Dragged home a 1954 Westinghouse Imperial 40 today

[kevin313]

I was told today that for 2012, I have to stop going to estate sales, because I seem to leave with a van full of "treasures" every time, much of which I don't need, have no room for, or already have tucked away somewhere.

That said, I passed by an estate sale sign this morning and thought I'd pop in to see what might be left - the sale started on Friday and today everything was at least half off, much of it 75% off or just "get it out of here!" priced.

There it was in the basement. Tucked into a dark corner with all kinds of pots and pans stacked on top of it. When I got a closer look, I could see that it was a single oven 40 inch stove, and I thought for sure it would be a Westinghouse. I think there was an AW thread about this model stove sometime in the past.

I cleared all the stuff off the top and opened the oven door. The light went on! OMG - this thing was plugged in. So I started turning dials and it all lit up, got hot and said, "take me home." So I did - which was no easy task because this thing must weigh 300 lbs.

Here are a few photos I took before tucking it away in one of my dark corners.

 

[kevin313]

That BIG oven! I don't know if I'll ever make three chiffon cakes at once, but we will be ready just in case.

 

[kevin313]

Here's a closer shot of the controls. It has an automatic burner in the front, but the "electric eye" seems pretty worn out. Is there anywhere on the planet where I could find a replacement?

 

[tlee618]

Congratulations on a great find Kevin!!  That is one huge oven.  Do you plan to use it in one of your kitchens???

 

Terry

 

[kevin313]

Hi Terry!

I would really like to find a spot for this stove in one of the kitchens and put that big oven to good use!

 

[westingman123]

Great find! I saw that very one at an estate sale, unfortunately not for sale. If, by some chance, you find a source for that burner, I need one too. Mine performs, but the eye is shot. You could make a fortune just with those calrods, but that's too handsome a range to waste.

Wow. How cool for you!

 

[frontaloadotmy]

What a Beauty !!!!

Congrats.  It looks to be in wonderful original condition.

 

[arbilab]

Oh my, that IS imperial.

 

[norgeway]

You ARE!

The LUCKIEST person on EARTH!! DO NOT STOP GOING TO SALES!!!

 

[58limited]

I'm not sure if all of the automatic burners were the same and I can't see it in your pics to compare, but Chambers came out with one (Burner-With-A-Brain) in the late 50s. They did not make it but sourced the unit from Robertshaw who called it the Thermal Eye. If it is the same unit, Don Mattera of Mattera Stove Works (see link below), who specializes in Chambers, might have some. I believe he has stated that currently no one can repair them.

 

The one used by Chambers had a part in the center of the burner that rose up to contact the pot. It was controlled by a temperature dial, like an oven. Here is a page with brochures on Chambers products. Scroll down to find the Burner-With-A-Brain pamphlet - there is a small illustration of the burner unit: http://www.chamberstoves.net/Literature.html

http://matterastoveworks.com/

 

[customline]

Wow.....

Great oven Kev !!!!! I'm very proud !

 

[combo52]

40"WESTINGHOUSE RANGE

Great find Kevin  Tom has one of these ranges at our museum that he used at his last home. I have lots of good used surface elements available for WH, FD and GE-HP electric ranges. WH used a number of different control systems for thier automatic burners some may be fixable others may have to be converted to a regular infinite switch, I have some parts for the ones made in the 1960s.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations on the new arrival!

Kevin, that oven is made, just MADE, for loaf pans. When I would make zucchini bread, I would fill the shelves with loaf pans. It has room on each self for a row of pans put in side-by-side then a row of two or three sitting longways like a choo-choo train in front or behind them. Then you just reverse the pattern on the next shelf.

When I was looking up parts for mine, which is the less deluxe model, back in the 80s, all of the WH parts books said that the automatic, or as they called it, the "electronic" control components were obsolete. Larry might have something.

 

[turquoisedude]

Oh my!  It just goes to show you that you never know what will turn up at an estate sale! 

 

Congratulations on this find - it looks wonderful!

 

[kevin313]

Tom, thanks for the advice on the loaf pans! I look forward to putting this stove into service.

If the electronic/automatic components are obsolete, could it be converted and used as a traditional standard unit?

Thanks, Kevin

 

[norgeway]

Yes..

I think all you have to do is just install an infinite heat switch, at least thats what I have done to every range I ever had that had a thermoststic unit, I never saw one yet that worked right!

 

[peteski50]

Westinghouse Range!

Kevin,
I think this is just like the one I posted a few weeks ago. This one said it is a 1955.
Peter

 

[peteski50]

Westinghouse Range!!!!

This is a awsome Range!

 

[abcomatic]

HI Kevin

What a great find you have! Good for you and go those sales. If you ever find an ABC o Matic automatic washer or a Kelvinator of the same vintage, please let me know. Gary

 

[petek]

Don't stop now.....this weekend is turquoise in Taylor

http://www.estatesales.net/estate-sales/233691.aspx

 

[a440]

Amazing!
This is the worlds biggest oven!
Yours looks to be in mint shape!
I can't get past the size of the oven!!!!
Brent

 

[tomturbomatic]

Estate sale

OOH, the Ironrite like mine with the matching chair! I'm waiting for an estate sale company to be named "Whatalottacrap." This could be an ad for it. I think the WP stove might be a gas one judging by the oven vent at the back of the cooktop. Those are some of the most ugly and unsuitable burner covers I have seen. I completely missed the decorating gene, but Honey, please, couldn't you find something that looked good with turquoise or was it more important to have barnyard fowl all over your range?[this post was last edited: 12/6/2011-09:27]

 

[kevin313]

Peter - yes!! That is the ad I remember seeing. Thank you for reposting it here!

 

[firedome]

That is

one sweet Westinghouse!!

GE made a similar burner called Automatic Calrod in the 50s, I have it on my 58 TOL J408R "Liberator" 40" double oven range, and I think the burner sensor (the center pop up thingy) may still be available, they made a fair anumber of ranges with it, here's pics of it:

 

[firedome]

Calrod controller slide pot

turned on

 

[firedome]

works well

to prevent pan overheating, and has 2 position coil switch, can select inner, outer, or both Calrod coils

 

[firedome]

all 4 burners on

and the indicators lit up like Christmas!

I'll ask my supplier if he can still get the part Kevin. He's a long time GE dealer in a small town in VT and has a ton of old parts.

 

[norgeway]

The Difference is....

The Westinghouse unit un plugs, sensor and all, they called it the "Plug out " feature.

 

[kevin313]

Roger - that is one BEAUTIFUL range!! I love the color! It looks to be in fine condition, too!

I have an older model of that range at the cottage - in white. I think it is a 1954 or 1955 model and it has the automatic calrod.

The "electronic eye" on the WH has pretty much worn out. It's built differently than the GE, but I'm wondering if they are interchangable? Essentially, they both do the same thing.

 

[firedome]

Thanks!

It's our daily driver... we use the little oven far more than the large one, but 2 sure come in handy for Thanksgiving!
Believe it or not I just missed a 1960 30" version in something like Poppy Red!!
I've never seen a red GE electric range before, though gas Chambers had them.

Perhaps the Calrod sensor can be adapted? If so let me know and I'll ask my electric range guru if he has 'em!