Oneida Gala Impulse
Way, way back in 19-(mumble-mumble), flush with the proceeds from my recent college graduation, I walked into Service Merchandise to peruse the selection of flatware. I’d been using some hand-me-down flatware and felt it was time to get some of my own. I found a 44-piece service for eight I liked: It was Oneida, and Gala-Impulse was the pattern’s name. It was not too plain, but not ornate (an aesthetic that describes my fashion, decorating and cooking styles) with good balance in the hand (not too heavy, not too light). I believe I paid about $40 for the set, which felt pretty posh at that time for everyday eating utensils.
Over the years, I didn’t really put too much thought into my flatware. I moved, and it moved with me, and though the set of dishes I bought at the same time stopped suiting me around 2004, I still liked my Gala-Impulse. Some pieces were missing (I once found a fork in a discarded takeout box, so I assume that’s how others perished), but even though the pattern had been discontinued, I was able to find a set of six brand-new forks on eBay for just a dollar.
Last year, I noticed that I was getting light on forks again, as well as spoons, so I turned once again to eBay, expecting to score another deal. To my great surprise, there was no deal to be had. In the previous 12 years, the pattern had gone from discontinued has-been to “vintage.” So instead of six forks for a dollar, it was one fork for $6 (or more). I also discovered pages of Impulse fans begging Oneida to bring back the pattern. A common refrain was that it had been a wedding gift, but there were also plenty of people like me who just felt like it was sized and weighted just right and had a timeless style.
I was faced with a conundrum: try to find a new set of flatware I like just as well, or pay the extortionist pricing on eBay. I set up an alert for new listings and waited it out. I really needed only a few forks and teaspoons, but when a lot came up that was pretty much the remainders of someone else’s 44-piece set for $30, I jumped on it. With shipping, I ended up paying as much for these pieces as I did for my original set, but now, I’ve got more than a full set. We’ll see how long I can hold onto it. The other members of my household have been put on notice with regard to caring for these pieces.
Vintage. Hmpf.
