The kitchen cupboards are made of metal.

[Tankeryanker]

I noticed it when they were banging the cupboard doors shut for some reason. I am not sure Jim made that much money if he could not afford wood cabinets. Ward kept his family in nicer digs that's for sure.

[stevea]

I was real young back then and I don't recall ever having them. But I think there were a lot of them around.

In the reunion movies the kitchen had been remodeled, and they reclaimed that space where the unnecessary door (the Dutch door) was. It looked pretty modern even for the 70s. Unlike the Bradys, no orange in sight.

[Willbo]

I think metal cabinets were common in the 50's and earlier. My parents had them in their house until they remodeled in the 60's. I seem to recall a lot of homes with them.

[GentlemanJim]

Baked-on enamel steel cabinetry was offered through catalogs such as Sears and Montgomery Wards for a few decades.
It was a popular component in the "kit homes" that each company sold through their catalog divisions, as well as for modernization in older homes that been originally built with spartan cabinetry.

Up until about 1920, many homes were built assuming that free standing cabinetry (Hoosier Cabinets) would be used.
These metal cabinets were often installed in such houses as upgrades

[Tankeryanker]

Originally Posted by GentlemanJim

Baked-on enamel steel cabinetry was offered through catalogs such as Sears and Montgomery Wards for a few decades.
It was a popular component in the "kit homes" that each company sold through their catalog divisions, as well as for modernization in older homes that been originally built with spartan cabinetry.

Up until about 1920, many homes were built assuming that free standing cabinetry (Hoosier Cabinets) would be used.
These metal cabinets were often installed in such houses as upgrades

Interesting. Here in California people did not have built-in closets because they was taxed as a room, so they had armoires. I wonder if that would have gone for a pantry as well.

Good ole Sears sold wood stoves, coats made from poodles, and metal cabinets.

[GentlemanJim]

Originally Posted by Tankeryanker

Interesting. Here in California people did not have built-in closets because they was taxed as a room, so they had armoires. I wonder if that would have gone for a pantry as well.

Good ole Sears sold wood stoves, coats made from poodles, and metal cabinets.

Well, you know that Sears sold entire houses in kit form through their catalog sales division.

http://www.searsarchives.com/homes/index.htm


As far as spartan kitchens go, I think the following is a pretty good example of a pre-1920 kitchen. I recall my grandmother had a kitchen sink just like that one. And just look at the small amount of storage. I guess it was more common to store plates and glasses in a buffet cabinet next to the dining room table back in that era. And get a load of the water heater.

[Tankeryanker]

Here is the best kitchen ever. If you look at today's design, the builders still do not want a professional kitchen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N9RCQjPqh4

[GentlemanJim]

I don't believe that I have ever seen a pull-out towel rack built into the base cabinet like that. Pretty clever.

There was a dramatic series recently on the History channel based upon project Bluebook that I enjoyed watching just to see all the period 1950's props. Looking for items I remember from my childhood...counter top radios, knick-nacks, women's styles....etc. It's one thing to watch these old shows actually made back in the day, because then all the props they used were contemporary.
But to watch these re-creations, looking for anachronisms and such is a lot of fun.