Kenmore Electric Range - 1950s Game Show Prize

[spiralator60]

A couple of nights ago (Sunday night/Monday morning) an episode of the original "Beat the Clock" game show was broadcast on the "Buzzer" channel.  At the end of the program a married couple was awarded a 40-inch, two oven, Kenmore electric range, described as being "worth over two hundred dollars."

 

The program, at the time, was primarily sponsored by Sylvania, and the particular product highlighted was not the range itself but a heating element which appeared to be a high-powered light bulb which replaced the familiar coil cooking unit.  The bulb looked much like that used for an outdoor floodlight.  In many ways it seemed to be the forerunner of the current halogen cooking units.

 

Does anyone know anything about this range, or other electric units that used such a heating element?  In many ways it resembled either a GE Stratoliner or Liberator model, mainly because of the styling, and the pushbuttons located at the top of the control panel.  The product itself was announced as being a Kenmore product furnished by Sears, Roebuck and Company.

 

The closing credits of this particular episode did not list a copyright date.  In looking at the clothing fashions of people on the program, as well as the style of other products featured, I would estimate the program date as being generally between 1952 and 1956 or so. 

 

Thanks in advance.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations on your find!

If you have access to old testing magazines, can't remember if they did a test in Consumer Research or Consumer Reports but this element was on the stove and it intrigued them. They did the same tests on the Vycor glass that the magazine ads did like putting a ice cube on a red hot glowing bulb and it did not break. It gave instant radiant heat, but was only offered for a year or two so it much not have been much of a success. The range was a Roper, always offering features if not quality.

 

[moparguy]

Infra-Ray Bulb

I have one of those mid-fifties (I think it is a 55 or 56) Kenmore ranges, I think their burner elements were called 'infra-rods' and the optional bulb burner was 'infra-ray'. It is much like a large heat lamp bulb. Unfortunately, mine is missing the glass cover that went over the bulb so right now it is just a large exposed bulb. I will try to take a photo to post, and the owners manual, in the next day or so.

 

[moparguy]

To Tom's point...

I am pretty sure this is one of the Kenmore ranges made by Roper.

 

[norgeway]

1953 and 54

I have the catalogues, it was just a 1550 watt light bulb with a red glass plate over it so it wouldn't blind you..lol, I don't know exactly how the heat was regulated but it was controlled by a 7 heat pushbutton switch, the bulb had to have different wattage filaments, or either it worked by resistors???

 

[spiralator60]

Thanks, everyone! 

 

[circlew]

This range likely was made by the Newark Stove Co. in Newark, OH; formerly (pre 1939) known as the Florence-Wehrle Co., and later (1958) as the Newark OH Co. The company came under Sears ownership in 1945, and was merged into the Geo. D. Roper Co. in 1964. They also started making electric ranges for Whirlpool in 1962. Lawn mowers were also one of their products.

http://https//groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/talk.bizarre/Sbe4yjF6Me0

 

[moparguy]

A few photos

Of the Kenmore with the infra-ray burner. But it is missing the glass plate over the infra ray "heat lamp".