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Washington, D.C., circa 1924. "1734 N St. kitchen." The Dupont Circle address is longtime home of the Iron Gate Inn. Harris & Ewing glass neg. View full size.
Wow, a Vulcan range. Not your Sears Roebuck catalog item.
The mixer in the center of the photo is an early KitchenAid, I believe a model G. KitchenAids were initially made by Hobart. They first appeared in 1917 for use in Navy kitchens then later introduced to the public. The fairly wealthy public that is.
Washington Post, March 10, 1929Shopping with Bab
...
Blue Willow Wave On an Old Sideboard
-Is just one of the many delightful touches which helps make The Iron Gate Inn what it is.
The Iron Gate Inn, 1734 N street, was once the stable for the thoroughbred horses of Gen. Nelson A. Miles. You may dine in the stalls which once housed the high-stepping "Golden Pebbles" or "Denver," or "Old Ebb," or you may take the dear little pony stall if you like.
The hayloft has been made into a most attractive early-American room, with blue walls above oaken setties, sconces and interesting old bits. Food at The Iron Gate is excellent. Luncheon, tea and dinner.
Most modern cooks would have to walk sideways to get between the cupboards and the table with their backsides wiping off the ends of the table.
The compartment on the left side of the table in the foreground, where the mixing bowl and cake pans are stored. This was also your proofing cabinet. You would put your freshly made bread and roll dough in there to rise prior to baking.
Everything is amazingly clean and clear--there's nary a fingerprint on the glass cabinets or anywhere. The fold out stool is also amazingly practical.
I would love this kitchen. Judging by the daylight under under the rear door, I'd have easy access. There is, or soon will be, plenty of rotten wood to burrow through thanks to the water leaks evident on the rear wall. Come to think of it, this is not too different from what rodents can find today in dining establishments around Dupont Circle or Adams Morgan.
Quite a big coffeepot on the left. Heavy-duty mixer on the table. Big sink on the back. Foldout stool like I never have seen before. I just ove this picture. Is that a roller pin made of glass on the right table next to the porcelain cans?
It doesn't look very sanitary or well put together, and there doesn't seem to be much walking space, but I love this kitchen! All the little details, and everything about it... Notice how the tiles don't match. It looks like they just used whatever they could find.
Did it survive into the early 80s? It may be the place I used to take out of town company, wonderful food and very good staff.
[It's there right now. - Dave]
This modern kitchen seem so much more cluttered than mine, it must be all the drawers and cupboards. We don't have that many and have gotten used to having our stuff out on the counters.
So many things haven't changed in almost 100 years. A modern cook could feel right at home in this kitchen. The mixer is a dead ringer for a current Kitchenaid stand mixer, the electric stove with elements, the "space saver" designs with the fold out stool, the sifter and rolling pin mounted under the cabinet, even the electric waffle iron haven't changed much. Though now I don't keep my bread in a drawer.
The Greek Key/swastika design reappears in the kitchen's floor tile. See lower left corner of the picture. It was also in the plaster ceiling detail shown in a picture of the East Room of the White House just yesterday. Like I said...it was not an uncommon design.
This kitchen has TWO iceboxes....truly upscale!
Interesting that they have an electric mixer, but still use old-fashioned iceboxes. There does appear to be an electric waffle iron (or maybe a Brown Bobby maker) on top of the icebox to our left.
[The fridge on the left looks electric. Motor compartment cover fastened with screws at the bottom. - Dave]
Are those windows hinged for opening? Very nice kitchen.
I love all the counter space - much of which slides out from the hutches when you need it. The swing out stool is also a cool idea. I know several old kitchen mixer collectors that would LOVE to have the huge old Hobart (Kitchenaid) mixer on the counter.
The one on the left, next to the stylin' Vulcan stove. Except with ours, someone long ago stripped all the paint to reveal lovely oak paneling. Inside the sliding tambour door is the bottom of the flour hopper (filled through the top left door), and a hanging carousel that holds large spice bottles. Like the bottom left drawer in the foreground unit, our Hoosier bottom drawer is a metal mouseproof breadbox. I guess they're pretty common, but it's still cool seeing what our Hoosier looked like when it was new.
I adore the pull out one legged stool, sure would be nice to sit on while peeling potatoes. I imagine that the bin on the lower right, with the metal lid is the flour bin. The table would be about the right height and size for kneading a batch of bread.
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