Removing O'Keefe and Merritt Contempo oven from wall

[mcoven]

Hi there, I'm new to the site and am seeking advice on removing a vintage O'Keefe and Merritt Contempo from the wall.

I have already removed the vent but am having trouble gaining access to the mounting hardware since it is so tight against the wall, and I can't determine how it is secured to the wall. With the vent removed, the mounting hardware is 7 inches down from the top (below the top side panel, slightly lower than the knobs). Does the oven/liner have to come out to gain access to screws in the back interior, or is it most likely a mount accessible from the outside of the unit? I don't want to mess with it too much in fear of damaging the sides.

As best I can tell there are no screws on the bottom holding the unit to the cabinet. I'd also appreciate an estimate on the total weight so I can plan accordingly.

It's a great unit, but I need to take it in for restoration. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[combo52]

Moving an eyelevel gas range

The whole thing is likely to move as one piece, the range should be screwed to the base cabinet, you might try to see if the base cabinet is screwed to the wall or floor from inside the cabinet.

NOTE you may have to disconnect the gas line before moving this range, many older gas ranges like this were not connected with flexible connectors, if you have any dough about your ability to disconnect the gas and move this ranges safely call an appliance repair company that works with gas ranges.

ALSO NOTE, these ranges are HEAVY it will take at least TWO very strong people to move it and three would be better.

 

[mcoven]

Oddly enough, there are no traces of screws connecting it to the base cabinet, and I'm pretty sure it's anchored to the wall. I was able to slide a knife along the entire bottom edge and found no screws. There seems to be a mounting track of some sort along the back (I think), but I can barely see back there. It may very well be part of the back of the oven.

Thanks for the warning about the gas and weight; I'll have help on hand for that phase once I can get through this roadblock.

Any other suggestions?

 

[mcoven]

Figured it out- there's a heavy duty bracket on the wall with one hole on each end. On the stove are two pegs facing downward, and they each fit in a hole. By prying up each end we were able to pull the stove off of the bracket.

 

[danemodsandy]

That Makes Sense.

What you're describing is an early version of an anti-tip bracket; those are pretty much standard equipment on today's "light-as-air" ranges.

Back in the day, most free-standing ranges were so heavy that there wasn't much chance of the range tipping forward when the oven door was open and something heavy was being pulled out on the oven rack. But today's cheapies just about have to have them.

The reason I think the Contempo needed it was because it was so tall, and much of the weight was up top, not so much down below. And if one of these had tipped over onto you, you'd be dead meat.

So, it makes sense to have the bracket on this model.

 

[norgeway]

I Think

They hung on the wall like a metal cabinet...