In the 1950s nearly every home in the United States had one of these in their kitchen.

In fact, many of these are still in American homes but may not be in the kitchen anymore. It would be part of a set and most of the set may be gone, but this part still remains. You might find it in a garage or a basement today. It may be covered and unrecognizable.

You may have guessed that I am talking about the chrome Formica kitchen set which was visible in nearly every kitchen in the ‘50s.

A testimony to its durability is the fact that many remain today. They may not be used in the kitchen today because unfortunately the chairs did not last as long as the table. Many kitchens today have an island or a bar and a table and chairs are no longer needed

They may have a wooden table of maple or oak with chairs to match. But a chrome table set didn’t seem to fit the decor.

The chrome table was made to last, but the chairs were another story. The chairs were upholstered with plastic that tended to crack and split. They were difficult to repair or recover.

The top of the table is made with Formica. Formica is a heat-resistant, wipe-clean plastic laminate. It is made of Kraft paper impregnated with a melamine resin, topped with a decorative layer protected by melamine, then compressed and cured with heat to make a hard durable surface. Formica topped tables came in a variety of colors and patterns. The patterned tabletops usually sold for more money. Typical colors were red, yellow, gray, white, turquoise, pink, green, etc.

Some tables had chrome legs on each corner, but others had a chrome pedestal.

Often, 1950s tables had “Atomic Era” designs on the Formica such as starbursts, boomerang shapes or speckles. The overall design was called cracked ice.

I went through a spell where I rejected the look I grew up with and now I appreciate it for the style and memories. I guess that happens to a lot of people. If you hold onto things long enough, they do come back in style

As you probably guessed, I do have one of these tables in my basement. It is gray with a red floral design.

Growing up I thought my mom’s white kitchen table was the ugliest thing ever.  I think my mother’s table was porcelain and not Formica, but it did have chrome legs. The leaves of her table slide under the top but mine had an extra leaf. I bought the table and chairs in 1956 while I worked in a furniture store in South Bend.

My chairs didn’t last but the table has been in my husband’s workshop supporting tools, wood, nails and other necessary parts of a man’s workshop. Little did I know it would some day become valuable such as these tables are today.

Retro homes now want that old stuff that we didn’t want anymore.

Let’s hang on to all of that old stuff. Everything old becomes new again. Ugh! Where to store it? Help! We are inundated with old stuff.

Nearly everything we have is old stuff. If you don’t believe me ask my children.

 

Jo-Ann Boepple works at the Edwardsburg Area History Museum.