1950s Kitchen Appliances
A
lesson recently lost on the Bush administration was that if you are
going to have a war, you should do a couple things: insist on an efficient
win and pull out all the stops.
To achieve that aim during WWII, FDR held his famous fireside chats, but at the same time instituted rationing of any material that was required in the war effort. Sacrifice was the watchword of the day. Failure to give up many material comforts (sugar, gasoline, metals) meant that service members would have to do without. That message of support and patriotism was drilled home in every medium.
Pearl Harbor was for that generation what 9/11 is to ours. Rather than veer off on a political or economic essay, however, here we'll look at what happened to American kitchen appliances after the War.
The Depression and the War built up a huge desire and need for material goods. During the Depression many didn't have the means to buy new refrigerators, and during the War materials weren't available. As a result of about 15 years of doing without, the American market was starved for the creature comforts that became available after the War.
Coupled with the huge amount of resources — both material and labor — that were devoted to the War and the American hunger for just a little bit more, an economic boom was inevitable for the winners. American self-esteem was high. People would say proudly, "American ends with I CAN!"
Manufacturers quickly retooled their factories and went from building armaments to making refrigerators, washers, and dryers. Advertising, which had struggled in black and white, started publishing serial campaigns in color as full page ads. Americans ate it up.
By 1950, the GI Bill had created millions of new homeowners, many of whom were freshly minted college graduates with great job prospects, who needed all the amenities of a good life. Made frugal by the Depression, they wanted value for their dollar.
"Made in USA" was a hallmark of the best materials available and excellent craftsmanship. Even today, an Osterizer blender or Sunbeam Mixer works as well now as when it was originally shipped.
In the months to come, we'll explore some of the quirky trends as well as the individual appliances sold during the 50s. We'll also create a gallery of some of the coolest stuff we find. Don't hesitate to email us with questions.
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