Detached Deep Well??

[oldhouseman]

I found this recently and can't find much information about it. The Deep Well works and is great shape except for a small dent in the front and part of the heat control numbers are missing. There is no tag or label on it, so no model or serial number. It matches the 1949 Westinghouse kitchen range perfectly. So now I have two Deep Wells which came in handy for the holidays. Does anyone here know anything about detached deep wells? I wonder if this is what gave way to the idea of the Crock Pot?

 

[danemodsandy]

Greg:

Nice detached deep-well cooker! Yes, these were crock-pots before the fact, and you can see why it was a while before the idea caught on - they were pretty big and pretty heavy. Getting the size and weight down was what made the idea successful at last, I should think.

By the way, I'm no longer a Georgia boy - I moved to Iowa this fall. Big change, but I like it.

 

[oldhouseman]

Thanks Sandy

I hope you are happy there and wish you well. I'm an organic farmer now since leaving Archives (I DO NOT miss being in goverment). I have not been able to find any information on this appliance. At least it works well and comes in handy for large meals. I used it right in the dinning room for Christmas and it looked lovely with all the 1790's appointments!

 

[circlew]

An interesting little cooker

I looked at quite a few vintage Westinghouse ads online hoping this item would be pictured, but no luck. I wonder if this was something offered for only a short time, such as a promotion - or something aimed more at the commercial market, such as for a restaurant or church kitchen? I see similar devices today in restaurant supply stores to keep soup hot. Does it get hot enough to boil water fairly quickly, or is just to keep cooked food warm? Can see where this would be a good companion to the roaster oven for large gatherings. Hope someone can get some info. on this.

 

[polkanut]

Greg,

Where did you find this gem?

 

[westingman123]

You stumped me!!

As a collector of all things Westinghouse, I was quite surprised at this little beauty. I am very curious as to where you located it. The deep well is identical to the one that fits my Commodore range. BTW, the lid to my deep well went missing in a move; I have searched unsuccessfully for a match. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[rp2813]

My guess was that maybe this was an optional accessory for Westy range models that didn't come with a built-in deep well cooker. Plug it in where Greg has this one connected and you're good to go. That might explain the lack of any model number on it. Can anyone date the logo on the cooker? It's not the same as the logo on the range itself. And the lid on that unit looks absolutely mint!

Also,does this mean that the built-in cooker only draws 110 volts?

Greg, the old Westy has responded well to the loving care you are giving her. She looks great!

Ralph

 

[frigilux]

I've never seen one them, either! You came across quite a gem, Greg. Does the insert fit the deep well on your Westinghouse range, or is it a different size?

Also glad to hear you're an organic farmer and away from your frustrating situation at the Archives. I have a friend who is an organic farmer (soybeans) and he loves it, although it is a lot of work! What are you growing? Take care, and good to hear from you, again.

 

[oldhouseman]

Well....

I found this at an antique mall in the north georgia mountains and yes, the well fits the range perfectly. I paid a whopping 20 bucks for it and some mid century garden tools.

The temp. goes up to 500 and it takes about 17 minutes to boil water. The cord is a bit frayed and the plastic part around the plug in is not in good shape so I am looking to replace it for safety reasons.

I have never seen or heard of one of these before and can't find anything out about it. It's a great addition to have with the range.

As for the gardens, well I'm growing Mache, Mizuna, several types of lettuce, Kale, Cabbage, a few Chinese vegetables, Turnips, Beets, Carrots,Collards, and have a 30x96 ft greenhouse. About 5 acres of open garden space which is about what one person can farm alone. I am looking to expand the operation in 2010. I'm planting tomatoes in starter pots in the greenhouse in a few weeks to get a jump on spring planting and have started a cottage business with handmade organic soap (old fashioned lye soap)and have started making laundry soap to boot. I make 30 bars of soap every night after retiring from the gardens and can't keep enough in stock to fill orders! A great change from the office.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations on your find!

I have two of them. One has a plain porcelain-lined well. The other has an open coil wound in fire brick exposed element in the bottom, probably like the one in your range. These are early 1950s creations. I believe Westinghouse called their deep well units Econo Cookers. These little guys are amazingly heavy and, I guess, an outgrowth of the popularity of the Westinghouse Roaster Oven to compete with Nesco's range of sizes from their 18 qt roaster oven down to the 2 quart electric casseroles. It uses the standard deep well kettle that full size WH ranges used, but unlike the control in the range, which was a standard 5 heat click position switch, these offered thermostatic control like the roaster ovens, maybe as a modicum of safety for a portable plug in appliance that might get placed on or near surfaces that could be damaged by high temperatures like if someone went off and left it on high.

 

[panthera]

Greg,

If you have to replace that cord, pay close attention to whether the plug on the current cord is polarized or not.
Westinghouse didn't switch over to the polarized outlet on their ranges until after 1953. Monarch and GE did so earlier.

 

[norgeway]

The mystery solved!!!

I have the instruction manual for one of the ranges this came with,the top of the line double oven range did not have room for a deepwell cooker, all the rage in the early 50s, so Westinghouse designed this to be used as a companion to that range,you were able to plug it into the timed outlet and it would be automatic,the book says you can deep fry in it, but to me it would be too slow, ill dig that book out and see if I can publish some of the directions. Hans

 

[oldhouseman]

WOW

Now we know. Thanks for the great information guys!

 

[rp2813]

Wow, so I guessed right?

Greg, I forgot to ask you. Did the Econo Cooker come with the removable plate that allows you to use it as a steamer?

Ralph

 

[oldhouseman]

Yes

it does, just like the deep well on the range.