I’ve been fascinated with “old stuff” for as long as I can remember and have collected vintage objects and artifacts for years. From musty cigar boxes to vintage food tins, I love the aesthetic and story behind the dusty treasures. As a child, I even dreamed of being an Egyptologist (really really old stuff) and that dream (partially) came true after graduating with both Environmental Studies and Anthropology/Archaeology degrees.
My evident passion for baking, love for historical objects, and annoyingly persistent entrepreneurial drive are the paramount reasons behind starting a mobile bakery. I can’t think of anything more iconic (and totally rad!) than outfitting a 50’s Airstream trailer with mid-century kitchen artifacts and delivering/serving amazingly tasty baked goods to the masses. The dream is also homage to my grandparents who taught me how to bake (my grandmother, a home-ec teacher) and have an appreciation for history and the environment (my grandfather, a geologist). [More on my grandparents in future posts.]
Building upon the collection of “old stuff” that I already have, I’ve started expanding my collection specific to the mid-century era vintage kitchen ware. [“Mid-century” is the time period from approximately 1933/37 to 1963/65 (exact era dates depend on who you ask); I’m focusing my search on post WWII to mid-1960 objects.] My recent acquisitions are shown below, a lovely assortment of aluminum & melamine kitchenware.
Aluminum Ware
Aluminum kitchen appliances and accessories flooded the market post World War II since many manufacturing plants had retrofitted their equipment to produce aluminum products in support of the war effort. Aluminum was rationed during the war; in fact, in some cities aluminum scraps were collected to be used for civilian purposes so that the first-grade aluminum would be available for airplanes and other defense needs.
No mid-century kitchen would be complete without a few essential aluminum accessories – assorted canisters & containers, cake “keepers” and platters, and cookie cutters. I've recently added these to my collection:
Melamine Tableware
Melamine also has a historical connection with WWII – the plastic compound, when combined with certain chemicals then exposed to a heating and cooling cycle, is virtually unbreakable. The durable dishware became a popular choice for the U.S. military, specifically Navy ships. Melamine conveyed a very modern aesthetic to the mid-century housewife and thusly became a staple in kitchens nationwide.
Several popular manufacturers can be identified as distinct mid-century providers of the very collectable & colorful resin products: Boontonware & Mallo-Ware.
Boontonware was manufactured by the Boonton Molding Company in Boonton, New Jersey (also manufactured Melmac, a brand named melamine product). Boontonware reached the height of its popularity in 1951. Mallo-Ware was another type of melamine dinnerware created by P. R. Mallory Plastics, Inc. of Chicago, Illinois. Both manufacturers primarily produced the melamine dinnerware during the 1950’s and 1960’s. (If you decide to start collecting, be sure to check out this book, and maybe this one too. And be sure to check the bottom for an official trademark!) I love all the rich colors, here are some of my recent purchases:
Be sure to come back soon for more photos and my recent vintage acquisitions! Thanks for reading!
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