Featured Vintage Chrome-Sided Table?

Hey guys! I am starting the baby steps for a cookbook that I want to write, which is part memoire. Now, back when I was in college in my first apartment, it was a VERY dated efficiency apartment. This was before computers were as common and the local cable co., wouldn't allow me to have even the basic channels without subscribing to a full package, which I couldn't afford; so, being such a tiny space with nothing to entertain myself, it was extremely depressing during the winter months as I didn't drive!

But, I adored the vintage details of my little apartment! One of these details was a vintage yellow table with a chrome band somewhat similar to the table pictured below. I would like to know more about it and what the top of this table may have been made of. IIRC, the tabletop had an unusual texture; almost vinyl-like. In fact, one day after buying some perfectly ripe bananas one evening, the next morning I left for my voice lesson, but when I returned that afternoon, there was a puddle of banana juice puddled around the bananas! I have never encountered this phenomena before, but I wonder if the material of the table may have had something to do with it. I just found the below pic. on-line since I didn't own a camera during the mid-90s in order to take pix. of my little place...

 

Aaaaah, this brings back memories. I had a very similar kitchen set in pink and black when first married in 1957.
I can't imagine what the top of your table would have been, as described maybe a textured leatherette, but I don't know what effect that would have in expediting the ripening of bananas.
The table top in the photo you have supplied is arborite or formica I believe.

 

As far as I know, they are called Formica tables.
Google Images: Vintage Formica Table

P.S. The "texture" is just an optical illusion due to the pattern. The table tops are smooth. My mom had a red set identical to this that was used for decades. It was bought approx. 1958 when she got married.

 

I've read that products containing ethylene can hasten the ripening of fruit. I don't know if that kind of table top has ethylene in it, but maybe?

 

I remember those kitchen sets and I WANT that yellow set above, love it !! . Joy.

 

Actually that set only in red with silver band YESSS !!

 

Love it.

 

Had a few.

 

Most were Formica or similar material. The one in the photo most certainly is. Early ones may have been covered in oil-cloth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oilcloth

 

In good shape and in the right market, those sets are now worth more than the rest of the contents of your old apartment.(LOL) I love those sets too. The formica tops sometimes had wooden bases too, early on. I found one in the local ReStore with pink and green boomerangs on top with wood legs. It sold pretty quickly.

 

I have a full set of late 40's Youngstown cabinets in my kitchen that were installed new. The original counter tops are also there. I believe them to be Formica although the Formica seems to have a bit of a different feel then modern Formica. I imagine they are the same material as in those tabletops. Love those tables BTW.

 

Back in the late 1980's I had a black/grey/red set with 4 chairs, each chair had a diamond, heart, club or spade cut out in the backrest. As I recall, sold it in the $200. price range, a fair price then, wish I had it today.

 

I always hated the green that I used to see a lot of!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Oh My, This was our table when I was a kid! I know I have a picture somewhere of us at that table

 

Bananas actually give off ethylene, which is why you ought never to store them next to other fruit. Ethylene is used to ripen the unripe, so a banana can also be useful for that. It's feasible that the table had low levels of emitting ethylenelastics are, after all, composed of carbon/hydrogen chains, which when they degrade, give off organic gases. I think Formica has ethylene glycol in it, from (very old) memory.

 

What you said.....

 

I still remember my organic chemistry.