Radarange Website

[cadman]

Well, after several years of languishing, I relaunched my Radarange website today, which wasn't easy as I live without dedicated Internet. There's new pics and new information for those interested. Ben suggested I give a heads-up here! -Cory

http://www.radar58.com/radarange/radar.html

 

[iheartmaytag]

Very nice site.

Very informative.
I would like one of each.

If you don't mind me hijacking a little, could I ask a question? I had heard that that the Amana commercial division was not part of the sale,and that the commercial Amana microwaves are the same build as the original home units. Is this true?

I have actually been debating getting a light to medium duty commercial unit for home use. I like the all stainless interior, and longer life cycle. I read most home units are only designed for 10 minutes per day duty cycle, and a life cycle of only around four years.

 

[ovrphil]

Thanks, Cori - it's definitely an improvement. Does flickr allow linking from other web pages? your dead links of some of the ranges could possibly be posted on flickr or some other site(?). Just the same, thanks for the info and photos; it's amazing that there isn't anything like your website...has helped me out at times.

 

[arbilab]

Most impressive resource!

Sidebar, mine is JCPenney/GE/Toshiba from 1982 and in daily use as we speak. Touchpad, and the fluorescent display is still bright. They built stuff a LOT better back then.

I also saw one of the originals that operated on vacuum tubes and occupied a console roughly 6 feet high. Gawd only knows what it cost in the late 50s, but my cousin's family didn't care what things cost. They had a house built of concrete and steel. Like, wood is for chumps and the house WAS their bomb shelter.

That's about how whacked you had to be to own a microwave back then. Well before they sat benignly on your countertop. I don't think they got much use out of it. They reluctantly boiled a cup of water in it to demonstrate that the cup could still be picked up by the handle.

Whereas I use mine every day to make tea.

 

[philr]

That's great!

The two RCM-10 microwave ovens that I have show almost the same text in their door as your RCM-9. [this post was last edited: 1/4/2014-05:48]

 

[philr]

If you'd like to add a RCM-10 microwave to your site, I can provide you some pics and I could scan the instruction manual too.

 

[philr]

BTW, did Amana make Touchmatic clones for any other brands too? I know they did make microwave ovens for other brands than Frigidaire but did that include Touchmatics?

Here's another picture of my RCM-10 that was made in November of 1978. As you can see, it's an Amana RR-9T that's disguised. The touchpad has the same configuration but it shows temperatures in °F under the numbers like the export Touchmatics (which showed it in °C however) and the numbers have the same font as those on other Frigidaire Touch-N-Cook appliances.

Also, I am wondering, did Amana already make the RRL series back in 1978?

There was also a WCI-Frigidaire RCM-10J that had a slightly different touchpad glass and the "START-STOP-LIGHT" buttons moved to the same location as those on Amana Touchmatics. This has to be the appliance that least changed in the Frigidaire lineup after GM sold Frigidaire to WCI.[this post was last edited: 1/4/2014-05:56]

 

[carmine]

Thanks for putting that site together, I've already learned a few things. Here is a shot of mine in the middle of a kitchen re-do that will feature all vintage appliances. Note that I even installed a dedicated outlet for the goofy upsidedown cord these things use!

 

[petek]

Cory, Mine is an RR7 and it started turning on by itself for some strange reason so I've just parked it in the basement.. Any idea what it might be?

 

[circlew]

Carmine,

it is actually the preferred manner to install a receptacle with the ground at the top. This is so in the unlikely event that the plug is not fully inserted, and a metal object falls onto it, that the metal will contact the ground pin first, not the prong for the hot side, which might cause a short.

 

[twintubdexter]

Frankly, I'm affraid of those old Radaranges. Don't they leak dangerous microwaves all over the kitchen. My neighbor heats up those Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches and doesn't even put them inside the oven.

Rumor has it that Barbra Hale lost both eyebrows while filming all those commercials.

 

[philr]

Tom,

Some electricians used to install outlets so the ground would be on the top but that changed (here at least) many years ago (I can't tell why). And now, with all the large a/c adapters we need, the hot and neutral have to be at the top as adapters are polarized and many won't hold well with the heavy part and wire pointing up when they're connected.  I'm wondering why we don't have outlets that are recessed like they have in Europe (other than those for clocks that we don't see much in newer houses!). 

 

[philr]

I have a RR-10A that was made in 1979 that probably had it's control panel replaced with a RR-10 control panel. It does have the black trim near the pushbuttons and there's no color difference between the buttons on the rest of the panel. I think it's controls were replaced with older ones! Did the RR-10 have a woodgrain or painted cabinet? Mine is woodgrain.

 

[carmine]

Recessed outlets are available, but not common. In fact I considered using one, but it probably wouldn't have allowed a very good fit with the cord. It just so happens that IKEA cabinets have about a 1/4" gap at the back (flush at the top and bottom). The gap works well to stash the excess cord. Eventually there will be a coppertone Flair in front of all of this.

 

[swestoyz]

Phil, I believe the woodgrain started with the 10A/10H, as all the 10 units I've run across did not have the wood grain.

I still feel the original 10 was the most handsome of all the late model RR's.

Ben

 

[cadman]

Hey Guys

Thanks for the feedback!

Harley, I don't follow the new machines much, but the bank of machines at my place of employment sees A LOT of use by literally hundreds of lunches cooked daily. The Amana Commercial Products microwaves are the only ones that seem to last. The black plastic ones marked Radarange don't hold up as well.

Phil, Ben is correct, an original 10 would have a brown painted cabinet, an RRH-10 or 10A were wood grain. The RRL line really did debut in '78 and of course these were wood grain from the start. Looking at your Frigidaire, I wonder if a 4-program machine was ever made (like a Touchmatic II). In this area the Frigidaires are non-existent.

Pete, is your RR a true 7? (and not a 7B) Amana released a conversion panel for these machines and I had assumed it was due to reliability but maybe your situation wasn't uncommon. I have to say, yours is the first RR I've ever heard about that would turn itself on! -Cory

 

[petek]

Here's the panel.. the model # on the back says RR 7

Ignore the cobwebs LOL

 

[philr]

Frigidaire didn't have the 4 program model. The RCM-10 was a 1979 model and the last issued while Frigidaire was still a part of GM. The WCI version with the pushbuttons moved below the touchpad was also a 2 program model (RCM-10J).

 

Both of mine were manufactured in 1978 (October and November). There were also some with rotary controls like this one.

 

[philr]

The RCM3-37S. 

 

[combo52]

Amana Radar-Range Website

Cory I am glad you are working on this again, I was really excited when I first saw your site several years ago. I have several unusual ARRs in our collection including three of the original large micro-Convection units [ all slightly different and mechanically controlled ] and I also have one of the mid 80s 1000 watt models that needs a dedicated 120 volt 20 amp outlet.

I am looking forward to see more of these cool very well built American treasures.

John L.

 

[petek]

Now that Frigidaire with the controls on top looks a lot like my 75 Toshiba mw cept it wasn't woodgrain

 

[philr]

Pete, the Frigidaire in my previous post is made by Amana too and it's similar to this Amana on Cory's website: http://www.radar58.com/radarange/fullsize/R1Instruction.jpg

 

 

as anyone noted the FCC approval numbers on their old microwaves? I'm wondering if these change with each model and if they are issued in chronological order (they seem to be but...).  

 

My RR-2 shows the approval number ME 605 the serial number begins by "S", I have looked at Jon's RR-2 (with a buzzer and serial number beginning with a "1E") and has the FCC approval number "ME 622". My RR-4D has "ME 898". 

 

Paul's Tappan (made by Litton) shows "ME 659" and both of my Frigidaire RCM-10 show "ME 1539".

 

Cory, I'd like to see what are the approval numbers on models like the RR-9, RCM-9, on the RR-9T and on the RRL-9TA.