Got a 1957 GE 30" Range

[ken]

Back at the end of May a CL ad was posted in SS by Louie for a GE range located in WI. I had contacted the seller asking to buy the griddle if he didn't have anyone buy the range. As we spoke he expressed regret at the fact it looked like it would end up getting scrapped because he hadn't been able to sell it during the month it had been posted for sale. He mentioned he might be traveling through NY to RI to see his daughter and might also bring a trailer along to take some furniture to her. He said he might have room in the trailer for the range and could bring it along. So it worked out that way and I ended up getting the range. I drove about one hour and met him Friday evening at a Home Depot at the PA/NY border.

It was purchased new by his parents. The serial number dates it as 1957. The left front automatic burner doesn't work. The other three do. All the lights work as well as the bake and broil elements, clock and timer. It had been put in the basement some time ago and hadn't been used in a long time. I did a little wipe down of the outer surfaces but it needs a thorough cleaning.

I paid $80.00 total. $20.00 for the range and $60.00 for bringing it along. Didn't think to ask the seller until we met about the owners manual. He said he would ask his parents about it as they never threw anything away. I should also ask about the broiler pan as that wasn't with it.

Thanks to Louie for finding and posting the ad here. [this post was last edited: 7/2/2017-22:24]

 

[114jwh]

That is one of my favorites! Congratulations on this find - It looks like it will clean up perfectly. Nice that you got the probe and the griddle

 

[ken]

I feel good in knowing it was saved rather than being scrapped. Even if I never use it hopefully it can be passed on to someone else that will appreciate it. No chips in the enamel. The griddle is also correct for the yellow 1958 40" GE that can just be seen to the left in pictures one and two. That one was missing the griddle when I got it last November. That's what prompted me to contact the seller of this one.

 

[pulltostart]

Congratulations!

That's a beautiful range - and you got it for a steal.  Too bad about the Automatic burner, but so excellent that everything else is functional.  And I love the Tele-cook lights on the switches.  I miss those from my 1961.  Be sure to post pics after she's all polished and shining.

 

lawrence

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Ken, I am thrilled you got the griddle, probe and that beautiful range! Knowing these appliances are being saved makes my postings so worth it! Enjoy!

 

[toploader55]

Always loved that design. It looks so "Space Age".

 

[ken]

Oven Cleaner

Is it okay to use on the chrome oven door liner?

 

[pulltostart]

Check the label on the can, but I think it would be safe.  Most of the oven racks were/are chrome plated and oven cleaners were suitable for cleaning the racks.  If using something like a Brillo pad, use lots of water - the chrome can be scratched.

 

Other opinions?

 

lawrence

 

[combo52]

Use oven cleaner on the chrome door liner, DO NOT use any Brillo etc on the chrome, it will leave fine scratch marks.

 

[turquoisedude]

Wow, Ken, great save!  I did not realize the GE ranges like this had light-up pushbuttons - very, very cool!!  

 

Is this the model that had the option to just use the inner coil of the 8-inch burner as a 6-inch?   I'm guessing the control for a burner like this is going to be easy to find....  

 

Congratulations!

 

 

 

[circlew]

Very nice!

 

[ken]

Gave it a first cleaning today with oven cleaner. Got most of the gook off. Still some stubborn spots. I did use the oven cleaner on the chrome door liner. There are some scratches on it from previous steel wool use.

Paul: This does have the switch on the large burner to use either the inner coils only or the full burner. I'll have to take the back off and see how things look with the burner slide switch. Also might be a wire off or broken at the burner. Haven't checked them yet. The problem could also be with the sensor. I wish a switch for the automatic burner was easy to find. I'm sure they are rare as hens teeth if any still exist at all.

On my 67 GE which was also originally equipped with the automatic burner (though electric rather than hydraulic controlled) the control switch is rotary rather than slide like on the 57. When it went bad on the 67 it was replaced with an infinite switch. Easy fix considering its rotary and still available from Robertshaw. But that slide switch is a different animal for sure. [this post was last edited: 7/3/2017-20:40]

 

[ken]

Louie

We all help by posting ads we find. Just one way in which we help each other.

 

[norgeway]

Just replace

the slide switch with another set of pushbuttons.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

You know it Ken! I got my GE Frost Guard, the Caloric Ultramatic and the KDS-58 from postings! And not to mention all the invaluable advice and support you get from fellow members.

 

[spacepig]

Ken,

Please take pictures if you decide to take off the back of the stove to look at the wiring. I'm especially curious where a yellow wire goes. I posted a while back about electrical issues about my 1958, but never did the follow up to that (which I guess I need to do).

 

[kevin313]

A beautiful range!! Enjoy it!!

 

[ken]

Did a second cleaning of oven and door. Got all the black stuff off. Found some rust spots/chips in the enamel on the bottom. Some rust also on the inner door. Still needs more cleaning. Also took the automatic burner loose and look at what I found. A broken ground wire. Hooked it back up and we're back in business baby. It then worked on both inner only and full coil and cycled on and off correctly.

Jeannine: Look at the wiring diagram on the back of your range. It will show where that yellow wire goes. [this post was last edited: 7/4/2017-19:12]

 

[spacepig]

Ken,

If we're reading it correctly, per the diagram on the back of the stove, it looks like the yellow and black wires should be on separate terminals/posts (or whatever they're called), but in the service manual, it shows two wires together on the same terminal/post, but no idea of the color since the manual is in black/white. On my stove, the wires were together as well, but black and red. For a refresher, my automatic burner was constantly on, even when turned off. I posted to the board, and it was suggested that I clean the thermostat. We did that, and put the wires back exactly as they were (based on the pictures I took prior to removal) but when we turned on the stove, there was a loud pop and flash of light and the yellow wire literally blew off of the stove, so something wasn't grounded right. We're not sure what happened, as I even took video of us taking the thermostat off so we could go back and rewatch and put things back together exactly as they were. When we reconnected the wire, the burner didn't come on at all, so we just stopped there. I've attached pictures out of the service manual for the thermistor and the wiring diagram as well as a picture of the thermistor before.

I was going to wait to post until we were ready to tackle the stove again, but so far we just haven't had the time set aside to take it on.