New-to-me 1969 40" GE P-7 range!

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robinsondm

robinsondm

New member
Joined
Sep 27, 2020
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Location
Upstate NY
Hi all,

Some of you know that I have a 1966 40" GE P-7 range. Well, I decided to "upgrade", and I bought a new range! Don't worry, it's still vintage. :) It's a 1969 J487 40" GE P-7 range. I wanted to upgrade for the window on the main oven door, though I also like the infinite (rotary) heat controls for the burners.

After some tinkering, everything on the new range works, though I did have to replace the Sensi-Temp burner sensor. Unfortunately, the range came with no accessories. :( I've found a griddle and broil pan, but I'm still looking for a rotisserie and meat thermometer. If anyone has leads on finding those (besides eBay, which I'm searching) please let me know.

The new range has knobs that are prone to UV fading, so I'm slowly replacing the knobs with more readable ones, as I find them.

Thanks to Sandy, I may have a buyer for my "old" (1966) range. Stay tuned. :) In the meantime, here's a picture of the "new" range. It still needs more cleaning -- and I want to polish the chrome -- but I think it's looking pretty good.

Dean[this post was last edited: 3/17/2015-09:33]

robinsondm-2015031705324305531_1.jpg
 
Congratulations

I am of two minds about infinite controls. They are great for fine tuning, but I don't remember problems with 5 heat controls. Low was low, it was not a zone. There was something in the constant heat of the fixed heats that meant that when you switched from High to Low (or Simmer on the Frigidaire) to finish cooking that there was plenty of heat to keep things cooking but not cooking too fast. With infinite heat controls, there is more playing around necessary sometimes. Sometimes, if I switch from High to Low with an infinite switch, Low is too low. It might also be that I am older and cook less and mess up more.
 
Buttons vs. knobs

Regarding buttons vs. knobs, I can see advantages to each. The buttons on my 1966 range made for a clean-looking control panel, and I liked the positive tactile feedback of clicking into a setting. Still, there were times when I wished for an intermediate temperature setting -- usually between Hi and the next-highest setting -- and only the Sensi-Temp burner offered that option. My wife definitely prefers knobs, so she is pleased with the new range.

What I will really miss from the 1966 range are the shiny yet readable metal knobs (the old range used knobs, of course, for the oven settings). The new range has metal knobs with white text on a brown background. But over time, the brown on many of the knobs faded to a light tan, making the text very hard to read. I replaced some of the knobs with newer plastic ones, and while they're easy to read and look nice, they lack the premium "feel" of a metal knob. Counting from left to right in the photo of my new (1969) range, knobs 1, 3, and 8 are replacements.[this post was last edited: 3/18/2015-06:39]
 
You will love cooking on that range...

imo the J487 is one of, if not THE, the finest all around 40" ranges ever made! I have essentially the same oven in the 1969 double oven version JK-29, my folks had one too, the finest baking oven I've ever used, only matched by an electric Chambers, and quality of construction is still there, only to be gradually lost over the decades to follow... enjoy!
 
I have the same range in Harvest Gold, in storage....it has the thermostat and the rotisserie.......yours is in Mint condition, I used a white one just like this for 12 years.....both ovens baked perfectly....and burner with the brain, had a griddle for the 2 burners....may be available in the summer...may sell it....Harold Holmes

 
Hello! Beautiful range- I just bought its twin! I was hoping mine was older than 1969, the serial number wasn't much help. It said it was made in 1982 or 1990.

So, I hope you can help me out here with my knob issue. I'm missing the original pair for the right (P7) oven and for the clock in the timer mechanism. Can you post photos of just those, plus whatever stem goes into the clock?

I found the coloration of the knobs unusual, too. Mine appear to be white on chrome, no brown or even faded tan as mentioned earlier in this thread. What's the deal on that? I also posted on your earlier thread with your J486 from 1966. My mother got one of those brand new with our new house in January, 1966 in the dark brown. Awesome unit!

Thanks for your help!

Tom

PS Photos were upon arriving home from ResTore, without cleaning or anything.

soggytom-2015100920193401436_1.jpg

soggytom-2015100920193401436_2.jpg
 
Okay, I just got an OEM replacement knob for the left oven, and I see what you mean- white on dark bronze. Presumably to match the trim strip at the bottom of the control panel. I can see where this would wash out with the right conditions. Apparently mine had the right conditions! I replaced all with black, still needing the one with "Rotisserie" and "Clean" for the right oven, but this will suffice.

soggytom-2015101718120809219_1.jpg
 
Hi Tom,

Sorry I didn't see your messages earlier! I just logged onto AW.org for the first time in over a month.

First, congratulations on your "new" range! I'm glad you were able to get replacement knobs for it -- and your clock knobs look the same as mine. Since my first post, I've found replacements for most of the original stove & burner knobs. Unfortunately, one of my new knobs -- the on/off knob for the left oven -- is plastic, rather than metal. :( And, like you, I'm still looking for a replacement for the P7 oven temperature knob -- i.e., one showing the allowable temperature range for "rotisserie".

As for the year of your range, it looks just like mine -- i.e., 1969. Can you post the serial number so I can check it against mine? As I recall, the 1968 model still had pushbuttons (not knobs) and the 1970 model may have three clock knobs, rather than four. Knowing your serial number should settle the question. For that matter, in the 1960s, GE used model numbers that changed each year, so I could probably determine your stove's year from the model number alone.

I'll go look at your post in my other thread. Congratulations again.

Dean[this post was last edited: 10/21/2015-06:11]
 
Model number J4870L2WH16
Serial Number ZL258289

Funny- I just bought off ebay an NOS control knob for the left oven. And I see the issue- it's white on dark bronze, matching that bottom trim strip. The other knobs were from a single oven, and are white on black. And I got the door springs re-attached properly. Everything works perfect except for the sensi-temp burner, which gets slightly warm, no matter the setting. Oh, well. Not bad for $100 at ReStore, eh?
And yes, I now see the difference in knobs with the J486.
Part number for that left oven knob is WB3X370, although the dealer's label says WB3X444.
Got a stem for the clock so I can attach the knob?
 
BTW, Thanks for all the help here!
Here's a photo of the clock showing the stem I need. Photo was when first delivered, so no cleaning yet. Don't judge me.

soggytom-2015102200233604862_1.jpg

soggytom-2015102200233604862_2.jpg
 
Hi Tom,

Your stove was made in December (Z) of 1970 (L). So it's one year newer than mine. You may have seen this link already, but I'll repost just in case:

http://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-support-search-content?contentId=16195

Sorry, I missed the fact that you had a broken clock stem. I assume it's broken near where it would exit the front glass, since the orange clock hands are still attached. I have an extra GE stove clock -- NOT the same model as yours or my 1969 one -- that MIGHT use the same stem. However, your stem will have a gear attached to it, and it passes through the front and back plates of the clock gearbox. I'll have to look at how the stem is attached to the gearbox on my extra clock, to see if it's easy to remove. If it is, then we'd have to hope that your stem is similarly easy to remove, and that the gears -- if directly attached to the stem -- are identical.

A mechanically easier, but more expensive, alternative would be to buy a replacement clock on eBay. But that wouldn't be cheap -- probably at least $90 -- and you'd need to be absolutely sure it was the same clock (either by matching model numbers, or ensuring that the replacement clock has the same number and placement of wire attachment terminals in back).

On the Sensi-Temp burner, have you been testing it with a pan that has a flat, relatively thick, bottom? (An aluminum pan is generally good.) If the bottom of the pan curves upward away from the sensor, you won't get good results. Assuming your Sensi-Temp is indeed broken, it's highly likely that the sensor is the problem. You can occasionally find new old stock sensors on eBay -- part number WB21X5207. But again, it won't be cheap. They usually sell for well over $100. While it might be possible to repair the sensor, I've never tried that. I've only replaced it.

I'll keep an eye on eBay for a metal left oven on/off dial. I think you got lucky to get a WB3X370, because I'm pretty sure the WB3X444 is the plastic one I have.

Dean
 
Thanks for that link! I had tried a generic site- they had said 1982 or 1994. I knew that was wrong, but those are two of the options with the 'L' in the serial number, so I get it.

I figured the stem extension for the clock would be a problem. I'm sure it's a separate piece, but it has to be a tight, press fit, so what you were saying about full replacement of at least some gears is likely. I am very mechanically-minded, so it doesn't scare me, but just a lot of work. Especially as it all functions perfectly. Why it's missing at all is a great mystery! Having dealt with a number of old cars, nothing surprises me.

I've tried simply gluing a knob in the access hole with Elmer's or a similar, non-permanent glue, but that little stub gets in the way. And yes, I've tried to remove the retaining clip from inside the knob to make that idea work, to no success. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
 
ebay knob

Dean,
Check out this auction! I've bought one, but the other is still available. I asked for better photos, and this has the dark bronze finish. No "clean" markings, but has rotisserie settings. Besides, I don't use the temp knob when activating the P7 anyway. Hope you find this useful!

Tom
 
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