Adam Nguyen's Blog: Can you guess what this cabinet holds?

What’s inside this pretty wood credenza? Don’t click through until you make your guess!

1971 Crane “Chef” kitchenette or wet bar

Over the years we have seen a lot of compact Dwyer kitchen units, often used in apartment kitchens… and the GE Wonder Kitchen aimed to squeeze all yer basic appliances into one tidy galley. But this wonderful oddity — we call them woddities — takes the teeny tiny piece of cake. This 1971 Crane “Chef” kitchenette — or perhaps it was principally designed as a wet bar — complete with sink, cook top, pull-out work surface, refrigerator/freezer and storage cabinet and door — measures just 48″ wide. A fold-down wood panel on top helps camouflage this Crane design, so that when it is not in use, i just looks like a nice piece of wood furniture instead of a kitchen.

Like the Ebay listing suggests, this mini kitchen would be perfect for an office, studio, wet bar, cabin, tiny home or maybe even a vintage travel trailer. There’s a lot of function built into this small 48″ wide x 24″ deep x 48″ tall cabinet.

From the Ebay listing:

The portable compact wet bar/kitchenette unit is from my family home and has been in safe storage for decades. We have been its one continuous owner since 1971. It’s in excellent vintage condition. Exceptional craftsmanship; union made in Chicago, Illinois, USA by Crane Mfg. Co..

This vintage Crane Chef President II Food and Fun Bar Unit would be fitting for an office, vacation home or cabin, ‘mother-in-law’ suite or ‘man cave’, family room, carriage house or tiny house. Sets a Mid-century Modern decor tone with its minimal design.

Enclosed within the beautiful cabinetry is a compact stainless steel countertop with molded stainless steel sink (5 ½” deep x 11 ½” x 17″), hot/cold faucet, two electric stove burners, electric light and outlet, stainless steel splash plate, a compact refrigerator with compact freezer, and a wood bar cabinet with shelf, rack and drawer.

This well designed compact portable unit measures 48″ wide x 23″ deep (with 1″ clearance needed for hookup, 24″ deep) x 48″ in height when the hinged lid is closed. When the stainless steel ‘piano’ hinged wood lid is lifted to reveal the countertop for use, it measures 68″ in height. Keys for locking unit are lost to the mists of time. If keys are ever found, will mail them to you with your permission. Your purchase will include the original installation manual. If you’d like the full installation specs contact me.

All offers are welcome. There are wear & use marks appropriate for a vintage piece. All are repairable or easily restored to like-new condition. See photos for specific conditions. All original plumbing and hard wiring. Sold in ‘as is’ condition. I’ll supply more photos to you if you’d like to allay any concerns or questions.