NOS Turquoise Universal built in oven

[captainmoody]

I picked this up over the weekend. It looks like maybe '58-'59 vintage? From what I was told, it had been stored in a garage since the early 60's as a backup, but never got installed. I had to clean all the years of dust and cobwebs off it, and removed some of the packing that was brittle and filthy. From what I can see, it was made by Cribben & Sexton in Chicago and is a model X 405. anyone know any history on the company? Not sure what the heck I will do with it, but felt it should be saved.

 

[captainmoody]

door open.

 

[cadman]

Sorry, no idea on Universal...

...but what a looker! I really like that perforated screen vent. Major score! -Cory

 

[frontaloadotmy]

That is a beauty!

Does it have a rotisserie too?
I don't know much about them other than I've seen the brand
name on ranges and other small appliances. Didn't they
eventually merge with "Waste King" ?

 

[norgeway]

universal...

They were the ones who took out the storage drawer on a 40 inch range and installed a portable James dishwasher!!, great products,what I wouldnt give to have that in a nice Youngstown kitchen!

 

[tomturbomatic]

Oh WOW! It has a match hole to light the burner. I remember how grown up I felt when I was deemed old enough to "light the oven" by myself. Coordinating the striking of the match and the turning of the thermostat to open the gas valve required great concentration at first so that you did not have a big WHUMP with flames jumping up between the oven walls and the bottom plate. Then there were the initial minutes of firing when a few drops of condensation peed down onto the floor and that almost eye-watering smell came out. What a joy when we switched to electric.

 

[ou1999]

Wow!! You found an oven just like mine! My house has a Jamestown steel kitchen and the Cribben and Sexton Universal appliances. From all the research I've done, I found out that the company had a big fire and its factory in the 1960s, and it went out of business. It was based out of Chicago. My kitchen was redone by the previous owners in 1957; I have the blueprints. The appliances were installed at that time, so that gives you an estimated range of the age of your oven.

Unfortunately, my oven stopped working a few years ago when the gas company replaced the riser to my house. Something occurred and no matter what I did I couldn't get the oven to work again. By any chance, do you have the dimensions of the part of the oven that goes into the wall? I'm not sure how much molding is around the outside. I've tried to find repair people to fix it, but no one will touch it. So, I need to have it replaced. :-(

 

[norgeway]

It CAN be fixed...

Both those ovens are beautiful, on line there are several restoration shops that specialize in repair and maintenence of gas appliances, DO NOT let anyone tell you it cant be fixed!!!!Much better than anything on the market today, better baking too because the burner on these modulates the flame from high to low to maintain an even steady temperature, unlike the on and off of todays junk.The beauty of it is, these thermostats can be rebuilt!

 

[tomturbomatic]

The other factor contributing to better baking is the heavy steel or cast iron oven bottom over the flame. Unlike the thin sheet of steel in modern gas ovens, the heavy plate did not warp along the edges giving uneven heat delivery to the oven resulting in hot spots that gave uneven baking results, provided the flame was emerging evenly from the burner; not always a given.

 

[vacbear58]

Hang in there

As norgeway notes above it should be possible to fix it, its seems strange that a new gas line should cause it to stop working. Is there no flame at all? Or is it weak or unreliable?

There are several contributors to this site whose business is the repair of appliances who maybe able to give you some practical ideas of what is amiss when they see the thread. PLUS, if I am not mistaken, your location indicates that you are in the vicinity of one of the most frequently cited sources of old and obsolete spares - Modern Parts - which I believe is in Parma, Ohio too.

If you have waited several years hopefully a few more days wait will be Ok, it would be a shame to spoil the integrity of your kitchen.

Now a favour please. MORE PICTURES And, if you could scan or even photograph the blue prints I am sure many members would be keen to see them

Good luck

Al

 

[NYCWriter]

WOW!

Gorgeous!

 

[davey7]

Friends of mine have an ancient Universal range, probably late 30's or up to the very late 40's I'd say, still works well, though it is a manual light oven.