States vintage, not sure just how vintage it is, however if anyone is interested it looks to be in good shape. includes manual
GE Wall oven for sale
- Thread starter joefuss1984
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That's a nice oven, especially since it was never used.
Looks to be late 60's thru 70's.
Looks to be late 60's thru 70's.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Later '70s
The electromechanical digital clock is the giveaway; earlier versions had an analog clock.
This unit is not as "unused" as all that - if you'll look closely, the racks have been through cleaning cycles, and there is light smoke staining on the face of the oven opening (common to self-cleaners, and it would clean away easily). Some people figure something couldn't have been used much if it it's over six months old aNd hasn't been beaten to hell and gone already.
Nice wall oven, though. I wouldn't mind having the earlier version with the analog clock, in the TOL JK29 model with two-count-'em-two P*7 self-cleaning ovens. In white, of course.
The electromechanical digital clock is the giveaway; earlier versions had an analog clock.
This unit is not as "unused" as all that - if you'll look closely, the racks have been through cleaning cycles, and there is light smoke staining on the face of the oven opening (common to self-cleaners, and it would clean away easily). Some people figure something couldn't have been used much if it it's over six months old aNd hasn't been beaten to hell and gone already.
Nice wall oven, though. I wouldn't mind having the earlier version with the analog clock, in the TOL JK29 model with two-count-'em-two P*7 self-cleaning ovens. In white, of course.
What signifigance does the P7 mean?
danemodsandy
Well-known member
P*7 Was....
....General Electric's trade name for the self-cleaning feature it pioneered in its 1963 model year.
The "P" stood for "pyrolitic," meaning that the self-cleaning process burned off grease and spills.
I have never been sure what the "7" stood for. Someone once tried to tell me that it stood for "700 degrees Fahrenheit," which they said was the temperature reached during the self-cleaning cycle. But self-cleaners get to 900F, so I cannot say that's correct. Maybe someone else here knows.
It sounded impressive, which may have been the only reason it was used. Many a brand name means exactly nothing.
....General Electric's trade name for the self-cleaning feature it pioneered in its 1963 model year.
The "P" stood for "pyrolitic," meaning that the self-cleaning process burned off grease and spills.
I have never been sure what the "7" stood for. Someone once tried to tell me that it stood for "700 degrees Fahrenheit," which they said was the temperature reached during the self-cleaning cycle. But self-cleaners get to 900F, so I cannot say that's correct. Maybe someone else here knows.
It sounded impressive, which may have been the only reason it was used. Many a brand name means exactly nothing.
Accoording to someone else here,
and alas, I forget whom, the 7 was the 7 cents worth of electricity to run the cycle. I doubt if the electricity is much beyond 50 cents now, which is still far less expensive than a can of toxic waste. Looking at my gas bills for months in which I have used the clean cycle on my gas self-cleaner, I would say that 50 cents is about right.
I maintain that the self-cleaning oven, and its added insulation is one of the magnificent homemaking gifts of the 20th Century, along with automatic washers, dishwashers.......
Lawrence/Maytagbear
and alas, I forget whom, the 7 was the 7 cents worth of electricity to run the cycle. I doubt if the electricity is much beyond 50 cents now, which is still far less expensive than a can of toxic waste. Looking at my gas bills for months in which I have used the clean cycle on my gas self-cleaner, I would say that 50 cents is about right.
I maintain that the self-cleaning oven, and its added insulation is one of the magnificent homemaking gifts of the 20th Century, along with automatic washers, dishwashers.......
Lawrence/Maytagbear
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Lawrence:
Given what I know of '60s electric rates, that makes perfect sense. I've seen GE ads from '63 that stress the low per-use cost of the cleaning cycle.
So - "P" for "pyrolitic," "7" for "7 cents per cleaning cycle." Thanks!
Given what I know of '60s electric rates, that makes perfect sense. I've seen GE ads from '63 that stress the low per-use cost of the cleaning cycle.
So - "P" for "pyrolitic," "7" for "7 cents per cleaning cycle." Thanks!
I have seen ads that state that it cleaned for less than a dime's worth of electricity, so that basis for "7" is probably correct.
We had a very similar double oven in our house in Denver. The house was built in 1977. Our builder felt all his models should have two ovens of one configuration or another, so nearly all the houses had the double oven just under the JK29 - the one with the standard oven on the bottom - or the 30" over/under or hilo range with the sideswing door oven over the top. There were 937 houses built in that huge development between 1973 and 1979, and I'd bet half had one version or another of GE's double wall ovens. Buyers could upgrade to the JK29 model, but I never noticed any that did. I am sure some must have though.
There are probably a decent number of these original units still there, though a lot of the houses are getting full kitchen re-dos now with granite, stainless steel, etc. Our street had every color available in 1977. Ours were almond, next door's were white, another had Coffee (my favorite) and two across the street were Avocado and Gold. There was one that upgraded to a single oven with microwave above. That must have been pricey in 1977.
We loved these ovens. Mom wanted similar ones again for years until we retro-fitted a new GE double oven in the house in 2009 or so. She had had two 1980s single oven units with microwaves above after the Denver doubles. She doesn't like the new unit AT ALL. They are the best model GE offers, and frankly, they suck. Pizza crust when made fresh doesn't brown because of the concealed elements. If you put stuff lower in the ovens for that reason, food just burns. If you raise stuff much beyond the middle of the oven to avoid burning from below, the broil element burns the tops of delicate things. There is a built-in thermostat adjustment procedure in the oven controls - Mom has them tweeked decently now, but these ovens are nothing like the three GE units she had since 1977.
Not long ago we baked two Papa Murphy's take and bake pizzas, one in each oven. There was no comparison to the results from my 2003 GE Spectra, which doesn't have the concealed elements. I would say if Mom was 10 years younger, that unit, $2,600 cost or not, would be at the curb shortly.
Getting off-topic, but we liked our 1970s double ovens A LOT!
Gordon
There are probably a decent number of these original units still there, though a lot of the houses are getting full kitchen re-dos now with granite, stainless steel, etc. Our street had every color available in 1977. Ours were almond, next door's were white, another had Coffee (my favorite) and two across the street were Avocado and Gold. There was one that upgraded to a single oven with microwave above. That must have been pricey in 1977.
We loved these ovens. Mom wanted similar ones again for years until we retro-fitted a new GE double oven in the house in 2009 or so. She had had two 1980s single oven units with microwaves above after the Denver doubles. She doesn't like the new unit AT ALL. They are the best model GE offers, and frankly, they suck. Pizza crust when made fresh doesn't brown because of the concealed elements. If you put stuff lower in the ovens for that reason, food just burns. If you raise stuff much beyond the middle of the oven to avoid burning from below, the broil element burns the tops of delicate things. There is a built-in thermostat adjustment procedure in the oven controls - Mom has them tweeked decently now, but these ovens are nothing like the three GE units she had since 1977.
Not long ago we baked two Papa Murphy's take and bake pizzas, one in each oven. There was no comparison to the results from my 2003 GE Spectra, which doesn't have the concealed elements. I would say if Mom was 10 years younger, that unit, $2,600 cost or not, would be at the curb shortly.
Getting off-topic, but we liked our 1970s double ovens A LOT!
Gordon
Looking at the oven in Joseph's ad more closely, is that a 24" or 27"? The element looks very unlike anything I've seen in a 27" oven from that time.
Gordon, I'm pretty sure it's a 27" model, judging by the proportions. The 24" model oven cavity is nearly square rather than rectangular. Also, I don't remember the 24" models at that time having a window, though some may have been available.
That's a shame your mom doesn't like her new GE oven, especially one so expensive. I wonder if a less costly model would have been more satisfactory.
I'm planning on getting a GE double wall oven, with the self-clean upper and standard lower units for my new kitchen. I have enough Sears reward points to get this, plus the garbage disposer and some other things. I hope I'll like it.
I like the JK29 in Sandy's post above; the square edge window trim and edge molding looks nice. Not sure what year they started using that trim, but I'm thinking by '67.
GE used that basic framework for their built-in ovens from '59 until sometime in the 90's, when production was moved from Louisville to Mexico I believe.
That's a shame your mom doesn't like her new GE oven, especially one so expensive. I wonder if a less costly model would have been more satisfactory.
I'm planning on getting a GE double wall oven, with the self-clean upper and standard lower units for my new kitchen. I have enough Sears reward points to get this, plus the garbage disposer and some other things. I hope I'll like it.
I like the JK29 in Sandy's post above; the square edge window trim and edge molding looks nice. Not sure what year they started using that trim, but I'm thinking by '67.
GE used that basic framework for their built-in ovens from '59 until sometime in the 90's, when production was moved from Louisville to Mexico I believe.
Tom -
The oven in the ad looks like a 27" to me too, but that element looks really odd. All those I've ever seen had the four-pass bake element that is so common to GE. This one looks very different.
About the new ovens - I tried to tell Mom to get just the regular, two self-cleaning ovens model, and I agree with you, that the lower models might suit her better. The two self-cleaining ovens model would have had standard elements, though today concealed elements are growing in popularity. I blame a lot of her dissatisfaction on those concealed elements. The lower oven takes a really long time to heat up, the upper, which is a convection oven too, takes less time. But you're right, it is a shame that something so pricey should be such a disappointment. I think she figured she would not be buying another, in fact this is the only time she ever shopped for an oven I think, as all the rest were supplied with one of the new houses they built.
She still occasionaly talks about how she never bought a Lady Kenmore washer. I think she really wanted one in 1961 when they bought their first washer. The 70 series they had was pretty nice, but she knew she didn't have the best washer. I think she cared about that less in the 70s and 80s, but she still also talks about how we replaced a total BOL 1967 Hotpoint DW with a KDS-17A. That was the only time she had top of the line until these ovens, so she treated herself.
Oh well. If/when they move she can try again. I suggested pulling this unit out and getting a mid line WP or GE, but she doesn't want the kitchen mess and uproar.
I don't like those concealed elements for other reasons - they are not as easy to service. I think some, including Mom's new unit, have to be pulled from the wall to access the element. The last oven Mom had required two elements in its 22-year service with us. About every 11 years one went out. It was about a ten-minute job to fix, in fact the second time all I had to do was go to Sears (the only parts store open on Sunday) and get the element, then install it, and her half-baked pie was back baking before she needed to start on dinner.
I'll tell you one thing that is really funny...the double unit in Denver as I said had a standard oven on the bottom and a self-cleaner on top. This was fine with us as the 1967 HP we left at our last house was not self-cleaning at all. So, we'd use the lower oven for only baking, and the top one for all the splattery roasting, etc. Mom cooks a lot and is a very good cook, and did more of it back then, so the upper oven was cleaned about once every six weeks I'd say, maybe more.
We (I) was told not to do any splattery cooking in the lower oven. One time I put Mrs. Paul's fish fillets in the lower oven, which I liked to use because it got less use than the top. These fillets don't splatter much, but they did a little bit, and boy did she notice!! Too funny - I got scolded and had to clean the racks. Today, that new lower oven, even though it is self-cleaning, is used in exactly the same way, LOL. 1977's habits are apparently still branded in her brain, and the three year old lower oven is totally un-dirtied while the top one gets filthy.
Gordon
The oven in the ad looks like a 27" to me too, but that element looks really odd. All those I've ever seen had the four-pass bake element that is so common to GE. This one looks very different.
About the new ovens - I tried to tell Mom to get just the regular, two self-cleaning ovens model, and I agree with you, that the lower models might suit her better. The two self-cleaining ovens model would have had standard elements, though today concealed elements are growing in popularity. I blame a lot of her dissatisfaction on those concealed elements. The lower oven takes a really long time to heat up, the upper, which is a convection oven too, takes less time. But you're right, it is a shame that something so pricey should be such a disappointment. I think she figured she would not be buying another, in fact this is the only time she ever shopped for an oven I think, as all the rest were supplied with one of the new houses they built.
She still occasionaly talks about how she never bought a Lady Kenmore washer. I think she really wanted one in 1961 when they bought their first washer. The 70 series they had was pretty nice, but she knew she didn't have the best washer. I think she cared about that less in the 70s and 80s, but she still also talks about how we replaced a total BOL 1967 Hotpoint DW with a KDS-17A. That was the only time she had top of the line until these ovens, so she treated herself.
Oh well. If/when they move she can try again. I suggested pulling this unit out and getting a mid line WP or GE, but she doesn't want the kitchen mess and uproar.
I don't like those concealed elements for other reasons - they are not as easy to service. I think some, including Mom's new unit, have to be pulled from the wall to access the element. The last oven Mom had required two elements in its 22-year service with us. About every 11 years one went out. It was about a ten-minute job to fix, in fact the second time all I had to do was go to Sears (the only parts store open on Sunday) and get the element, then install it, and her half-baked pie was back baking before she needed to start on dinner.
I'll tell you one thing that is really funny...the double unit in Denver as I said had a standard oven on the bottom and a self-cleaner on top. This was fine with us as the 1967 HP we left at our last house was not self-cleaning at all. So, we'd use the lower oven for only baking, and the top one for all the splattery roasting, etc. Mom cooks a lot and is a very good cook, and did more of it back then, so the upper oven was cleaned about once every six weeks I'd say, maybe more.
We (I) was told not to do any splattery cooking in the lower oven. One time I put Mrs. Paul's fish fillets in the lower oven, which I liked to use because it got less use than the top. These fillets don't splatter much, but they did a little bit, and boy did she notice!! Too funny - I got scolded and had to clean the racks. Today, that new lower oven, even though it is self-cleaning, is used in exactly the same way, LOL. 1977's habits are apparently still branded in her brain, and the three year old lower oven is totally un-dirtied while the top one gets filthy.
Gordon
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Trim:
"Not sure what year they started using that trim, but I'm thinking by '67."
I can date a variation of it to '66; I have a photo of a double-oven GE self-cleaner taken that year. At that time, the door window was not yet available on the P*7 ovens; they hadn't yet figured out a way to keep the glass from breaking during self-clean. But all other trim was the same.
The basic architecture of the JK 29 was used from the '60s through at least the '80s, maybe longer. They kept tweaking it - the windows became black glass doors, and the clock went from analog to digital, but essentially they were the same.
The all-time PRIZE for me would be a JK 29 in white.
"Not sure what year they started using that trim, but I'm thinking by '67."
I can date a variation of it to '66; I have a photo of a double-oven GE self-cleaner taken that year. At that time, the door window was not yet available on the P*7 ovens; they hadn't yet figured out a way to keep the glass from breaking during self-clean. But all other trim was the same.
The basic architecture of the JK 29 was used from the '60s through at least the '80s, maybe longer. They kept tweaking it - the windows became black glass doors, and the clock went from analog to digital, but essentially they were the same.
The all-time PRIZE for me would be a JK 29 in white.
