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??
~~

More Sweet Wheat - Wheat W-23-EP Percolator

As I have mentioned before, the old story about "Wheat" being the initially intended pattern for Corning Ware, and how the pattern was not ready for production so the Cornflower was used instead, has long been shown to not hold any water.  (because there are blue wheat prototypes out there - it's possible the enamel color wasn't "ready")   The "limited number of pieces" claim has also been refuted several times.  This percolator's existence only backs up the fact that "small number of pieces" is completely false.

Though I admit, I have been searching for some trace of it's production for several years....  3 actually showed up within a 1 month span on eBay....   So it's not a "one of" scenario.   Just as the W-53 Self-Timing saucepan proved that Wheat had been in production from at least 1963 (the only year those were made); the existence for the 1st generation Electromatic Percolator W-23-EP (Along with its other 1sts gen brethren; Trefoil P-13-EP and Cornflower P-23-EP) proves that wheat could have been in production as early as the fall of 1961.

Though not as common as the latter model (P-80-EP and P-6-EP from 1966-1972) let it be known that these older percolators DO, in fact, exist.

Please note, that the cord to this percolator is not original.  Unlike the later P-80-EP, P-6-EP and E-1210 percolator models that have proprietary cords, these 1st Generation models (P-23-EP, P-13-EP & W-23-EP) used a standard appliance cord that can be purchased at just about any hardware store, even today - Part # 30123

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??
~~

In The Beginning - Corning Ware 2nd Generation BPE (Before P# Era - 1960-1961)

It's time for Act II of Corning Ware's first Era (AKA: Fin Lid Era) from 1958 - 1961.  The first "Act" involved the embossed bottom pieces from Generation 1 from 1958-59.   The second Act encompasses the blurry blue ink generation (Gen 2) produced from 1960 thru 1961.  This generation also includes a new percolator design, but more on that later.  Let's go all the way back to the beginning......   (this is a recap of the "In The Beginning - Corning Ware 1st Generation BPE" post)       

In the beginning of the beginning there were no P, B, W, N, A, C, S, DC, F, G, U or L model numbers..   You see, Corning was unsure how well their cookware would be received by the American housewife, so they made a limited number of pieces for the initial release in the fall of 1958 to test the waters.....  These would be the 1 quart, 1 1/2 quart and 1 3/4 quart saucepan with fin lids (similar to the Pyrex FlameWare design) along with the 10 inch skillet topped with the infamous pyroceram lid adorn with more cornflowers.  With only 4 pieces, it was pretty easy to keep track of what was what, so no model numbers were really needed at this point.

Corning Ware ended up being such a hot seller that, by Christmas, retailers were screaming for more.  So, in spring of 1959 Corning unveiled 2 additional skillets (9 inch and 7 inch with fin lids), a 2 1/2 quart Saucepan and the famed 8 cup & 6 cup pyroceram lipped percolators (which would later be referred to as P-108 and P-106).

All these 1st Generation pieces, percolators aside, had an embossed stamp on the bottom stating either "Corning Ware" with a volume measurement or, in the case of the skillets, width in inches while others simply had "Corning Pyroceram" embossed on the bottom with no other identifying marks other than mold numbers for QC purposes.

By 1960, the embossing on the underside was dropped in lieu of blue ink...  blurry blue ink.  Though these pieces still have the 1st Era fin lids, these pieces have become known as the 2nd Generation of Corning Ware. The marks on these pieces can be very difficult to read sometimes.  It's not just that the ink is blurry, which it is, but the printing was less than perfect as well.  Thus, they can be REALLY light, or only partially printed, or even smudged to the point of complete illegibility.  Saucepans are marked with volume size and skillets by width in inches. 

Unlike the 1st Generation, Generation 2 saw ALL the pieces being produced at the same time.

 1 Quart

1 1/2 Quart

1 3/4 Quart

2 1/2 Quart

7 inch Skillet

 

9 inch Skillet

10 inch Skillet with Pyroceram lid

It should be noted, that Trefoil was released in 1960 as well.  Thus, some of the first Trefoil pieces (1960-61) have blurry blue ink marks on the bottom, instead of P-series model numbers.  These pieces should be paired with Fin Handle Pyrex lids as well.

It was in the Fall of 1960 that the original P-108 & P-106 Percolators were removed from the market.

It had come to Corning's attention that pyroceram lip was a weak point in their percolator design... Thus, the 1st edition of the P-119 and P-116 with a stainless steel rim were released. The 1st generation of the P-119 & P-116 can be identified by the design of the handle.

The stainless steel rim was glued onto the pyroceram body, then the handle was bolted to the rim.

These bolts were covered by a small piece of black plastic.  The Black Starburst 9 cup percolator (P-129) is designed this way as well.

This handle would be updated in 1963 (2nd Edition) though the model numbers on these two pots would not change.

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)??
~~