The stove I learned to cook on was a late 50s gas Maytag. This was a 40 incher, and the left hand compartment was storage. The top burners were cast iron, and a bitch to clean. The oven was just 20 inches wide. There was a mechanical timer, and an incandenscent light (which was later disabled due to a short.)
Of course, this one did not have an oven light, or oven window. Pilots for the top, but the oven had to be lit by a match. I was afraid of matches, so I always had Ma or my sister light it.
The second stove, and my favourite gas stove, so far, was a Maytag badged Hardwick gas, from 1985. 30 inches, manual clean oven, but the cooktop lifted, and the burners were white metal, and easier to clean. Sparker ignition for all burners.
I loved the window, and oven light! We used to have our family reunion on Thanksgiving, at my great aunt and uncle's up the street (they of the Youngstown dishwasher.) Ma and I always made and carried a lot of side dishes. The first Thanksgiving we had this wonderful stove with the BIG oven, we just looked at each other and SMILED.
The Electrics in Rental Hell.
First was a lower end Frigidaire. In copper, from 66-67. Cooktop was fine, but oven thermostat was shot. Building manager replaced it with a new BOL Whirlpool, in white. Nice large oven, but felt considerably tinnier than the Frigidaire.
The second apartment had the BOL keyboard GE. Avocado. Oven was decent, but the cooktop was bad, bad bad. Replacing the elements helped, but not much. I coaxed the management into replacing it with a new Hotpoint. This Hotpoint was NICE. Still coil, but, SELF CLEANING oven, and an oven window, and an oven light. Thermostat was surprisingly accurate, especially from 300F-375F. I learned to love an electric for flour based baking (dryer heat,) but still prefer a gas oven for roasting (moister heat.)
I made my first fully successful scratch angel food cake in this oven. And my first genoise.
Third apartment--same complex as #2, but a 1 bedroom, instead of a 3. (Ma was no longer alive.) Same model new Hotpoint. I broiled a lot in it. Was so nice to broil, then flip the latch and turn the dial, and have a clean, clean oven again.
Current apartment-- MOL Tappan from the early 80s.
Just one 8 inch coil. And it's on the left front.
Oven window, but the oven light does not work. The oven thermostat is accurate, for which I am grateful.
No self-cleaning, and on an electric, self cleaning is a MUST have, at least for me.
So, that's my stove story, so far. What's your stove story? I do want to hear it.
I have not included the Vulcans from my college food service days, or the wide assortment from my private catering days. Just the ones I know and love(?)
Of all of them so far, the Hardtag was my total favourite, and the Hotpoints, my electric favourites.
There is gas to this apartment, and my landlord has said that if I let him know, and buy it myself, I can have a gas stove. The pipe is already in place behind the Tappan.
Some day.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
Of course, this one did not have an oven light, or oven window. Pilots for the top, but the oven had to be lit by a match. I was afraid of matches, so I always had Ma or my sister light it.
The second stove, and my favourite gas stove, so far, was a Maytag badged Hardwick gas, from 1985. 30 inches, manual clean oven, but the cooktop lifted, and the burners were white metal, and easier to clean. Sparker ignition for all burners.
I loved the window, and oven light! We used to have our family reunion on Thanksgiving, at my great aunt and uncle's up the street (they of the Youngstown dishwasher.) Ma and I always made and carried a lot of side dishes. The first Thanksgiving we had this wonderful stove with the BIG oven, we just looked at each other and SMILED.
The Electrics in Rental Hell.
First was a lower end Frigidaire. In copper, from 66-67. Cooktop was fine, but oven thermostat was shot. Building manager replaced it with a new BOL Whirlpool, in white. Nice large oven, but felt considerably tinnier than the Frigidaire.
The second apartment had the BOL keyboard GE. Avocado. Oven was decent, but the cooktop was bad, bad bad. Replacing the elements helped, but not much. I coaxed the management into replacing it with a new Hotpoint. This Hotpoint was NICE. Still coil, but, SELF CLEANING oven, and an oven window, and an oven light. Thermostat was surprisingly accurate, especially from 300F-375F. I learned to love an electric for flour based baking (dryer heat,) but still prefer a gas oven for roasting (moister heat.)
I made my first fully successful scratch angel food cake in this oven. And my first genoise.
Third apartment--same complex as #2, but a 1 bedroom, instead of a 3. (Ma was no longer alive.) Same model new Hotpoint. I broiled a lot in it. Was so nice to broil, then flip the latch and turn the dial, and have a clean, clean oven again.
Current apartment-- MOL Tappan from the early 80s.
Just one 8 inch coil. And it's on the left front.
Oven window, but the oven light does not work. The oven thermostat is accurate, for which I am grateful.
No self-cleaning, and on an electric, self cleaning is a MUST have, at least for me.
So, that's my stove story, so far. What's your stove story? I do want to hear it.
I have not included the Vulcans from my college food service days, or the wide assortment from my private catering days. Just the ones I know and love(?)
Of all of them so far, the Hardtag was my total favourite, and the Hotpoints, my electric favourites.
There is gas to this apartment, and my landlord has said that if I let him know, and buy it myself, I can have a gas stove. The pipe is already in place behind the Tappan.
Some day.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
