1956 GE Spacemaker Stove (yellow)

[baltimore]

Hi,

I recently purchased a pastel yellow 1956 GE Spacemaker Stove. All of the burners are different and I am trying to figure out which components are original, and I would also like to determine which parts I should replace and where to get the parts.

Left Rear: I think this one is all original. The receptacle assembly has a hinge that attaches by a screw. The burner attaches to the trim ring with tabs that go through the trim ring. The burner says Calrod.

Right Rear: The receptacle assembly has a hinge that attaches by a screw, but this hinge looks like a more modern design. The burner attaches to the trim ring with tabs that go through the trim ring like the left rear. The burner says Calrod.

Left Front: The trim ring has a that holds it in place, and the burner rest on the ring by gravity. There is no hinge, instead there is a vertical metal tab that holds the burner in place. I see a hole for the hinge assembly, but no hinge. The burner says Calrod.

Right Front: This burner looks different. The burner does not say Calrod in the center. The trim ring was about 50% rusted away. This assembly does not have a hinge.

I had a couple questions;

1. Does anyone know which components are original? Does anyone know a store that might have original replacements for my components that have been replaced over the years? I would like to replace all 4 burners and find the right front trim ring.

2. If I can't get original parts, can anyone suggest what I might want to use as a modern replacement? I have found drip trays and trim rings. I would imagine the trim ring that rusted was replaced along with the right front burner at some point.

3. The area under the burners was originally painted black. Is there a brush-on paint that will not just peel over time from the heat like the original paint did? I could leave it as is since it is not visible.

4. Does anyone know how to remove the clock and clock bezel?

5. Does anyone know how to remove the push button switches (that control the stove top burners)?

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[combo52]

Correct surface elements for GE range

Hi Jeff, the left rear element is the original and this is the style element that should be on the stove, you want to look for two coil burners that have the trim ring attached and are hinged.
Sometimes it’s best to buy a very low mileage stove in good condition just to steal the elements GE use the style elements from the mid 50s to the mid 70s so it’s not too hard to find a basic stove sometimes to steal the elements from.

It looks like the stove was used pretty hard, but it can be brought back if you’re willing to do the work, the cooktop can be unscrewed and removed and the pan under it that’s rusty can be removed and cleaned thoroughly. You might even want to sandblasted and then use a good enamel paint. It will hold up fine if it’s kept clean, which this one never was

The clock in the switches, and everything else can be removed for replacement or cleaning purposes , the screws that secure the pushbutton switches are underneath the chrome trim that gets removed first.

John

 

[baltimore]

Thanks for your response. I have already spent days cleaning this stove and it is looking pretty good now. The oven was bad, but now it looks great. The grease under the trim rings is still soft and will be easy to clean.

Is there a trick to removing the push nuts on the chrome trim without breaking the pins?

Where is the cutoff for donor stoves in the mid 70s? Is it when they stopped using push buttons for the stove top elements? Is there anybody who maintains a salvage yard of these old stoves or stocks really old parts? In the mean time, can I use a more modern 2 Coil Burner and Burner Receptacle?

 

[jamiel]

Exactly right...GE/HP pushbutton stove (or a Hotpoint 5-position-dial-stove) will have compatible elements for this stove. Realize that there were likely slide-out porcelain drip pans under the elements (the black enamel you're speaking of was protected by them) which slotted in and were removed when the oven door was open.

My mom had this stove size from 1968 to 1978 when we moved house. Bought it used and moved it several times. The 24" was key to access in the house we had where it allowed easy access to the stairs/back door (the extra 6" would have made it just too tight...made it possible to line up this stove and dishwasher and not interrupt traffic flow.

The stove she had had the "timed bake" setting but no timer/clock (it had been removed as it was an earlier model which permitted the timer/clock to be easily removed). Only now reading AW and seeing some of the ads do I recognize it.

 

[coldspot66]

I may have GE coil elements with the attached ring.

 

[combo52]

Replacement surface elements for a 56 GE range

Hi Jeff , I didn’t really notice that you’re just here in Baltimore. I have bins full of good used elements for those stoves. If you wanted to make a trip to Beltsville sometime, we could sell you some at a reasonable cost.

John.

 

[baltimore]

Oh, that's awesome. I will plan a trip sometimes soon. I'll let you know beforehand so I stop by when you are not on a service call.

Thanks to coldspot66 also.