Corning Ware Electromatic Percolator Cords - What You Should Know

There seems to be some confusion out there about replacement cords for Electromatic items.  Hopefully this post will shed some light on the subject.  I am going to focus primarily on Electromatic Percolators, however, cord replacement on the P-54 Warming Tray will be included as well.  But first, it is imparative that you know which percolator model you have, for not all cords are created equal.

There are 4 models of Electromatic percolator (2 of which are basically the same, just different cup sizes).  You must MUST MUST know which one you have.  I cannot stress this enough...   Percolators usually are not marked with their model numbers, but there is a simple way to determine your immersible heater module.  Look at the top.

                                 P-80-EP/P-6-EP       -       P-23-EP          -         E-1210


This is the top to the P-13-EP (Trefoil) P-23-EP (Cornflower) and W-23-EP (Wheat) percolator.  There is a black plastic version with no chrome, but the shape is unique - that is the important part.  Other patterns show up in this model, but they are generally designated as P-23-EPs (Ducks being one of them)

This heater module takes a standard appliance cord that you can purchase at the hardware store (#30123) for about $3.99.

This heater module is the ONLY one that will take that cord.  NONE of the other 3 models can use this cord as a replacement.

Now let's take a look at those other modules...........

This is the P-80-EP Heater Module (the P-6-EP module looks the same, just a little smaller).  This module was also used for the P-480-EP & P-406-EP (Platinum Filigree) and the W-80-EP & W-6-EP (Wheat) as well as the P-280-EP & P-206-EP (All White).  Other patterns appear in this model of percolator as well, though they are generally just P-80-EPs or P-6-EPs.  (Green Wheat, Morning Glory, Early American, Floral Bouquet, Avocado Medallion and, of course, Cornflower)

This is the E-1210 Heater module.  All patterns of this percolator are designated as E-1210. (Spice o' Life, Country Festival, Floral Bouquet, Blue Medallion)

I will type it again..... These 3 percolator models (P-80-EP, P-6-EP and E-1210) will not work with the same appliance cord (30123) that can be used on the P-23-EP models.  These 3 models have a proprietary plug that used a special cord.  (P-6-HC/E-1210-HC)

They can be found on eBay, ranging in price anywhere from $20.00 to $42.00, depending on how money hungry the seller is.

Incidentally, the the prong spacing is the same as that of the P-54 Warming Tray, thus cords are swap-able between these items.

Where is your Corning Ware??
~~

Sweet Wheat - Avocado Wheat P-80-EP Percolator

Percolators are abound in the Corning Ware universe.  Things we never dared to dream existed, will suddenly appear out of nowhere.   This is what happened with this Wheat Floral (AKA: Harvest Wheat, Green Wheat, Wheat Sheaf, Avocado Wheat) P-80-EP Percolator.  

I feel very fortunate to have this in my collection.  There is an added bonus, in that it gives us some precedent for dating the pattern.   P-80-EPs were released in 1966 with Platinum Filigree gift line, and since the rest of the cookware pieces are of the P-series era, then spring of 1972 would be the pattern cut-off date.  

Other than those facts, nothing else much is known about this pattern; including the name, since no original boxes have been found as of yet.

Thanks to Tony, a member of the Corning Ware collectors group on Facebook, an packing insert has been found which points to this being called "Avocado Wheat" and being an exclusive offer to Atlantic Richfield Company Credit Card holders (that's ARCO gas).

Where is your Corning Ware??
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Still Growing Like a Wheat - My Corning Ware P-Series Mystery Wheat Collection (part 2)

I originally posted about this pattern a year ago, March 4th, 2014 to be exact, when I first came across this weird pattern.  I still know absolutely nothing about it except that it is pre-1972, because of the P-series numbers on the bottoms of the dishes.

I started out with a 1 3/4 quart Saucepan and a Roaster (P-1 3/4-B & P-21-B).  Then, thanks to a friend on FaceBoook, I was able to add a 1 quart (P-1-B) to my collection of this unusual pattern.  I posted a "My Collection" article in April of last year, hoping that some information might surface.  It took awhile, but in September, Francisco sent some photos, via email of his P-41-B Petite dishes.

Up until about December, that was the only other piece I knew of.... Then, someone in one of the Corning Ware Facebook groups posted a picture of a most fortuitous thrift store find..... A 10 inch skillet (P-10-B) in this pattern.  Since that day, I have been on the hunt for one....   I was finally rewarded and my collection grew by another piece (actually 3 pieces).

My collection of this mysterious pattern is, to my current knowledge, finally complete.... Or rather, it is complete until the next previously unknown piece comes to light.

UPDATE:   Which, as of August 2016, it has.  It is now known that a P-80-EP Electromatic Percolator (Smart Phone Photo Below)  was produced as well.  This 10 cup percolator model was released in 1966 with the advent of the Platinum Filigree Gift line, thus, we can now narrow the production dated for this pattern down to somewhere between 1966-1972.

The current count of pieces produced in this pattern is 6 so far.  They include, but are not limited to... (because there may be more as yet undiscovered pieces)

The 2 saucepans....

1 quart (P-1-B)

1 3/4 quart (P-1 3/4-B) - this piece may have been available as a Party Buffet set  (P-20)

10 inch Skillet (P-10-B)

13 inch Roaster (P-21)

12 oz Petite Dishes (P-41)

Newest addition to the line-up (08/2016) - P-80-EP Electromatic Percolator (10 cup)

To this day, the pattern name is unknown...   Green Wheat, Avocado Wheat, Wheat Sheaf, Harvest Wheat, Gold Wheat, Wheat Floral... All these names are still being thrown around, and any combination of them are used on eBay, but no one seems to have seen an original box (upon which the official name would be printed)  So for now, it remains the "pattern of many names".

As of 07-28-2022, the name of this pattern has been revealed as "Avocado Wheat" available exclusively to Atlantic Richland Company card holders (ARCO gas) around 1970.

Where is your Corning Ware??
~~

Separation Anxiety - The FACTS about the Corning Ware Percolator Recalls

I have not wanted to tackle this subject because of the controversy it might ignite, but in light of eBay's recent Gestapo-esque actions, I think it's time to clear up a few things, once and for all.  So before you, as a buyer, decide to "report" a seller's Corning Ware Percolator listing to the ePTB (eBay Powers That Be) you better be darned sure that you have identified the percolator correctly.

Before I begin, let me first states that....   Regardless of the recalls (and I use the plural because there were two) these percolators are still a Collectable Item.  I, myself, who cannot stand percolated coffee, own 19 percolators of various models and patterns... (How's THAT for irony).  I hardly ever use any of them, though I occasionally use my P-280-EP as a water boiler.  (which was a recalled model BTW).  The point is, that they are of paramount importance to collectors, intact. 

The 1st recall....    1976

It was brought to Corning's attention in 1974, that there was an issue with the E-1210 Electromatic 10 cup Percolator.  The metal collar, which was attached with Epoxy, had a tendency to separate from the pyroceram pot after repeated heating & cooling cycles.  Corning stopped production in September of 1974, redesigned the pot at the attachment point, improved their epoxy curing procedures, then returned the model to production.  But, by 1976 it had become apparent that the issue with these pots was a little more wide spread than originally predicted.

So, Corning issued a recall for the E-1210.

ONLY for the pots made before the redesign.

How do you tell if you have an E-1210 that is safe for use?  There is a number etched on the metal band to the right of the handle....  The numbers vary slightly, but ANY number means it is NOT a recalled pot.

I will repeat, NOT a recalled pot, NEVER was and NEVER would be, as you will see.

Production of Percolators dwindled off in 1978... Simply because the auto-drip coffee maker had taken over...  After all, America was gearing up for the 80s and it was all about instant satisfaction... Programming your coffee brewing to begin 15 minutes before your alarm went off so you could "tumble from the bed, stumble to the kitchen" and immediately "pour yourself a cup of ambition" was much preferable to setting up, and waiting for, the percolator while staring blearily at your newspaper.


The 2nd recall.....   1979

By 1979, as more reports of separation came in, it had become apparent that the epoxy problem extended to more than just the E-1210 pot.  Thus, in September of 1979, a larger recall was issued, encompassing 1961-1976 models (almost every model manufactured prior to the redesign of the E-1210 in 1976)  This recall encompassed not only the Electromatic Percolators, but the Stove Top models as well.

This is the Recall that gets a bit tricky.... Here is the list of the dangerous percolators.

Let me give you more of a visual, since most percolators don't have model numbers on them.

These are the Recalled models........ (NOTE: Every single one of them has a Stainless Steel rim)

The P-119, P-129, P-139, W-11, P-219 (9 cup Stove Top - Cornflower, Trefoil, Wheat, White) and the P-116, P-126, P-136, W-116. P-216 (6 cup Stove Top - Cornflower, Black Starburst, Trefoil, Wheat, White) all of which look like this.  This also includes several other patterns that did not receive special model numbers such as 1st edition Floral Bouquet from the 1969 Limited Edition gift line as well as the Avocado Medallion released to accompany the Avocado Round.

P-146 (6 cup Stove Top - Various Patterns)

P-149 (9/10 cup Stove Top - Various Patterns)

P-6-EP, P-206-EP, P-406-EP, W-6-EP (6 cup Electromatic - Cornflower, all/just White,  Platinum Filigree and Wheat)

W-23-EP, P-23-EP, P-223-EP & P-13-EP (Original 10 cup Electromatic - Wheat, Cornflower, White, and Trefoil)

P-80-EP, P-280-EP, P-480-EP, W-80-EP (Cornflower, White, Platinum Filigree, Wheat) there were several other patterns that fell under the generic P-80-EP model number as well..  Such as the 4 special percolators French Spring, Tropical Summer, American Autumn, Nordic Winder, Mallard Ducks, Early American Black Eagle, Avocado Medallion, 2nd & 3rd Edition Floral Bouquet etc.

E-1210, E-1210-4, E-1210-8  (All patterns of the E-1210 without a serial #)

Centura percolator C-609

I have not been able to find any reference, aside from the documentation above, to a P-176 or P-179 Percolator.   Thus I have no photos.

Here is the list of those NOT recalled.  There are only 4 Corning Ware Stove Top models and 1 Centura Stove Top models on this list along with the redesigned E-1210 and the 4 weird looking Electromatic Percolators.

The P-106 (Cornflower, Black & Platinum Starburst)

The P-108 (Cornflower, Black & Platinum Starburst)

The P-124 (Cornflower & White?)

The P-166 (Cornflower, Spice O' Life, White & Wildflower?)

The Centura C-604 (Centura 4 cup percolator "right"- Seen here with the Beverage Server "left")

E-1210 (with the serial # ONLY)

and the odd Percolators that don't really look like the normal Corning Ware Percolators...

The E-1108

The E-1112,

The E-1208

and the E-1212 (which was also available in Spice O' Life pattern)

Hopefully this finally clears up all the confusion.

Oh, one more thing.   Corning Ware Consumer Products Division no longer exists.  The Corning Ware name is owned by World Kitchen, LLC.   They have nothing to do with either of these recalls.  Please do not attempt to call their customer service and ask about refunds or returning these pots.

Where is your Corning Ware (Percolator)??
~~