New member with '68 Custom Imperial

[aristotle]

I am in Houston and just traveled to Deep South Texas to get a 1968 Frig. Custom Imperial range-double oven. It was exceptionally clean, seems to work great (to the extent I've tried it), and to my pleasant surprise, came with a vintage Rangeaire hood, which has a two-speed fan and a bright red pilot light. I had been wanting a vintage unit for some time and needed a double oven. We do a lot of canning (with a '50s cast aluminum Magic Seal canner) and I look forward to using this. If anyone knows where I can get a manual, ad, or any sort of paperwork on it I would much appreciate the information. The model is RCIE-75N.

 

[tomturbomatic]

WOW! That's quite a haul with the hood. Hope you enjoy. Frigidaire ovens are huge. Each of the shelves would hold two Bundt pans when I used to bake pound cakes, so in my 1961 Custom Imperial, I could bake 6 cakes at once. The ovens are smaller in my 1954 double oven Frigidaire RT70 so it only bakes 3 at a time, but they all turned out beautifully.

 

In 2012, I think, when Sandy was blowing up the east coast, I canned a large batch of Manwich Sandwich stuff in various size jars, anticipating a power failure and not wanting the ground meat to go bad. I used the Mirro Matic 16 qt canner on the Heat Minder Unit and it maintained 10 pounds of pressure at just a hair below 250F.  Fortunately, the power did not go out and I had a long time to enjoy my jars of Manwich.

 

[panthera]

There are several Frigidaire tech-talks from around that era

As well as service literature, etc. in the Automatic Ephemera section of this wonderful place.

Link attached.

http://www.automatice.org/cgi-bin/index.cgi?brand=Frigidaire=RA

 

[gansky1]

That's a beautiful range, and hood! Congrats. You'll love the ovens.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

What else can make this guy who prefers--GREATLY prefers!--cooking on a GAS STOVE (w/ a Gas OVEN) than an Eeee-lektrik FAHTY-INCH????!!!!

Congratulations and what a great find...

-- Dave

 

[frigilux]

Congratulations! She's a beauty. Always liked the look and feel of the slender knobs on the controls. And there's a self-cleaning oven to boot. Awesome.

Photo 3: I do declare; that is the biggest kitchen timer I've ever seen. No problems hearing the buzzer go off on that one, LOL.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Those broilers are super powerful too, if they are like in my '61, 3700 watts.

 

[aristotle]

Thanks for the comments ... I'm really enjoying it. Yes, ha, that's a big clock on the Cust. Imp. in the third pic ... that was when Chrysler was in the air conditioning business. Btw, can someone tell me, is the lower box in the left (small) oven a warmer?

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Yes, a 40" GM-FRIGIDAIRE...--(Poof! Proof

...--is certainly this is the range that I would choose over a GE in this size...

-- Dave

 

[combo52]

Space Under Small Left Oven

Is just storage for broiler pans Etc.

 

[tomturbomatic]

The smaller oven used to be in a lower position when the ranges had a deep well (Thermizer was Frigidaire's name for it) that took up the space above the oven. It took them a while, but they finally moved the oven up and opened the space below it for storage.

 

[aristotle]

Ahh, ok, more storage.... there's a compartment that runs across the whole oven at the very bottom; that one alone is larger than what I had in my previous oven, a 30" one, so this 40" has two storage compartments.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Yes, and the drawer lifts out to give you access to the floor underneath for cleaning.

 

[bajaespuma]

That space

That space under the smaller oven used to be on top of the smaller oven and was there to accommodate the "cooking well" back burner on the left side of the range.

 

[2packs4sure]

Is that a Chrysler Airtemp clock in the third picture ?

Whoa,,,, that clock in the third pic. looks just like a clock I used to lust after in a resale shop in the Heights many years ago...
Is that a Chrysler Airtemp clock ?

Thanks

 

[2packs4sure]

I wonder if that's the same clock ?

I wonder if that's the same clock, it was in a old house-resale shop over off of Heights Blvd. and W. 4th street right next to I 10 .......
I used to go there often in the early to mid 90's.
That clock was ALWAYS there right when you walked in,,, even when she was about to shut down the business she'd never come off the price which was high to me way back then, so I passed.

If possible would you post a nice picture of it? Please

Thanks

 

[vacerator]

Stay high and dry,

there's a hurricane a commin'

 

[2packs4sure]

Stay high and dry,

I used to not worry too much but our neighborhood floods much easier than it did 20 years ago so I'm VERY worried.

 

[aristotle]

Old Chrysler clock

I am posting a closer pic of this Chrysler Air Conditioning clock for a member that requested it. I believe I've had it at least 12 years and fewer than 20 years. It would be amazing if it's the very one you wrote me about.

 

[aristotle]

Storm ⛈⛈⛈

I'm worried about this storm too... I've spent the day on the roof, cleaning gutters and cutting away limbs

 

[ovrphil]

Mighty 40" monster

Congratulations on your new stove. I love the Rangeaire hood. I noticed you have the same blender(maybe...it's a Vita-Mix 3600 Plus)that I recently found at the thrift, too.

The stove knobs are beautifully designed. The absence of a window would be my only "but".

I'm concerned for Houston, too...hope you will be safe.

 

[2packs4sure]

Thanks for the clock pic.

 

[tomturbomatic]

You probably saved that range from certain destruction in the flooding and storm surge in south Texas.  I, along with the AW.org community, hope you are safe in the storm.

 

When you nest the deeper part of the Radiant Wall Broiler Pan into the shallower water pan, the entire pan will fit in that little garage under the companion oven. The purpose of the pan's construction was to confine broiling splatters to the pan instead of having them fly all over the oven which was more important before self-cleaning ovens.

 

[vacerator]

Houston

is on the dirty side of the storm also. Let's hope it fizzles out sooner than later.
We never know how mother nature will act. A low pressure front will help.
As of now, there isn't one.

 

[aristotle]

Storm and Mixer

Thanks to all... I'm riding out Harvey (actually that sounds like a weird way to put it) here in Houston. Oh and yes, that's a Vita Mix 3600 Plus that you see in the pic, a juicer that's built like a Sherman Tank.... found it at a little estate sale, and I just thought $35 was pretty fair.

 

[tomturbomatic]

The forecast is pretty dire for tonight according to the Weather Channel. Do you have a NOAA weather radio to warn you if a flash flood warning is issued?

 

[aristotle]

I have one of those little ones that has just a bar across the whole front of it (about 3.5") to push and a very tall antenna, but it's getting only static. There must be a set screw somewhere to adjust it.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Hey, Aristotle, how are you holding up? I hope that you stay dry because no boat is going to haul your new range to safety.

 

[speedqueen]

Were all wishing you dry ranges! Keep safe indeed!

 

[aristotle]

Me and My Range

You're right... Lula Mae (my new 40" Custom Imperial) would sink the boat she's put in... but hey, maybe she floats ! I could ride her out of town ! (I rode her hard as she called my name )

I've had a little water intrusion onto the tile through my back sliding glass door, but it's nothing my wet-can can't take care of. I think that in my son's bedroom it has seeped up just a little through hairline cracks in the foundation; the carpet doesn't feel wet to the touch, maybe just a tad damp, but it's developed a musky smell over the last 24 hours. Anyway, in comparison to many neighbors, who are completely flooded out, I'm very fortunate. Power is on and internet is up; so I'm able to offer food to neighbors who've lost power. I'm about to walk back up the street to see if anyone needs a hot meal that this '68 C.I. can whip up in no time. ... keep us in your thoughts. ...

I'll check in again later today ....

-Aristotle