UPDATE: I do not know how, but my son did get a man who restores ranges to move that stove to his shop in Michigan where he will restore it. I am looking forward to seeing it when it is completed--maybe in six months.
One thing I have always wondered about a Chambers is how hot the burners get. I think the published power is 9k BTUs, a shockingly low number. But I have read that users say the design of the daisy burner gives a hotter heat than the published number implies. Does anyone here have an opinion on this?
My neighbor has a fantastic old Chambers in excellent condition, but it is her second house so the unit is not hooked up. I don’t know her well, which is the only reason I haven’t invited myself in to cook in her kitchen!!
Anyway, that Imperial is amazing. I would love to have one of those.
Years ago, 1983, I bought a Chambers cooktop with the daisy burners (this model did not have to griddle). I think the 9,000 BTUs are well spaced in that four little circles configuration, and it may be more than 9,000 BTUs on another brand.
Lately, I have cooked on a newer Samsung 30" gas range , and every burner has a a different BTU rating. The biggest one gives a lot of heat, but turned on high, it needs a big pot or pan!
Are plenty hot for my needs. I'd offer as functional as anything modern I have cooked on anyway at least with the types of cookwear I use. I use straight and porcelain coated cast iron and the aluminum cookwear Chambrs supplied with the stoves.
Were able to be bought in a variety of options from Chambers for the deep well or "thermowell" as it's called. A large single, sets of both double and triple pots, fryer, double boiler, a MUCH desired and as the owner of one I'll offer very useful "thermobaker" that turns the well into a small functioning oven with gas on as well as a great overnight oatmeal maker, potato cooker, etc with just the retained heat from the pilot. If you do look at one of these be sure to look for one with the rack as its often lost. All of these items either need have come with the stove you find when you buy it or found as you can online via eBay or from a vintage stove part dealer. They latch shut on the sides to allow you to have the ability to pull them up and out of the very hot well from the lid handles. This gentleman Mattera stove works only with Chambers and I can offer though not cheap he is well stocked on parts as well as pans etc. I'll attach a link as it'll come in handy if your son needs a part. I will also add some pictures I collected when looking for mine so you can see what to be on the hunt for after you figure out how to ask him what was included with his stove without letting him in on your xmas plans! I'll warn you some of these can be a pretty penny. Complete sets of say the triple pots will cost far more then when you see just one offered for sale and the thermobaker can be as much as several hundred dollars as its in high demand from owners who know what they can do with them. One last thing to mention. Chambers partnered with LISK roasting pans and LISK pans were designed expressly for use in Chambers oven. All size LISK roasters will fit his ovens and they are more common then the Chambers parts though I'll suggest to be sure it has not only the lid and base pan but the drip tray insert as these can go missing. Really nice to have a set in several sizes and with thanksgiving just over I bet some can be had on Ebay also as more seem to go up for sale this time of year. One final thing in my rant here! There is also a cookbook and service manual to walk someone through how to cook with and use these stoves as well as the pots and pans. If he doesn't have one its a great thing to have. Even if his model isn't identical it will still apply and give him some helpful tips. A new one thats been nicely bound can be had over at the Chambers forum I posted the link to in my earlier reply with my stove pictures. Need to know anything further just ask as I love to see another Chambers brought back to life!