Vintage 1956 Fridgidaire Electric range` - $100 (Brighton)

[ovrphil]

Ad: "
First $100 cash takes it! I need it out of my kitchen.

Vintage stove in good working condition. Currently in use. Built by General Motors in Dayton, Ohio. All original, no modifications. Model: RIS-39-57, Serial: 25C 50597. 30"W x 26"D. Everything works except the left front burner and timer/clock. Enamel in excellent condition. I don't have the time to restore it, but it would be easy. Need to sell, make an offer!"


http://rochester.craigslist.org/app/4208287658.html

 

[danemodsandy]

Uh-Oh!

Something tells me a tan Tahoe might be wending its way to Rochester soon!

 

[tomturbomatic]

I wonder if this is a Canadian model. It is not a 1957 Imperial 30" according to the list of model #s. RIS 39 56 was a domestic model in 1956. This range combines elements of the 56 and 57 models which sometimes happens in lower models, but this is pretty much TOL as an Imperial, but it is missing the Heat Minder & Speed Heat. That might be by design or modifications over the decades, although if there ever was a Speed Heat, when they replaced the unit and switch, they replaced the spider as well. 1957 was the last year that the Imperial models were TOL. I wonder if it might have been brought across the border. We have seen such interesting Canadian models thanks to our Canadian members. Canada is now sharing Frigid Air of a different kind with us.

 

[philr]

In 1956, the Canadian models were almost like the US models (except for fuses). Even the porcelain in the ovens was still gray. Canadian ranges had the Speed Heat feature until sometime in 1959. Even my 1959 Custom Imperial still has the Speed Heat and Canadian newspaper ads also talked about the Speed Heat burner (but some 1959 Custom Imperial ranges don't have it and no 1960 ranges have the Speed Heat). The Heat Minder was standard on the same models as in the US lineup until 1961 when the 40" ranges (except Flairs) were discontinued and mid-1962 when the 30" ranges were redesigned (the Heat-Minder was still available on the Imperial and Custom Imperial free-standing ranges, Imperial cooktops and Custom Imperial Flairs ranges). 

 

According to my documents, the Speed Heat and Heat Minder were deleted on the RIS-39-56 

 

[philr]

Here are pictures of the tags on the RIS-39-56 in the ad above and from a Canadian RI-39C-56. 

 

[tomturbomatic]

So it's just a typo. I should have checked the original ad.

 

[swestoyz]

Maybe if it was in Rochester, MN, I might bite. However, I do like that it lacks Speed Heat and Heat Minder.

Besides, I'm shamefully storing this on the porch at the moment...

 

[kenmore71]

Ben, I heard there was a dryer in the living room….

Is it intervention time?

 

[washdaddy]

Mark-

I don't know all the facts ....but maybe Ben needed a space heater for the big storm running across the country and got himself a little confused trying to keep himself warm.

(Ducking and running) lol

 

[philr]

Ben, that's a nice '57 Deluxe! Now this one has the Speed Heat and Heat Minder! Do you know if they still work? Somebody offered me a '57 Imperial but both front burners were converted to regular (I haven't looked to see if they were 3 wire 5 heat or infinite heat type but it was missing 3 knobs and 2 chains and needles for the burners).

 

[danemodsandy]

Wrong Rochester, Huh?

Sorry - didn't check to see which Rochester was in question.

Pretty Frigidaire on your porch, Ben. Besides, you don't really have a problem until you're using a GE 22" Spacemaker as a bedside table.

Everyone knows that. ;-)

 

[swestoyz]

When I picked up the '57...

As to be expected, the Speed Heat burner was not working. The Heat Minder did warm up, but I didn't have time to actually test it's Minding abilities. I really want to restore this one and use it for a bit in the kitchen, as I've never had the privilege of using a GM range before. Anyone here happen to have any spare Speed Heat burners and switches?

Yes, I'm trying to stay warm, but that's what the GE double oven Americana is for in the kitchen.

Ben[this post was last edited: 1/4/2014-15:23]

 

[philr]

Ben,

I had one spare Speed Heat burner but I used it recently to make my '59 range work again. Your range's Heat Minder system seems to be quite complicated compared to the system that was introduced in 1960 (and that was used to convert the 1959 Charcoal range you sold recently which had another complicated system). I did the same with my 1959 CI range.

 

If your range still has the Speed Heat switch and it has problems, don't throw it away! I replaced the switches on both my 1959 Custom Imperial and my 1968 (US-market) Compact 30 and I had to keep the metal cover, the shaft and the cam for both so the shafts would be the correct length, the original knobs would fit and the switch would work as indicated by the knob/pointer.

 

The pre-1960 Speed Heat switches started on HIGH like the 5 heat switches and like the early regular infinite switches that were used on some 1958-59 models for the rear burners. The regular infinite switches were redesigned in 1960 but the Speed Heat switches remained almost unchanged through the 1960s.

 

First test the 6" burner to see if it has conductivity and if it's a 118V (about 10 ohms) or a 236V (over 30 ohms). If the burner has conductivity and shows a resistance value around 10 ohms, you probably don't have to replace the burner itself... When you'll be ready to check that, let me know what you find! I wish I had more Speed Heat parts to help you but I used most of what I had to repair my 1959 range recently (got parts from a US-built cooktop sometime ago on eBay). Speed Heat burners have been available only a few years here 1955 to mid-1959 so it's hard to get parts for these in Canada). 

 

If you need more information, don't hesitate to email me and I'll try to help!

 

[swestoyz]

Thanks for he tips, Phil! I'll check for continuity of the speed heat burner tomorrow.

When you say you changed the switches over and used some of the original switches parts, were you using a later speed heat switch?

Ben

 

[philr]

Yes I was using a newer Speed Heat switch... There were a few minor changes over the years but I assume that the later ones were improved (I read that somewhere...). But the main difference between the older and newer ones is the cam and the shaft. There were also shorter shafts used in cooktops but the shape of the shaft changed depending on the type of knob and year. 

 

Replacing the cam in a newer Speed Heat switch will make it operate like the older one (starting on "high" instead of starting on "sim" when you turn the knob clockwise)

 

I just checked a 236V 6" burner with the ohmmeter and it shows 42 ohms resistance. 

 

[combo52]

Speed Heat Burner Parts

Ben I would likely have the parts you need, let me know when you get into it, John.

 

[swestoyz]

Ah, Phil that makes sense. I checked the burner today and it is open.

John, I'll shoot you a message in a few weeks. I'm hoping to jump into it once the weather warms up.

Ben

 

[cree]

Clock&Timer

I bought the above range that was for sale does anyone know where I can find a clock/timer to replace the one in it that doesn't work...Thank You..Robert

http://robert

 

[ovrphil]

Cree

your link - ? goes nowhere. Congrats and someone may be able to help - think about becoming a member, the benefits are much greater.

Phil