1958? Kenmore! pics/info/question

[classiccaprice]

Hi fellas (and ladies),

I just bought my first home and this was one of the great finds it had. In the garage, I found a gas Kenmore range that I assume was the original one from the house. The previous owners lived here from 1958, when the house was built, until just a few short months ago. The house was flipped (grr), but thankfully was done half-assed, so even though I lost the original bathroom and counters, I do still have the knotty pine cabinets and most of the old windows (I love things original). The previous owners were gardeners and canners, so a stove in the garage must have been a convenience.

Now here's my question, when the gas man came to hook everything up, he said there was only one pilot light (in the bottom for the oven), that the stove was too old to have a pilot light in the burners on top (you just light a match when you use it). However, I talked to someone else and they said it should be there. My question is, would this stove have two pilot lights, if so where would the second one be?

Thanks!

 

[rickr]

I have a gas range from 1937, and it even has a pilot light for the burners. (none for the oven though, it is match light)
I would check under the griddle for the pilot light for the burners. If you cannot find the pilot light, try following the gas lines in the range. The pilot line should be very small.

 

[hydralique]

Yes! There should be pilots for the burners . . .

I have a mid '50s O'Keefe and Merrit, and it has pilots for the left side burners and right side burners located between the burners (under the cover plate) . I've seen many other ranges of this era, including Roper and Wedgewood, and they all have pilots, so I can't imagine Sears not having them too. Take all the grates and covers off the burners and take a good look at the piping to the burners.

 

[danemodsandy]

May Be Incomplete:

Check carefully under the range top, to see if everything that was originally there is still in place. There was a time when people who wanted to reduce their gas bill would modify the pilots so they didn't burn, then light the burners with a match. One common method was to cut the pilot's gas supply tubing, then pinch it shut with pliers. If this sounds unsafe, that's because it was, but people did do it. There could also have been a more professional modification done, so look closely.

Also, this range is old enough that there could have been a non-pilot model available; there were some very economy-minded folks around in the late 1950s, when this seems to have been made. I remember that Kenmore logo from that time; we had a Kenmore range hood with the same lettering on it, installed in mid-'59.

 

[charbee]

I have a 1961 Kenmore, very similar...and YES...there are tw

I think your stove is similar enough to ours that it should be the same up top: that center griddle and the top burners are fed by two pilots, one on each side, in between the two burners, under the framework near the griddle. There are flash tubes that lead to the four burners and the griddle burner. Take the grates and drip pans out, and you should see them, underneath the framwork between the two burners, but toward the edge of the griddle. We have to light the oven every time we use it, as there is no pilot there. It is a "standing pilot" but not a true always-on pilot. If that's not clear, I'll try and post a pic of the setup. I picked this stove out myself twenty years ago, and it has been a great stove. We just got a Chambers, as well, and are working both stoves into our kitchen remodel.

 

[fa_f3_20]

My great-aunt had a gas stove similar to that. It was a huge six-burner-plus-griddle monstrosity (actually provisioned for eight burners, but only six were installed). Each cluster of four burners shared one pilot, with flash tubes going to each burner. As young children, we were taught never to turn on two burners at the same time (i.e., after turning one one, wait a few seconds before turning the next one on) because doing so would blow the pilot out. The oven was as you described: putting a match to a flash tube opening in the bottom of the oven lit a pilot, which stood as long as the oven was on. Turning off the oven shut off the pilot.

My grandmother had a Roper with a separate pilot for each burner, plus a standing pilot for the oven. Five standing pilots. Kept the kitchen pretty warm.

 

[classiccaprice]

I found the pilot... stupid gas man

Just fyi. I decided to turn off the gas to the stove for now. I figured I won't be cooking too much in the garage. As requested, more pics will come of the house when I get it straight. If anyone has any vintage stove advice, feel free to pass it along!

 

[sdlee]

vintage stoves

Thats a great range.I find the fact that it has a hook up in the garage funnier than the lack of pilot lights and I just wonder if they didnt try heating the garage with it. Sounds unlikely but its something my dad would have done.

I think the gas man knew better too,Theres probably some ordinance against it being there and it was esier to tell you it was outdated and useless than to try and explain an assine ruling some city board made.

Lastly check out www.antiqueappliances.com to get an idea of how some people value yesterdays past.

 

[sdlee]

ps

hey i just noticed on second look . Everyone, correct me if Im wrong but isnt that a match stick hole dead center in the front of the range?

 

[rp2813]

Garage Stoves

I once lived in a custom spanish style home from 1936 with original Wedgewood stove in a cream color with red-orange trim on handles and knobs along with a trash burner and heater on the left side. Definitely top of the line. I was the first person in 50 years' time to ever light the pilot on the stove's heater. A family friend had inherited the place and I lived there until her daughter was ready to start a project to add a new master suite and remodel the kitchen and move into this home in a very desirable area. The stove was saved and went to the garage of this family friend, an Italian lady who came to the U.S. in the 30's. Believe me, that stove got plenty of use in her garage as she had a vegetable garden and fruit trees and did a lot of canning. It's probably still there even though she's gone (her daughter inherited the house). I wish I had room for it. I'd make her daughter an offer. I've never seen another one like it, only the cream & green color combo with black trim handles & knobs that is so common out there.

My partner and I have kicked around the idea of a small gargage stove. The garage is attached, there is a gas supply for the water heater and dryer, and since we don't have A/C it would be nice not to add heat to the kitchen on a hot summer day.

 

[pulltostart]

This is a 1957 Kenmore Maid-O-Matic that I purchased for my last home (and left with the house when I sold last year). It was in wonderful condition and only needed some cosmetic work to be perfect. It had 4 pilot lights - oven, griddle, and on for each pair of burners. Your range appears to be very similar and I would expect you to find the same arrangement.

Lawrence

 

[charbee]

That "matchstick hole" in front of the griddle....

...is actually just a peep-hole to allow you to see the griddle flame. Can't regulate the temp of the griddle without knowing how high the flame is underneath, so they provided that little sighting hole.

 

[classiccaprice]

Wow, thanks for the help

That is an amazing Kenmore. I hope mine will look as nice again someday. Thanks again for the advice/help.

 

[petek]

Plenty of older houses around here have kitchens in the basements for the pre central a/c era. Moms house does with an older gas stove down there, upstairs is electric. And yes they also used it for canning. Not sure how old it is.. maybe late 50's.. but it does have pilots. I turned it all off shortly after dad died seeing as mom would likely not be using it anymore.