1958 Frigidaire Imperial Range parts

[flamingogirl]

I recently acquired a '58 Frigidaire Imperial model RI-58-70 that has been professionally painted "57 Chevy" turquoise. We drove 10 hours round trip to get the beauty. It is in very good condition but missing the heat minder, some knobs and the burner trim and pans are rusty. I have been searching ebay for parts and was able to find a deep well cooker but have had no success finding the the heat minder, trim, pans and knobs. Can anyone help me find these parts?

 

[jetcone]

Check with

Steve Sansone,  his handle on ebay is "monroe54" 

 

 

 

[mattl]

Looks to be in great shape! Are you sure it was painted? That was a popular color in the 50's and it looks original.

 

[combo52]

Beautiful Range

But it appears to be a 1957 range, the 58s looked very different. That said I may have many of the parts you need, E mail me with a Ph# and I may be able to help.

 

John L.

 

[flamingogirl]

Original Color?

I am pretty sure it was originally a black/gray or what they called charcoal. I was told by the previous owner that it was painted to match his friends 57 Chevy. They took it to an auto body shop for the paint.

Also, I cannot be completely certain of it's age. I was under the impression that the model number "RI-70-58" gave the year..."58"...I could be wrong. I did find a brochure but it spanned a date range from 56-58. I do know that this model had it's debut in 1956 because I found this hilarious video on youtube. This video calls it "Imperial 60".

Tonia

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CXh4WhINbA

 

[swestoyz]

Your beautiful range is indeed an RI-70-57, or a 1957 Model year Imperial dual-oven range.  They often had a color code at the end of the model number (or sometimes even at the beginning), which would give us a clue as to what color it was when it rolled off the production line. 

 

If it was indeed charcoal originally, I suspect you'd be able to find some of the original coloring either along the hinged door frames, or along the back side of the side panels.  Here is what a charcoal range would look like (this is my old '59 charcoal range)

 

1959 Frigidaire Custom Imperial Range - in Charcoal

Hey Gang - A local friend needed some help picking up a Singer sewing machine and cabinet (it was a large cabinet) up in Austin, MN. Earlier this week he had arranged to have us go pick up the cabinet and machine on Saturday. On Friday I joked with him, "better watch out - I might find...

www.automaticwasher.org

 

Ben

 

[philr]

The "Imperial 60" is the single "Wonder Oven" version it has the same looks but a single oven on the right that can be divided in two, the "Imperial 70" version has a small oven on the left rather than a storage drawer.  Yours is definitely a 1957 model, these were made from mid-1956 to mid-1957.

 

 

 

[flamingogirl]

Double Oven

Thank you for everyone's replies. Unfortunately, "monroe54" on ebay was unable to help me with any parts.
I want to clarify some info that Ben and PhilR provided. Just to be clear, the model number on this bad boy ends in 58...so is it a 1958 or 1957. Also, this range has 2 ovens, left and right, and a large storage drawer on the bottom, so I am confused as to which model it is, the "Imperial 60 or 70".

Still looking for parts JohnL...I will be emailing you shortly.

Also, does anyone know about safety checks? Before installing in my kitchen should I have an appliance repair guy run safety checks on it? I will need to have 220 run to the kitchen, we have a propane range now...any chance this range can be converted to propane?

Tonia

 

[philr]

If you could send a picture of the model number tag, I'd like to see that! 

The Top Of the Line model for 1957 (which your range seems to be) is the RI-70-57. There was also a RIG-70-57 which had a glass in the right oven's door. 

 

There was no RI-57-70 or RI-58-70 or anything close to that (there were no RI-70-58 either).

The year followed the style number (in this case "70") not the opposite.

 

There were RI-55-58 which was a single oven model and RCI-75-58 which was a double oven model and a Deluxe version with two ovens "RD-71-58" but there were no 1958 models with the "70" suffix.

 

High quality scans of owner manuals for the 1957 and 1958 40" models are available for download on this site, I'd suggest you to download them. 

 

1957

How to use and enjoy your new 1957 Frigidaire Electric Range

How to use and enjoy your new 1957 Frigidaire Electric Range

www.automatice.org

 

1958

1958 GM Frigidaire 40 and 30 inch Electric Range Line Brochures

1958 GM Frigidaire 40 and 30 inch Electric Range Line Brochures

www.automatice.org

 

How to use and enjoy your new 1958 Frigidaire 40 Inch Electric Range

How to use and enjoy your new 1958 Frigidaire 40 Inch Electric Range

www.automatice.org

1958 service manual

1958 Frigidaire Electric Range Tech-Talk Service and Parts Manual

1958 Frigidaire Electric Range Tech-Talk Service and Parts Manual

www.automatice.org

 

 

[flamingogirl]

corrected model number

You are absolutely right PhilR...a friend read the model number for me and then I never checked it later...silly me.
The corrected model number is RI-70-57 GN and the serial number is 27C03594. The pics are not coming out well but I have attached it anyway.

I downloaded the manuals etc before I started this thread they have been quite helpful. Maybe I should have read them earlier in the day rather than after a long day at work and I might have noticed the model numbers.

http://https//lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3T54Ssuv5uw/VNvrlNwD9QI/AAAAAAAAIMg/vpapck0_KZk/w1195-h673-no/IMG_20150211_155306702.jpg

 

[philr]

And I guess GN means it was originally Sherwood Green too! So it's probably in it's original colored porcelain finish and not repainted like you were told (that would be a good thing!). 

 

 

[flamingogirl]

Sherwood Green

It's the original color??!! That's awesome! I am thrilled. The more I read about vintage appliances the more I realized that the original color is preferred. I love the color and want to paint the fridge the same color (it's new, so a little paint won't hurt).

 

[russfae]

I inherited a RI-70-57

I inherited a RI-70-57 stove that has been in my wife's family from new. I am stoked that it still works after daily use all these years.