Chapter Fourteen -- Hobart N-50

CHAPTER 14

 


1946 The end of World War II saw the resumption of peace-time production, which was moved from Dayton to Greenville.


Here I digress slightly from the Kitchenaid brand mixers to talk a little about the 5 qt Hobart commercial mixers.

Here is a tidbit that I bet you didn't know! I sure didn't!

I bet you can tell the major silhouette difference between a KA Model G and one of the earliest Hobart N50. Yes, they both have fuses in the back and the rear of the motor housing is basically flat, unlike the later Hobart N-50 mixers. The Model G is 1/10hp and the N50 is 1/8hp. The later N50's dropped the fuse and went from 1/8hp to 1/6hp. But you know all that right?

But I bet you don't know that in a manual copy I received from Hobart for my first run N50 tells a different tale! This manual is dated March 1947.

Why is that relevant?

Because the first N-50 mixers did not come off the assembly line until October 1947 not March 1947 according to my information.

My N-50 mixer was one of those first produced in that October 1947 run. The date is October 9, 1947. What is even better, I have several pieces of written documentation from Hobart to prove it!

What does all this information have to do with the price of tea in China? Nothing at all, but stay with me........ there is information to be gained.

This must have been the original design for the N50!  Were they prototypes?   I know that a few of these flat back models are available on the secondary market.


ATTACHMENTS

In addition to the flat beater, whip, and dough hook that a model G mixer came with, this mixer also may have come with a pastry knife that is identical to the Model G pastry knife.

This mixer’s hub is designed to use all of the KA hub attachments AND the bowl for the 5 qt Kitchenaid model G and the Kitchenaid K-5A can be used on this mixer

Coffee/cereal grinder.

Pea sheller

Citrus juicer

Ice cream maker

Pelican slicer

Rotary slicer

Meat grinder

Can opener

Colander & sieve

Hot/cold water jacket

Splash shield

Pouring chute

Oil dropper

Knife sharpener

Silver Buffer

Ice cream maker

　

　

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

　

　

　

　

　
 Another interesting variation has come to light.  The HOBART CT 345

　

　
I did some more searching and found one other reference to this. I searched on "Hobart ct345" and got one hit from the Dept. of Energy (DOE). It was a PDF doc stating they used a Hobart CT-345 as a soil mixer.

Here's the link:
http://www.osti.gov/bridge/purl.cover.jsp;jsessionid=C8B871B1302F01B8C8C8D3890F827DD3?purl=/783800-SGiGEx/webviewable/

If you view the PDF and search for Hobart or CT-345 you'll see the reference.



At first glance, it looks like a regular old N50, but there are two features that may make this a unique version that warranted a unique model number from Hobart:


The pictures are small, but the attachment hub looks to me like it may be removable. If it is, I think this might possibly be a good thing (more accessibility to internal components).

There is also some unique device at the top of the pedestal. Maybe it's some sort of bowl holder. It might even be custom-made and appears to be held in position by longer bolts (than the OEM bolts) that also hold the front of the pedestal to the motor housing. Maybe the machine was used to mix some pretty tough stuff and this device holds the rim of the bowl more firmly in position.

All speculation, of course.

　

　

　

　
ALWAYS REMEMBER THESE TIPS FROM MY FRIEND MIXFINDER [KELLY BEARD] WHILE USING YOUR N-50.

The larger N-50 or its predecessor the model G was based on the commercial mixer which uses a transmission to change beater rpms while the motor runs at a constant speed. You MUST stop the N-50 mixer and allow the beater to come to a complete stop before shifting gears to prevent severe damage to the gear box. Like riding a 3 speed bike, the heavier the pull or load the lower the gear you shift to. The N-50, under a heavy load on speed 3 can stall.

I have both a model G and an N-50 which has a 1/8 horsepower motor like you would find in a washing machine. It can run all day without producing great heat or stress to the motor.

Later models of the N-50 have a 1/6 hp motor.

An N-50 might be a wise investment for someone needing to use the power hub commercially. Every attachment designed to fit the attachment hub in the whole history of Kitchenaid is interchangeable, old on new and new on old.

*The new ice cream attachment can only be used on selected models because it is attached to the planetary.