Sandy's New Range - The Pictures!

[danemodsandy]

Hello Everyone:

Well, you've all been asking for pics, so here and in a few more posts to follow, are photos of the new range after cleaning, detailing, replacing a few things and adding two missing items.

Three people here on AW were instrumental in getting things to the point you see here. Tim (polkanut) found the range and stored it until it could be transported, John (oldskool) brought it from Wausau, WI to Waterloo, IA and John (combo 52) was one-stop shopping on some very HTF parts, like knobs.

Here is the range sitting in her new home in Waterloo. She was built in March of 1972; she is a Model J 370002 WH, serial number F N268442 G. She replaces a 1990's BOL GE range.

This model was not the TOL; that honor was reserved for the J757, which had everything - P*7 self-cleaning, a Sensi-Temp burner, a griddle, a rotisserie and a meat thermometer.

This model would have been two steps below that - it has most of the features of a J757, but no rotisserie was available; there is not a rotisserie port in the oven to install one. And there is no provision for a meat thermometer.

Still, she's very graciously equipped, and doesn't she look nice in her new home, with a full set of Mirro Alumilite molds hanging above her backguard?

 

[danemodsandy]

Control Panel and Cooktop

Here is the lighted control panel.

The panel is glass; knobs are Bakelite and chromed pot metal. At the right you can see the "Coil Select" knob that allows you to use a 4-inch, 6-inch or 8-inch diameter area of the Sensi-Temp burner.

You can see the sensor for the Sensi-Temp burner at right front. The sensor has some staining on it, but I do not want to try getting it off, since the sensor is not easy to find nor cheap to buy. Sometimes you need to leave well enough alone.

 

[gansky1]

Fried chicken, fried potatoes and fried doughnuts now!

Looks good, Sandy!  Those (new?) rings just make it sparkle.  How long would you estimate it took to get it all done?  Cleaning, replacing parts, etc.  It looks like you've spent many hours, well done.

 

[danemodsandy]

Sensi-Temp Controls:

Here you can see the knob for the Sensi-Temp burner, with its temperature indications for frying, and its boil settings for cooking with liquids. There's a close view of the Coil Select knob here, too:

 

[danemodsandy]

The Burners:

Here's a shot of all four burners, with the new trim rings John combo52 sent, but with their original burner bowls, which are natural aluminum.

Maybe this shot will show John why I wanted to keep the original burner bowls - look how nicely they shined up after 41 years of use!

You can also see the P*7 lock lever in this shot, as well as the Bakelite spacer behind the oven door handle. That spacer represents a LOT of work - getting it off, cleaning it and replacing it required a complete disassembly of the oven door. In the process, the paint fill for the "Cook" and "Clean" indicia dissolved, necessitating that the paint fills be redone. I'm glad all that's over!

 

[danemodsandy]

The Oven:

Yep, it's forty-one years old. Look how she gleams. Thank you, P*7!

The racks are now rust-free, but they've seen better days. I'm hoping to find good used ones at some point. The racks are still available new - at nearly $150.00 each.

I think I'll pass.

 

[danemodsandy]

Correct Broiler Pan:

John combo52 was able to supply the correct vintage broiler pan; it's the same Starlight Gray porcelain as the oven, with a heavily chromed grid. It came up like new with a bit of cleaning.

 

[danemodsandy]

The Griddle:

This is the correct griddle for the range. It's heavy cast aluminum with a Teflon coating; there's a trim strip at the front in anodized aluminum, printed with recommended temperatures for various foods.

It sits on top of the Sensi-Temp burner; little cleats on the underside center it properly on the sensor. A special "Griddle" setting on the Coil Select knob heats only the outer ring of the Sensi-Temp unit, heating the griddle evenly.

This is the simplest of all griddle systems I've seen on higher-end GE ranges, but it makes great sense. Cleaning it is very easy!

I still have a Burning Question about the griddle: Does anyone know if it was standard equipment on a Sensi-Temp range with Coil Select, or was it an extra-cost, optional accessory?[this post was last edited: 11/24/2013-13:09]

 

[petek]

Looks so nice. After almost 5 years with a glass smoothtop I'm still not convinced that they're easier to keep clean than a coil top, not at all. It's work keeping it clean hence ours always looks terrible LOL

 

[danemodsandy]

Last, But Not Least:

Here's a storage drawer shot, showing it stuffed with vintage aluminum-clad Farberware.

The drawer will need some work come next Spring; it has rust in a couple of minor places. It will be an easy strip and repaint with Rustoleum in the correct gray, but I have no shop or garage space, and I'm not about to start spraying paint in a basement where there's a forced-air gas furnace.

Still, the rust is minor and the drawer completely serviceable.

 

[mickeyd]

"It's work keeping it clean hence ours always looks terrible LOL "

Pete, you are always so funny. I love laughing first thing in the morning.

 

[danemodsandy]

Greg:

Thanks for the kind words.

I would estimate 25-35 hours so far. I was very fortunate at that - I was only dealing with deferred maintenance, not completely ruined surfaces. There are a lot of folks here who have had much harder work to do on their pride and joy.

When I got the range, it appeared to have had good treatment for most of its working life, but it also was obvious that the good treatment stopped at some point. I am guessing that a house-proud wife took great care of it for a long time, but then after she passed away, a surviving spouse or other family didn't care the same way she had.

Getting those burner bowls shined up was a booger.

 

[danemodsandy]

An Ad Shot:

This is the closest ad shot I have found so far. This model is not identical to mine, but it is very similar.

The differences are: This model has no Sensi-Temp burner like mine does. Chrome trip strips have been added to the edges of the cooktop (I am SO glad mine doesn't have those grease-catchers!), and the hood of the backguard light was treated to then-fashionable Ye Olde Fayke Woode Graine.

And of course, the Dirty Diaper Gold color is not on my range. Thank the Lord.

P.S.: The search continues for a couple of things. One, I'd love to find a set of oven racks; I think the correct part number is WB48X5044.

And two, I'd love to find the correct manual. Automatic Ephemera had a 1966 P*7 manual that shows a very similar unit; that manual gave me all the info I really need to use the range. But having the right manual would make Baby very happy indeed.

 

[goatfarmer]

Looks great, Sandy. Now for the elusive Amana....

 

[danemodsandy]

Kenny:

Yeah, well, the Amana is going to have to happen when it happens.

I am looking for it locally, since fridges are both heavy and need transport while upright (I know they can be tipped if left upright for a while before re-starting operation, but I see no reason to take chances with a unit 30 to 40 years old).

It will turn up sooner or later. What's hysterical is that Ben (swestoyz) showed me photos of his house when he looked at it prior to purchase. There, in the run-down kitchen, was THE Amana! It was long since gone by the time I saw the photo; Ben has since brought his kitchen into the 21st Century with a complete, awesomely competent makeover that he did himself. [this post was last edited: 11/24/2013-13:55]

 

[polkanut]

My biggest worry was that the clock/timer would function poorly, or not at all.  I'm so glad for your sake that it does work properly.

 

[combo52]

YAY For Sandys New Range

Just in time for the holidays, I think that all GE ranges with the griddle setting did come with the griddle. I also think the front trim on the griddle is SS not anodized aluminum, I know that the griddle I have like this one in W Va has been through the DW at least 50 times and AA does not hold up well in a DW.

 

[danemodsandy]

John:

You could well be right about the stainless.

Hopefully someday soon I will run into the kind of vent hood I want - a classic Vent-A-Hood or NuTone vented model in stainless. Once I'm able to be in an owned house (this one's a rental) again, I'd like to have a stainless hood over the range, with a stainless wall guard. While it takes a bit of work to keep stainless looking its best, there is not the paint wear factor you have with painted hoods, so you can scrub the bejabbers out of them.

I have not had a ducted range hood since 2005, and OY, how I miss having one! Chinese food is impossible without one, since the whole house smells like Panda Express for days if there's no ventilation.

P.S.: Tim - the clock/timer unit was sort of the least of my worries when you found this range. GE sold off its timer division to folks here in Carroll, IA, and they sell and service vintage GE units. Usual cost is between $65 and $100, with a refundable core exchange fee. That's not bad at all.

 

[frigilux]

The range looks beautiful in its new home, Sandy! The interior of the oven is in pristine shape for a range of that vintage.  Holiday baking, here we come!