Another range!

[philr]

For a while, I've been searching for a 1961-62 Custom Imperial 30" range. I finally got one. It needs a few minor repairs but it's in nice shape and the former owners took great care of it.

Unlike 1961 Custom Imperial, the 1962 lacks the french doors but it's ok for me.

It's got a working clock/timer too! The oven does need repairs as the wiring that goes to the lower element burned. The failure was probably (or should I say certainly) caused by bad contacts on the removeable lower element. It seems to have all the correct burner switches and the electronic heat minder still seems to work fine.



Being a Canadian model, it lacks the Speed Heat and it has two "Surface" lights instead of one but otherwise, it's almost identical to the US ranges. I think it's one of the very last of Canadian ranges that were closely looking like US models. In mid-1962, Frigidaire Canada introduced a new lineup that was quite different. Previously, there were just a few economy models that were different from the US versions but in mid-1962, all the 30" free-standing ranges, including the Custom Imperial model, were replaced with Canada-specific models with fuse panels moved from under the oven to under the control panel.

[this post was last edited: 8/19/2013-00:25]

 

[pdub]

Beautiful range you got there Phil. My family had the double oven version of this growing up. I wish I could find some pictures of it but so far only a shot with the oven handles showing.

Your Frigidaire collection is growing nicely!

Patrick

 

[kevin313]

Phil,

That is a lovely range - so elegant looking!

Congrats on the new addition!!

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations

on finding the range of your dreams!

 

[philr]

Thanks, I already made a few repairs on it!  

The only thing that still needs to be repaired is the 115V outlet and it still need some cleaning, and minor cosmetical work. The wires and connectors to the bake element were bad, the owner already had a spare bake element with good connector blades so I didn't need to get another one. I cleaned the contacts and switched the pitted one (which I also cleaned) to the ground connector.

 

The contacts in the Cookmaster were also dirty so the wires were relocated to the same terminal in the past to bypass the automatic function. Since the clock works (I've been lucky with the International Register clocks, those that I have all work!), I also cleaned these contacts and rewired the Cookmaster so the automatic function would work and it did!

 

 

Tom, if I remember well, you have a 1961 40" range in Turquoise. I really like these too!  The 40" 1961 model still had the linear dials for the burners and they had the same for the Cookmaster which I think is very cool! 

 

[turquoisedude]

Nice range Phil - I'm glad the wiring issue can be resolved. It would look really nice paired up with a 62 Imperial Cycla-Matic, wouldn't it?   

 

I am amazed at how durable the clocks on the Frigidaire ranges are.   The clock on the '57 Super that I grew up with was still working in 1992 when the house in Valcourt burnt down (it didn't cause the house fire, honest...)

 

[philr]

Here are the fuse panel and a closer shot of the controls. 

 



 

 

[goatfarmer]

Great range, Phil!

 

[combo52]

Neat Range Phil

I am curious about what kind of control system the Heat-Minder burner used, I didn't think that Frigidaire ever used one that was electronically controlled.

 

[philr]

 

 

John, you are right. When I posted this, I thought if you'd see this post, you'd probably correct me or ask me for a clarification! It's a good thing you're here!

 

I didn't know how to call this system, I meant it was not hydraulic.  I'm sure you know exactly what it is, it's the same that was used in the US Frigidaire ranges then.

 

The sensor is the same kind as the ones used in dryers with an auto-dry mode that do not have an electronic sensor (so I really shouldn't have called it electronic!). It uses heaters and bi-metal strips.

 

I didn't check it's accuracy at maintaining the exact temperature it shows but it seems to work OK and it still has the original switch with the extra wire that goes to the sensor. 

 

 

[this post was last edited: 8/19/2013-22:02]

 

[moparguy]

Just beautiful! I have always liked these in a 40", but never saw the 30" version... it looks great! Congratulations on a wonderful find!

 

[countryguy]

What is the function of the 'broiler grill' knob? I see 'rare' 'med' and I assume the other is 'well'? How does it work?

Thanks,
Gary

 

[ovrphil]

It's handsome, if that applies to stoves. Glad you were finally able to realise your quest, Phil.

I'm curious - why did Frigidaire and other companies abandon these nice thick coils? They could have made thinner coils. (do you care or does it matter, lol!)

It's all white,with gray in the panel, correct? (gray is the big color this year in decorating, around here, anyways).

Phil

 

[philr]

Gary, that switch is an infinite switch that cycles the broil element. If you set it to "Rare", it's on constantly like a regular broil element or a burner on "High" and if you set it to "Well", it cycles like a burner on the lower settings to allow a longer broiling period. Later (Canadian) models like my 1966 Frigidaire range replaced this feature with a thermostatically controlled broil.

 

Phil,

I can't tell you way they abandoned the thick coils but I think that Frigidaire was the last brand to still use them in 1979. Slower heating, and more heat retention could be disadvantages for some users and the burner supports (on Frigidaire ranges at least) tend to bend over the years and their center section can get lower. Also, maybe they looked dated in the late seventies.

 

When I was a kid, (that was in the 1980s!) I always liked the look of the old ranges with thick burners, mostly seen here on locally-produced Bélanger ranges from the 1950s and on many, but not all, Frigidaire ranges built before the Canadian factory closed in 1970. Frigidaire sold very few ranges here after that, at least until WCI bought Frigidaire from GM! 

In the last few years of the Canadian production, Frigidaire started using more and more thinner burners on their ranges (some made by Chromalox) instead of Radiantubes. I think at some point, only the models with the Heat-Minder sensor kept using the large Radiantube burners.

 

I might be wrong but I think the idea to have very large coils originated with the early 3 wire versions of these for "5 heat" dual voltage applications to integrate both elements in one large tube and get better heat distribution on lower settings than in those with two sets of thinner coils wired independently (like GE used for a long time). But many brands, including Frigidaire, switched to cycling infinite switches in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Frigidaire continued to use coils that looked the same as older ones but with just one element inside (and two wire connections instead of 3). 

 

Edit: I said Frigidaire was the last brand to use the large burners but that's probably not true (see very similar ones in the link below...)

 

[this post was last edited: 8/20/2013-13:59]

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[combo52]

Heat Minder Surface Element Controls

It was interesting that Frigidaire started out with hydrolic type control for their first HMs around 1955, but by around 1960 they went to using a thermistor in the sensor coupled with a tiny heater wire wrapped around a bi-metal controlled contact in a control switch that looked like the regular Inf Sw except for one additional wire connection.

 

This 2nd system was probably the simplest

 

automatic burner control system ever used but for what ever reason FD abandoned it in just a few years and reverted to a hydrolic type control made again by Robertshaw. I know from experience that the RS controls worked very well [ when they were in good working condition ], but I never really got a chance to actually on the FD thermistor system much, so it is up to you Phil to do some serious skillet and griddle cooking and let us know how well it maintains and controls the desired temperature.

 

[philr]

I think one of the reasons to get the second system using a thermistor was made necessary (or almost) with the introduction of the Flair ranges because of the pull out drawers which would have made it a bit challenging to install a capillary line. 

 

But later, even Flair ranges with pull out burners were fitted with hydraulic sensors!

 

 The switch to hydraulic Heat Minder on Flairs was made in the 1964 "H" model production. According to the Tech Talk manual, the electric or hydraulic systems were both available (as an option ?!) for a while during the 1964 production of both RCIH-635 and RCIH-645 but at some point, they all got the hydraulic system.

The hydraulic sensor was also already used on the new Twin 30 Flairs and other cooking appliances that had switched back to the hydraulic system a bit before.

The hydraulic system required removal of the range from it's installed position for servicing from the back and it also needed support guides for the capillary line and special care for the capillary line routing.

 

The service manual doesn't state any reason for the change to the hydraulic heat minder but rather seems to point the advantages of the previous electric system for ease of serviceability (which is unusual).

 

See:  

 

[firedome]

nice find Phil!!!

knowing your storage situation, did you find some additional space for these latest finds?

PS we'll be back Aug 30 thru Sept 7th.