Frigidaire RS-50 Electric Range

[combo52]

Cool Early 50s FD Range

Your Wounder Oven has two thermostats, which one are you using ?, also if the broiler is not working that can account for baking problems in and of itself.

It is fairly likely that the thromostat is OK or can be adjusted, removing and replacing a thromostat [ or having it rebuilt ] is a fairly involved project on an old stove like this.

 

[chaik76]

re: thermostat/broiler

Thanks, combo52. The oven is coming up to temperature when it is preheated (and we're using the correct oven knob). So it looks like the thermostat is doing its job. If it doesn't we'll try adjustment before anything else. It's only losing heat when something is in it, since the pan blocks the heat and the small oven prevents heat circulation. The broiler working would definitely help with that, since it looks like the broiler helps regulate the heat in this oven. Keeping the oven rack high helps with the heat issue too, for now. For now it's more that it's finicky, than anything else. We've been able to successfully make garlic bread and sugar cookies in the oven, so it's obviusly still capable of cooking. I really wish I could find the right manual. I have the 1952 manual, and that seems to have been very similar, but the oven elements look different on mine, and I am not sure if that is because the last person who owned the oven had them hooked up incorrectly, they are missing parts, or if they just looked different in the 1953 model. I'm trying to find pics with open ovens to see if I can figure out what it is supposed to look like.
Once the oven cools completely from the cookie baking I'll take a look at the broiler.

 

[chaik76]

Would it be worth it to pick this range up for parts?

Hopefully this is my last question for a while:
This is a craigslist ad for a $25 Frigidaire DeLuxe Electric range that is nearby. It says that the oven doesn't work, but that the burners do. Would this range be similar enough to mine that we could use parts from it, or would they be too different?

 

[rp2813]

That range is much, much newer -- as in appearing to have a self-cleaning oven. 

 

I doubt that the oven components would be compatible, but let the experts chime in.

 

[norgeway]

Nothing!

Would be compatible....Sorry.but the only thing usable would be the cord..your range uses 3 wire units with 5 heat switches, the newer range uses 2 wire units with infinite heat switches...thermostas are totally different as are the oven units.

 

[chaik76]

Thanks for letting me know, norgeway. I had read about some of the differences with the later models, but my brain hasn't had time to process everything (there's only so much Frigidaire info I can acquire in less than a week!). We've already replaced the cord...the range had been updated to a 4-prong cord, but our house still has an old 3-prong receptacle.
And again...I really appreciate all the help!

 

[combo52]

Baking In A Wounder Oven

Hi Amanda, If you are using the main oven thromostat for baking [ the one with the broil settings on it ] you should try baking with the metal oven divider plate and extra mid-level bake element removed to see if this helps with the baking situation. If you want to get a parts range get one with the wounder oven feature, these were only made in the mid 50s.

 

[chaik76]

broiler

So, it looks like the element wires might be broken on the broiler. Also, on the tines the second down from the top (in the first pic showing the tines; after that it is the 2nd from the bottom) is indented on one side and built up on the other, almost like it arced. I don't know if that can be sanded down (there would still be the indent on the other side) or not. I'm not the best picture taker; I'm sorry.

 

[rp2813]

Well, the coil is definitely broken.  That's likely part of your baking issue.  I don't know what may have caused the arcing on the tines/prongs, but like Hans (norgeway) suggested, they probably just need a good sanding for a better connection.

 

Again referencing my mom's '49 Westinghouse, if you take your broiler assembly to an independent appliance parts/repair shop, they may be able to have it re-wired or reconfigured with radiant tube elements.  The baking element on my mom's stove was replaced three times over the 60 years she had it (she was an avid baker).  The last time was around 2006.  I walked into the parts shop, blown element in hand, and from across the the counter the guy exclaimed "Westinghouse!" as soon as I stepped through the door.  He had a new element for me the next day.

 

[chaik76]

Thanks for the advice (I know I've missed responding to some people, I'm sorry). I'll look around to see what we have...most of the independent appliance shops have closed, but there are probably one or two lurking around. We can definitely sand down the prongs on the broiler.

 

[norgeway]

Notice the small diameter

Coil around the outer edge, this heats with the bake unit to balance the heat...I believe you can get replacement coil and also new contact bars, if you replace them you should go ahead and replace the terminal clips in the porcelain block the unit plugs into...they are likely burned as well, I used to have some old parts, but since I moved I cant find anything,,LOL, I will look and see what I have,,

 

[chaik76]

Thanks again, norgeway. I'll remember about the terminal clips replacement along wtih the other stuff. I think I might have found a couple of independent appliance places, and the local hardware store can probably send me in the right direction as well.

--We moved ten years ago this summer, and I still can't find things I know we moved with!

 

[pdchesser]

Looking for a Deep Well Thermizer

I am desperate to find a replacement deep well Thermizer for my Frigidaire Imperial Wonder Oven Model RS 60. I'm hoping to find the entire unit, since mine is completely missing. There is a working spot to put it in. Can anyone point me to where I might find such a thing?
Thanks!
Dawn Chesser
Knoxville, TN

 

[ken]

Look on ebay. Search deep well pot or deep well cooker. Make sure you verify diameter and height. From what I've read here Mirro brand pots were supplied with Frigidaire and Norge ranges. There may have been others that also used Mirro. GE used Ekco brand. GE deep pots were smaller in diameter because the rear burner used with them was the smaller 6".

 

[tomturbomatic]

RS 50 was 3rd from the top of the line for 53, the last one with the full, lighted back panel.