In the corner of our kitchen sits a curious looking vintage appliance known as the Westinghouse Roaster-Oven.
Most days it goes unnoticed, but this 1950’s Westinghouse Roaster-Oven is one of my favorite vintage items in our kitchen.
I bought it for $45 at an antique mall nearly twenty years ago.
It came with a metal cabinet with a working timer-clock, the Load and Lift Rack, Infra red Broiler-Grid and a griddle – but sadly, no instruction manual.
I initially bought it for it’s sleek shape and quirky kitschy form.
I knew it would make a fabulous addition to my vintage kitchen – and what a bonus to discover that it still worked. I’ve been cooking with it ever since.
When not in use, we keep our open bags of chips, pretzels and other snacks under the lid. In the cabinet you’ll find our supply of cake & cupcake tins and assortment of baking pans.
Back in the day, this handy dandy roaster-oven sold as a stand alone appliance.
The red temperature knob (center) lights up and there’s a neat pull-out cooking guide (grey with white knob) with a temperature and time chart.
For those who could afford it, the Roaster-Oven’s accessories included the metal storage cabinet, timer-clock, three clear rectangular-shaped covered glass dishes, a griddle and a rotisserie.
It was quite by accident that I started to collect them.
My daughter, who was fourteen at the time, spotted the second one in a junk shop we were exploring. My wise teenager suggested I buy a second one in case mine stopped working. Hmmm, yes, I suppose a spare is always a good idea… And for $12, it came home with us.
For $12 I bought a back-up…
This second Westinghouse Roaster-Oven didn’t come with a cabinet so it sits on a cart in our Butler’s Pantry window.
In the heat of the summer, I roll it to the back porch so it doesn’t heat up the kitchen.
When not in use, which is most of the time, it doubles as a lovely planter through the seasons.
I use my Westinghouse Roaster-Oven on a regular basis.
However, due to its age, I make sure to only use it when I’m home to keep a watchful eye on it. These roasters are the star of the show when making our Thanksgiving and Easter feasts as they free up the oven.
I’ve bought a few more through the years
at thrift shops, junk stores and flea markets. Because the price is always right, and because it’s always good to have a spare or two …or six, (shhh, my husband probably doesn’t need to know that). Thankfully, we have plenty of space in the basement to hide… I mean, store them until needed.
My daughter, who is 25 now, just moved into an apartment with a Westinghouse Roaster-Oven of her very own. And (drum roll please), she found an instruction manual – yesssss!!!
For up-close pics of these beautiful old roasters, check out HEPCATS Haven HERE, along with a fun YouTube I Love Lucy clip featuring Westinghouse appliances (thanks HEPCATS Haven).
Thanks for reading – if you enjoyed this story, check out this Whimsybop post of another accidental collection.
Do YOU have an accidental collection? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.
