Considering this 1957 GE Range. Thoughts please

[ken]

Thought Id ask for opinions here concerning this 1957 GE range. Came across this advertised not too far away. Seller has priced at $150.00. Cant decided if I should inquire or not. I don't have any GE ranges of the straight-line design which was new for 57. I have four (53,54,55,56) of the older design; one of which is yellow. The other three are white. I plan on making use of one in my house when I finally get it done. I think Id be more interested if it were in one of the other colors offered at the time that I don't already have which are turquoise, woodtone and pink. No mention by seller if they have the griddle, meat probe, roasting pan.

Cant seem to pull the trigger on this one. There would have been a time when I would have inquired without a second thought but I'm getting to the point lately where I feel I've got enough "stuff" and shouldn't be dragging more home. I know others here can relate!

Has a few battle scars and definitely would need a very thorough cleaning.

Ad description:

Excellent working condition G.E. Stove and Oven in Rare Canary Yellow Color
Four burners with separate work area
Large oven, and separate warming oven
1950's model with lots of chrome handles and accents
Separate power outlet on the work area
Solid state push button and knob controls and analog clock
Perfect for your retro kitchen

[this post was last edited: 11/18/2016-10:25]

 

[panthera]

My opinion

for what it's worth.

I've cooked on a very similar range of that era. Had an American aunt with one, though it was PANK! GE really had their act together with these. Burners are fast and responsive, ovens bake evenly. Broil is a bit patchy on the right, but only if you're one of those who don't pay attention.

I'd go for it. Definitely.

Side note - I take a lot of s**t here for disliking modern GE appliances. I'd like those being nasty to me to take a look at these seven pictures and compare this to any new GE range. Tell me the new stuff comes close in beauty, form, function. What's that? I can't hear you. Oh, right.

It doesn't.

Get her - you'll like her.

 

[mattl]

Looks like with a good cleaning it could be a very nice unit.  Negotiate the price and go for it.

 

[sel8207]

57 g.e. model stove

I don't think that the smaller oven is a warming oven, it will actually bake, although both ovens seem to be missing the door gaskets. The gaskets are still available online and the book pertaining to repairs of this model are probably available at this site (ephemera area). The larger burner, which is the one with the sensi temp sensor in it, might not be working , but can possibly be replaced with a infinite switch unit. Others at this site would have more information regarding that issue than me. I am sure once it is cleaned up it will look quite nice. Good luck. Les.

 

[combo52]

57 GE 40" Range

Nice range, I always liked these more modern looking GE ranges, but it really depends on which style you want for your kitchen, my friend Jeff calls this style range the Jetsons style.

 

Yes both ovens are full bake and broil ovens, in fact the broiler id a little hotter and more intense in the smaller oven so it is better for really searing and browning meats etc.

 

I am not sure these ovens ever had door seals around the openings. The automatic element does not likley work from the looks of it, these are very hard to fix on a range this old so it likley should be converted to an infinite switch.

 

John L.

 

[panthera]

Did these automatic element controls every work on any range

???

I recollect not ever having one work until induction tops came out in Europe. Every one I'd used before, whether in the US or Europe failed, utterly, to work with anything but a 20lb cast iron skillet. For that, they were precise and exact.

 

Must have to do with the hysteresis of the cooking vessels and element itself, can't think of any thing else. 

 

[ken]

I connected with the seller last night. Still available. Forgot to mention in my original post the ad was a month old when I first saw it so obviously they've not found anyone else in a months time to buy it. None of the accessories (griddle, roasting pan, meat probe) are still with it. Thought I might go today and look at it but we had snow during the night. Still snowing and its a nasty day here so will try for next weekend. Plus I thought a friend would be able to go along to help but turned out he's not able to go after all.

I don't believe the oven doors had gaskets on them at this time. The 53, 54, 55 and 56 GE ranges I have don't have them and there's no evidence they ever did. I believe door gaskets came about with the self cleaning models years later.

And I have a question concerning this design of GE range. Can anyone here tell me if the control panel on these can be detached and folded down onto the cook top without worry of harming the glass panel? I did this with the 56 when I brought it home so it would fit on its back between the wheel wells of my Blazer. I'm concerned folding the panel down might crack the glass.

 

[pulltostart]

Ken,

I think the one you're considering is a 1958, as the entire front of the range is white.  A 1957 Liberator would feature a brushed chrome panel on the companion oven.  Here is an ad for a 1957, located in Knoxville, TN and it does include the griddle.

 

lawrence

http://knoxville.craigslist.org/app/5879630640.html

 

[ken]

@Lawrence

Right. I had forgotten about the chrome door on the 57s. Looks like that's the only difference between them.

 

[ken]

Got it

Brought it home today. Young couple had recently bought a house and range came with it so needless to say what ever they got for it was gravy. So after looking it over I asked if they were open to an offer. He said sure. I offered $85.00. She made a face and said "but its in such good shape". I wanted to say not really but didn't. None of the other four in my collection have even one chip in the porcelain. I said I was familiar with old appliances due to my interest in them and because I have a few. I pointed out how the griddle, meat probe, roasting pan and one of the racks in the large oven were missing. Also the chips in the porcelain and that it was in need of an extensive cleaning. She asked if I could do $100.00. I said $90.00. She said okay.

It was raining this morning so I took my Blazer. Had to detach the control panel and lay it down on the cook top so it would fit on its back between the wheel wells. I removed the glass panel to prevent it being broken. Wasn't too difficult loading it or getting it back out. So I have another in the collection. I have a few roasting pans and the meat probe that came with the 56. But I would like to find the correct griddle. The griddle that came with the 56 wont work with the newer design. If anyone has a spare they would be willing to sell or knows of anyone who has one they might be willing to part with Id appreciate it. [this post was last edited: 11/26/2016-19:32]

 

[pulltostart]

Congratulations, Ken!  After you shine that penny up please post new photos.

 

lawrence

 

[ken]

Did a little cleaning and testing on it today. Both ovens and broilers work and cycle so the thermostats are working. All four burners work but three have one burned out coil in them. The switch that controls "full coil" or "inner coil" on the automatic (left front) element works. The clock and timer do not work. None of the tel-a-cook lights at the back of the burner push buttons light. The panel light works but buzzes. A new ballast should correct that.

Is it correct for the automatic burner to start out at full heat regardless of what temperature the control is set to? Even when I set to warm when first switched on the element got red hot. I didn't have any type of utensil to set on it to test it. [this post was last edited: 11/27/2016-18:59]

 

[moparwash]

No Door Gasket on these

Here is the oven opening on my 1959...there is no door gasket on the opening or the door itself

 

[ken]

Would anyone have a suggestion as to a material to use to make new gaskets for under the pedestal legs of the control panel? When I removed the control panel to lay it on the cooktop for moving the remains of a gasket to prevent metal to metal contact there fell out. There was no saving them. They were black rubber but I could see threads in them where they broke apart so I'm guessing it was a form of reinforced rubber. I don't think plain rubber like from an old inner tube would last very long. I estimate the original thickness to be about 1/16".

 

[turquoisedude]

Automatic burner on a GE range

Ken,  you were wondering if it was normal for a burner to come on at full heat on a GE automatic burner - it is.  That threw me on my '56 when I got it and thought that it was broken but this is the way they worked in this generation apparently.  I'd be curious as to how the later Sensi-Temp models work.... 

 

As for the pedestal gasket, have a look in the plumbing department at a big-box store like Home Depot or Lowe's.  They should have sheets of gasket material that you can cut to fit that will be the right thickness.  

 

[ken]

Paul

I suspected it was correct for the automatic burner to work that way. I seem to remember reading in the past that's the way it worked. And I recall in literature from the time they referred to that burner as quickly bringing things up to temperature so it would make sense that it operated in that manner. As to the later electrically operated Sensi-Temp I would be able to tell you from my 67 GE but that had been converted to an infinite switch before I got it.

Thanks for the suggestion on the gasket. Yes like some sort of membrane material. That would probably work well.