Chambers/Frigidaire Cooktop

[rp2813]

This showed up for free on CL earlier this week.  It's still available because the seller/give-awayer didn't have room for it in their recycling bin. 

 

I wasn't aware that Frigidaire bought Chambers.  The ad copy mentions Frigidaire grates that supposedly would fit.  Is that correct?  Does it appear that all parts are there?  I know the picture of components tossed into a box doesn't provide a very good indication.  What about the Frigidaire knobs that are mentioned?  Would they be hard to find?

 

This cooktop seems to have the right dimensions to fit into the current opening where my godawful Gag-me-now Vario POS is located.  I would love to have a kick-ass cooktop that performs as well or better than the Electrolux Icon that I left behind when we moved in 2018.

 

What do you all think?  Would I be opening up a rusty can of worms?

 

 

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/zip/7064102251.html

 

[goatfarmer]

Sounds like a story....

 

 

[circlew]

Ralph, to the best of my knowledge, Chambers and Frigidaire were never connected in any way. I suppose it's possible they contracted with WCI Frigidaire to manufacturer cooktops for them at some point in time.

Chambers was privately owned from its founding in 1912 (by the Chambers family until 1950, then Flato Brothers), and sold to Rangaire Corp. in 1964. The company was bought by Hobart/KitchenAid in 1985, then became part of Whirlpool Corp. in 1986. The name has since been sold to another company.

 

[maytagbear]

Might be mistaken,

but I firmly believe that Chambers was aquired by Whirlpool, for the KitchenAid cooking line.

Then again, I am going on memory.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[circlew]

Lawrence, you're almost right. It was KitchenAid while owned by Hobart that wanted Chambers for their cooking appliance line. Whirlpool already had a line of cooking appliances since their purchase of Estate (from RCA) in July, 1955.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks for the info.  It sounds like Frigidaire has nothing to do with this particular item.

 

I pulled up the Gaggenau Vario installation guide and they only provide dimensions for width of the countertop cutout and not the depth.  I swear, I have never seen such an out-to-lunch manufacturer, particularly one that produces products that look impressive but don't perform at anything close to an impressive level.  One would think they'd be very precise about how to install their precious and overpriced output, lest the warranty be voided or other such nonsense.

 

Since the Chambers is free, I can make the 1/2 hour drive during non-commute hours and just bring it all home.  I don't think any more rain is expected for at least a few days so the amount of rust shouldn't increase. 

 

So do the correct knobs for this cooktop have the classic-but-updated look that denotes Chambers at a glance?

 

[norgeway]

70s/80s Kitchen Aid

Grates will fit Frigidaire was WCI by then and had nothing to do with Chambers ever

 

[jamiel]

I think the correct knobs were a 4-lobed Bakelite handle with a brushed chrome rim, subtly aping the 4-leaf-clover burners. They're not the teardrop handles which I think you're referencing.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks for the knob information.

 

I'm not seeing any bowls in the box of parts.  Would those be hard to find, or do they all have standard measurements?

 

[gredmondson]

Ralph, I bought this very cooktop, but in stainless steel, in 1984. It lasted till about 2015 with a lot of use. The igniter failed, and I was told that there was no replacement, so for the last yer of its life, my tenants used a hand lighter. I had used oven cleaner on the burners, and the oven cleaner had eventually gotten into the burner gaskets. It was a good cooktop. I liked the daisy burners. I can't remember if they were all the same size, or if there was one bigger burner.

But I wonder if you might find a better fit on a used cooktop. I hear about wealthy people remodeling kitchens and replacing appliances that still have a lot of life in them because they have been used so little.

 

[rapidry1000]

Ralph

I've seen Chambers gas cooktops on Craigslist SF periodically either for sale or free. My sister had a similar Chambers cooktop in stainless before remodeling the kitchen. It's an unique size measuring 33" wide.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks guys!

 

The overall width of my modular mess is 34" so I'm thinking the Chambers would fit, but after reading George's experience with the igniter, I'm going to pass on this one.