fan-of-fans
Well-known member
I've always thought "off brand" stoves were interesting. Around here they don't/didn't seem very common.
I remember a lot of 70s and 80s mobile homes tended to have Magic Chef ranges. Typically in the 80s they were almond, very BOL, no oven window, no clock and said "The Energy Engineered Range" on the back splash. I very rarely saw Magic Chef ranges in an actual conventional house, so they must have had a contract with mobile home mfrs. Once I did see a fairly MOL self cleaning one at a house with solid element burners though and an electronic timer/clock.
I've seen a few Suburban cooktops and wall ovens on here but never in my area. I have seen small RV type 3 burner ranges with ovens in RVs and campers. I am assuming they're the same company.
Of course you also had Sunray/Glenwood ranges which always make me laugh at the stories I've heard about how cheap they were. I have even seen some branded Whirlpool. Never saw too many of these outside of efficiency motels on the beach.
I remember Sears circa 2000 sold a very BOL electric 30" range that was branded Galaxy. It was white and black with front controls and no oven window. Possibly made by Frigidaire would be my guess.
I also just remembered that I recently saw some knife sharpeners for sale with the Magic Chef name on them. Mostly I see that name on microwave ovens and little dorm fridges lately. I have noticed at Home Depot that their appliance department still has the Magic Chef name on the signage above the appliances, but I don't think they sell any large appliances under that name.
Once when we were on vacation our room had a Dixie electric 20" range. I wasn't aware of the history of the Dixie brand, but from what I've seen online they didn't make many electric ranges. I called it a fancy apartment range back then, because it had rear controls and a convenience outlet (I think a clock too, maybe). And I had never seen a 20" range with front controls, so I thought that was really fancy. LOL
One of my friend's houses got remodeled after a fire about 10 years ago. They ended up with a Tappan branded range which was also odd. I knew the history of the Tappan brand but had not seen a new one newer since at least the 90s. I could tell it was a rebranded Frigidaire/Kenmore but I never knew they were part of FD.
I'm guessing a lot of the old gas range brands like Hardwick, Caloric, etc just weren't that popular here in FL, because I don't think I've ever seen any of these around here.
Most older stuff in my area seems to be GE/Hotpoint, Whirlpool or Kenmore. Some Frigidaire too. So to me anything other than those 4 is sort of an "off brand," even though they aren't really, and there are lots of very good ranges under other brands.
I remember a lot of 70s and 80s mobile homes tended to have Magic Chef ranges. Typically in the 80s they were almond, very BOL, no oven window, no clock and said "The Energy Engineered Range" on the back splash. I very rarely saw Magic Chef ranges in an actual conventional house, so they must have had a contract with mobile home mfrs. Once I did see a fairly MOL self cleaning one at a house with solid element burners though and an electronic timer/clock.
I've seen a few Suburban cooktops and wall ovens on here but never in my area. I have seen small RV type 3 burner ranges with ovens in RVs and campers. I am assuming they're the same company.
Of course you also had Sunray/Glenwood ranges which always make me laugh at the stories I've heard about how cheap they were. I have even seen some branded Whirlpool. Never saw too many of these outside of efficiency motels on the beach.
I remember Sears circa 2000 sold a very BOL electric 30" range that was branded Galaxy. It was white and black with front controls and no oven window. Possibly made by Frigidaire would be my guess.
I also just remembered that I recently saw some knife sharpeners for sale with the Magic Chef name on them. Mostly I see that name on microwave ovens and little dorm fridges lately. I have noticed at Home Depot that their appliance department still has the Magic Chef name on the signage above the appliances, but I don't think they sell any large appliances under that name.
Once when we were on vacation our room had a Dixie electric 20" range. I wasn't aware of the history of the Dixie brand, but from what I've seen online they didn't make many electric ranges. I called it a fancy apartment range back then, because it had rear controls and a convenience outlet (I think a clock too, maybe). And I had never seen a 20" range with front controls, so I thought that was really fancy. LOL
One of my friend's houses got remodeled after a fire about 10 years ago. They ended up with a Tappan branded range which was also odd. I knew the history of the Tappan brand but had not seen a new one newer since at least the 90s. I could tell it was a rebranded Frigidaire/Kenmore but I never knew they were part of FD.
I'm guessing a lot of the old gas range brands like Hardwick, Caloric, etc just weren't that popular here in FL, because I don't think I've ever seen any of these around here.
Most older stuff in my area seems to be GE/Hotpoint, Whirlpool or Kenmore. Some Frigidaire too. So to me anything other than those 4 is sort of an "off brand," even though they aren't really, and there are lots of very good ranges under other brands.
