Vintage vs. Modern Freestanding Ranges

[combo52]

INSULATED DEEP WELLS

I think that Westinghouse was probably the only company that insulated deep wells, even my 1952 WH TOL 40" range has no insulation of any kind around the metal well, nor do any of the more than 20 different electric ranges that my friend and I have. Interestingly WH sold a separate plug in cooker that used a standard DW kettle that was well insulated, I believe that Tom Turbomatic has one of these cookers, it was an early crock-pot type of appliance. As I had mentioned in the last post manufactures went to considerable lenghts to make electric cooking viable cost wise when it was first being promoted.

 

[vintagekitchen]

well, mine is a GE, but the well and the lid are each very thick, and insulated. The pot itself is just thin aluminum though. Mine is the 1939 model, so they might have cut corners on later models..

 

[58limited]

I don't know about electric ranges, but the deep wells on Chambers' ranges were very well insulated with rock wool up until the point they were discontinued. The deep wells, like the ovens, could "Cook With The Gas Turned Off" on retained heat. I've dismantled a couple of Chambers stoves and the deep wells are pretty heavy.