Vintage gas stoves and pilot lights

[jethowl]

Hello,
I'm having a difficult time finding good information online about this, so I just thought I'd ask here.
I currently have two stoves, an electric 1963 Custom Imperial Frigidaire Flair, and a modern gas Jenn-Air. I love my Flair for the ovens, but usually use the cooktop of the Jenn-Air because of the gas burners.
I really want to replace the Jenn-Air with a vintage gas stove though, but don't like the idea of pilot lights because I have small children in the house.

So, my question is, when did electric ignitions come into play with gas ranges? Is there a year cut-off I should be looking for? What about notable brands?
I guess I could always go with a new "retro" look unit, but where's the fun in that...

 

[appnut]

My first house in 1980 came with a gas stove with electronic ignition.  I'd say maybe4 1975 if not a bit sooner. 

 

[fan-of-fans]

I agree, some of the higher end models had automatic ignition in the mid 70s if not a little earlier. Some of the cheaper ones still had pilot lights until they were banned just a few years ago.

Depends on what you want by retro though, none of the big old double oven classic ranges from the 40s, 50s, 60s would have it I don't think. If you mean 70s or 80s, then you have more choices.

 

[vacerator]

Pilot lights;

began being replaced by electric igniters yes, about 1975.
I have a 1971 Tappan Gallery with an electric warming shelf in my basement.
I keep the gas to it off except when I use it.
It was my mothers range. I like the burner with a brain feature, built in vent fan, and waist high broiler. Self clean too. Good summer stove for hot days.
She was in cloud nine when she got that stove. She cleaned it after every meal.
It replaced her 1950's 36 inch used Tappan monster.

 

[launderess]

electric ignitions

Were around at least since the 1970's if not before.

Know this because when Grandmama renovated her kitchen in the 1970's the new range (Caloric IIRC) not only had electric ignition for the burners, but was well cleaning as well. Neither feature one had seen previously. Our GE oven and range top set at home was like every other appliance one had seen (installed when house was built in 1960's), that is had standing pilot lights. Ditto for our Whirlpool gas dryer.

 

[jethowl]

Thank you everyone for the info! Much appreciated.
I was hoping there would be something from the 1960's that had a sparker, but oh well. Can't have it all, I guess!

 

[mikael3]

I have no personal experience with this, but...

 

A couple of people who work on vintage gas stoves suggested that they could shut off the pilot and allow me to light with a wand lighter.  I would prefer that over a pilot, even for the oven, but I imagine a lot of people would be put off by that arrangement.

 

I’m not afraid of a pilot light, but it puts out more heat than you would think, which is a problem in the South.

 

[jethowl]

Thanks, Mikael.
I never thought of the heat factor, but that's good to know. I like the idea of lighting with a wand lighter... seems easy enough! Thanks for the idea.

 

[launderess]

Putting out heat

One benefit of pilot lights on gas ranges was you could put that source of steady but gentle low heat to good use.

When working with yeast dough and wanted a nice warm place for it to rise you would pop it into a gas oven with a pilot light. You could also leave it on top above wherever main pilot lights were for same. That spot also worked to gently melt things as well.

 

[vacerator]

Laundress,

Yes, that is true. Nice moist heat from a gas pilot to help raise bread.
Or, you can set the oven to warm, only 140 degrees for a few minutes before you out the dough in to rise.
My oven has a "proof" setting which uses the light bulb and the convection fan.

 

[mikael3]

One thing to bear in mind before blowing out the pilot—you really need a professional to make the necessary adjustments.  It isn’t difficult, apparently, but it isn’t something to attempt unless you know what you’re doing.

 

I have cooked with a pilot-less unit before, and I didn’t mind at all.  It was an old thing, but more significantly, clearly a cheap model in an old duplex I rented “up north”.  It probably had a working pilot at some point, but not while I used it.  It was probably a tragedy waiting to happen!! 

 

[launderess]

Pilot Lights

Sad drawback to keeping ranges always slightly "warm" is it made a nice attractive home for rodents and other pests seeking a home. Compressor area in refrigerators and or freezers offer the same sort of attraction. Added to that both sorts of appliances have plenty of nice soft insulation for nest making. Oh and yes, there is usually a food source from crumbs, spills and what not.

 

[norgeway]

I personally

Wouldn't have a gas stove that DID NOT have a pilot!! I despise that old click click stuff!

 

[jethowl]

Yikes! Luckily we don't get a lot of rodents around here (the cold winters tend to cull their numbers, I suppose), but that sounds like bad news!

I wish I was good at making bread, but so far that's a skill I have yet to master. Perhaps an older stove may help...

 

[vacerator]

Hans,

of course, as you prefer.
We all like what we like.
I like that my range re ignites a burner should I have it on a low simmer and it gets blown out.

 

[wayupnorth]

You could turn the pilots off on older stoves with a quarter turn of a screwdriver on their manifold and light by hand, which I have done. In this state, all gas appliances HAVE to be set up by a certified gas tech or your homeowners insurance is toast. My 21 year old Whirlpool looks like Marie Barone's only in white. If the power goes out both oven and top still work fine lighting by hand. Thats the kind I would look for as match light anything is pretty much outlawed by the feds in the US now.

 

[peterh770]

I have a Roper with pilot lights... The cats are always on top of it... And them jumping on and off makes them go out... My house is drafty enough I don't worry much about it...

 

[jethowl]

Your cats get on top of the stove? Brave kitties!! Heh heh!

 

[vacerator]

Cats;

My friends cat walks on his Kitchen Aid slide in range glass oven control panel and turns it on if he forgets to set the lock out.