RCA Whirlpool steel kitchen cabinets — very rare, methinks

I am feeling a get-back-to-the-basics binge coming on. Me wanna chronicle even more stuff from bygone days. Scan a bunch of catalogs. Find some more rarities. And here’s a good start: 15 years of watching, and I’ve never seen RCA Whirlpool steel kitchen cabinets before. Our 79th brand of metal kitchen cabinets made in the 20th Century!

These also come from Stephanie’s stash of New Old Stock found in — and now coming out of — her father-in-law’s hardware store warehouse. Yes, not only is this my first-ever look-see at RCA-Whirlpools, but we get to see them in pristine condition to boot!

And tee hee, I see that after I told Stephanie that I had never seen these before, she wrote in her ebay listing:

“A Brand Previously Unknown To Experts in this Field.”

Indeed. While I will vehemently deny expertise in about a gazillion areas, I will claim expertise in identifying vintage steel kitchen cabinets. On that, though, only alongside or more likely right behind 52PostnBeam; she probably can name them faster than I can. Pink bathrooms, though: I’m claiming #1 in understanding their history. *soproud*

When were RCA-Whirlpool metal cabinets these made? I’m having a hard time speculating just based on the design. But looking up Whirlpool history, I see that they cannot have come any earlier than 1955, which is when Whirlpool merged with Seeger, which already owned parts of RCA’s business. From the Whirlpool website:

“In 1955, we merged with the Seeger Refrigeration Company, which provided us with a quality refrigerator line. As part of the merger we also acquired RCA’s air conditioning and range businesses, allowing us to provide customers with exceptional products that met their needs.”

The company was based in St. Joseph, Michigan. Could be the cabinets were made there. And ya know what: I’ll guess these were made closer to 1955 than even 1960 — because they are so plain. White. And because of how the wall cabinet doors curve; that read “deco” to me.

The lines are quite lovely. I love how the cabinet door handles just tuck in there all nonchalant-like. The Whirlpool typography also is very dreamy.

Above: We dont’ see wall cabinets like this often — peninsula cabinets, I’d actually guess they were called — doors open on both sides.

Link love:

• As of press time, Stephanie still has these for sale — see all her NOS from an old hardware store on ebay here (affiliate link)
• Mac and Iphone and IPad users try this link instead (affiliate link) — when you get there, look for the Search box that says SEARCH WITHIN STORE, then type in New Old Stock to narrow search.
• Our spectacular category all about vintage steel kitchen cabinets. and remember to Be Safe/Renovate Safe when considering using/working with old materials and products.

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