Info please on this 60s GE range

[ken]

I don't recall seeing one like this. How common was it at the time to have the larger front burner on the left rather than the right which became the norm? Was this just a GE thing? I see the left front burner, in addition to being sensi-temp, is adjustable for 4, 6 or 8 inch. And theres the grill button. Was this for a griddle? If so did pushing that button then connect the two left burners to work together? [this post was last edited: 10/22/2015-13:36]

 

[norgeway]

Re Info...

I think this is about 64-70  or thereabouts, GE put the large unit on the wrong side for many years, that was backwards to me, yes the Grill position locks both the Sensi Temp with the rear unit so tat the griddle can be automatically controlled..Great range!Notice it has 2 outlets!

 

[miele_ge]

is it me or does the script on the clock/timer controls ...

Look kinda "frigidaire-y".  especially the words stop and start.  For some reason, I remember seeing a very similar font on Fridgaire's.

 

I think the 50's when corporations starting developing a "house style" with IBM being the first.  I know that GE has "GE Inspira" font which is used on formal communications on the appliances.

 

Alan

 

 

[tomturbomatic]

Our 63 GE 40" had that surface unit arrangement because the high wattage 6 inch Calrod was behind the left front 8" unit. They did switch later because my Americana and my 1974 TOL J390001 have the SensiTemp in the right front position. The standard size built in cooktops had the 8" unit at the right front from the start, but I think that was to allow room for the controls on models with the controls at the left front. I have never seen the 30 inch with a two unit griddle. The Grill setting on the ones I have seen just heats the outer ring of the SensiTemp so that the heat reaches the center and the sensor about the time it reaches the outer edges of the square griddle.

 

[norgeway]

Tom...I think

You are right and im wrong about the griddle, I had forgotten about the way it heated for the small griddle.

 

[robinsondm]

Hans

Your initial description of the grill setting was correct for my 1966 and 1969 40" P7 ranges. That is, the "grill" setting activates both left burners, and the temperature is controlled by the Sensi-Temp dial.

However, Tom says the 30" ranges used smaller (single-burner) griddles, and I have no reason to doubt his information.

Dean

 

[ken]

I got it

Connected with the seller and picked it up over the weekend. Very cruddy. Will need a good scrubbing. Still, not bad for $25.00. I figured and seller confirmed it was going to be scrapped if no one bought it. I had mentioned the griddle beforehand which she looked for but didn't find. The broiler pan was with it. Looks like it was never used.

It was raining when I arrived so I didn't take much time to look it over. After I got home and unloaded it I noticed the rotisserie setting on the temp knob. I called the seller last night and asked if she may have seen it. She explained they have been in the house about a month and haven't gone through everything yet that had been left in the house when they bought it. She said she will look for the griddle and rotisserie and let me know.

Its Model #J346C1WH, Serial #TCL01782. Serial number has me stumped. TC would equate to Oct 1946 according to the GE code info I have. We know it isn't from 1946. Maybe someone here can decipher?

Also, any advice on best cleaner to remove all the gunk would be appreciated. [this post was last edited: 10/26/2015-11:56]

 

[robinsondm]

Ken,

Congratulations on your find! I'd say you definitely did the right thing. That is a 1967 model. GE did some odd things with serial numbers in the 1960's -- making it hard to date some 1960's GE appliances even using GE's own dating table. But they used letters in the model number that indicated the year, and "C" is for 1967.

The small oven on my 1969 40" GE P7 range, which I bought earlier this year, was even dirtier than your oven. I used "professional strength" EZ-Off cleaner, over repeated sessions, until it was finally clean. Just be sure to protect the floor under the oven door, per the instructions, and I recommend you wear a respirator -- or at least a dust mask with a breathing vent -- while you're spraying and cleaning the oven.

Good luck finding the rotisserie and grill. You'd think those accessories would have been kept in the range's storage drawer -- but it seems people find some reason to store them elsewhere, and they end up getting separated from the stove. That happened on my 1969 range, too, and I had to use eBay -- plus the kindness of one AW.org member -- to reassemble a set of accessories. All I'm lacking now is the rotisserie handle, but I found a modern replacement that fits.

Dean[this post was last edited: 10/26/2015-20:25]

 

[ken]

Dean,

Thanks for the info. I had guessed somewhere in the 63-65 year range. I had remembered you stating the letter in the model # fact here recently. But the GE code info I have gives CA as the code for 67 so when I saw only the one letter in the model # it didn't mean anything to me. The 61 thru 68 codes in the info I have are all listed as having two letters. Funny thing the info is from GE's own website.

I was giving some thought to trying the "green" approach to cleaning the range. Online info and YouTube vids I found show using baking soda/vinegar or baking soda/hydrogen peroxide with or without Dawn detergent. Make a paste and slather it on. Let it sit overnight. Spray with vinegar and wipe off. People posting the info swear by it.

 

[norgeway]

Use Easy Off

Trust me, if you don't you will scrub your brains out...DONT get it on the thermostat tube and don't get it on the nameplate, it will dissolve it because it is lye.

 

[ken]

Some results

Been doing a lot of scrubbing. Not completely finished yet but so much better than the way it was when I brought it home. Compare to the pics I posted above.

I was surprised to find the clock works and keeps correct time. Timer and auto start/stop feature works too along with the rotisserie motor. Sensi-temp burner works intermittently. And when it does decide to work not all of the element heats.

 

[DADoES]

 
Wow, that's a great clean-up job!

 

[ken]

Thanks DADoES. I had to actually resort to carefully scraping the most stubborn, black burned on spots of crud off with a jack knife. They wouldn't come off even after two applications of oven cleaner. There's still grease lurking in all the crevices to be cleaned.

 

[shawn]

Just letting you know you did a great job cleaning that stove. Looks totally different.

 

[ken]

@tim

Appreciate the compliment. Turning out not too bad for something that was going to be scrapped.