Another new stove... Kenmore Infra-Ray

[moparguy]

I just picked up my new stove today, a 1955 Kenmore with an optional left front "Infra-Ray" burner! According to the owners manual, which gives just a couple of sentence description and no unique cooking instructions for the unit, it was supposed to provide instant even heat "to start the cooking operation immediately"... it is controlled by the same 7-heat setting pushbutton arrangement as the other burners. Unfortunately it is missing the red glass cover that went over what looks like a large heat lamp that is recessed about an inch below the cook top surface. It is so unique and a cool design that I had to have it, lol! But any more information about it, its years of production, or even where I might find the glass cover, are appreciated. This picture is the posting picture, I'll take better photos when I have it out of the van, which at this point will likely be after Irene passes through...

Jeff

 

[moparguy]

... the second photo

 

[mixfinder]

Just a little Bigger

My Grandmother had this range in a 40 inch with 2 ovens.  She used the infra red buner at least three times a day for making vacuum coffee in her stainless steel maker.  When the burner quit working she opted for a regular replacement because of the additional cost of replacing the cracked lens and lamp. It was the stove where I learned to cook most because we had a wood and coal range at home and very little food for me to experiment with.

 

[petek]

how cool, the precursor to the halogen stove top

 

[norgeway]

My ...

1953 Sears catalogue has this range, 41 1/2 inches wide!! I would love to know how they controlled the heat on that bulb, it is actually a Sylvania light bulb.

 

[moparguy]

These stoves came in both the 41" and a 36" width; mine is a 36, you can see the difference in the space between the center griddle and the burners. Also, my 36" model has the single oven with a side hinged side door compartment rather than two ovens. John also has a period Sears catalog, so I hope to see it soon. He is planning to come see it so he should be able to tell you more about how it works after he has looked it over. All I can tell so far is that it has the same 7-button heat controls as the other burners. Unfortunately mine does not have the oven door window. Speaking of Sears catalogs... in the day, the "Wish Book" would be arriving soon so that we could check off everything that we wanted for Christmas! How many shopping days left...?

 

[petek]

Do they still distribute the Wishbook in the US ? There's still one in Canada

 

[norgeway]

No Wishbook here....

I hope you will let us know how the Infra Ray works, I have wondered since I saw it in the catalogue!!

 

[norgeway]

I wonder!

If you could'nt use a piece of glass cut from the top of a new smooth top range, at least until you could find the original part???

 

[moparguy]

That may be the temporary solution... unfortunately I have been trying to keep up with earthquakes, hurricanes, and monsoon rains (which are flooding us pretty badly) since I got the stove, so it is patiently waiting in the garage (on wood blocks) for its due attention!

 

[norgeway]

We lucked out!

On the storm, we had a little wind and a few hard storms, but not much more, Hope everyone is OK!..That weird earthquake was enough for me!

 

[combo52]

REPLACEMENT GLASS FOR INFRA-RAY BURNER

Hans that is a good idea if we can find someone that can cut an old cooktop. I get a lot of partly broken ones that could be donors. I have also found a couple of new ones in my travels and they make great counter savers nest to the range as they will take  large amounts of heat without damage as they are designed to operate at more that 1000 degrees F.