Warmer, Food
Object number2019.40.1
Manufacturer
Dalason Products Manufacturing Company
Date1946-1985
OriginChicago, IL
MediumMetal; Plastic; Glass; Rubber; Paper; Ink; Adhesive
Credit LineGiven in honor of the McGinnis Family
DescriptionElectronic kielbasa wheel-style warmer. Left side is open silver metal framework with wheel inside; wheel has three rings of protruding prongs to hold kielbasa; top has two light bulbs and two heating elements; top front has maker plate with hot dog image at center and top front and back have caution sticker. Right side of machine has rectangular silver metal unit; front has, from top to bottom, two certification stickers, black temperature dial, operating instructions, black power dial, and red power indicator; black rubber power cord emanating from under this unit ends in black and yellow three-pronged plug. Underside is recessed and has one black rubber foot in each corner.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 15 × 14.5 × 13.875 in. (38.1 × 36.8 × 35.2 cm)Length (of cord): 66 in. (167.6 cm)
InscriptionsTop left corner of front and top center of back of wheel framework have sticker with orange text "CAUTION / HOT".
Front of right side unit has white sticker in top left corner with black printed text "UL / LISTED / 594M / COMMERICAL COOKING / APPLIANCE".
Front of right side unit has blue sticker in top right corner with white printed "N.S.F. TESTING LABORATORY / NSF / ANN ARBOR, MICH." and raised text at bottom "365".
Front of right side unit has black temperature dial above center with faint white text temperature levels around perimeter starting with "OFF" and running from "100" to "450" in 50 degree increments.
Right side unit has silver sticker at center with black printed text including "ATTENTION / FOR BEST OPERATING RESULTS / ... / IMPORTANT / OIL MOTOR..."
Right side unit has black power dial near bottom with faint white text around perimeter "ON / OFF / ON / OFF".
MarksTop front of left side has maker plate with text "BAR-B-FRANK / 60 / CYCLES / 700 WATTS / MODEL 200 / [hot dog image] / 120 VOLTS / UL / A. C. ONLY / SERIAL 2881 / MFD. BY / Dalason Products Mfg. Co. / CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, 60607 U. S. A."
Face of plug has text including "UL / 15 A. / 125 V."
Side of plug prongs have text "LEVITON".
Historical NotesKielbasa self-serve tasting wheel. Part of the McGinnis Family Food Stores collection that encompasses materials related to the operation of a chain of family-run food markets that started in Pittsburgh’s South Hills Baldwin neighborhood in 1946. The first McGinnis market (variously referred to as “McGinnis Supermarket” or “McGinnis Food Market”) was started by family patriarch James Elwood McGinnis when he could not find a job after WWII. Beginning with a fruit cart, he eventually opened a grocery and deli at 2872 Custer Avenue in Baldwin that proved so successful it expanded to multiple stores, including one in Carrick/Castle Shannon and later Monroeville. The stores were operated by different family members. In 1985, three McGinnis sisters – Sharon McGinnis Young, Bonnie McGinnis Vello, and Noreen McGinnis Campbell – assumed operation of the main set of McGinnis Stores, rebranding them “McGinnis Sisters” markets. (Two brothers split off and started other stores not considered part of the chain.) With the three women serving as active spokespersons, the stores garnered more media attention during this period. For most of its operation, the chain was largely connected with stores that operated in the South Hills and Monroeville. Between 2008 and 2017, a McGinnis Sisters market also operated north of Pittsburgh in a shopping center in Adams Township/Mars, Pennsylvania. A series of events between 2017 and 2019 eventually brought about the closure of the chain. Objects in the collection were gathered from throughout the stores and consolidated at the final property, the McGinnis Sisters Special Food Store at 3825 Saw Mill Run Boulevard.
Previous owner
McGinnis Family Food Stores
(1946 - 2019)
Related institution
Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.
Related institution
NSF Testing Laboratory
Related person
James Elwood McGinnis
Related person
Sharon McGinnis Young
Related person
Bonnie McGinnis Vello
Related person
Noreen McGinnis Campbell
On View
Not on view
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