O & M Aristocrat

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That's amazing. This is an oven that could really get something done. If I had 5 Grand to spend on such a thing, I'd grab it. That would even be worth the trip to Los Angeles. I could just hop on Interstate 5 SB, and a couple days drive each way, and it would be here. Do I smell freshly baked pies or is that reality? Damn, I guess it's reality I smell. Oh well. LOL
 
I am a O and M owner

and this is all we cooked on the last 10 years in our old house. Of course, a smaller model, but it was great. My dad always was telling us how he feared the stove would catch on fire. It was great fun using the oven even more that it bothered my dad!

I saw this model in old printed material the first time, and was amazed. It is huge. You would not believe how heavy just my "standard" 39" unit is, I cannot imagine what that thing ways. They are very, very nice ovens and will still be working 100 years from now.

I even have the original "built in" salt and pepper shakers!!!
 
Brief history & info from "The Old Road Home" magazine, Spring 2000

The Aristocrat was made between 1949 and 1953, this one on ebay is an earlier model - later models had only a small chrome trim piece around the clock/timer above the shelf. Roughly about 1000 of these O&M ranges were made, changes in demand brought about by smaller post-war homebuilding trends and cost were factors in it's demise. The oven "stack" was available on the left or right side and the entire stove was packed with state-of-the-art technology (in it's day) and were quite expensive at approx. $675 retail.

I would love to have room for this range, it really is a beautiful creation. It will be interesting to watch this auction progress, these are usually sold fairly quickly on the antique stove sites.
 
I wonder what $675 would be today, you know, inflation and stuff? Would that be about what the starting price is?
 
It is as big (and useless) as an oldsmobile and weighs as much too.

...but guys(and gals), there is no microwave, is that time bake cooking, is this self cleaning ovens, is there a light in the ovens, are there lights on the console, is the oven convection, is the oven electric, is there a high temp burner, a built-in griddle, does it have a refrigerated oven for those time baked items you don't want to spoil, an easy clean top, a downdraft range for grilling steak and chish-ka-bobs, electronic ignition? I don't know this kind of reminds me of that old stove they had in the movie "The Money Pit" with Tom Hanks and Shelley Long. The oven isn't even a color, it's white.
Ok, I'm being a smart ass. But a friend of mine was moving from his inherited family home that was built in 1958. In the basement they had a "2nd" stove they used on occasion. It had to be like 48" wide or so. It weighed a ton. So I started taking it apart to take it upstairs in pieces. Even with the top, sides, doors, and every thing else that could easily be removed it still "way"ed a ton. I'm sure the junk man had a fun time loading it on his truck. Not to seem heartless- we did put it in the newspaper as a "vintage appliance/classic" this was back in 1998. Not a single call. Maybe this is just a speciallty item.

They are kind of scarey looking. The knobs are most likely not safe-push and turn. All you would have to do is bump them and gas would start filling the room. Or a child could turn the knobs. Do you have to have a match to light these. burnt fingers.
 
Boston some explanations in order

O and M stoves of this vintage are not push and turn, which was not a feature on most ovens until many years later. However, you can't just bump these on too easily. In addition, these have pilots. So if you did push a burner on, it would simply light the burner! They are no less safe than any other stove. Gas is not going to fill the room because of the pilots.

Mine also has, although mechanical, a fairly accurate clock timer mechanism, a wonderful light, light in the oven, an oven window, and a GRILL-O-Vator, which allows minute adjustments of your broiler grille to the heating element. Mine also has a central griddle with its own temp meter.

I know of few ovens made today that in 2050 can be pressed back into service full time, including many roasts and holiday dinners, for 10 years and have absolutely not one failure. And do it while looking really cool!!!
 
Foodarama

Schnieky's

The price of the Foodarama I own back in 1956 was $595.00.

Look at what the site says the cost would be now:

"What cost $595.00 in 1956 would cost $4104.31 in 2005"
 
Those examples just go to show what we are paying today is much less for the average MOL to TOL appliance than was paid 50 years ago. I guess it would also follow that appliance life expectancy has come down with the price. Of course, 50 years ago, the assumption was that a sizeable investment in a range or refrigerator would not have to be made every five to seven years, it would last for many years thus making the investment worthwhile.
 
Technology changes.

Won't it be cool if they perfect the -cooking with light- thing. Like those above-the-range ovens.
 

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