Vintage GE Oven / Range / Refrigerator parts (living with vintage appliances)

[circlew]

Pushbutton safety concerns

Seems like someone on here (thinking Chuck - Laundromat) had a bad fire in their condo as a result of a cat stepping on the control buttons on their range. However, I've known a number of people with various types of pushbutton control GE ranges, and none have ever mentioned a problem with them being turned on accidently. Don't think any of them had cats roaming around on their stoves, though.

It would probably be best to have hood or wall mounted controls if using pushbuttons. In any event, it may be a good idea to install a circuit breaker near the range, so you can turn it off when not there. There are also heavy duty time switches available; a restaurant I worked in that had electric fryers and griddles had them. They automatically cut the power to the cooking equipment 15 mins. after closing time until 30 mins. before serving time began.

 

[112561]

This is quite interesting

I believe it was Chuck with the pushbuttons and the cat. I'd be replacing a 2002 Magic Chef, which had more use in the last three years than any other time in its life here. I like the idea of the cutoff for the cooking appliances. I'll ask around and see what kind of answer I get from homeowners and handypeople I know. I also will get an electrician when and if the plans go through. In the meantime, get a load of this Dream Kitchen from, yeah, you guessed it:

 

[blackstone]

Price on broil element???

I'm checking prices for the bake and broil elements for this stove (GE model J501 R1 BR); both elements in a customer's stove were burned out. Checking around on the internet, I find that the price for the broil element is around $80, while the bake element is around $22. Does this sound right? The bake element is GE part number WB44X5082. I can't read the broil element number, but one website told me that it is WB45X56. At a price of $80, I sure don't want to order the wrong part. Any advice?

 

[moderncleveland]

112561, I saw that photo on eBay too! The only thing about it is it breaks my heart to know that whoever has that nice kitchen with the beautiful wood cabinets actually wants to remove that incredibly appropriate GE oven from it! Sad! What's wrong with this country?

And I LOVE that Westinghouse ad! The mom has our electric fryer it looks like. That's the aesthetic all right ... just NICE!

 

[moderncleveland]

rp2813, if we have time we'll see Larry at Modern this weekend. Working on another huge house project now that's keeping us quite busy!

 

[moderncleveland]

Touching up the porcelain?

Ok, there are tiny problems with our range and oven that I'd like to fix. I mean, they both look pretty new especially considering they're 50+ years old, but the oven does have a tiny spot where the porcelain is missing. You really have to look to see it, it's off to the side ... but for the perfectionist, how can this be fixed?

Also, when you look close the range top has some wear especially around the four burners and in a few spots along the edges near the chrome. Near the chrome there's a few areas that have almost a few tiny scrapes in the surface, maybe a millimeter or two long, but we've noticed since having it installed last November that maybe a tiny flake or two has come off. I mean, we're talking TINY but still, when I see a tiny turquoise fleck coming off when I wipe it down, I am CONCERNED! It's almost as if the surface is brittle at those wear marks or spots. I'm attaching a pic but I'm afraid you can't see much because what I'm talking about is so small ... however, is there anything at all I can do? Can I put something on the surface to protect it? Like a polyurethane or a sealant or even auto wax? I want to do the right thing and keep it in tip-top shape. I understand that a few little flakes and scrapes have happened in its 50+ life but I want to keep it as mint as possible. Naturally when I see that a tiny speck is still coming off or getting bigger I'm getting worried!

Thanks everyone for any help or reassurance or advice!

 

[moderncleveland]

... and fixing Formica!

While we're at it -- when the original range was replaced with a new 2001 GE model, the new range was bigger than the old hole so they had to drill a few holes in the formica. Now that we've got the original range back in, one of the holes is visible and exposed (pic below). What's the best way to fix it? I thought it could be fille din with putty? Or just some white nailpolish? Or ... ???

 

[112561]

If you can find a chunk of discarded Formica that color, try to scrape off the laminate and epoxy a little bit into that hole. Or someone else here surely has a better solution.

 

[lacourrier]

GE wall oven J-501 door removal

Can anyone help me figure out how to get the door off my 1956 GE built in wall oven Model J-501? It needs some serious cleaning and the door prevents complete access to the interior.

Thank you!

Lucy

 

[negativerobot]

Hey all! I just came across this lovely forum and I’m hoping someone can point me in the right direction. I bought a home last year that has the lovely original GE oven and range in pink. They both worked perfectly until a few days ago when the bake element on the oven went out! Can someone tell me where I might find a replacement?

 

[goatfarmer]

If you can remove the old one SAFELY, take it to a local appliance parts store. They may be able to match it with a new one.