1962 Kenmore Flair Style Ranges and mid 1950's Hotpoint Customline Built-Ins

[Unimatic1140]

I've just added some great new Electric Range doctrine to the Automatic Ephemera library. I had no idea Sears had produced some Frigidaire Flair style ranges in the early 60's. They look quite fun, while we still see Frigidaire Flairs on occasion, I don't ever remember seeing a Kenmore version...

http://www.automatice.org/cgi-bin/index.cgi?showdoc~898

 

[hydralique]

I don't recall seeing a Flair style Kenmore branded range either, but when I was a kid the neighbors across the street had a similar gas Whirlpool range. IIRC it had the double top ovens with burner controls to the right of the burners, overall it was a very nice looking range. They were the same people who had the dusty Westy Laundromat pair that was rarely used since they owned a small chain of retail laundromats (I think they called them washaterias) so their clothes usually got washed when testing a machine being repaired. I would love to have that Whirlpool range and Westy pair now, lol!

 

[carlvs]

We had the double oven 30" Kenmore Classic purchased new in 1963 that was really a great stove. My grandmother really liked the slide out cooktop and how large the upper oven was, and that was why she picked it over a Frigidaire Twin 30". However the slide out cooktop was the downfall of the stove, because after 35 years the wiring was breaking so she ended up replacing it.

I wish the price of this one was more reasonable and closer to me.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sears-Kenmo...684?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c79ace3dc

 

[appnut]

Donna Reed

When the set had the updated Kitchen in like 1964 or 1965 with all Kenmore appliances, this type of range was in the kitchen.

 

[circlew]

My Aunt Julie got a Kenmore range with the oven at top, and storage below, when they built their house in '65. They used it until the house was destroyed by fire in March of '88.

 

[mavei]

1966 gas Kenmore Classic

Years ago,we had a coppertone gas Kenmore Classic-slide out cooktop and all. It came with the house. Had a Burner-With-A-Brain that never stayed lit once it reached the temp,it would go out and wouldn't reignite with the bypass flame. We'd walk in to the kitchen and sometimes smell gas if we had it set on automatic. We decided to use it as a manual burner. Another problem is that these type of stoves can't accomodate high pots in the rear without hitting the bottom of the upper oven cabinet. That stove was a gas burner-it had four pilot lights-one for each oven and two for the cooktop.Upper broiler had a glow coil. Also ovens very poorly insulated. We only used the bottom oven once or twice a year on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Gasket for glass doors deteoriated. They wasted a lot of heat.Later on we sold it(1983). We replaced it with a 1941 Chambers Model B that we had(originally my grandmother's) that was not in very good condition. It was leaking gas from all the tubing and at that time would have cost too much to restore. I tried to repair it as best I could to get it in working condition.We no longer have that either.lasted about three more years. If I knew then what I know now I would still have the Chambers.

 

[combo52]

KM High Oven Electric and Gas Ranges

These were available for many years and had a lot of unique features. They were built by Roper, most of the WP branded ranges of this style were also built by Roper.

Generally these Roper built Hi Oven Ranges were no where near as good as the Hi-Low ranges from Frigidaire, GE, Hotpoint, or even Westinghouse. If I wanted this style range for a vintage kitchen where I actually expected the thing to work I would steer clear of Roper built Hi-Low Ranges, While these rages were no where as bad as the KM DWs Sears sold that were built by D&M, However Kenmore branded ranges were never one of the better appliances sold by Sears.

 

[mavei]

Older Sears Kenmore stoves were junk.

You are correct. Never thought much of Sears Kenmore stoves.Poorly insulated,burned more gas than any other. Poor workmanship. In 1970 when my mother wanted built-ins in our previous house,my dad(who worked for Sears)had Kenmore gas built-ins and their accompaying cabinetry installed. They were brushed chrome-plated(as they called it back then).We had a small kitchen.I would be sitting at the table and if the oven or broiler was on(located 3 feet benind me)I would feel the intense heat at the nape of my neck.When we had high winds the hood damper flap would make a horrible popping noise. Tha fan motor burned out on low speed. I still remember seeing a cut-out for a 3 or 4 inch flue pipe at the top of the oven before it was installed.My dad wanted the oven vented outdoors and the installer refused.

 

[norgeway]

Hotpoint!

In my opinion made the best of this style, Called the Hallmark, the venting system was leagues ahead of the rest.

 

[combo52]

KM High Oven Electric and Gas Ranges

Hans, you are so right about the Hotpoint Hallmarks, we have two at the Museum, a 40" model that has a built-in ventilation system that vents outside and a 30" model that is vent-less which has a grease filter like a cars air-cleaner and a secondary charcoal filter that is more than 2 feet square in size.

 

[norgeway]

Our

Local furnitue store owner has a hallmark in his house, his Mother Aunt and Sister all have them, he said they really sold lots of them in the 60s, as well as Monarch Moderniques.