Chapter Two -- KA model G

CHAPTER TWO

KITCHENAID MODEL G MIXER

　

1923 Commercial radio became a reality. Paul Whiteman debuted George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. And an advertising campaign for the KitchenAid home mixer was launched in national media, including the highly respected Good Housekeeping and The Saturday Evening Post.

1927 Lindbergh made his successful solo flight across the Atlantic. Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs. And, John H. Smitzler, a New York salesman, also set a record, selling seven KitchenAid mixers in one day.

The KitchenAid model G, more compact and 50% lighter than model H-5, was introduced. Priced at only $111.00, it represented an even greater value than the model H-5. The same capacity and power as the H-5, the G experienced immediate popularity, selling 20,000 units in its first three years on the market… almost twice the number of model H-5's sold between 1919 and 1927, the year the H-5 was discontinued.

Specs: 1/10 hp

Among the early users of KitchenAid stand mixers, were such famous names as John Barrymore, Marion Davies, E.I. DuPont, Henry Ford, Myrna Loy, Federick March, Ginger Rogers, and New York Governor Al Smith.

For reference, the engraved KitchenAid drip rings were started around 1937-1938.

Painted finish

　




ATTACHMENTS

Now to a machine I am extremely familiar with! The Kitchenaid model G mixer's attachments!

Wire Whip:
The whips are 11 tine wire whips that are metal with tin coating. The sleeve holding the wires are cast metal -- I believe they are cast aluminum. If your mixer is missing it's wire whip you can use a modern Hobart N-50 mixer stainless steel wire whip - it fits perfectly. Or if you have the whip, but wires are missing, you can have them replaced and the whip re-tinned by some of the dealers on the internet that repair parts for the big commercial mixers. *The 5 qt more modern KA K-5a or KSS beaters will fit the attachment stem, but are too short for this machine.

Pastry Knife:
This solid cast aluminum attachment is wonderful for cutting shortening into flour in a sanitary manner and for some operations requiring a minimum amount of beating, and which offer too much resistance to the flat beater. It is great for pie crust, baking powder biscuits, dumplings, short cake, tarts, and fancy pastry. This is an attachment which is no longer available unless you find it used on the secondary market.

Flat Beater:
This is solid cast aluminum also, and is used for beating all heavy mixtures from butter and sugar to fudge, cookies, and nut breads. You can tell this beater from uncoated K 5-A flat beaters by the longer height, the larger number of spokes, and the little tail at the top of one side of the beater. If your mixer is missing it's flat beater you can use a modern Hobart N-50 mixer cast aluminum flat beater - it fits perfectly. *The 5 qt more modern KA K-5a or KSS beaters will fit, but are too short for this machine.

Dough Hook:
This is a solid cast aluminum beater, and it is used for kneading doughs. You will notice the top of the hook near the j slot is a cone shape compared to modern "C" dough hooks with their flat area near the j slot. If your mixer is missing it's dough hook you can use a modern Hobart N-50 mixer cast aluminum dough hook - it fits perfectly. *The 5 qt more modern KA K-5a or KSS beaters will fit, but are too short for this machine.


Model G Bowl attachments

Bowls

5qt tinned metal bowls with handles.

Aluminum Splash Guard
Made of pressed sheet aluminum this Attachment Sits on Top of the Bowl and Is Designed to Minimize Splash out During the Mixing Process.


Aluminum Pouring Chute
Of pressed sheet metal this Is Meant to Lend a Helping Hand When Additional Dry Ingredients must Be Added to a Mixture While the Beater, Whip, or Dough Hook Is Operating.


Tinned metal Ice or Hot Water Jacket
The Water Jacket Surrounds the Mixing Bowl and Should Be Filled with Cold or Ice Water When Preparing Quenelles, Whipping Cream, Etc.; and with Warm or Boiling Water When Beating Icing or Mashed Potatoes. It Is Also Used as a Receptacle under the Colander and Sieve Set.

Tinned metal Colander and Sieve Set
This Attachment Forces Cooked Fruits and Vegetables Through a Finely Perforated Sheet Metal Surface with a Pestle like Wood Beater Bar – like the Classic Colander. I have seen a fine sieve insert, and a coarser seive insert -- only use one at a time. The model G set has a rolling ceramic beater attachment to force the food through the holes in the sieve. These were provided with the Model G. There may have been a version for the Model F as well. The H5 had a similar (or maybe the same- not sure on that) attachment.


Cast Aluminum Food Grinder
This Grinder Has That Sturdy Construction and Clear Thinking Prevalent in All Hobart Products. There Are Several Size Grinding Plates You Can Use. What Is Best Is You Don’t Have to Worry That this Little Grinder Will Crack or Break. Notice too that the food chute is rounded and the later models are squared at top.


Sausage Stuffer
These are made of molded sheet aluminum and are very hard to find. There was a large one and a small one. This is the large one.


Cast Aluminum Disc or Pelican Head Vegetable Slicer
You Can Find this Slicer with a Slicer Plate, a Fine Grater Plate, a Coarse Grater Plate, and an Ice Chipper Plate. This Attachment Can Slice Large Whole Vegetables Beautifully. A Marvelous and Unique Feature Is a Kind of Dial-a-slice Thickness Selector, Built into the Attachment. Simply Pull the Shaft of the Slicing Plate Toward You, Turn the Round Nut on the Shaft Clockwise, and You Will Get Thin Slices; for Thicker Slices Turn the Nut Counterclockwise –Easy as Apple Pie! This version does not have a narrow slicing tube. My oldest looking Model G manual shows this version.

And then, this one with the narrow feed chute and wood pusher. What is apparently a later Model G manual shows this particular pelican version for the first time. This is the model that continued to be produced by KA throughout its long reign from the 30's through part of the 70's when it was dumped for the ill fated DVSA.
 
No, the discs will not interchange. The narrow (two) mouth discs are larger.  Discs for the wide mouth pelican are hard to find. When found, the frames of the slicer and shredder discs are often broken/distorted/unusable, as they were made of pot metal.

Special Triple Action Ice Cream Freezer
It is made of wood and has a capacity of about 3 quarts -- sufficient for 12 servings. Use only on first speed and with chipped ice. Keep the gears and mechanism of the freezer head oiled to prevent rust and corrosion. I would suggest soaking the wood bucket in water overnight to tighten the seams to avoid leakage during use. 

There were quite a few different variations of the ice cream freezer attachment over the years. In the pre-war years, the Model C-10, Model H-5, Model G, and Model F mixers each had their own specific version of the attachment. All of these used wooden buckets, and had a spring-loaded indicator that let the user know when the ice cream was frozen. With the exception of the Model G unit, all of these freezers are extremely difficult to find.

A word of warning, though- use caution when using a non-original ice cream freezer on a Model G. The original Model G freezers have an indicator which lets you know when the ice cream has reached the right consistency. Later freezers did not have this feature, because the later electrically speed controlled mixers (K5-A, K4-B, etc.) could be relied on to stall out if the ice cream mixture got too thick. The Model G is a much more powerful mixer- they have the power to break the freezer attachment (or themselves) if left unchecked.



Oil Dropper
A one quart metal [now cast aluminum] tank with a faucet for regulating the flow of oil into the bowl. This attachment will help you make home made mayonnaise easily. If you will notice the design of the oil dropper is different from the model H oil dropper. This is more rounded and appears cast in one piece -- not as crude as the H oil dropper.

Coffee and Cereal Grinder
This is a wonderful cast metal [I think it is aluminum] attachment that allows you to grind either coffee, dry wheat, or dry corn. It can make coarse whole wheat flour and corn meal. You set a container on the platform to catch the ground flour.


Cast Aluminum Juice Extractor
This Is a Horizontal Juicer, Where You Place a Glass or Pitcher under the Juicer on a Little Platform Provided to Catch the Citrus Juice as it Comes off the Reamer. It is designed to juice oranges, lemons, and small grapefruit.


Now for the piece' de resistance!!!!!! or however you spell it!

It is my holy grail. The thing I want more than any other.......

The KA model G kitchen cabinet with the vitreous enamel top and the sliding attachment trays! How I lust after it!  I don't care if I get the 24 inch wide tambour door version or if I get the 18 inch wide solid door version.

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

On the subject of Model G serial numbers. I have come to the conclusion, that the first two digits of the serial numbers are for the year of production.

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

A model G2!

I can only extrapolate that the mixer was a prototype for a model that was never released or was released only for a short period of time. There is also the possibility that it may have been the prototype for the model G.

　

Attachments

Coffee/cereal grinder.

Pea sheller

Citrus juicer

Ice cream maker

Pelican slicer

Then there is this pelican, which was apparently originally made for the Model G KA MIXER. My oldest looking Model G manual shows this version. 

And then, this one with the narrow feed chute and wood pusher.  What is apparently a later Model G manual shows this particular pelican version for the first time. This is the model that continued to be produced by KA throughout its long reign from the 30's through part of the 70's when it was dumped for the ill fated DVSA.


Rotary slicer

Meat grinder

Can opener

Colander & sieve

Here's the earlier version with the ceramic rollers. These were provided with the Model G. There may have been a version for the Model F as well. The H5 had a similar (or maybe the same- not sure on that) attachment. Both of these use the water jacket attachment to catch the juice that comes through the colander.


Hot/cold water jacket

Splash shield

Pouring chute

Oil dropper

Knife sharpener

Silver Buffer

Ice cream maker

Instruction manual

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

There were two different cabinets available. The No. 18 cabinet is 18" wide, and has a swinging door on the front. It holds a limited number of attachments. The No. 24 cabinet is 24" wide and has a roll-up tambour front door. It holds all of the attachments, with the exception of the ice cream freezer.

　

　

　

　

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.