Detroit Jewel Gas Stoves

[abcomatic]

Happy 4th weekend everyone! I am so excited, I traded my 1926 Copper Clad coal burning cookstove for a late 30's (I would guess)Detroit Jewel Gas Stove. It is beige with a pattern on the front,lid to cover the 4 burners, large flat section over the oven for putting spoons etc, while cooking, oven, broiler beneath of it and 2 huge drawers for storing pots and pans etc.
Does anyone know about this brand and what I must do to make it cook again? Thanks all. Gary

 

[sudsmaster]

No idea, but I'd love to see a photo of your new stove.

Although initially when I saw one, I thought it looked strange, but the 30's stove format made a lot of ergonomic sense: they put the oven up much higher, so one doesn't have to bend down to get to it. Plus, the heat of the oven doesn't interfere with the cooktop, or hit the cook so directly. The only drawback is reduced cooktop area, but I think in that era a lot of cooking was baking and roasting, with just the final soups and veggies done on the cooktop, or maybe some bacon and eggs.

The more modern oven under cooktop design probably saves some space in the kitchen, but at the expense of the cook. Perhaps the move to wall ovens and countertop cooktops was in reaction to the flaws in the more compact range design.

 

[elginkid]

I believe a lot of these ranges were elevated for sanitation. The legs made them easy to clean under. Many of the late 19th century ranges you see sit on the floor, while the very late 19th and early 20th century ranges are on short legs. They got tall in the 20s, and stayed that way, really into the 40s. Also, when you have the ranges at counter height, and covers that fold down, you get 40" of extra prep space, which was incredibly valuable when there were few or no counters as we know them today.

 

[polkanut]

To make it usable, check all the gas valves to make sure they are closing tightly, either by you or a competent service person who is knowledgeable about older stoves. The best way to be absolutely sure of the stoves safety would be to replace all the valves completely. Also, I would check the oven temp calibration. Just a few things to start with for your personal safety.

 

[toggleswitch]

Alternately I have heard that re-greasing the gas vales is the key to sealing them and making them leak-free.

 

[kevin313]

Your Jewel from Detroit

Gary,
Congrats on your Detroit Jewel stove. It was probably made by the Detroit Stove Works or Michigan Stove Company right here in Detroit. Prior to the automotive industry, Detroit was one of the world's stove manufacturing capitals. From the 1860's into the beginning of the 20th century, Detroit made trainloads of stoves. The Detroit Jewel was made up into the early 1960's, I believe. One of their popular later models was called "Tiara."

 

[ironrite]

Grew up with one

My parents had a Detroit Jewel stove. When they moved from Detroit in 1949 they bought the stove to Phoenix, Arizona with them. My mom's uncle worked for a stove company that made the Jewel and I believe they got a discount through him.

The stove was white with black trim. No exposed legs. I believe the stove was post war judging by the style of it. It was on the small side as stoves go. Four burners on the left with a split cover that folded over them and a bit of workspace to the right. Two drawers on the left and an oven and broiler on the right side. By turning a separate knob, you had to light the oven from the broiler, usually resulting in a loud woosh of flame and my mother jumping back from it. As kids we were never allowed to use the oven. I guess she never thought of using long matches. The four burners used a pilot light.

We had this one up until 1968 when she bought a 5 burner Tappan, in avocado green to match the new avocado green side by side Kelvinator refrigerator. We never used the griddle on the Tappen, but my mom loved the 5th burner as she could put large pots of soup or stuffed cabbage on it and still have room to cook other food.

The Jewel went on to live at my sister's house as she had recently gotten married and was still working just fine when they sold that home around 1975.

And Kevin, that is a great blog!

 

[abcomatic]

Thanks everyone

HI everyone, thanks for the info. on my stove. Gary, it was made in Detriot by the Detroit Jewel stove company. I sure would like to know more about the company and when mine was made. I have the serial and model numbers on a tag by the oven. I am going to have a gas line run to the stove and looked over before I use it. Gary