Revere Ware 2 1/3 quart whistling tea kettle?

Hi- I have a Revere Ware 2 1/3 quart whistling tea kettle that I have had for probably 20 years. A few weeks ago I let it run dry, and the bottom is burnt now. I want to by another one, but I want to make sure that it is pretty much the same as what I had. I am worried that they have cheapened it by using thinner metal. Does anybody know of any stores in the Chicago area that sell it? I've only been able to find it on Amazon. I've checked out Walmart, Target and Kohl's website. I am willing to buy it on Amazon, but I want to look at it first. I have some Amazon GC to use up anyway, and no I do not want an electric one.

eBay?

I just found out that the Revere Ware tea kettles that are sold on Amazon only weigh 1 pound, and so it sounds like they have cheapened the product. ATK recommends an Oxo kettle, but you can't put it on high heat and you have to empty all the water out of it after you use it.

I bought my mom the OXO kettle a couple of years ago for Christmas. It's performed well; I didn't notice any directions not to put it on high heat, but I'm not going to argue with ATK.

Also, I believe it's best practice to empty any unused water from the kettle. I always empty out my electric kettle after I've made my tea [that was in the directions]. And don't you want fresh water for your beverage?

Did you char the scale on the inside of the kettle? I've done this and revived the kettle with several boils of white vinegar & water.

Have you given consideration to an electric kettle? Heats your water faster and doesn't take up burner space on the stove [and doesn't get scuzzy from cooking splatters].

Giovanna

Thanks- Actually people in several reviews on Amazon complain about the fact that you can only use medium heat, and I was able to find the instructions on line, and Oxo says not to use high heat. I think the high heat is more likely to cause rust to develop. I am also considering an electric pot. I will have to go to the library and see what ATK and CR recommend in the way of electric pots. I think there is a $20 one that CR considers a best buy. I primarily use it for coffee and to make herb tea. I have one of those one cup Melitta drip coffee makers that I have had for over 20 years. I got it on clearance at Dominick's for $3, and it included the mug, which I finally broke a few years ago.

I got this electric teakettle on Amazon more than 2 years ago for $24 and it's still working great. Gave another one as a gift.

For several years I've been looking for the perfect vessel to boil water in. Currently I'm using a very old Pyrex teapot (Flameware #8446; it's listed in this cool 1955 Pyrex catalog), which I love except for one serious problem: the handle is too small for my hand so I sometimes burn my knuckles, even after years of practice.

I considered a Revere Ware whistler like the one that served my mother (and you) so well. Searching for an old 2-⅓ quart model, I (and you) quickly realized older is better. What you really want is pre-1968, the year Revere Ware products were "redesigned" (i.e., cheapened). I'm not certain this redesign included the tea kettle, but I'd be willing to bet a 50-year-old kettle would be more substantial than even your's from two decades ago. Of course, eBay is probably your best source. If you go this route, you should probably spend a bit of time familiarizing yourself with how to identify the good stuff (this and this are good places to start). I finally decided against Revere Ware because I prefer an open design I can see into and clean.

I've used electric kettles before and like them. I thought about getting a $25 Hamilton Beach 40880, the budget pick of The Wirecutter, a NY Times-affiliated product rating site I like. I finally decided against an electric kettle because I don't want to give up any of my precious counter space.

As I continue my search for the perfect kettle, I'm reminded of an interaction with Fred Bridge in the 1970s, when the legendary New York kitchenware dealer briefly had a store in Chicago (it's worth reading his NY Times obit). While Mr Bridge was helping me select a knife, a woman entered and asked about tea kettles. "Use a pot!" he bellowed (NYT: "brusque and contentious, with little patience for those who he felt were wasting his time"). The poor woman tried to explain she was looking for a Copco or similar. "You have pots, don't you?" he continued at high volume, as she hurried out, looking scared. Though Mr Bridge strongly approved of my choice of knife – a heavy French cuisine massive imported under his name – I have to think he'd be disgusted with me now for not being satisfied with using a pot to boil water. I'm even thinking about getting a 1970s Copco!

I got a GC for Sur La Table (I think) and bought a whistling kettle there and it's pretty nice. Fairly heavy and easy to lift.
And it's a pretty red color.
Just another thought.

Our tea kettle came from HomeGoods. I think it's Le Creuset. It has a nice weight to it. Coincidentally, it is also red.

Rene G wrote:For several years I've been looking for the perfect vessel to boil water in. Currently I'm using a very old Pyrex teapot (Flameware #8446; it's listed in this cool 1955 Pyrex catalog), which I love except for one serious problem: the handle is too small for my hand so I sometimes burn my knuckles, even after years of practice.

Thanks for posting the catalogue. On the same page as your teapot (p. 4) is the double boiler, which I inherited from my grandmother's kitchen. I do use it on occasion. She owned a lot of Pyrex, so the pictured items bring back some nice memories of helping her in the kitchen. As the only granddaughter, I was the only helper allowed in her kitchen domain.

To stay on topic, we have an inexpensive electric kettle that sees regular use, and we're happy with it.