Posted on 01/30/2009 2:05:51 PM PST by oldtimer2
Shortly after my wife and I were married, she was invited to a sales party by a friend. She was very excited by the cooking utensils that were being promoted.
I agreed that we needed more and better pots than we had, however I thought that 250.00 for a set was more than we could afford. After much discussion, I realized that she really wanted these and finally agreed.
If my memory is correct, we paid about 25.00 and had a payment of 15.00 per month. For a long time I still thought we had spent too much for this. The year--1958.
We have been married for 52 years and still have most of that set. I have discovered after many years that I enjoy cooking and my wife is happy to take a vacation from cooking.
The large cookpot from that set had a separation in the bottom layer that caused it to warp. While examining it, I remembered the name of the set "Lifetime Stainless" One of the selling points had been that if any piece failed, they would replace it.
I checked the internet and found out that they were still in business and decided to check if the guarantee was really lifetime. USPS charge to send the pot was 10.00.
It is now 2 weeks later and UPS today delivered a new pot. It is not exactly the same but it is somewhat bigger. They no longer make that size.
What a great experience. Check the link below. They are now a division of West Bend.
shamWOW!
Very good.
I agree with that 100%. it does not happen enough imho.
FMCDH(BITS)
West Bend rules. Best damn home use pots and pans out there. They take a little getting used to, if you’ve grown up on crappy pots and pans you probably only believe in Simmer and High on your stove and High is not your friend on West Bend (you learn just how much of that heat wasn’t going into the food before). But once you learn to use the midle of your burner dial the true amazingness of them comes out.
My future bride dragged me to a kitchenware event in early 1972. We brought the pots and pans from a college friend.
Same deal: $25 down and maybe $12 per month. Got married later that same year. The pots are still like new and next August we’ll celebrate our 37th anniversary.
I believe they’re called Wonder Ware which is a Regal company.
Absolutely! I had a set that was split up when I divorced. Still wish I had the other pieces! I think we paid a number with a comma in it in the early ‘80s. I saw the same set at a home show - now they want $4000 for a set. I’ll have to send mine in - should get new handles and lid holders AND a new skillet! Love that stuff!
West Bend is now a division of Regal Ware, Inc.
http://www.westbendcookware.com/
I knew squat about stainless cookware until I bought a set for my mom this Christmas. I researched it and found the best value to be Cuisinart’s Multiclad line. The pieces have all the features of the really expensive brands like All-Clad but costs at least a third less. Plus, they are gorgeous — brushed finish on the outside, mirror finish on the inside, with nicely shaped stainless handles (no plastic).
I still love my Revere ware. My mom got in when she was in nursing school in the early thirties. Still the best pots and pans around. Well that and my 12 inch cast iron skillet
I agree wholeheartedly.
When I and my first wife (now deceased) were first married, way back in 1970, my uncle gave us a sales pitch for Rena-ware.
He cooked a full meal for us, provided the food and even washed up afterwords.
We bought the set he used.
I think at the time, we paid too much.
But, I'm on my second wife and third retirement and we are still using that set of cookware, 38 years later.
Rena-ware has replaced some handles and one pan, all total of which cost me about 10 bucks, all for shipping.
This is heavy-duty 18-8 triple ply stainless steel.
Damn good stuff, worth every penny.
And yes, they are still in business.
My set is marked Made in USA.
I hope that is still true.
I’ve got the Americraft waterless cookware by West Bend. They are some really nice quality pots and pans and very nice to cook with.
My Mom had the same experience! She & Dad got a set of the pans in 1963 when they were first married.
A couple of years ago, she was lamenting the fact that the handle had come off of her favorite pan. I saw the “lifetime” warranty; we tracked them down on the internet. They fixed the pan as promised, and sent it back within a couple of weeks.
Cool!
I recently down-sized and gave all my RevereWare to my son. Was convinced by a friend to try Analon pans, so, liking to experiment and thinking I deserved something “new” after so many years tried them. Like them a lot but had a problem with the telfon finish on one of them and under warranty, sent it back.
The pan was replaced in a timely fashion and I learned that Analon is owned by Meyer Corporation; It is the largest cookware distributor in the United States and second largest in the world. Cookware labels or lines for which Meyer is the parent firm include Circulon, Anolon, NapaStyle, SilverStone, Prestige and Bonjour. Meyer owns the licenses for cookware produced under the KitchenAid and Farberware labels in addition to producing private label cookware for Macy’s and Sur La Table.
Interesting. Fewer single brands as we move away from what we knew long ago.
I bought the same (or similar) set in the late 70s. Paid about the same amount of money, and I got a great Cutco knife with the purchase. I now only have the largest pan (with lid). I don't know how it happened, but a pan/lid would disappear every time I moved. Thank you for this link. It truly is amazing cookware, and yes, you really can cook an entire meal on a single burner utilizing lowest heat.
If you don’t mind.
Where was the replacement manufactured?...
When I was engaged, some nice young man came to the house to sell me some pots and pans one winter night. I don’t recall what brand they were, or their cost. But what I remember was his eager face turning dower, when he pulled each pan out of its velvet bag, it frosted up with condensation. He tried to wipe them down but they kept fogging up. It was pretty funny at the time.
Hey, it makes sense to me.
But then I'd probably run him off for being just a little too slick.
LOL ...good one!
Both of us were young and inexperienced. Neither of us knew what we were getting into, respectively.
He probably ended up on Wall St. selling derivatives. I ended up making derivatives on Main St.
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