On the hunt for an old gas stove. Not just any.....

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Brandon

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A 1940 Red O'Keefe & Merritt or Wedgewood. What gorgeous stoves. Saw an add in a local garage sale for a white Wedgewood for $50 that peaked my curiosity. That lead me to the many different colors of stoves which my wife would love the color red. I also REALLY like this one
http://www.antiquegasstoves.com/pages/redvdown.html

The peak down feature is awesome. Sadly it won't happen overnight but the hunt begins:)

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I think I remember seeing a red O'Keefe & Merrit on SF Bay Area CL not that long ago, but it was pricey.

 

The O&M "Hi-Vue" periscope feature is very cool.  I think it's worth holding out for. 

 

As a compromise, you may want to consider stoves of this vintage that are white with red accents, such as knobs and other trim.  Finding such a stove with the Hi Vue feature may be as big a challenge as finding a reasonably priced red one, but they are probably out there.

 

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was red an original color for these ranges?

or are they painted that during the restoration?

I have seen Western Holly green/yellow ones that to me look more "50s" but not sure if that is an original color scheme either?

Any one know for sure?
 
I'm old enough to recall when these stoves were relatively new and I can't ever remember seeing an O'Keeffe and Merritt in any color other than white. The red stove in the earlier post was most likely painted red during the restoration. Likewise, I don't ever recall the knobs on an O&M being any color other than white. I could be wrong, but I don't think so. My Grandmother had one just like the red one, only it was white. I lived in a 2nd story apt once that the landlady bought an O&M just like this one for the apt. The only hitch was I had to help her handyman move it upstairs. That SOB stove was HEAVY!! I was on the bottom and the handyman, probably about 50 (but at 21 I thought he was WAY old) was on the top. When were about halfway up the long staircase he tells me he had just recovered from a heart attack about a month before. All I could think of was him having another attack and letting go of the O&M and that stove crushing me to death. I was so glad when we finally reached the top of the stairs! Whew! But the O&M was a great stove, really the only gas stove that I ever enjoyed using. It would be a great stove for anyone to have.
Eddie
 
When Dave and I were interested in a vintage gas stove some 25-30 years ago, we visited a guy in town who had a small warehouse full of a wide variety of stoves in all sizes and age ranges.  He had a good eye for interesting stuff that was worth restoring to like-new condition and was meticulous about it.  That was where I got my first look at a Hi-Vue as well as red knobs & handles.  This was long before retro stoves became chic and any of the specialty restoration or imitation shops (like Elmira) existed.

 

I'm pretty sure I've even seen old magazine ads showing models with red trim.  They just weren't ever very common, but I'm 99.9% sure the red accents aren't modern reproductions.
 
"I think I remember seeing a red O'Keefe & Merrit on SF Bay Area CL not that long ago"

Thanks for the tip. Saw a couple on CL with one on the condition YOU have to move it from the upstairs flat. LOL. I'll hire couple body builders from the gym.

"I'm old enough to recall when these stoves were relatively new and I can't ever remember seeing an O'Keeffe and Merritt in any color other than white. The red stove in the earlier post was most likely painted red during the restoration. Likewise, I don't ever recall the knobs on an O&M being any color other than white. I could be wrong, but I don't think so. My Grandmother had one just like the red one, only it was white. I lived in a 2nd story apt once that the landlady bought an O&M just like this one for the apt. The only hitch was I had to help her handyman move it upstairs. That SOB stove was HEAVY!! I was on the bottom and the handyman, probably about 50 (but at 21 I thought he was WAY old) was on the top. When were about halfway up the long staircase he tells me he had just recovered from a heart attack about a month before. All I could think of was him having another attack and letting go of the O&M and that stove crushing me to death. I was so glad when we finally reached the top of the stairs! Whew! But the O&M was a great stove, really the only gas stove that I ever enjoyed using. It would be a great stove for anyone to have.
Eddie"

GREAT story. I had a good laugh as I had a similar story about that once. Good times being young helping the "old". Shoe is on MY foot now. LOL.

Just for fun. I didn't know they made a stove-washer-dryer combo! Get to do everything at once! HAHA.

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Yeah, those Western Holly units aren't for everybody, particularly if you possess claustrophobic tendencies.

 

I also don't like the idea of having to reach around to get to anything that might be queued up on the counter.
 
They want $4500.00 and it's missing the right front burner grate! But I have to admit, that does look like it is original red enamel on that O&M. I've never seen an original one like this before and I agree with Ralph about the black knobs and handles, don't really care for them. But so what , who cares, I'll never own a $4500.00 stove in this lifetime! lol.
Eddie[this post was last edited: 2/1/2016-22:44]
 
Urban Ore probably has bins full of grates & plates from all eras to pick through and would sell them cheap.  But anybody who would pay $4,500 for a stove like that would probably order a pristine simmering plate from an overpriced on-line source and it wouldn't match the others -- at least not for quite a while.

 

I'm pretty sure the missing part belongs on the left rear burner, which puts out lower BTU than the front ones.  That's the configuration that I've always seen.
 
Beautiful

But some serious moola. Thanks for finding it. I'll have to keep tab on getting one at a "steal" as I'm none to keen on spending $4500 on a stove. Not saying it isn't "worth" it but depends on a persons priorites I guess. I've found some rare things of my other hobbies" in the wild" by waiting patiently. So I'll wait. No denying that's gorgeous.
 
OMG--I love that red stove.

 

I saw one at the home show a few years ago, but it was a retro-repop.  You had better have been past your child bearing years if you wanted to buy, because it would cost both of them + cash.
 
I don't think O&M made stoves in red in that vintage.  Chambers did.

 

Most of the antique appliance restoration companies mention a choice of colors.  They're sending parts to be porcelained in whatever you choose.  Call me old-fashioned, for appliances before the 1950's white please.  I know there are exceptions, but most were white.

 

I would be furious to see someone do a monitor top in red.

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"Hopefully the link works; poor shot of a Hardwick(e) with legs and wood handles in flawless condition that might become available to carry out on Chicago's south side. The apartment was owned by a chef/cookbook writer. It's a one oven - broiler rotisserie rather than dual ovens (like my OKM)."

Oh man that looks very nice. I'd also like to point out one if the advantages of a gas stove is one can still cook with it when the power goes out. Guess I'll be cruising some old stores, alley ways, estate sales and so forth to see what I can come up with. After all it's the pursuit which make finding one fun.
 
"I know there are exceptions, but most were white.
I would be furious to see someone do a monitor top in red."

I kniw where your coming from however I wouldn't be. It's good enough for me to know next generation still cared enough to seek something out and kept it alive & working for the next 50 years. Sort of like hot rods. It's good to still see a 1930 vehicle on the road with a 10k paint job and a purring motor rolling down the freeways & at car shows.
 
The Hardwick

Yeah, I was drooling over it (it's in gorgeous, impeccable condition). My neighbor is the listing agent and said if I wanted it, I most likely could have it* - if only it had TWO ovens instead of the rotisserie. I missed the estate sale, the owner had like 40 whisks....

*Free, but I'd have to shlep it down the back stairs as, despite the three story building having an elevator, it's for people only.
 
Brandon,

 

I don't judge those that paint things inappropriate colors.  You're right that at least the item is being used.  At the same time, I get frustrated when someone guts a console cabinet, modernizes a refrigerator because they don't understand what they have or puts a modern engine in a classic car. 

 

Often you later hear, I wish I wouldn't have done that.

 

Good luck in finding your dream stove.
 

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