New Find: Vintage GE 24" Stove

[macboy91si]

SO I was scouring the local CL today and found this jewel for almost free. I'm not sure how old it is, 50's or 60's but it's in very good shape. It needs a little cleaning up but it was actually in use and I tested all of the "stove" workings to be functional. The model is 1J245M and everything is intact including the wiring schematic. It needs a good bath but even the slightest cleaning brings an incredibly shine. The innards looked OK too but somethings have been done over the years like rerouting the timed outlet on the control panel. The flourescent light does not work neither does the timer or oven light. It has a pilot indicator for the oven, but when I replaced the bulb it blew 2 of them. All minor issues. Anyone know anything about this?

 

[macboy91si]

Timer/Clock

The chrome is pretty good and all of the actual controls seem to work. Timer/clock doesn't work and the clock is dirty and unreadable. Also, I assume that the "GE" logo should light with the bulb, it's broken but there. The clock is rough.

 

[macboy91si]

Control Panel

Not too bad looking. The burner controls are on top and oven controls are to the left and right. The switch in the lower left corner is the fluorescent switch I assume. It also has 2 110v outlets (one timed and one always on). The notch above the left oven know is the pilot indicator, seems to blow bulbs but I maybe using the wrong type.

 

[macboy91si]

Stove-top Outlets

This is a nice feature and I'm surprised that a small stove as this would have them. One is always live and the other one is supposed to be tied to the timer somehow. They are both wired to be hot at all times due the bad clock/timer I assume. There is a 30a fuse in the center panel.

 

[macboy91si]

Burner Controls

I think the push-buttons are so cool. We had an 70's GE wide range growing up that had these. They all seem to work.

 

[macboy91si]

Wiring

The wiring is pretty simple as is the schematic that was still intact. There have been some mods over the years like wiring the outlets to bypass the time and some other here and theres. Wiring seems in OK shape.

 

[macboy91si]

Schematic

Amazingly the wiring schematic was intact! This should come in handy later.

 

[appliguy]

Your GE range dates from 1954

That is according to my 1954 GE Major Appliance catalog....PAT COFFEY

 

[pulltostart]

I believe GE offered this 24" range through their 1956 model year. In 1957, when they introduced their "straight line styling", they dropped this one and introduced the 30" ranges.

This is a sweet little range!

Lawrence

 

[westingman123]

That is a purty range!

Of course, it's not a Westinghouse, but dern close. Love that styling and she looks solid! Enjoy!

 

[macboy91si]

Solid...

It's the heaviest stove I've ever moved, no joke it easily weighs twice of what the old Kenmore weighed. It needs the clock looked at on it, the motor doesn't turn and a good cleaning.

-Tim

 

[jkarrigan]

appliguy

I read your post on AW and was wondering if you have info on a 40 inch GE sensitemp stove from somewhere in the 60s. I own one and am looking for manuals and any other info. Tried to email you this but norton antivirus kicked it back.

 

[macboy91si]

Timer Disected

The timer motor is bad, and the mechanism is really loose. I think a new timer motor would fix it, but the print and such was in bad shape.

 

[macboy91si]

Cleaned Up Clock/Timer

With a little paint and SOS pads and careful recoloring of some letters I thought it cleaned up well if not functioning. I'd love to find a new assembly but for now it's pretty stylish. The notch above the left knob (thermostat) lights up now thanks to an old night-lite bulb and the florescent bulb appears to only need a starter. Even the oven light works now. This thing to me is in really good shape for being over 50 years old and being used a lot.

 

[circlew]

Ad for GE Spacemaker Range

This is the '54 model. From looking at other ads, it was introduced in '53 and ran through '56. During this time, GE also had 36" and 40" ranges, but no 30". The same clock unit was used in the larger widths also, and I believe continued thru '57, after the cabinet restyling. A new rectangular clock was introduced for '58.

http://www.prestoimages.net/graphics03/8933_pd135013full.jpg

 

[macboy91si]

Thanks for the ad

That was cool. I'll keep my eyes open for other stoves with this console and maybe ask around if anyone has some leads.

Thanks

-Tim

 

[toggleswitch2]

The pilot lamps may need to be 220v.

Also I'd bring the fuse down to 15a or 20a to protect what is plugged-in to the outlets(s).

NICE STOVE!

 

[spiceman1957]

Macboy91si,

My grandparents had this exact range (and GE refrigerator) Yes, the GE logo would light up when the oven was preheating, and would go off once the oven reached its temperature. I remember my mother saying she would put biscuits in this oven and they would be perfectly done when the GE logo would come on and off three times! There was no window on this stove so she didn't want to cool down the oven by repeatedly opening and closing the door.
John

 

[sdlee]

had this exact same stove in an early apt I lived in 1992, worked beautifully. The landlady kept telling me she was going to get a new stove for that place and I kept saying dont you dare. She never did while I was there and after comming to know how cheap she was I bet its still there and still in use .......lol