The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Hobart N50

wheatbeat's picture
wheatbeat

Hobart N50

Hi all, for anyone that might be interested, I have a new detailed review of the Hobart N50 mixer here.

https://wheatbeat.com/hobart-n50-mixer-review/

I have a lot of pictures of the inside of the machine as well. 

 

David R's picture
David R

I read that review, and another of your reviews as well - thank you for your straightforward and informative comments. It's easy to find reviews, but much harder to find ones that are as specific and useful as those.

Redjacketswamp's picture
Redjacketswamp

GREAT REVIEW.

From your story, I ended up more impressed by your experience of the service quality than I was worried about the alignment issue.   Sure, It would have been better if that had not occurred and could be a sign of systemic production issue - but to have this degree of support when it happen is amazing these days.

I just wanted to point out that you did put the criteria of a “forever” machine and as such it is unfair to then switch the final evaluation to that of  relative costs for life time replacements.  Also, from what I interpret the cost issue for 2 machines is either more the 5qt not being sufficient for your needs - or your dough needs is actually much more important that an all-in-one mixer can deliver.  If either of those is true then the N50 was never going to cut it.

wheatbeat's picture
wheatbeat

Yes, the service was excellent. You get the same service Hobart provides their commercial clients with giant machines. I thought they would come to my house and simply take the mixer back to their office for repair - or they would ask me to ship it to them. So that was amazing.

As to your point about my criteria of it being a "forever" machine, I hear what you are saying; however, I should clarify that I have no reason to doubt a good quality KitchenAid would also last "forever". As stated in the review, I have never had a KitchenAid malfunction in any way. As such, I do think it's fair to evaluate the relative cost of the Hobart critically.

I would have liked more than 5Qt capacity but I did not knock the Hobart in any way for that. I knew exactly what I was buying. When I realized I needed a dedicated spiral mixer for dough, I bought a machine with a 14Qt bowl. 

Hope that clarifies my points and thanks for the feedback.

Redjacketswamp's picture
Redjacketswamp

Apologies, I wasn't trying to argue, only add to the discussion.  

Personally I do understand the need for a specialised dough machine and I am always shocked at how poorly many mixers seem to develop gluten.  I love my vintage Hobart but if I was going specialised dough mixer my dream machine is the Artofex PH0 (twin arm mixer)http://reho.st/medium/self/da1e6aa2e79e75f995b9fd452ecae03f980ffc23.jpg

Not just for its weird anthropomorphic movement, but it also does beautiful gluten.


I may be totally wrong but I question if current KA are going to be forever machines.  There are just too many not lasting the distance already.  But...the big question comes from the fact that It doesn't take too many parts with designed obsolescence to limit longevity...and that may just be the circuit board.

P.S. I love your writing style.  Not only is it informative it also manages to carry you along so it never becomes bogged down.

 

   
Camarie's picture
Camarie

The N50 looks so new!! Seems it has its own cage for the work bowl now!!

wheatbeat's picture
wheatbeat

If you like that, check out this bad boy!  https://wheatbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/secondary.mp4

Redjacketswamp's picture
Redjacketswamp

Wow...that is some mixer loving there...but it would never fit in my shoebox of a kitchen. :D    Is that yours at work or just a video off the net?   

Curious, have you made panettone with your spiral mixer?   Before my Hobart I was making panettone by hand and it would take about 1hour of french kneading at each kneed point in the recipe to get sufficient gluten on the very wet dough....exhausting.   I think this is what started my love for specialist dough mixers.  Check out the window from these: https://youtu.be/SK-TGzPwWew?t=125

 

wheatbeat's picture
wheatbeat

No, I took that video. It's a really awesome machine. I have never made panettone with it. I have made panettone with a spiral mixer of course. I can't imagine doing all that by hand! The window in the video is beautiful. Silky smooth, soft but strong. I am not much into panettone anymore though, been doing more Pan D'Oro these days, which I like much better.

Redjacketswamp's picture
Redjacketswamp

I do understand your preference - but for me, panettone (really good panettone) just triggers some pleasure centre in my brain.   However, I would not be surprised if I had never had a decent version of Pan D'Oro.  You give me hope that I have been missing something even more joyous than Panettone.

Pizza that has that alchemy where it is no longer the sum of its parts but a transcendental thing - same.

wheatbeat's picture
wheatbeat

Suddenly, you've given me the urge for pizza :)

Camarie's picture
Camarie

I don't have the room for that big monster either. I just want a used N50 or the Kitchenaid Model G, from which the N50 was spawned from.

Bother are good machines, & you'll be getting a product that was made purely by Hobart, & not some Whirlpool copycat with more than likely doesn't work!!

Redjacketswamp's picture
Redjacketswamp

Have you seen the chrome version of the model G?   Its bench bling done right.  

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/CYYAAOSwo6lWI9Fg/s-l1600.jpg

Mixer4MG's picture
Mixer4MG

Hello,

I have a KitchenAid Model G Mixer available for sale - - interested?

Camarie's picture
Camarie

Looks GORGEOUS!! Ebay has one, but the front of it where the tranny is, is cracked. Supposedly, it was fixed, but I don't know.

There was one offered in gray, but someone had already scooped it up. I was too late trying to get it!! Here it is!

Camarie's picture
Camarie

Yup! The Model G & the N-50 are pretty much the same, since the same mechanism is used in both machines. Only visible difference is the Model G has a fuse to protect the motor, while the N-50 uses a circuit breaker to protect the machine. Either or, I'm getting a used one!! To avoid having to fork up over $2,000 for one that's new. 

Redjacketswamp's picture
Redjacketswamp

Robust small mixers are hard.  While looking for images for the above comments I found this 10l double arm by Mamy that I had not seen before.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zz_Q8PA0FvM/mqdefault.jpg

 

Sad you missed that model G - it had a fantastic range of attachments/beaters.  Its those items that really add to the overall cost so finding one with them already is a huge benefit.  FYI, If you have not seen it there is also what claims to be a 1950's N50 (Found it while I was looking for the ice cream attachment)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/333230316660

Camarie's picture
Camarie

Thanks! This model is up for bid, & as soon as it comes on sale, someone is going to grab it & scoop it up !! But I'll be looking to see.

David R's picture
David R

Are fuses to fit the older models still available somewhere?

Camarie's picture
Camarie

They should be, at local hardware stores & places like Home Depot or Lowes. I plan to get some if I can buy the mixer that I want. Take the old one with you, so that it can be matched up with the new ones.

These vintage machines may be old, but they are true genuine quality machines if you can find one!! All they might need is a little TLC, & they be your friend for life!! Beats any new KA machine out there, because you'll have the best in the business!!! A true legend!!

Camarie's picture
Camarie

I may be getting a used N50 mixer! If so, I will clean it up & repaint it to make it look brand spanking new! I've always wanted one. It is awfully hard to get one new because they are so ridiculously expensive!!

It has been said that if you own one, you'll never have to buy another mixer again because they are built like an Army tank. The one that I'm trying to get works very well. It just needs to be cleaned up & repainted. I'll have to get a whip & a dough hook for it. It comes with the bowl, flat beater, grinder & a pelican veggie slicer. Wish me some luck!

Camarie's picture
Camarie

 

A used N50 mixer was getting harder & harder to buy on Ebay!! So I went back to find this Model G (Kitchenaid) mixer & scooped it up before someone else was able to. I'll test run it to see if it works good. then begin the process of cleaning it up & repainting it to bring it back to life again!!

Lucidcat2's picture
Lucidcat2

Looks great. How much would you say it weighs roughly?

Camarie's picture
Camarie

Probably about 50 - 55lbs.

These mixers are not light by any stretch of the imagination! Even the n50 is not lightweight! They require the use of a two-wheeler or two people to lift & carry them. They are commercial machines, made to take on the riggers of heavy duty usage every day.

That's because they are made with a thick heavy cast aluminum body & metal gears, as well as a heavy motor to run them.

Lucidcat2's picture
Lucidcat2

That's heavier than I even imagined lol. I'm sure it's an amazing machine though!

Camarie's picture
Camarie

The guy who delivered it had to use a two-wheeler to bring it upstairs. Trust me, it was hard taking it out of the box because it was so heavy!! It's on the kitchen table now. Thank God that it is working beautifully!!

Lucidcat2's picture
Lucidcat2

You're going to have lots of fun with that machine I'm sure! I'm so gelling, but, I have to say, I am happy with my non-commercial Kitchenaid, it does the job for me!

 

Camarie's picture
Camarie

I had 3 choices;

1. Buy a new N50, which wasn't happening. Too astronomically expensive!!!!

2. Buy a used N50, which also didn't seem likely because people were buying them up At Ebay & left & right & leaving the broken ones.

3. Buy a used KA Commercial Model G, which IS working very well!! I  thought it best  to hop on this mixer & hope for the best, which, by the grace of God that it IS working very well!! So I'll just concentrate on cleaning it up & repainting it. No need to go inside to check the motor or machinery. if it isn't broken, don't fix it!!

But this thing is a BEAST!! A monster!!