A place that fixes small appliances?
Eric asks via the Facebook:
I'm looking for a good small appliance repair place in the district. I've got a couple of 40's-50's Mixmasters that are in fine working order except for bad cords. In this throwaway society is there a place to go get something fixed?
We we first saw his question, we pass along an earlier Ask AOA question about appliance repair shops for items such washers
Semi-helpful, but it's easy to find repairmen for "Major Appliances"- what ever happened to the little shop around the corner with an old guy who'd repair your pop up toaster? No such place- these days most appliances cost less that $100 and if they break they're disposable.
We fear that the modern world -- for better or for worse -- has made this service hard to find. If it costs $25 to fix a $30 toaster, most people are just going to buy a new toaster.
But we hope there are still places like this. Any suggestions? Please share!
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Comments
Update- I took my 1948 Mixmaster to Lake Electronics. They will still do some small appliance repairs and will replace the damaged cord if the interior wiring isn't crumbling. I'll let you know the results.
... said Eric Stott on Nov 18, 2010 at 3:54 PM | link
I've taken my 40-year old Eureka vacuum cleaner to be repaired at All Brand Appliances at 385 4th St in Troy. There's another vacuum repair shop in Schenectady that I used to go to when I lived there.
I'm not sure if All Brand fixes anything but vacuum cleaners. But it might be worth a call to find out. And if they don't fix small appliances, they might be able to steer you to someone who does.
Another place where you might find folks to fix up your old stuff is the Antiques District on River Street in Troy. It might be worth it to pop your head in a few stores and ask if they know anyone who is available to fix small appliances. Those folks are probably constantly fixing up old stuff to sell in the stores, right?
Don't forget the Troy Quick Shoe Repairing CO at 81 3rd Street if you've got worn out shoes that deserve a new life!
... said Duncan Crary on Nov 18, 2010 at 3:55 PM | link
I don't have a small appliance repair place but also a shoe place. Town Shoe Repairing in Schenectady is great!
... said Chelle on Nov 18, 2010 at 7:39 PM | link
um. yes. It's called "google". That's what I did to find the diagram and part for our 1979 Whirlpool dryer (we "inherited" it with the house). Brand new dryer? over $400. Heating coil that solved the problem? $35. Fixing it myself? Priceless. (well, free, technically).
If all else fails I second Lake. But they might try to talk you out of spending the money to fix it. But don't listen.
... said Rebecca on Nov 18, 2010 at 8:26 PM | link
This place in the Stockade in Schenectady is fantastic. Super friendly customer service. They have some really cool vintage appliances also.
http://local.yahoo.com/info-11562463-northwind-refrigeration-appl-schenectady
... said Jonathan on Nov 19, 2010 at 12:28 PM | link
Update: Lake Electronics replaced the cord on my 40's Mixmaster for $32.00, plus a $10.00 fee up front - it's a modern gray cord instead of the original black but it functions just as well and restores the mixer to full functionality. This is much cheaper than sending it out for restoration (I don't want it repainted like new) and this is a better mixer than Sunbeam's current product. I'll be bringing my aged appliances to Lake in the future.
... said Eric Stott on Nov 30, 2010 at 9:33 AM | link
Also thumbs up for Lake Electronics. They fixed an old Blender for me a couple years ago for $10 New would have cost $60!
... said Cyndy-Roger on Apr 16, 2012 at 7:25 PM | link
Well, my 1950's chrome toaster has problems- and now Lake Electronics is out of business. No shops at all left in the area?
... said Eric Scheirer Stott on Oct 21, 2013 at 9:57 AM | link