Older GE Countertop Electric Roaster help, please.

[aeoliandave]

Hi Guys, from the frozen 'March in like a Lion' north.

For my birthday present yesterday I pounced on a vintage white enamel GE Roaster, complete and in super cosmetic and operational condition at the local Flea Market on Sunday. I was told it was obtained from a lake cottage about an hour north, being emptied for sale.

I've seen these in other collections and the cupboard stand model. Always had a hankering for one.
It was half price day, so for a mere $25 home it came. Upon further inspection & popping off the bottom plate the fibrglas insulation blankets are as fluffy and clean as new. Heats up just fine and the indicator 'bulb' a metal thermocouple behind a red glass piece that glows. (?)
I am stunned at what I have - it has evidently seen no use since being taken to the cottage, likely back several decades ago.

Googling feverishly I have found no information nor a user manual for it, other than this photo of one exactly like it on eBay...only mine is in much better condition.
No labeling on it other than the info stamp inscribed on the bottom
"General Electric, 115 V, 1320 watts, Cat,No. 123C19, Made in USA, Bridgeport Conn / Ontario Calif."

Complete inner rack-age, unblemished highly polished dome lid, all Bakelite in superb black no chips shape and all four hard rubber disc feet. And the original cord.
Some wear marks though the enamel around the rim that's hidden when the inner pan is in place.

So, what can folks here tell me about it, please?

 

[rp2813]

The Super Searchalator Is Your Friend --

Here's a thread covering the saga of the GE roaster I found a few years ago:

1945 GE Roaster Oven

I picked this up for $10 today. I've never seen a GE roaster before and liked the art deco look of the heat control trim panel. Pictures show as-found condition. I think there was originally white paint behind the GE logo and perhaps on the grooved areas of the ribbing. It will take...

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[petek]

Cool.. I've only seen the Nesco's and Westinghouses.    When shall I come over for a delicious roast of beef dinner a la GE..   There's room in there for lotsa potatoes and carrots too.   

 

[rp2813]

P.S.

 

The dome handles I've seen on these are always made of wood and painted black, and they're all slightly irregularly shaped.  Odd, since the handsome side handles are bakelite.  I wonder what the logic was behind using wood for the one on the lid.

 

[aeoliandave]

It is indeed a beautiful example of late 1930's Century of Progress industrial design and I must say, surprisingly lightweight for a large steel appliance.As much as I want to keep it in view I'll have to clear space on the 1939 sideboard's oak top rather than hide it in a bottom cupboard; not enough room on the wire shelf Appliance Towers for it...
Yes, the lid handle is black-stained wood.
I tried search-a-ator a few different ways and came up empty.
Thank you Ralph. That's the exact same one; didn't think it to be 'that' old.
Well, lucky me. Now to find a copy of the Manual - easy enough to use but the recipes would be just like Mom/Gramma used to make. That's how I eat these days after the recovery - meat & potatoes that kept my Aunts & Uncles alive into their 90 - all 5 of them, Mom making it to 89 last October.

 

[appnut]

As far as recipes go, I found that I could use my modern-day Nesco as another oven--baking and roasting.  I actually felt this had better results for cheesecake than my regular oven.  Any dish that fits inside can be used to bake in.  As far filling the whole cookwell for something like soups or stews or a large roast beef, you'd have to be preparing for a small army.  Until you can find a user guide of similar vintage, downloading a modern-day user guide for a Nesco or similar brand will also give you some suggestions and concepts for use.  And I have no doubt youy can locate online other recipes for such a large quantity. 

 

[norgeway]

I have NO idea

Where it is, But I believe I do have the manual, if I can find it, you are certainly welcome to it, just don't let me forget..

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulation On Realizing a Dream!

Sweet Mother of Pearl! Those are the Appliance Towers? Heavens. I am speechless.

I think that in the short term, you could use the manual from the Westinghouse Roaster Oven, if one of those is in the ephemera collection. I know from baking in my WH, you just use the temperatures in the recipe you have, just like in your range oven. You open the vents to keep cakes, pies etc. from getting soggy.

I will check to see if I have the manual for the GE RO.

 

[rp2813]

Vents

IIRC it goes like this (I keep my roaster on a shelf in the basement and am too lazy to go down two flights of stairs to check):

 

Preheat:  Vents closed

Bake:  Vents halfway open

Roast:  Vents fully open

 

Dave, this venting information didn't come from the user guide, which by the way isn't all that extensive.  You're better off getting roaster recipes on line, but if you have any questions in particular about use and care, I'll be happy to check the guide and advise.