If you’ve visited my blog over the past year, you might have noticed that I’ve been giving the kitchen of my 1950s home a makeover. I’ve been trying to add colour and vintage design icons to the space to create an authentic kitchen, just how it would have looked when the house was first built. As such, I’ve been sourcing original items, such as patterned Pyrex and a garish floral melamine table, and my most recent purchase added to my collection of Skyline utensils.
If you want to create a retro style kitchen, luckily it IS still possible to buy original utensils from the mid-century era. Many kitchen tools were made in stainless steel, which have easily stood the test of time and survived to this day. Plus, you can find them secondhand at great prices in charity shops – which is where I got latest Skyline fork back in January.
The handle was a little worse for wear so I decided to spray paint it to add a pop of colour – and I went the whole hog with neon pink! It turns out that it’s really easy to revamp old Skyline utensils as you can unscrew the handle. This makes it easy to prime and paint them in any colours you like to coordinate with your vintage kitchen.
The oldest utensils in my Skyline collection belonged to my husband’s grandparents, and we’ve had them for many years now. The handles of these have been taken back to the bare wood and I’m in two minds about whether I want to paint them or keep them as they are. What do you think?
I had the pleasure of researching Skyline and writing about these iconic utensils for Reclaim magazine this month. I’ve shared the background history of the company and their products, as well as the details you can look out for to identify an original piece. If you want to read the full article you can order Issue 49 online and it’ll be delivered to your door.
While I was writing about the history of the company I also discovered the work of artist Stef Hume from Red Dragon Signs, who has framed up an original boxed set of Skyline utensils in acrylic and has turned it a work of art. I saw this on display at Vintage Mischief in Beccles, who kindly provided this image of the artwork.
Do you have any favourite vintage pieces in your kitchen? I’d love to hear about the hand-me-downs you’ve inherited or any retro finds you’ve scooped from secondhand shops so please leave me a comment below 🙂
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20 Responses
I found a set of these on eBayhttps://www.ebay.com/itm/226109619315?itmmeta=01HW6B5YWF20S5ZKT0BBK445A7&hash=item34a52efc73:g:g1oAAOSwkA1mKBRu&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8H0X%2B9G7xBC0RCveHwAUWfPmxb8h2WQ3%2BotJQq67p33wHH9u5A0bmbIe5qjBaiU7Syroq0TyGKiin0fkSl03aVzWr7yMlTwskAIhffL4FQd2sffabMNpSc1T17wHENeFVIlYZBo2y0eU4OIE7x94E1bgBowa%2FgI1Jr0agoSUlbFJBsLC4qjrTDuhRySA68OxqzZxIt7t1zSJHlukxKKOpavPRDrRD9JfATlujZEJzpcxWklGwTn62dhbx2PHj93wSGLDYkEFwn8Rj%2F%2BfR92r%2FxHW71JeP3%2BZfPgnRF9f9r0H5Tmb2NJSnS2BU6ctql0jdg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR67ul8vhYw
Ahh your Skyline set sounds lovely Emma, glad to hear you’d never part with them. I’m still using mine regularly too, they are so sturdy even after all these years!
Hello! I have a complete Skyline set inherited from my Grandmother. The best utensils in my kitchen drawer – would never part with them. I honestly can’t believe they’re 75 plus years old! So nice to see them mentioned and talked about here on your page so fondly 🙂
Hi Sally, I’ve never tried swapping the handles myself so maybe someone else will see your comment and can offer some advice? 🙂
Hi Kim, I am having trouble finding a particular skyline spoon to match my set…so was thinking of using the spoon I have and replacing its red handle with a the colour handle I want (yellow) from a fork….would this be possible? I have tried to unscrew it but didn’t want to apply too much pressure. Can you advise please? How hard are the handles to unscrew?
Jennifer C, your utensil sounds exactly like one which I have, which belonged to my mother in law. The handle is just plain wood, but is lovely to use. Nothing else in my kitchen comes close to the quality of this trowel (that’s what I call it) it has a trademark “Skyline” England on it. My mother in law was married in the mid-1930s, but I have no idea how long she had this trowel, or anything more about it.
Just a word of advice to anyone about painting any old utensils…. I wouldn’t, simply because I love the feel of a proper wooden handle.
Hi Giles, it’s not possible to add a photo in the comments section or anywhere on this website. Thanks 🙂
How do I add a photo?
Hi Jennifer, ooh that sounds like a fab Skyline utensil! Unfortunately, I don’t have anything like that in my collection so have no idea what it would be called – so do let me know if you find out any more info 🙂
Hi Cassie. My mum has an old skyline piece which we’re trying to identify- its like a flexible spatula, also with a wooden handle and a wonderful design where the handle is joined to the curved ‘blade’ with three rivets. We’re trying to find another one but they seem impossible to find online under a spatula search so we’re wondering if we have the wrong utensil name. Cake lifter? Turner? Any ideas?
Hi Jane, wow that sounds like an amazing set and I completely agree, it would be great to find someone who would love that style for a vintage kitchen – good luck with it! 🙂
Got a lovely boxed of unused red and cream utensils, set of 7 utensils and wall hanger, inherited them, don’t know what to do with them. It’s a shame just to use them as someone with a vintage themed kitchen would probably love them. Any ideas?
The Skyline MIRACLE peeler was my mom’s, possibly my grandmother’s before that.
I have a Skyline MIRACLE. MADE IN ENGLAND PATENTED CANADA 1943 potato peeler. The best peeler ever.
Yes, why not have a go? You could seal them with a clear top coat 🙂
Thank you for this information, I have a lovely set but some of them haven’t withstood being washed and the paint has worn away. I’ll have a go at re-painting them!
Thanks for your comment Tracy, I totally agree – they’re such lovely pieces, it would be wonderful to have a complete set!
I have only the Skyline spoon left and it’s very special to me because of the connection to my Dad. The other pieces went missing over the years and I would dearly love to find the complete set.
Hi Kim, great find! That’s one of my favourite spoons because it’s just so useful! It should have measurements on it for 2 tablespoons, 1 tablespoon, 2 teaspoons and 1 teaspoon – so you only need this one spoon for all kitchen uses 🙂
I would like to know about the spoon with the measurements on it and the small groove for pouring? I just found one that I purchased at a yard sale