Jenn Air Imperial Cooktop and Oven

[elginkid]

Hi Everyone,

I have a client who is getting new countertops and floors for her 1952 (completely remodeled when they purchased it in 1963) home. Her Jenn Air oven and cooktop currently don't work (except for one burner), and VolvoGuy87 is trying to help fix it so that it can be saved and incorporated into the new kitchen. Dave mentioned that someone on the forum had repaired one of these, but I couldn't find the post. But I need to know where I might find some parts for this stove. Specifically, I need new knobs for the cooktop, and then we should know after Saturday what's wrong with the appliance itself. I'd rather not use generic knobs, if possible.

Just for some gratuitous pleasure, there's a shot of the whole kitchen, the new tile (pale blue, and glass), and the 1963 Frigidaire dishwasher.

Wes

 

[maytagbear]

Chuck and Rich, A/K/A perc-o-prince

have/had these Jenn-Air units.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[perc-o-prince]

Hi Wes,

We have that set in our downstairs kitchen as Lawrence said- bought it new-in-crate at Brimfield. Shortly after installing it, one small burner quit, and the large burner quit later. So, we have 2 small burners that work. I can't see that you can get into the cooktop easily to perform repairs.

I'd love to remove it and install a range, but because of the set-up and the size of the kitchen, we're really looking to see what we can do. Having a central cart (moveable island) makes a lower oven a potential pain. We'd have to move the cart to the side every time we wanted to open the oven. Due to the lack of counter space, getting rid of the cart isn't likely.

If we do remove it sometime in the future, odds are we'll let the group here know that it's available! If you find out what's wrong with the burners, please post so maybe we can fix ours!

Chuck

 

[appnut]

I have never seen a Spin Tube dishwasher in brushed chrome/stainless steel!!  That's a tol model. 

 

[elginkid]

Well, it's darn near perfect. She's barely used the dishwasher because its performance was so poor. "If you have to wash the dishes before you put them in the dishwasher, then what's the point?" She said.

 

[combo52]

Original Jenn-Air Cook-Top And Ovens

Hi Wes, it should not be all that difficult to get that CT and oven working, while I agree that I would not use generic knobs you can use the next generation JA knobs which would look great on this range, the switches and surface elements are completely generic, let me know if Dave can't find the needed parts.

 

[turquoisedude]

Drool...  A Custom Imperial dishwasher with stainless front.   SSSH!  Don't tell Phil...  LOL 

 

[jetcone]

Holy Moly !!

Jenn Aire made an eye level oven too??? Where was I ??? I had no idea the 1960's spawned an eye level oven war !! That range is totally cool !!! Get it going !! 

Chuck and Rich if I learn enough on my Flair this summer then maybe we can yank your JA and have a redo weekend and get that sucker working to full potential again !!

 

 

[elginkid]

Jetcone,

I'll bring this one up too! The owner really doesn't appreciate them, probably because she's had them since they were new, and a lot of the time they haven't worked. We may need a new element for the upper oven, as she may have accidentally thrown it out at some point. Dave was drooling over the basically NOS dishwasher, pictures will be forthcoming.

Wes

 

[classiccaprice]

If I make it out to Cincinnati in the near future, I want to meet her and see this place! Don't let her scrap them in a remodel!

 

[frigilux]

That is one interesting, beautiful kitchen. Hope that amazing Jenn Air can be saved! Thanks for the pics, and am looking forward to more of the dishwasher.

 

[philr]

Brushed chrome dishwasher!

It's nice to know that some of these still exist! If the owner ever wants to get rid of this poor performing machine, tell her that there might be someone who likes them anyway (me!)!

 

[54monroe]

Does anyone have a parts list on the oven portion of the Jenn-Air?

 

[miele_ge]

what year is that dishwasher?

Growing up we had a Frigidaire Custom Imperial portable that dad coverted to a permanent connection. It was one of the slant top, top loading models. It had a bunch of buttons - no dial except for the one to latch the top shut. We got in in the late '60's or early '70's I think. It was removed and given to a friend in 1972 when we redid the kitchen and got a TOL Roper built in to replace it. I would rather have the Frigidaire now...

I am not sure about the cleaning capabilities of it but I used to unload it after school and there were usually a "reject" that needed to be rewashed. But it was gone when I was 8 so I dunno.

Would love to find one of those. The controls made such cool clicking sounds (with flashing lights) when you cancelled a cycle.

 

[philr]

 

Alan, 

 

The dishwasher up in this thread is completely different from the one your parents had. Frigidaire redesigned it's front-loading dishwashers in the 1965 lineup and while they weren't as durable as the previous ones, they did have a larger capacity and were more flexible.  The slant top models were introduced as 1968 models but they were very similar to the front-loading ones from the same period. I have a 1969 Custom Imperial front loading model and a 1970 Imperial (without the rapid advance timer) with the slant top. 

 

 

1969 Custom Imperial



 

 



 



 



 

1970 Imperial slant top



 



 



 

The earlier spray tube (this one is from 1962)



 

 

 And my 1963 spray tube dishwasher being examined by Paul when I got it from Robert. The 1964 model was almost unchanged but it added a motorized drain valve instead of a solenoid-actuated drain valve and a slightly altered cycle to allow time for the drain valve to open and close before the pump would start.  The 1965 and newer models got reversing motors and had a completely redesigned washing system like the 1969-70 dishwashers pictured above. 

 

 

[dfenn]

Still Need Parts?

Hi there,

I know that you were looking for parts a few years ago but I have a fully functioning Jenn-Air Imperial oven and range complete with all original knobs, hardware, and parts. We remodeled our kitchen this year and that was the oven and stove that came with the house we used it for a year and it worked great. The previous owners kept it in very good working condition. My husband, unlike me, does not like anything vintage and unfortunately insisted we get something new so were are wanting to sell the set. Please let me know if you are interested or know anyone who might be. I will be posting it on craigslist tonight and will post the link once it is up.

 

[norgeway]

I have the cooktop

Its going to Johns appliance museum in Beltsville, I have the griddle for it too.