal, forget it. Surprisingly, most older appliances were stronger when compared to today's appliances.
My first mixer was a Sunbeam like you're describing. It had a big round black plug with a cord covered in fabric or string. It was ancient 20 years ago when I bought it at a thrift store.
I have a KitchenAid now. It does work better than the Sunbeam. My advice would be to buy the KitchenAid. I've had mine at least a decade and used it several times a week the whole time. Now I'm really saving money by having it, because the only bread I can buy for my daughter and myself costs $5.50/loaf. I can make two homemade loaves for about two dollars (would be less but we can't use cheap flour anymore). I also use it to make tortillas, burger buns, pizza crust, etc. If my KitchenAid broke and couldn't be fixed, I'd replace it right away. It's just as necessary as my stove or my washing machine.
Fix it. Better than $250 for a new one if you use one infrequently. I'd sell you my Sunbeam if possible, as I rarely use it and it takes up precious space.
UOTE=selhars;50695809]Unless you're tied to this appliance for sentimental reasons. Just get a new one.
Aren't there some times when you just want (or deserve) something new?
This thing is 30 years old.
Haven't you gotten your money's worth, hasn't it served you well enough to be retired?[/quote]
No one but you can decide whether it is worth it to fix.
But we can provide some technical information: if the power cord is frayed and that appears to be the only thing wrong, it will probably be an easy and fast fix (say, less than 1.5 hours and less than $20 in parts).
If there's something wrong inside (bad switch, variable speed electric motor malfunctioning, bad bearings) it will probably be difficult to obtain parts, and the time to fix it will go up substantially.
If this mixer is built in the mid 1980s it is probably made with better quality components than any mid-grade equivalent made today. And for that matter I expect even the higher end products like Kitchen Aid have probably suffered from cost reduction. But a mid 80s mixer is probably not as solid and durable as one from the 1950s or 60s. Plastics, snap fits, and non-user-serviceable components were already coming into small appliances in the 80s.
My personal inclination would be to fix the power cord and see what happens from there. To quote a poster above:
"Aren't there some times when you just want or deserve something old and high quality?"
Unless you're tied to this appliance for sentimental reasons. Just get a new one.
Aren't there some times when you just want (or deserve) something new?
This thing is 30 years old.
Haven't you gotten your money's worth, hasn't it served you well enough to be retired?
(checks) This is the Frugal Living forum.
Many older tools and appliances that still do the same job are worth preserving and repairing. Frankly, if the new KitchenAid ones were really worth $300 to most buyers, they wouldn't come in 27 designer colors. For occasional use, there are far better choices. For kitchen decoration non-use... well.
Fix the cord. Open up a little and maybe clean and grease the machinery. It should last you another 30 years. Even if it doesn't come in Sunset Gold.
No one but you can decide whether it is worth it to fix.
But we can provide some technical information: if the power cord is frayed and that appears to be the only thing wrong, it will probably be an easy and fast fix (say, less than 1.5 hours and less than $20 in parts).
If there's something wrong inside (bad switch, variable speed electric motor malfunctioning, bad bearings) it will probably be difficult to obtain parts, and the time to fix it will go up substantially.
If this mixer is built in the mid 1980s it is probably made with better quality components than any mid-grade equivalent made today. And for that matter I expect even the higher end products like Kitchen Aid have probably suffered from cost reduction. But a mid 80s mixer is probably not as solid and durable as one from the 1950s or 60s. Plastics, snap fits, and non-user-serviceable components were already coming into small appliances in the 80s.
My personal inclination would be to fix the power cord and see what happens from there. To quote a poster above:
"Aren't there some times when you just want or deserve something old and high quality?"
I found the model # (Model 12). Those were made between 1957 & 1967. The cord isn't fabric, as I remembered. It's plastic coated but cracked badly in several places. It doesn't unplug from the mixer.
Besides just replacing the cord, the whole thing would need to be cleaned, inside & out, and oiled & such.
I have the original milk glass bowls. Don't know how they survived this long.
I don't feel qualified to refurbish this. Maybe I can find a local appliance repairman who will do it for not too much. I would first replace the cord to see if it even works.
I can't believe it lasted that long or that Mom didn't replace it with something newer. But she didn't. This was the only mixer she had. She didn't bake much, so like me, probably had no use for pricey newer ones. I don't recall a time when it wasn't sitting on her counter, covered with the gold cover it came with (I still have the cover, too). As teenagers, we all used it to make cakes and such. When Mom passed away, I got the mixer because no one else wanted or needed it. I didn't have a mixer, so I took it, not realizing the cord was cracked.
I will keep some things for sentimental reasons, but I'm not much for keeping cumbersome things, like this mixer. So if I can get it to work for not much $, I will keep it. If not, I'll try to sell it. I don't think it's worth much, even though it's vintage. It's cool looking, though.
Thanks to everyone for your opinions. I'm going to see if I can replace the cord to see if the motor works, since the cord is a cheap fix. If it does, I may have it refurbished.
I see the point of getting a KitchenAid that I've drooled over for years, as a reward to myself for the years of saving and frugality. I think that, too, sometimes. But then my practical side takes over. Maybe....maybe the next time they go on a good sale, I'll reconsider. A REALLY good sale, though.
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