Food That Other Canner

Cag3db1rd

Paranoid Pagan
So, I was able to find the parts to the old Mirro canner. Fine. Great.

The OTHER canner is a WW2 era (apparently) Burpee Aristocrat. I have read some scary things about this canner. I don't know where my MIL got this thing, but I would not be surprised if it really IS that old. I mean, come on. Wooden handles. Canners in the 70s and 80s had melamine handles. My gma's canner had melamine.

So, consensus wanted. Should I forge ahead with trying to get this canner going again? Or should I just use it for one more WB canner?
 

ReneeT

Veteran Member
How does it seal? Is it metal to metal, have a metal circular outside thing that goes around the lid/base and clamps shut, have a rubber gasket, or?? Does it have the tall lid or the more 'modern' flatter one? There were several listed on ebay when I just looked; they ranged from cheap to enough $ to buy a new Presto canner (but not an All American lol!) I've gotten one new canner for a wedding present ('70's), and a nearly new AA; all the rest are auction/garage sale finds, but I have never found a Burpee brand one before. I'd likely use it for a WB canner, if I didn't sell it outright and put the $$ toward a different one.
 

Cag3db1rd

Paranoid Pagan
Tall lid. Metal on metal with the clamp around it, but it seems to be missing the little lever, I think. I currently have absolutely no intention of using it for any canning. I have my Presto and my MIL's Mirro she bought new in the 80s. I asked her about the Burpee, and she thinks it may have belonged to her aunt. She said she never used it herself, that it was in her mom's stuff, and no one else wanted it. I can see why.
 

bethshaya

God has a plan, Trust it!
I have my trusted standbys, but last Christmas, hubby got me an electric canner and I love it. So easy. Just set it and let it go.
 

Marie

Veteran Member
I have an ancient wood handled pressure cooker not even sure offhand what the brand is. I love it. It has the pressure gauge and no dang jiggler which my stove can't seem to feel motivated to operate.
Sometimes Older is far better quality. Actually all older is better quality. I'd say restore it if I were you.
 

Illini Warrior

Illini Warrior
doubt that "Burpee" was anything but a private labeling deal they did back in day - there was only a few pressure canner manufacturers after the war ...
 

Orion Commander

Veteran Member
My coworker gave me his Mom's canner. It's a wooden handled Monkey Wards. Works great. I put a new gauge on it just to be safe. The online place I bought a new gasket from also sells handles.

Hmm, note to self. Buy more gaskets while I can.
 

Illini Warrior

Illini Warrior
My coworker gave me his Mom's canner. It's a wooden handled Monkey Wards. Works great. I put a new gauge on it just to be safe. The online place I bought a new gasket from also sells handles.

Hmm, note to self. Buy more gaskets while I can.

you have an original paperwork instruction manual/parts list? >>> there's a website looking for a copy
 

tech

Veteran Member
Repurpose it as a water bath...or dog bowl. Burpee discontinued them around 1970. Apparently explosive decompression was a common issue, although some folks still use them without problems. Kind of risky imho.
 

Toosh

Veteran Member
Repurpose it as a water bath...or dog bowl. Burpee discontinued them around 1970. Apparently explosive decompression was a common issue, although some folks still use them without problems. Kind of risky imho.
I agree.
 
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