Amana Radarange Question

[lordkenmore]

I saw an Amana Radarange in a thrift shop yesterday. According to a label inside, it was made in 1989. It appears to be in good condition, but there are two issues I'm wondering about. Both may seem a little paranoid, but I know little about microwaves, and I'm cautious with a technology that comes with an Encyclopedia Britannica length list of safety warnings.

-There is no glass tray on the bottom of the oven. Should the oven have been equipped with one? I'm assuming yes, but microwaves vary so much one never knows. Assuming that a tray should be there, can any microwave oven glass tray that fits be used? For that matter, a neighbor suggested I could probably just use a large plate, thinking the only reason for the tray is catch drips.
-There is a small chip in the finish inside the oven on the bottom. Probably a quarter an inch. Is this anything to be concerned with? I assume the finish is more decorative, with the only practical concern being cleaning.

Thanks in advance for answers!

 

[pdub]

Glass Tray

Yes, you should get the glass tray to use in your microwave. The microwaves energy is reflected up from underneath when the tray is in place. I have included a link to one on ebay but you may be able to look at the picture and then find one cheaper in a thrift store as they frequently show up there.

Also when you say there is a chip in the bottom inside the oven, I thought all early radaranges were stainless steel throughout so am not sure what kind of finish is inside of the one you are looking at. Does your machine look anything like the one I have attached?

http://cgi.ebay.com/M026-AMANA-MICR...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item439e395312

 

[swestoyz]

There is no glass tray on the bottom of the oven

Seeing that your RR was made in 1989, it is very likely that it didn't come with a glass tray on the bottom. Is the bottom of the microwave cavity a flat white pyroceram surface, or a dished metal surface? If it is metal you more than likely do need a glass tray, but from what I've seen Amana started using the white pyroceram bottoms around 1985/1986 which eliminated the need for the seperate glass tray.

Ben

 

[lordkenmore]

No, the microwave is not like the one above. It's probably smaller, for a start, and the door hinged on the left. There was less shiny metal. The touch pad was similar color, but a little more compact.

I can't remember exactly what I saw inside, but the interior was definitely NOT stainless steel. Some sort of finish that is white (or at least white like). I assume this is probably the pyroceram. The one hitch is that I'm not sure the bottom was perfectly flat--it seems to me that there might have been an indented area.

 

[swestoyz]

Did it look anything like this? If so, no glass tray is needed.

 

[lordkenmore]

The interior's color is similar, but there is that indented area.

I made a quick stop earlier to look at the oven, and there is an indented area in the middle part.

I got the model number--C64TMA. I looked it up, and one place lists a "cooking tray" that I'm guessing is the missing part.

 

[lordkenmore]

The "cooking tray," judging from the drawing, would fit the indented area, but (I'm guessing)not the whole oven floor.

Link to the page with the tray. (Tray is item #16).

http://www.appliancepartspros.com/partsearch/model.aspx?model_id=2343&diagram_id=759258#d759258