Have you ever wondered about the history or worth of an item you found at a thrift store or garage sale? I have. While we’re on homeschooling hiatus this summer I plan to scour the second-hand stores, flea markets, and garage sales for vintage items of all kinds and research their origin and current worth.
Last week I found this CorningWare stove-top percolator at my local Goodwill for a mere $3.99. As an added bonus, the pattern was one of my favorites- cornflower blue. I decided to use this fortuitous find as a launching item for a vintage home goods shop on ETSY.
My mother and grandmother drank coffee ALL DAY LONG from a metal, stove-top percolator. I can still remember the way it bubbled and gurgled. Modern coffee lovers swear by the rich, superior taste of percolated java.
I was feeling pretty smug about my found item and my new ETSY shop until I received an email from Molly at ETSY. The email informed me that one of my items (at that point it was my only item) was being deactivated due to a safety recall. It also read as follows:
Please be aware that continuing to list prohibited items may lead to the suspension of your account.
What? I just opened my account. After some research I found the CorningWare percolator models with metal pouring spouts were prone to separation of the handle when heated, and subsequently caused users to get burned by the boiling-hot coffee.
Only the models with ceramic glass pouring spouts are safe to use. Oh well, maybe I’ll use mine as a flower vase.
Worth: $0, due to safety issues.
History: CorningWare has manufactured and sold 18.5 million percolators since they were introduced in 1960. Approximately 400,000 were recalled.
Appeal: The nostalgic feeling they create in my heart, and their superior coffee-brewing ability make safe percolators irresistible finds.
Blessings,
Kristie
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Read about Asta Enamelware, another Behind the Vintage Item here
[…] Magazine. Interestingly, this perculator was recalled, but not because of the glaze. Read The Perilous Percolator to find out […]