that coily range heating element...

[piglet]

I have a little Westinghouse Model KK range in a mother in law apartment. It has that old style coiled wire resistance element, and the coiled wire has broken. I rejoined it with a steel butt splice as a temporary, but suspect it will burn out or vaporize the connector soon. Can anyone advise me if there is a proper style of connector to use on these, or do I need to find a source for the heating coil? I know the dryer coil stuff is still commonly sold, but don't know where to go for info on range coil by the foot or by the kit. The coil is only 1/4" in diameter and travels an up and down path quite a distance... maybe 7 or 8 feet of travel back and forth under that bottom metal plate that hangs the insulators. Can you guys direct me to source for parts on this, or to a good quality butt splice intended for this job?
Here's photos of the little guy...

 

[rp2813]

That's a beautiful little stove.   The combination oven indicator light and outlet is identical to the one on my mom's '49 Westinghouse range.

 

You can find replacement coiled nichrome on line (but you may have to buy way more than you need) if you're a purist and want to keep the original look, or you can pull out the existing bake element assembly and take it to an independent appliance parts retailer to have a replacement made if they offer that service (the appliance parts store by me does).  My mom's oven was on its second or third replacement element when her range was passed along to another member here in 2008.  The replacements are modern radiant tube elements that look very different from what you currently have in there.  The metal plate with the insulators will be eliminated.  Many Westinghouse ovens of this vintage that I've seen over the years have had this type of replacement element.  

 

Also, my mom was an avid baker and the oven's performance didn't change with the new style of element.

 

 

 

[mattl]

Wow, that looks as close to mint as I have ever seen for a vintage range, well done!

 

[piglet]

Thank you both for your kind words and information. I can check with my local appliance repair store for an alternate element... but have my doubts about them providing it.
This is in a rental so I don't feel particularly beholden to authenticity, though I do love the appearance and would like to keep it as much as I can. We lost our oven thermostat in this range a few years ago and went with the universal replacement, hence the one knob is mismatched there on the right side, and I likely still have the original knob, but have conceded to the slow modernization process as a concession to being able to keep it in good order for years to come in the apartment. I'll just search for nichrome and see what turns up. I guess it will become apparent what parameters I should look for if I do a bit more research.
I have another range in a different apartment that sadly is missing its bake element as well as the tray that suspended it, in the small warming oven on the left side. (picture below) The brand name for that one is less common... a Monarch. Now that I know Someone might be found to replace the oven element with a more modern upgrade, I'll be more active in searching for it.
I was so sad when the independent appliance repair shop with the older owner in Pullman Washington, a close neighboring town to Moscow Idaho where I'm at, burned down a couple years ago. The owner just decided to go out of business at that point, but he would have been the perfect person to go to... he always had what I needed. I really miss the security of his wonderful supply of old stock, as he had the exact ceramic socket for that oven in the range above when it snapped in half one day about 6 years ago. Finding an older appliance store well stocked is so dear... Would it be ok to ask who your appliance store is that provided you with the alternate modern element? In worst case scenario I might call them and work long distance.
I learned on this Monarch range pictured below, something I would not have thought about. We have a Real avid Chef in the apartment where this big range is, and one day a couple months ago, he chucked a pan into the larger oven on the right side, and inadvertently managed to get it close enough during the insertion process that his pan bridged between two of the hot nichrome broil elements. His wife told me he let out a yelp, and he apparently really got quite badly shocked... something no one else has ever done with that range in all my years of owning this house... maybe 20 years now. I guess I'll have to warn future residents there not to make that mistake, the nichrome elements are conductive through a metal pan. I didn't even know this was possible till it happened. .

 

[rp2813]

Hi Roberta,

 

That Monarch is another nice stove and I'm glad you are interested in keeping both it and the Westinghouse going. 

 

Here's the information for the appliance parts dealer near me (there is no web site, but there are Yelp reviews): 

 

Appliance Parts Company

1062 The Alameda

San Jose, CA  95126

(408) 294-9500

 

The owner's name is John, and back when my mom's oven element failed, I walked through the door to his shop with the element in my hand and from across the room he saw me and exclaimed "Westinghouse!"

 

Since that element had already been replaced with a modern type, it was easy for him to send it out and have the replacement made to the same specs.  With your element they'll likely have to measure your whole assembly and then fabricate the new radiant tube element to similar dimensions.  It's likely a standard size, but they can certainly customize if needed for no additional charge.  I can't recall exactly, but I think the total cost was around $40.

 

John is a really nice guy and he might even know of someone in your area who can arrange to have a new element made.  If not, I'm sure he'll be willing to work with you long distance.

 

If you want, I'm sure you could request that the original assembly be returned to you so if at some time in the future you wanted to replace the coiled nichrome in it, you could do so at your leisure, or it might even be possible that John could arrange to have that done instead of manufacturing a new element. 

 

Let us know how this all works out.

 

Ralph