Fixed Temprature Burners

[Chetlaham]

When did the industry transition from fixed temperature burners to infinite selection burners? How many watts was each coil typically rated for common burner sizes like 6 and 8 inch burners? Why did they move away from this concept when it was more stable at low temps?

 

[norgeway]

Depended

The first infinite heat controls came out in the mid 1940s, the first controls were designed by Tuttle and Kift and were used with their Monotube units on such ranges like Admiral, Universal and L and H, this control was powered by a clock mechanism to pulse the heat on and off, Westinghouse introduced their infinite heat controls in 1953, Norge in 55, and on down the line Frigidaire introduced their infinite heat in 1960, GE and Hotpoint continued into the 60s with fixed heats gradually introducing infinite heat.Personally i like fixed heat better.

 

[Chetlaham]

Me too, fixed heat seems like a better idea. I like that GE and Hotpoint continued this into the 60s.

Any idea on what each coil of the burner was rated? I still see the replacement burners on ebay.

 

[circlew]

Westinghouse must have only used the infinite heat switches on certain 1953 models, as my Imperial 30 from that year has 5 heat selections. I've seen ads for the 1955 model with infinite switches and plug-in elements.